Chapter 1

Fifteen-thousand years ago there was a kingdom. You would never find this kingdom in any history books, history films or even ancient texts, but I assure you it was there. There is a reason why you would never find this place, a very good reason, a reason so good I can't tell you. But this story isn’t about that event, it's about a boy, a boy who had had enough of the silly rules his village, Hirenlia, had. This boy's name was Thalorian, Thalorian Hibbaku. And one day he decided to break one of those ‘silly rules’. He went to the Fields of Ash. He’d only heard about the forbidden place through the old soothsayer that lived in his village, a crazy old fart, but maybe not that crazy. Supposedly the Fields of Ash were supposed to be full of monsters and charred grass.

Thalorian packed much for his adventure in the Fields, food, a weird plant he bought that supposedly healed wounds, and an old rusty sword he found in his house.

The blackened grass flowed as he walked through the fields. It was fast. Whatever it was, it was on top of him before he could react. Its claws scraped at his skin, its saliva burned his flesh. Thalorian grabbed the sword and thrust it upward, he heard the metal crunch as it hit the beast's skin. He was about to die. I can’t die this way, no, I have so much more to live for! The beast was about to bite his head off. Its fangs were dripping saliva. Seeping into his pores the drool burnt, each droplet was a volcano erupting inside of him. Thalorian thrust his legs up and smacked the beast in its stomach, the beast staggered back. Taking his chance to escape, Thalorian got up and ran from the beast. He could hear its feet pounding on the ground.

A pedestal, he saw a pedestal. What’s a pedestal doing out here? Once he made it to the pedestal he vaulted but the second his body passed through the top of the pedestal he felt a strange sensation. It was as if something, or someone, was calling out to him. As he continued running he felt something in his hand, it was a book. A book with writing he’d never seen. Although ,through means he didn't understand, he could understand it.

“The Eternal Balance,” muttered Thalorian reading the title. Suddenly the pages of the book flapped open to a page titled ‘Fire’. The book described how to generate fire and control it. Its pictures showed him the many flames that could be produced, the text was old and faded but still legible, this thing, whatever it was, was definitely not just some book about fire.

“Magic,” muttered Thalorian, “This book teaches magic!”

Thalorian faced his palm forward and said the incantation, each word was like secrets from the past escaping his mouth and forming reality. “Braris Elia!” screamed Thalorian. Fire lept from his hands, burning light of death charring and ravaging as the beast turned to ashes and destroying the already charred grass. Turning the field into nothing but smoke.

The damage caused was enough to burn down Thalorians village, a small place. Thalorian looked at his hand, the damage he caused by saying two words terrified him. This book, this- this vessel of death it- it can’t exist, at least not in my hands. He thought, looking at the cover. He took the book and attempted to place it back on the pedestal. Thalorian walked away from the pedestal, suddenly he felt something smack him in the back of the head. “Hey, Watch it!” he said looking back at where he felt the pain, all that was there was that book. Do Not Leave. Was all that was written. “What the,” said Thalorian.

You cannot leave now. Appeared on the book replacing the last piece of writing.

You are bound to me.

“What do you mean ‘bound to you’?!” screamed Thalorian at the book.

You must not leave me.

“Got anymore info then that! You stupid book!” screamed Thalorian.

You cannot leave.

“Fine,” he grumbled, starting to walk back to his village. “Now that I have you I may as well use you.”

While he was walking back he read the book known as The Eternal Balance. Fire spells, water spells, any type of spell Thalorian wanted he could get in this book.

He reached his village. He saw the ashes, he saw the smoke, he saw the bodies, he saw everything. The thing that angered him the most was the person, the person standing in the center of the corpses. The man was wearing armour and had red hair, a gargantuan sword was in his hand, and there was a symbol on the back of his chestplate.

“The Crown,” muttered Thalorian. The symbol was a dove with two spears crossing through it. “I’ll kill him!” screamed Thalorian, tears streaming down his face. Thalorian ran down the hill. “Braris Elia!” screamed Thalorian, flames leaping from his hand. The armour blackened a bit.

“Who dares attack Byron Colesgate, third knight of The Crown?” said the knight glaring at where he thought the flames originated. Seeing Thalorian Byron charged at the hill swinging his sword. Thalorian barrel rolled out of the way, scraping the ground.

“Braris Elia!” screamed Thalorian firing another blast of fire.

You're out of Mana.

“What the hell is mana?!” asked Thalorian.

Mana is the source of all magic, after firing many powerful spells you are out of it.

“Great, now I can’t even fight,” sighed Thalorian, barely dodging another swing.

“Are you ignoring me, Byron Colesgate! Third knight of the Crown!” said Byron, about to swing at Thalorian again. Thalorian rushed toward Byron about to punch him in the face when suddenly he heard a crack as Byron fell to the ground with a loud thump. Thalorian stumbled back away from Byron’s body as he saw a tall person with a slender build, a little bit of blood on their shoes. Thalorian felt a sharp pain in his neck, his eyes dropped and his body fell.