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Description
For the past months I have been in love with the magnificent books of one incredible author - Guy Gavriel Kay. I first read one of his books about an year ago. It was the first part of the duology "Sarantium Mosaic", but because of my life back then, my perception and way of thinking I wasn't able to fully understand it and look right at it's core.

Months later I bought myself the second part of "Sarantium Mosaic". I never leave anything unfinished, be it art, TV or a book series, so eventually I just had to get the book and I did. This time however the experience, the influence that it had over me was completely different. It was much more deep, much more touching and it was as I had seen the whole world created by GGK through a whole new light. It changed me.

Even more months later I was at one of the biggest libraries in my city. Needless to say I was at the fantasy section, which sadly is not as big as I would want, checking if there's something new that I can read, some new series or maybe something that I have missed. I was looking at the shelf from the top to the bottom and when my eyes reached the bottom I saw a book from Kay, that I have not seen until then. "The Lions of Al-Rassan". My choice was made. It seems that I haven't noticed the book all those times that I have visited the library before. Or maybe it was never there when I was. I don't know. I can find out if I want, but I prefer not to.

I got the book, went home and started reading. I was speechless. The amazing stories and characters, each with their own uniqueness and charm, the clash of different religions and especially the at first impossible, but yet never dying and continuous friendship, believe and faith. Everything was so well written that I couldn't stop reading for hours and hours, fantasizing the whole world, seeing it how it is built around me and engaging in it completely. My life, my perception of the world were changed once again. I was astonished by the magical cultures and art that was described in the book, which actually is based off the conflict and tragedy of a fragmenting world inspired by the history of reconquista Spain.

I re-read the book and I started researching the history of reconquista Spain, the Moors' culture and art, the way the Moors, the Christians and the Jews lived together and how that influenced on each of their cultures and lives. In time I decided that I have to create something inspired by this fascinating book. I knew what I wanted to make, I knew what atmosphere I wanted to built, I knew what feelings I wanted to put in, but as always I had no idea how to start.

Time passed and one day as I was browsing the Internet I stumbled across this curious tutorial about creating a castle hallway. I quickly looked through it and mostly focused on the final result. Then I said to myself that this is it. This would be my start. I would recreate the world I want as seen through a hallway, only I would make it my way. I used the tutorial as a base, as my point of support and on it I built my vision of Al-Rassan. I worked mostly at night and I put my heart and soul into it. I inscribed it with my believes, with my morale and emotions.

I thank you. I thank you if you have read through all of this, but I had to write it. Writing, people say, is the most beautiful and productive way to unburden whatever is on your heart. I leave you with a 3-line quotation from the book and one line that I have added to it:

"The deeds of men, as footprints in the desert.
Nothing under the circling moons is fated to last.
Even the sun goes down.
The stars shine and remember in the night sky."

Description
For the past months I have been in love with the magnificent books of one incredible author - Guy Gavriel Kay. I first read one of his books about an year ago. It was the first part of the duology "Sarantium Mosaic", but because of my life back then, my perception and way of thinking I wasn't able to fully understand it and look right at it's core.

Months later I bought myself the second part of "Sarantium Mosaic". I never leave anything unfinished, be it art, TV or a book series, so eventually I just had to get the book and I did. This time however the experience, the influence that it had over me was completely different. It was much more deep, much more touching and it was as I had seen the whole world created by GGK through a whole new light. It changed me.

Even more months later I was at one of the biggest libraries in my city. Needless to say I was at the fantasy section, which sadly is not as big as I would want, checking if there's something new that I can read, some new series or maybe something that I have missed. I was looking at the shelf from the top to the bottom and when my eyes reached the bottom I saw a book from Kay, that I have not seen until then. "The Lions of Al-Rassan". My choice was made. It seems that I haven't noticed the book all those times that I have visited the library before. Or maybe it was never there when I was. I don't know. I can find out if I want, but I prefer not to.

I got the book, went home and started reading. I was speechless. The amazing stories and characters, each with their own uniqueness and charm, the clash of different religions and especially the at first impossible, but yet never dying and continuous friendship, believe and faith. Everything was so well written that I couldn't stop reading for hours and hours, fantasizing the whole world, seeing it how it is built around me and engaging in it completely. My life, my perception of the world were changed once again. I was astonished by the magical cultures and art that was described in the book, which actually is based off the conflict and tragedy of a fragmenting world inspired by the history of reconquista Spain.

I re-read the book and I started researching the history of reconquista Spain, the Moors' culture and art, the way the Moors, the Christians and the Jews lived together and how that influenced on each of their cultures and lives. In time I decided that I have to create something inspired by this fascinating book. I knew what I wanted to make, I knew what atmosphere I wanted to built, I knew what feelings I wanted to put in, but as always I had no idea how to start.

Time passed and one day as I was browsing the Internet I stumbled across this curious tutorial about creating a castle hallway. I quickly looked through it and mostly focused on the final result. Then I said to myself that this is it. This would be my start. I would recreate the world I want as seen through a hallway, only I would make it my way. I used the tutorial as a base, as my point of support and on it I built my vision of Al-Rassan. I worked mostly at night and I put my heart and soul into it. I inscribed it with my believes, with my morale and emotions.

I thank you. I thank you if you have read through all of this, but I had to write it. Writing, people say, is the most beautiful and productive way to unburden whatever is on your heart. I leave you with a 3-line quotation from the book and one line that I have added to it:

"The deeds of men, as footprints in the desert.
Nothing under the circling moons is fated to last.
Even the sun goes down.
The stars shine and remember in the night sky."