Chapter 1
The void of the darkness,
The void of the blackest hole,
The void of our imperfection,
The void of our endless toll,
The void of the shadow of sin,
The void of corrupt desire,
The void of all manner of evil,
The void of all that will transpire,
The void of transgression’s sproutling,
The void of its fruits to bloom,
The void of its fruit in its bounty,
The void of doom and gloom,
The void of prideful obstinance,
The void of death to fulfill,
The void of something that can never be satisfied,
The void of satisfying by something that never will...
The void...
It is what we desire and how much we covet that will determine the measure of our resolve, and the willingness to pursue what we want whatever the cost. Men have coveted and envied every manner of precious substance, strategic position and location, great ability, and noble attributes since the formations of the heavens and the earth. Men have coveted another’s success since the beginning of creation, murdered since the beginning of time due to envy and displeasure, and have suffered the void that cannot be satisfied in the human heart by every, any, and all substance afflicted by the curse of knowing that the wages of sin and the satisfaction through it only brings more suffering, pain, sorrow, loss, and inevitable death to the one who persists until the sin becomes ripe and in full bloom. Laws have been established to insure due process in justice and to preserve the rights of man to life, liberty, and property so long as they have roamed and wandered aimlessly throughout the years, and governmental structures have been crafted to ensure stability and order in many different ways man has come together what we call, “Civilized society.” An ironic term at best, for it never really remains civil, and its structures often fail the very expectancy of those governed by their laws to protect and ensure their rights and their right to what they have. But none of it has ever truly fulfilled the unfulfillable void of the desires of the human heart, nor completely protected the rights to have, to own, to live, and to actually be. It is what men covet and how far they are willing to go to see their goals and their desires fulfilled that will determine the tragedies occurred, the losses suffered, the agonizing pain endured, the betrayal’s wrought, and the selected amount that death will claim as his portion among the living.
The void. It was the center of the livelihood of all the mortal races not merely as a figurative description or spiritual diagnoses of the inward, wretched condition of the human heart in all its vain glorious pursuit of the world in all that was in it, but a very force unto itself in the very center of the world that dictated as an unwanted influence over the kingdoms and the center stage of calamities and conflict over the world. It has been in existence since the earliest and known records of the world of Desirahmoara’s history, and has been the burden of the world’s existence and the sole source of every curse that has ever afflicted man since the formation of the heavens and the earth. It is the reason for death to even be, and the reason suffering, agony, affliction, loss, and evil has come into the world and that the world has ever had a reason to learn to pick up the sword at all. It’s the inspiration behind every manner of war ever fought, the trauma afflicted to soldiers and families, the rise and formation of empires, and the downfall of kingdoms and established authorities. Lands have been forcibly seized by its influence, innocents and rightful heirs to properties, inheritances, blessings, and every manner of good thing have been ripped apart by its infernal grip, and people who were not deserving of suffering, agony, sorrow, loss, betrayal, and death have had it forced upon them because of its insatiable desire for more, and the claim it exerts upon us all. It is neither a physical and supernatural power associated with the landscape, an example of the monument of the sinful and wretched human condition of the human heart, or the spiritual parallel towards mankind in all his sinful wickedness. It is... The void. Neither satisfied with existing in the world nor in the hearts of man. Never content with little or much, with anything or all things, but ever existing, ever demanding, ever exerting its right to what it so desperately desires. It is... The void. An unfortunate reality of the world we live in and the world we inhabit within and without. Neither a poetic epitome of our unfortunate condition as mere breaths within the world, a spiritual reality as a representation yet still as true to the fallen nature of the heavens and the earth, or a physical representation of what truly rules and has influence over the world of Desirahmoara, but an endless, unyielding, demanding, and completely unsatisfied force that permeates and is a part of our existence. It is... The void, and man has felt powerless by its assertion, tainted by the reach of its corruption, and fallen to humiliation, curse, and death by its manipulation and domination over the hearts of man and the world. It is... The void.
...
“Tribute line starts here! All citizens paying their tribute to the void must line up in an orderly and fashioned manner here! All other questions or inquiries can be made at the governor’s office over to my left hand! Let’s keep it moving, people! Let’s keep it moving!” a Knight called out.
“Do you actually think that they believe that trying to bring our substance and our sacrifices to the void at the center of Desirahmoara will have any affect on us or our livelihood?” my Friend asked.
“If they’re that desperate for tribute, it’s quite possible. The legends say that those who offer to the void will reap a return for their sacrifice, but other legends say it is merely the boast of its creator that entices mortals to try it to their own demise, Habban” I replied.
“What do you think?” Habban asked.
I sighed at the question. It wasn’t as simple as that. “No one knows for certain. The void has been a part of this land for sometime, and no one among mortals understands it completely. It’s best to leave such opinions alone for the time being,” I replied.
“Oh, fine, be secretive and discreet about your beliefs and opinions, Lainaron. But you and I both know that the void doesn’t do anything to help us. If anything, it’s promises are just wind and air for desperate people looking for more,” Habban teased. I rolled my eyes at Habban’s confidence.
“Is that why we’re in this line right now?” I said.
“Government orders, remember?” Habban reminded me.
“Don’t remind of that,” I replied.
“So you don’t believe it’s true then? Habban pressured.
“No, I am simply not making a final decision until I know for certain that I have made the right decision. If I don’t know and I can’t prove what I don’t know either is or isn’t true, it’s imprudent to presume that I know when in fact I know nothing at all on the matter,” I replied.
Habban laughed. “How extremely poetic of you,” Habban sarcastically noted.
“Next in line! Bring up your offering!” the Soldier declared. Habban and I brought our produce and leather tanned skins to the soldier as he inspected them, nodded, and then waved his hand in dismissal. He took the wooden crates and piled them up on top of the others while we walked away from the military quarter of the city.
“We should get out of this city and have an adventure of our own, Lainaron! We were born, raised, and have lived in the capital city of Drodan for so long! Don’t you want to see new places and new things around the world?” Habban asked.
“New things are always coming to invade the capital city of Drodan for sometime. Goblins, gnolls, kobolds, dark elves, draconanians, forest trolls, even the dark magi from the swamplands have been raiding upon the capital city. It’s no wonder they’re trying to collect tribute for the military. They need all the help they can get!” I replied. We went down the main market as many travelers and carts carried by horses and donkeys went about the streets of the marketplace, and a white bearded elder robbed in fine pure white linen was standing atop a pedestal as if about to give a speech.
“Grand Magi Gernan Thunderspeak, majordomo to the king of Drodan has announced a recruitment list for apprentice magi to enlist into his ranks. Such apprentices will be personally trained by the Grand Magi himself so that they may serve as counselors and battle mages for the army and the king! Any interested persons may sign up at the local magi guild on the bulletin on the wall!” a White-bearded magi proclaimed.
“Hey! You would be good for that job! You have the wit and the patience to become a battle magi!” Habban suggested.
I rolled my eyes at the thought. “I’d rather go back to the farm and live in peace then become a counselor for the king and a war-magi. You know how corrupt the politics are in Drodan. Do you want my head to be endangered by merely being involved in local government?” I asked.
“Lainaron! I’m telling you, you would make a great magi! You have the right temperament, the qualities, and the mind for it! You should sign up!” Habban insisted. But I scolded him as we walked back to the farm. “What? I’m just saying!” Habban said as we walked on to the roads at the entrance to the exit of the city.
...
The sound of horses and oxen trodding on the dirt roads and tilling the soil could be heard as my father came into sight as he put his hand over his eyes and took note of us. “Well, you boys finally made it back in one piece! Did you get the goods turned in?” Father asked.
“Yes, father, the crops and tanned hides were turned in as per your instructions to the military quarter and we came back home immediately,” I replied.
“Anything interesting happen at Drodan?” Father asked.
“The grand magi to the king is recruiting for apprentices for his apprenticeship. I think Lainaron should sign up and become one!” Habban suggested. Father chuckled as I rolled my eyes.
“Lainaron hates having to go out and do things outside of his comfort zone. If he could stay on this farm, work the land till the day he dies, he would do that even if he has a sharp wit and a keen mind about him,” Father teased.
“Finally! Someone who understands my lifelong dreams and ambitions!” I said with a very sarcastic tone. Father laughed at my obvious sarcastic comment and Habban smirked at me like he was hiding something. Whatever he was hiding, I really didn’t like it. It was almost as if he was going to do something behind my back. Something that I really didn’t want. I sat on the stairs of our wooden cottage as mother could be heard cooking up a storm and the smell of her roast and dinner could be whiffed from the front porch of our home. Mother always made wonderful roasted meat with all the fixins, and father always had the best quality crops to go with them. It was the benefit of owning a farm: You get to partake in some of the treasure of the land for yourself in addition to making it your livelihood. Habban sat with me as he put his arm over my shoulder.
“One day, Lainaron! You’re going to be the finest magi in all the kingdom and all the kingdom is going to admire you for it! You’ve got the sharpest wit and the most potential in the kingdom!” Habban joked.
I groaned at him. “Oh, shut it, Habban! There are plenty of people much wiser and more keenly intelligent than I am! What makes you think I have what it takes to be an apprentice, let alone a successor to the Grand Magi who serves under the king? He is the most revered and famous magi to ever serve any kingdom throughout Desirahmaora! You think I can become a protege who can best his legacy and every other magi throughout the history of the world?” I scolded.
“The fact that you even know that makes me believe that’s possible! No one among the common people knows the things you know!” Habban chuckled.
“Pick up a book and read sometime, and I am sure you would disagree,” I scolded.
...
Habban had wandered into the town for sometime. I wasn’t fond of having to do daycare duty for my dad because my best friend that I had grown up with had decided to go wander off in the city of Drodan. But, then again, it was like Habban to go out and do stuff like that so I wasn’t totally surprised. Maybe this is what it really meant to be a leader? To go out and have to regather those who have gone astray and get them back on the right track? No wonder I didn’t want a leadership position! “Lainaron! There you are!” Habban said with a coy smile on his face. I frowned at his casual greeting when we had work to do at the farm earlier today.
“Habban, you know father’s been fretting over you not being there! Why did you go out to Drodan without telling anyone? We needed you there to help us get all the chores done!” I scolded.
“Oh, no particular reason,” Habban. I hated it when he intentionally played coy and stupid with me like that. When he was doing this, it was an indication that he had done something I really wasn’t going to like, and I was about to find out what it was.
“Habban! What have you done?” I sternly demanded.
“Oh, nothing too major,” Habban coyfully teased.
“Out of all the people you could play stupid with, playing stupid with your best friend who knows you’re playing stupid with me isn’t the best decision. Now, what have you done?” I asked more harshly.
“Ah, is this the man you were referencing! The Grand Magi has taken a keen interest in you! He has heard much about you from your friend! A keen mind unlike any other throughout Drodan and the outskirts,” an Elder Counselor in rich cloth approached. I looked at Habban with this look like I was about to throttle Habban by the neck for acting this deceitfully.
“Elder Counselor, with all due respect, my wayward comrade has made an obvious mistake. As of now, I am not interested in the apprenticeship of the Grand Magi. Such rigorous training and scholarly academia is only suited for the keenest minds within the kingdom, and I, in all humility, though an avid reader as I am, don’t have the qualifications or the education to pursue such an apprenticeship, nor the leadership experience or the talent befitting of such an apprenticeship. With all due respect, Counselor for you and your masters time, I must respectfully decline,” I replied.
The Elder Counselor gave me a look like he wasn’t deceived. “Your high levels of articulation is an indication that you’re not being as honest about your own abilities as you say. Son, let me give you some advice, from one intellectual to another: There are many who covet the very talents and abilities you have which are gifts from God himself. To see such talent go to waste while you work on a farm so you can read on your off time, quite frankly, is a waste of talent. Habban has already told me your situation, about your concern with your family, and how you would rather stay there then branch out with their gifts you have been given. I assure you: If you pursue this apprenticeship, you would be doing all who know and love you, and yourself quite frankly, a huge favor. The Grand Magi has taken a keen interest in you, Lainaron. We will be at your house to speak with your family within the week. We will see you then,” the Elder Counselor presumed. I tried to find something to argue back against the Counselor’s words, but after he said that he would see me at my family’s farm within the week and he being a government official of the king, trying to argue with him on that point would have been fruitless and counter productive.
“Habban, do you know how much I hate you right now?” I scolded.
“Oh, lighten up, Lainaron! He’s right! A man of your keen intellect and ability shouldn’t allow such talent to go to waste! You have a gift that could be used for such good!” Habban encouraged.
“Habba, I don’t think you understand: I don’t want to be involved in such apprenticeships at all! Do you even understand the political climate and the times? There’s a lot of dirty politics and dark things going on behind the scenes about the king of Drodan and the void. You may have endangered all of us by thrusting me into the political scene!” I scolded.
“Oh, come on, Lainaron! It can’t be all that bad! If you’re in a position of government, you can help us all out and be a benefit to others as well! It will be great! Trust me!” Habban naively encouraged.
“You’re an idiot, you know that Habban?” I rebuked.
“Well, that’s why I have you as my best friend, right?” Habban teased.
“Oh, is that the only reason why you’re my friend? How assuring! My best friend is only in it for the perks he can get!” I pouted.
“Oh shut up, Lainaron! That’s not what I meant! We’ve grown up together and we’ve been through a lot! I’m just saying! You have a gift and a talent! No reason it should never see use in this lifetime!” Habban said.
“For better or worse at this point. Come on! Let’s go home! We need to explain this situation to my family!” I scolded.
