The Book of Caldopia

I'm VIJEV, and I cordially invite you to step into and experience a cinematic Sci-Fi narrative podcast.In this immersive series, you’ll discover a universe forever changed when, one day, billions of mysterious crystalline shards of glass fell to Earth from the stars, each pulsing with power, secrets… and destiny.These shards didn’t just reshape Earth. They ignited humanity’s evolution, unlocking new frontiers across time and space, setting them on a collision course to the unknown depths of the galaxy. From their impact was born a tapestry of tales, a cosmic anthology where science fiction and fantasy collide.Our story begins 30 years after that fateful day.Our first episode. The FOUNDATION. An introduction to the world where Anu Eshana lives. A street-smart private detective just trying to get by until she’s pulled into a murder case that leads to discovering mysterious secrets and conspiracies that could unravel the very foundation of society, and ancient technologies that stand in the way of unfathomable dimensions.This is just the beginning.Written and produced by me, VIJEV, and brought to life by the brilliant voice of Julian Kruger. Get ready for the myth, mystery, and magic of The Book of Caldopia.Hit play — the saga awaits.VIJEV.Subscribe to keep updated on the mysteries that unravel in The Book of Caldopia. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit caldopia.substack.com

Shards of Fire! Shards of Power! Shards of Destruction! They went by many names. It all began when billions of crystalline shards of glass fell from the sky all around the world many years ago, changing the lives and course of human history forever. The shards were different in size and shape, a kaleidoscope of brilliance strewn randomly across the planet as if someone had shattered an intergalactic mirror. The shards all held different and unexpectedly mysterious magical properties, each with their own strengths and unique powers, much like the patterns on a snowflake. Similar to snowflakes, many melted and disintegrated away during their entry into Earth and the ones that made it through merged their essence everywhere including lifeforms such as humans, plants, and animals - with a randomly manifested plethora of properties. These properties include super strength, intelligence, beauty and so much more yet to be discovered.The devastation completely changed the landscape of the planet, resulting in billions of fatalities and the destruction of numerous cities. Thankfully, a large number of people who had been struck by this celestial event recognised their special abilities and used them to aid humans in survival and reconstruction.There were small shards that gave some humans elevated powers such as an increase in strength, and speed, while others that were simply unusual. There's a retired nurse who discovered the power to repel restaurant staff from recommending expensive wines that customers couldn't afford to buy. I think that’s a skill most would find useful, wouldn’t you say? The plants and animals that were imbued with the shards existed as well. In some regions, trees produced a variety of multicoloured fruits that resembled mangoes and oranges, all on the same tree! In certain cities, trees sparkled at night in a variety of colours. The animals that survived with the shards showed no sign of unusual powers except for some elevated strength, size, or speed. There are domesticated animals such as cows that produce a more frothy nutritious form of milk. Shardian-milk became the new talking point for health nuts who at one stage demonized anything produced by animals. There were even seafood delicacies dusted with Shardian powder that are only served in the finest restaurants throughout the world. One of the most sought-after was Shardian-lobster. It would glow green when boiled at a certain temperature and served with the finest Shardian-butter extracted from the highest mountains. There is, however, one dish to rule them all. Mix a little Shardian-butter and a little Shardian-chicken and you get the ultimate soul-quenching ambrosia, Shardian-Butter-Chicken. Everyone has a story of experiencing telepathic enlightenment with the one supreme cosmic chicken after eating it. For animal lovers, you could get Shardian-pets, such as cats that had a unique shade of colour or dogs with a slightly cuter bark. However, there’s a legend of a Shardian-llama in the highlands of Peru that can do standup comedy and spit in your face if you don’t laugh!There were some larger shards the size of buildings that gave powers of teleportation, access to portals to unknown depths of space, and some even the ability to harness cosmic energy to heat tea a little faster. Not much is known about these large shards as they were rounded up and hidden away in top-secret facilities for further study. The others that were discovered, were gathered and hoarded by the wealthy who could afford to find and procure hundreds if not thousands of pieces making them even more wealthy and powerful with access to a multitude of powers, unchecked and unregulated.Then there were the fortunate few where shards landed on their small backyards, some inside their homes. Those who could hide, safeguard, and study it prospered in secret and eventually found wealth and success.Then there were the bizarre finds of large shards the size of horses, discovered in desolate and forgotten regions mostly ignored by many. The very lucky few who stumbled upon it, created new ways of life, shaping a different destiny in which some have created private lives away from the public eye and rumoured to have even left the world entirely.All of this gave rise to a colossal Shardian market, both legal and illicit, where people could buy and sell Shardian goods. You could buy novelty pets such as parrots that can perfectly mimic the original destructive sounds of shards as they heard them fall to Earth to exotic temporary power-ups that can artificially increase abilities within humans. Need something to boost your vision? Try the Eagle-Gaze of Clarity. Something to give you physical strength and resilience? Try the Avocado-Elixir of Vigor. It’s still a favourite for those nostalgic about the old suburban life. All of them traded like narcotics.Then there were the rarest and most unique finds, of the grandest odds: humans that were hit with remarkably special shards, giving them the greatest of all powers ever discovered, even the largest of shards could not match.Only 4 people were known to have these embedded shards. First Shard - The Pandora’s Archive - This shard possesses the power of knowledge, otherworldly wisdom and hyper-cognition. It merged with a man named Praj, a teacher from India.Second Shard - The Piercer Prime - This shard holds the power of speed, agility and flight. It bonded with a schoolgirl named Siu Sin in Mainland China.Third Shard - The Celestial Flux - This shard has the power of telekinesis, interdimensional phasing and astral projection. It united with a girl named Nambi, a mining labourer from the Congo.Fourth Shard - The Aegis Axiom - This shard grants super strength, bio-armour, and healing. It merged with a priest named Diego from a small village in Bolivia.The four became the Sentinels of the Shards. They found each other and vowed to help rebuild the world and protect all that is dear to humanity. Were there other remarkable humans like these Sentinels? Perhaps there are animals and plants embedded with these precious shards? What kind of powers could they wield? What secrets lay hidden in the deepest and darkest oceans? The search for other extraordinary humans and a complete understanding of the shards' impact on Earth is ongoing. Explorers around the globe are on a quest to find rare shards and discover elusive legends hidden in new uncharted territories. There are tales of ionic energy traps invented by mysterious sea creatures capable of replenishing the energy of used shards. That would indeed be a legendary find.The shards had unique properties that allowed scientists and gifted minds to harness their power to develop and advance artificial intelligence (AI) that humans had previously created to even greater heights. Shardian-AI was born. A breakthrough in intelligence that made robots more powerful. A vast number and variety of robots were built to help with the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Earth. They became crucial for survival and allowed humans the breathing space to heal, reconnect, and grow.It was such a miraculous progression and rebirth due to the wonders of the shards that the people who were embellished with them came to be known as The Chosen.The others that did not have such powers and were spared by the onslaught of the shards were merely known as The Plains.As the years went by, humans began to reconstruct and thrive at blinding speed, they acknowledged the value and power of the shards, especially the humans who were bonded to them. These shards became a sought-after commodity, with ownership often equated to success, status, and fame. Those that withstood being hit by shards merged with human bodies, leaving a mark with symbols and patterns from an alien language. Many survivors displayed these marks as a symbol of celestial blessings, turning them into a fashion statement. Over time, these marks became status symbols of importance and wealth - the ultimate validation of being chosen by the heavens.Many cities around the world were being rebuilt by the Chosen, expanded, and inevitably encroached on existing cities that survived and displaced people further away from the progress that was meant for all humans. As the years went by, The Plains realized they were being left out of the growth and progress as the Chosen was given sole responsibility for the advancement and upkeep of humanity. After all, they were the ones gifted with the power to do so. Why would you need the Plains? They had to create their own life and survive in the shadows, on the outskirts often having to travel far looking for work inside the Chosen cities.There was only one city left where the Chosen lived side by side with the Plains but it wasn’t without its fair share of tensions and divisions. There are often protests with occasional violent outbursts leading to deaths and mistrust amongst the residents on both sides.This is the city of Shardavan. Population 15 million. 7 million Chosen. 8 million Plain. 30 years since the event. It has an inner circular core, a region known as the Crystal District, and an outer core, extending outwards from the edges of the Crystal District like the roots of a tree. This is the Clay District. The city looked like two lifeforms engaged in a precarious symbiotic tug-of-war.The Crystal District is distinctive with a towering helix-shaped structure right in the epicentre built around a large purple shard that provides the main source of power. This is where the Chosen live, a magnificent creation of human ingenuity with tall buildings, flying machines, and every little mundane thing taken care of by robots from cleaning the streets, to window washing and even gargantuan machines lying in the underbelly of the city that operates the backbone of power generation, transportation, water treatment, and waste removal. Superspeed levitrains connect various parts of the district in minutes, making travel fast a