Juryrigged > Works > Writings > Never An End - Prologue

He stood there, his eyes slightly lidded as the wind picked up. Far beyond upon the horizon, the sun burning in its final rays of day, the lazy haphazard clouds colored pink and orange. He smiled into the waning light.

His smile faded, and his ash-brown hair was thrown about his head by the gusting wind. He turned his head to the left slightly to look at the person behind.

"You know it won't last long," he said addressing the man behind him.

"What?"

"This," he said, waving to all the land before him. "All this will fad away. The peace we have no is an illusion. We will war again."

"So quick to make assumptions, young one. You still have much to learn, and the rage of losing your father still clouds your mind."

The ash-brown haired youths' face reddened at these truths and it took a large sum of his willpower to over-take his rage. The man smiled kindly at the youth, his face warm and inviting despite his old age.

"Young one, even though I have imparted on you all that I will ever know of combat, there is still much you must learn about life."

The youth looked on a moment longer, then turned back to the setting sun. He had lost his father, the last of his family besides his brother. His mother was dead, and now his father, and with that came a great responsibility. He would become the next Keeper, so ordained by his father before him. Times were change fast. It had been less than an entire year, this war. Already the people were saying this was the war to end all wars and that the alliance would make sure that another wouldn't happen again.

"What is to happen now?" the ash-brown haired youth asked.

"I hear that your talent as a leader will take you away from your duties as a Keeper. You are being drafted, in essence."

"Drafted?"

"Yes. You will see the stars, and the peoples and places beyond them."

The ash-brown haired youth scowled. If he were to be taken into the military, then who would take his rank as Keeper?

"I know what you think. You wonder as to whom will take your place as Keeper. Do not worry. A candidate worthy of the name has been chosen from the twelve ruling families."

The youth shook his head, no in relief, but disgust. He had done to duties of a Keeper for near a hundred years now, and the position was taken from him before he had a chance to take it.

"Do not be discouraged. If, and when, the military feels they no longer require your services, you will be returned to the Temple as a Keeper."

Times were changing, almost too quickly.

"When do I leave?" the youth asked one last time, the stars above twinkling into existence, the crescent of the moon slowly moving along in its arc above.

"On the morrow five days from hence."

The youth nodded. In five days, his entire life would change, for better, or for worse...