The Story of the Desert
The difference from high school is that, while I used to copy Borges in high school, I have now started to copy Calvino. Essentially, it is a version of "Invisible Cities," approximately 20,000 to 30,000 words long; I am not exactly sure how many, as it is densely written in a small notebook, and I am too lazy to count.
Well... This is something written in university, it can be considered fantasy
When it was time to eat, they set up the tent, lit the campfire, and removed their headscarves. Each person had a dark purple-black complexion and a rugged beard, looking indistinguishable from one another. The aroma of roasted meat wafted before everyone as the fire crackled, allowing people to forget the fatigue of walking in the desert. They comfortably lay down, their throats emitting sounds reminiscent of beasts under the early summer sun. In this vast desert, there were no other pastimes, so everyone gathered around and began to share stories about their destination, the tale of Queen City.
This masterpiece having been completed, the craftsmen lifted their heads from toil and numbness, each astonished by the beauty of the garden. They gradually made their way deeper into the garden, fearing that their very presence might tarnish this goddess. The craftsmen ventured further and further, ultimately collapsing one by one, gently covered by the gravel.
A garden and a grave
News reached the capital, and the emperor was greatly pleased. He could not wait to accompany the empress to the garden in the desert. A luxurious convoy arrived at this wonder under the escort of tens of thousands of people, with the empress and the garden shining like two pearls, radiating and reflecting each other's brilliance. The emperor dismissed the crowd and, accompanied only by the empress, ventured deeper into the garden. After passing countless marvels, they finally arrived at the center of the garden—a fountain that continuously spouted mercury. Beneath the fountain lay a crystal coffin, surrounded by flowing mercury that did not enter its interior. The emperor dismissed the crowd and, accompanied only by the empress, ventured deeper into the garden. After passing countless marvels, they finally arrived at the center of the garden—a fountain that continuously spouted mercury. Beneath the fountain lay a crystal coffin, surrounded by flowing mercury that did not enter its interior
The emperor could no longer part with this garden of dual beauty. He constructed a city around it. Castles, houses, and streets rose from the ground overnight, and the snowmelt from distant mountains was channeled in, giving birth to a city that became the capital of the empire. The emperor spent his days working in the garden, never leaving its confines. At the time of his passing, the emperor activated a mechanism, and the entire exquisite and magnificent garden, along with two corpses, sank into the earth. Fortunately, the city named after the empress has been preserved to this day.
In a vast empire that spanned across continents a thousand years ago, there once lived a queen of unparalleled beauty: her allure surpassed the shimmering dewdrops on the petals of morning roses, and any jewel adorning her would be deemed an insult to her beauty. A single tear she shed in the stillness of night was more captivating than the smiles of all women in the world, and whenever she stepped out of the palace, the sun would dim considerably. No man—except for the valiant and heroic emperor—dared to gaze upon her for more than a moment; all those who did went mad, gouging out their own eyes, declaring they could not endure a world devoid of the queen's beauty. The emperor himself waged three wars for his beautiful wife, conquering every land touched by the sun, claiming the highest peaks and the vastest seas. Yet, despite all this, he still did not know what could complement the queen's beauty. Ultimately, he gathered all the gold, crystal, and jade in the world, commanding his craftsmen to build a garden deep in the desert as a gift for the queen, to celebrate her twenty-second birthday
The Story of the Desert
When the time comes that no parents are willing to send their sons to learn the craft of artisans, or to betroth their daughters to craftsmen, or even if they are willing, they can no longer find a craftsman on the vast land of the empire, the garden is finally completed. A total of one million gold bricks were spent as a foundation, their golden brilliance seizing the colors of the desert; gossamer-thin green jade adorned the branches made of black gold; white jade was only used for the stepping stones of the path; behind the bright silver fence, the branches of emerald were adorned with rubies and sapphires carved into the shapes of flowers, forming a dazzling array of blooms, while crystal dewdrops rolled among the emerald leaves. A total of one million gold bricks were spent as a foundation, their golden brilliance seizing the colors of the desert; gossamer-thin green jade adorned the branches made of black gold; white jade was only used for the stepping stones of the path; behind the bright silver fence, the branches of emerald were adorned with rubies and sapphires carved into the shapes of flowers, forming a dazzling array of blooms, while crystal dewdrops rolled among the emerald leaves. Mechanical bees made of black crystal and cat's eye stones greedily flitted among the flower stamens of fine gold threads. In the hidden channels above, fine wine flowed, spraying down three times a day. These exquisite brews were evaporated by the sun, enveloping the entire garden in a kind of atmosphere that was both intoxicating and not. In the hidden channels above, fine wine flowed, spraying down three times a day. These exquisite brews were evaporated by the sun, enveloping the entire garden in a kind of atmosphere that was both intoxicating and not. Even the little birds with silver wings were enchanted, chirping incessantly around the garden. All of this fragile beauty was encircled by clear, transparent, colorless crystal to fend off the wind and sand, and golden stars were embedded in this crystal wall for easy recognition. Every night, the luminous pearls shone brightly, as if it were daytime. All of this fragile beauty was encircled by clear, transparent, colorless crystal to fend off the wind and sand, and golden stars were embedded in this crystal wall for easy recognition. Every night, the luminous pearls shone brightly, as if it were daytime
To construct a vibrant garden in the heart of a barren desert is such a peculiar idea and an immense undertaking! From ancient times to the present, only this ruler, who commands all the lands, could possibly implement such a plan. With a single command, the entire nation was mobilized. White jade from the East was transported from across the ocean, during which two thousand people perished due to storms and disease; gold was separated from turbulent waters and murky mud; various dazzling gems flowed forward, stained with the blood of the gatherers. A large contingent marched into the desert, with eight or nine out of ten becoming bleached bones under the scorching sun, while reinforcements continued to arrive. The chisels and drills clanged rhythmically, their sounds echoing far across the vast desert, akin to the songs of spirits; the monotonous labor chants resonated with a regular rhythm, vibrating the sand beneath the craftsmen's feet, where life was as monotonous and cheap as the grains of sand.
Like all the mountains, lakes, and cities in the world, there are countless legends surrounding the founding and history of Queenstown. These legends are interesting and serious, sorrowful and lighthearted, complex and simple, refined and crude... The more distant and picturesque the city appears, the more versions of the legends emerge; even on the most remote islands in the south, there are now their own tales about Queenstown. However, the fundamental elements that make up these legends are quite simple—an emperor, a queen, war, death, diamonds, gardens, eternity... These elements combine in various ways, creating multiple forms that obscure the truth of the matter. As a local, I should be able to provide a relatively complete and plausible legend.
Upon hearing the Emperor's words, the astute Empress immediately understood his intention. Two guards stepped forward to assist her in calmly consuming a dose of poison. The Empress died instantly, her face adorned with an eternal smile, and her body was sealed and preserved in a crystal coffin, remaining uncorrupted for millennia
Leaving the small town of Dana, resembling a supply station on the edge of the desert, the archaeologists mingled among a group of idle travelers, continuing their journey deeper into the desert. Among the group were ambitious adventurers, oblivious young nobles, deep-eyed philosophers, quick-witted thieves, notorious murderers, bankrupt individuals, and tomb raiders, along with a male and female guide and twenty-two silent, single-humped camels bearing the weight of all their lives. The scent of camel dung, the odor of food supplies dehydrating under the sun, and the natural animalistic smell mingled with the acrid scent of sweat, swirling and rising from the scorching sand, reluctant to dissipate. The intense sunlight and violent winds were overwhelmingly powerful, forcing people to wrap themselves tightly in coarse cloth, leaving no gaps; their heads were covered with a camel-hide ring to secure the veil, exposing only their eyes, which were red and swollen from the harsh wind. The group pressed on, all sharing the same experience, their emotions fluctuating between highs and lows, sometimes exuberantly chatty, at other times completely silent and untouchable. Conflicts clashed with one another, and silences intertwined. However, even in the midst of the storm, the shifting sands, and the most intense fear of death, the group continued to advance, for their destination was so alluring: the pearl of the desert, the city of queens.
Today I will send the beginning first, and I will upload the entire content when I have time
At this moment, the Emperor said to the Empress: "My dear Empress, everyone under the sun knows that your beauty is unparalleled. At the age of twenty-two, this is the most radiant time for you, this blooming flower. However, once you surpass this age, inevitably, you will age, and your beauty will fade. The power of time, this tyrant, is irresistible. Although I, the Emperor, hold dominion over all, including you, I am still subject to its control. If you wish for your beauty to endure forever, there is only one way—"
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As the landowner, the female guide deftly used a slender wooden stick to adjust the structure of the firewood, and with an accent reminiscent of the winds in the desert, she began her narration, saying: