My Own Kingdom
By Lucy Pearson
10th Grade - Homeschool
2nd Place Writing Contest
The French writer Joseph Joubert once said, “Imagination is the eye to the soul”. He was right; imagination shows a lot about a person. As a writer, my imagination is filled with bright, fantastic worlds. One, however, is my favorite: the fantasy kingdom of Elatlor. I’ve loved it, built hundreds of stories and characters in it, and come up with an extensive background for it. To really understand my kingdom, it is helpful to focus on the literal geography of Elatlor, the history of Elatlor, and the many people that live there.
Elatlor is an island about the size of Ireland, or about 32,600 square miles. On the top of the island is the harsh, rocky Desolate Zone, only inhabited by cliff-dwelling goblins. Below and to the west of the Desolate Zone are the Swamps, a marshy area dotted with quicksand. To the Swamps’ east is the large main forest of Elatlor. In the center of the island stands the capitol, Elatlor City, with Elatlor’s castle predominating. Most people live in the city, but there are other towns throughout Elatlor. The rest of the island is covered in grassland, coastlines, and forests. Although the Desolate Zone and the Swamps should be avoided, the rest of Elatlor is picturesque and beautiful.
Like the dangerous patches in its geography, Elatlor’s history has its harder moments. Originally, Elatlor City’s founders and their descendants ruled. During their compassionate reign, times were peaceful. Then, many years after Elatlor was founded, all dissolved into chaos. The current king’s Captain of the Guard, Cortiann Blayde, rebelled, establishing himself as dictator over Elatlor. For years he reigned cruelly, and the townsfolk suffered. Finally, a team of teenagers, one of them Blayde’s own son, snuck into Blayde’s castle. Blayde’s son defeated his father in a sword duel and reinstated the heir to the throne, Princess Merlia. Under her kind rule, Elatlor prospered and the people rejoiced.
The people of Elatlor, all overjoyed with the newfound peace, come from many diverse groups. Villagers, some from countries several days’ sail from Elatlor, populate the cities. Living in the forest above Elatlor City are the Rangers, a quiet group of skilled archers dedicated to protecting the woods and its wildlife. Also living in the forest are the Pyriets, a human-like people who are indigenous to the woods. Identifiable by their traditional golden face markings, the Pyriets are known for their skills in healing. Overall, the people and ethnic groups of Elatlor are each different and special.
I love my kingdom, from its geography and history to its people. The geography is diverse and beautiful, from the rocky Desolate Zone to the lush forests above Elatlor City. The history is long, covered with twists and turns, but finally ending peacefully. Most importantly, especially to an author like myself, the people are filled with variety, each with their own skills and talents. Coming up with these worlds is so special to me; I will never stop being a writer.