Chapter 2: A Letter.
As with all discoveries, this one started with a simple question, a query that, even if it was taken as granted, was still powerful enough to drive me restless. It drove me to go beyond myself, to pursue the research and experimentation needed in an effort to answer this simple question.
How is it possible for there to be an existence of people that harbor no elements?
According to our history, all living beings were granted an element by the dragons in the Day of Creation. However, I, as well as many others, was born with any elements whatsoever. This query became the strongest in my mind as I progressed in my research, discovering the reason why this phenomenon was present only in humans, as all the other creatures were born under an element found in the earth.
In time, I discovered that this same pattern was found in another type of element: the noble ones; as only humans and the now extinct dragons were holders of such great powers.
After many years of research, a possibility was born in my mind in the form of a hypothesis: What if, we, the outcast and the weakest, were born without an element were in fact, holders of a noble element that had yet to have its qualities discovered?
This hypothesis, of course, had to be proven, and that required even more research and experimentation. This process became a sturdy hard wall in my path, but I did not give up, as this impossible puzzle had given me a powerful thirst for answers that pushed me forward. I continued on, unhesitant, untethered, and restless to seek the truth.
I spent years interviewing those blessed by the power of the elements in hope of finding some form of common pattern, a possible thread of shared logic that could shine more light unto this issue.
With these interviews, I discovered one thing that was in common with all those under these elements: those that forced their wills to use these elemental powers were able to do so by the visualization of said elements. Basically, in order to control the element in their bodies or to manipulate the same element found in the world around them, they needed to understand and concentrate their mind on the qualities of such elements.
This thread, despite being eye-opening, proved to become yet another fortress in my path, as visualizing an unknown nature with no form, substance, or state was simply a paradox on itself. Attempting to imagine something that theoretically did not exist yet, an imaginary element that I did not have evidence of existence yet, that was simply madness.
But, I chose to continue. I followed that path, as the element I was pursuing did not have any present form in the world around us. I cleared my mind of any foolish earthly thoughts, in order for the process to be effective.
With this idea in mind, I began my experiments, realizing that the process of clearing one's mind of any earthly thoughts was easier said than done. I was yet to give up, and I began my venture into my mind, to try to find the solutions.
After months of trying this tactic with no possible data to help provide any kind of assistance, I came to a critical realization, and discovered that I was missing something that was a truly important factor in this equation.
The issue was that I did not have a purpose or direction for this hypothetical element to react to. Even if I was able to visualize this nonexistent, hypothetical element, there could be nothing done unless I had some kind of usage for the element's existence.
This issue was difficult to overcome. There was no way to give purpose to an element that had unknown properties at all. Yet, I had to try anyways, my mind driving me to do what needed to be done.
I started with something simple. I placed a jar of water in front of me, knowing fully well that the liquid would be particularly susceptible to any kind of change. Whether it was a change in temperature, vibration, volume, etc; if the hypothetical element was capable of doing any kind of effect, then it would leave the sign within the water.
My intentions at first was to see if I could possibly control the temperature of the external substance with the use of this possible element, something that was basic. I concentrated my thoughts into the jar after clearing my mind completely, a skill that had become second nature to me thanks to many months of continuous practice.
I can remember that with such clarity. The experiment was far from a success, but that was the first time I found tangible evidence that proved that I had the unknown element inside me. My intention of raising the temperature in the water was the easiest to detect, but something much more different occurred.
The jar exploded in my face, leaving numerous wounds and causing my left eye to be put out permanently. The result wasn't favorable in the slightly, as my intention wasn't executed at all, and I was forced to be put in medical care with numerous sutures, a considerable loss of blood, and one eye missing forever.
However, contrary to my belief, I wasn't in pain. I felt no regret in my hearts, no fright in what I had done. Rather, the only thing that was in my heart was the excitement from what this simple experiment had revealed to me and possibly the world.
I, Elias Moonlight, was the one who discovered a new element, completely undocumented in the totality of our history. I was the one to discover this brand new possibility, and with it, I was going to change the course of history and bring the world to a brand new era.
**********
Any thoughts and continuous reading of the book was suddenly brought to cruel reality with a constant, loud knocking on his door.
'What the hell?' Darren thought, irritated as his reading session had just been interrupted rudely. He was wondering why he was interrupted: He had paid the housekeeper in advance, the tax collector would be coming the day prior, and he had left blatant messages on the front door to keep errand merchants away.
He simply grumbled and attempted to get back to reading his books, hoping that the knocking was coming from the neighbor's, to no avail. The knocks began increasing in size, and became more and more demanding with each hit.
'Who the hell would want to see me now of all times?' He thought to himself, grumbling as he walked down the stairs quickly. He could only feel resigned as he went down, and decided to toss anything he could find at the face of the annoyance who would so dare to disturb his precious reading time.
"What in the name of Draco do you want?" He said in an impertinent and angry tone, rubbing his eyes in an attempt to accustom his eyes to the sunlight. When his eyesight got a bit better, he immediately regretted his words as he recognized the silhouette standing in his door frame.
"Sir Darren Lockwood?" The lone man asked in an emotionless tone, as he looked right back at Darren with a serious expression. He didn't appear to have heard the rude words that Darren had just spouted out.
'Oh shit, I just fucked up.' Darren thought to himself as he looked at the massive figure in front of him.
The man was several inches taller than Darren, with a strong, corpulent body boasting large muscles. His size and build, however, wasn't the target of Darren's fear. Rather, it was his uniform.
From a casual glance, one would spot the man wearing a heavy plate armor, colored in a dark grey bordering on the verge of black, with the emblem of the royal family attached. He wielded an unusually thick buckler on his right arm, and a big sword, with a half-moon end designed specifically to hook and pierce through hard materials, attached to his belt.
In fact, now that he had a better look, the man in front of him was clearly an iron, with his dark grey skin and rough features. Those features and the uniform were distinctive to the Iron Guard, which was the personal army of the royal family. This armada was made up exclusively of irons, and were trained by the queen personally in what was described as 'a place to turn men into dragons', or 'the training grounds of hell'.
Despite the infamous reputation, no one could argue against the effectiveness of such brutal training. Each and every man of the royal guard were known to be disciplined and highly skilled in both combat and tactics. This army held strong authority in all military and civil affairs, and defying a member of this guard was indistinguishable from suicide.
The guard merely raised an eyebrow, waiting for a response from Darren, who was currently frozen in place with his mouth shut. The only thing that man could do at that moment was just keep staring at the guard utterly shocked, the true definition of 'perplexity' written all over his face.
"No, - I mean yes- I mean, what was the question?" Those words were something that came out in incoherent stutters, driven by fracked nerves and fear of the man's presence right in front of him.
"Is there a Darren Lockwood in there?" The guard said once more with his stoic expression intact. However, the tone of his voice made his thoughts clear, as he was running out of patience.
"Huh? Wha? How? Em-"
The stoicism disappeared of the guard's face, giving Darren an ominous stare with a hostile expression.
"I… I- I- I am Darren Lockwood!" Finally mustering in the strength to speak between all his stutters, Darren stood up straight. He shut his eyes and clenched his teeth while waiting for the incoming strike of death that would surely come.
In his mind, he could only recite a prayer to the all-powerful Draco, and think of a last will and testament, which could be summarized as: 'Bury me with my books, you damned vultures!'
However, no strikes came to end his premature and unproductive life. He stood there for a while, before opening one of his eyes and trying to look away. After all, the guard could simply be waiting for him to lower his guard and end him sadistically, promising an endless world of pain as he left this world.
Instead, the guard just stood there, not budging at all. In his hand was a letter, instead of a sword that would strike him down. The simple paper simply stayed there in his direction, awaiting for its delivery.
"It's for you." The guard stated bluntly. "I was instructed strictly to deliver this letter to your hands, and ensure no one else received this, Sir Darren."
Darren's eyes traveled from the guard to the letter, then back to the guard again, struggling to try to make sense of the situation. He had never heard of a member of the Iron Guard doing courier jobs before. Besides, he wasn't important enough to require a highly trained warrior to deliver a single message to him.
Maybe this was meant for another Darren? That didn't make sense, either, due to the fact that his last name was rare. In fact, he was the only Darren Lockwood in town. Going to the wrong person wasn't such a big deal; but to get the wrong town? That was unthinkable for a member of the iron guard.
Rather, more importantly, the letter itself had the royal seal plastered on it. This was a confirmation to him than anything, but maybe…
'This had to be a joke, right?' He thought as he stared at the letter, before shaking his head. 'No, wait. No one is crazy enough to forge the royal seal and the Iron Guard's uniform just for a prank. Still, this situation doesn't make any sense!'
Noticing that the guard was losing his patience once more, Darren picked up the letter to preserve the last bits of his integrity. He had already lost some fumbling around at the beginning, he didn't need to make himself look more like a fool.
"With that, my mission is complete. I wish thee good fortune." With that said and done, the guard turned around and retreated in a fast speed, so fast that it seemed impossible for such swiftness to come from a man that was so heavily equipped.
"Wait! I have so many questions! This doesn't make any sense, I need some answers!" Instead of coming back and answering some of Darren's questions, the guard simply chose to outright ignore him and simply quicken his movements. At this point, the only thing Darren could do in his confused stupor was stare at the guard's back in utter loss.
He shook his head, then tried to give a look at the letter to try to clarify his situation, but it only made it worse. He noticed the name printed on it, and dropped it, letting out an embarrassing squeak in the process. He tried to pinch himself, hoping this was all a dream and he would wake up, but no avail.
The letter came straight from Lucrecia Silverheart, the High Queen of Yorn. This wasn't some random invitation from a noble or even from a normal member of the royal family: this came from the head of the whole country, making this bigger than he could imagine.
He picked the letter back up and ran up the stairs with little to no care to his steps, not even bothering to close his front door. He opened the curtains in his room, letting the sunlight burst through and brighten up the room heavily.
He quickly struggled to open the envelope with his shaky hands, with the sunlight as his guide, and could only fall into despair as the contents of the letter came to light, sealing his fate.
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Dear Darren Lockwood,
Allow me to be brief. Under the presence of your last achievements in the academic field, I would like to invite thee to an audience in the royal palace. The date of this meeting will be on the second day of the Steel Dragon, in the afternoon. The purpose of this will be to discuss a delicate affair to which, I'm sorry to say, cannot be explained by a simple letter.
Sincerely,
Lucrecia Silverheart; The Silver Maiden; High Queen of the Highlands of Yorn
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Darren didn't know how he was supposed to react to all of this, as it was all too sudden. However, one thing was certain: the Queen wouldn't react lightly to being ignored. He looked at his calendar, and a horrible realization came when he realized that today was the thirty first day of the Bronze Dragon.
For him to be able to make it in time to the audience, which was in three days, he would have to leave immediately. He finally let himself fall to his knees, feeling panic and fear rise up in every single one of his pores.
'I don't have enough time to pack up my books.' That was the last thought he had before he rushed to pack as many of them as he could, before running like a madman to the nearest carriage outpost in town.
He had to make it, or else!
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