Chapter 1
When people write a story we typically want to start in the middle, where it gets really good. But this story started a long time ago and wasn’t very interesting and our hero wasn’t alive for most of it. Suffice to say, don’t expect a prequel.
The hero, Nathaniel the Noble was happy with his family. And in a world where, a drink from the wrong glass and you may burn down the tavern by mistake, that is tough to do. Lucky for Nathaniel taking in the vial of mind he can open a portal to his Home. In this case, home is where the heart is, it was a literal empty nothing where his family thrived in secret. And as the village porter he helped people get Home. He did this for a living in this world brought people Home. He would sit in an office and wait for people to come get a port to their own personal Home. Sometimes he would follow someone to a local craftsman. To help them port some boxes or a large price of furniture and the occasional large family. On rare occasions a child would come.
Seeing children is rare because of Slone the Devine’s prime edict. “The grand intellectual leap.” States that for the betterment of the lost tribe of humans all must deliver children over the age of two to the grand education center. Once there the children are given more of an education then any human that has ever lived on the planet and given freedom the population couldn’t even imagined. All relatives have access to them at all time for visits and the families saw it work and learned a great deal themselves in the visits, so it became normal.
This is not earth. This planet has a name and if I ever have the chance to meet the original hosts it will be a question to get to, if we have the time. But for now we observe the country of Telemere and the rebellion hosted by the neighbors to the north afraid of the eminence power flowing from the five holy relic given to the four leaders chosen by Slone, and himself.
It was strange for a small boy to approach Nathaniel out of nowhere, even the rebellion sends them with a trusted adult yet there was a child in front of him all alone. “What’s you name little guy how did you get here.” He questioned approaching slowly. The little boy walked deeper into the door way, seemingly lost and confused but unafraid. He looked like he hadn’t showered in days. And he was clutching a note. “This is Slone’s child please keep him safe.” The handwriting seemed quite feminine and still wet with what he assumed were tears. “Where’s your mother?” He asked to no avail.
The boy made some hand motions as if to say something. But Nathaniel understood nothing. “Come with me. Neil and Kat would love to have another kid to play with.” Nathaniel walked over and touched a panel. “Do you trust me? Nathaniel asked his hand stretched out. The kid nodded and with that Nathaniel went Home for the last time.
The transition from where you are to home Looks like to observers, a big flashy mess of light and reflection. But from the point of view of the people going in, it’s smoky darkness. Often the darkness horrifies children. The Boy seemed to like it. Or maybe he has been through it a lot. Nathaniel has always treated these portals like a devils bargain. “An encounter with a devil which has all the angels trust” he would say to his kids.
The old world covered his home. The inner space that the family lived. It was several buildings made of quite raw material. As the kid walked out of the smoke there was a covering above him and grassy field as far as the eyes could see. The kid knelt down in shock. Feeling the ground beneath him “It took me two months to transfer the dirt, alone. Thank you for noticing...” A pause as the boy looked up from the grass. “You can hear me right?” The Kid nodded.
“I guess I get to talk then.” Nathaniel said taking an extra deep breath “okay so the large building in front of you is the Wood house in there is the family aera. My wife will help you with anything you need. She’s the one in red.” he pointed to a scene of a young lady in a red dress leading a game of duck duck goose with six children. The children all wore various colors boys mixed the blues and greens and the girls wore pink white and yellow. Each girl with their own color. The kid looked down at his clothes browns and blacks dominated and were very dirty and tattered. His clothing had an otherworldly air about them Nathaniel noted. Pressing on he pointed to a stone building with a distinctly flat cube style “that is for the adults, you wouldn’t find it very interesting.” then tugging on The Kid’s hand the two began walking toward the third major building.
This is Tresska’s garden and where you get new clothes and a good meal and most importantly where we come to learn how to grow and what ways are safest and most fun. Tresska, my great, great aunt been alive over 200 years. They approached the building which looked to be made of the plants themselves flowers colored it and an warm sweet smokewas spilling out the back. The door was vines that moved out of the way as they approached, inside was a vast empty space. Mostly plants made up the walls a pile of stones made a simple and safe furnace for Tresska to cook in. Next to the furnace sat a woman who’s kindly stern face asks that her age not the be revealed, while her fluid motions revealed a youth about her. s she worked over an open fire, spoke loudly to some children using some of her gentle discipline.
Nathaniel knelt down “Tresska of Love has dedicated her life to helping kids like you so much so some refuse to address her without her title.” The kid oozed confidence walking over to Tresska like they had met. Tresska didn’t expect it but greeted him with a spoon full of a stew she had just finished making.
“try this” she said presenting the kid with a spoonful of flavorful hearty stew. The boy tasted it giving him pause, tears began spilling out his cry was quiet. Tresska grabbed the boy holding him close. Nathaniel walked out the plants closing behind him, setting the scene for an intimacy required for the horrific trauma in store.
Nathaniel approached his wife a vision of red hovering over the children like protective warm fire. As the yellow little girl danced around the others saying “Duck… Duck….”
Her voice danced with childlike enthusiasm . Her actions sang brightly of her grace.Nathaniel loved her, his actions proved to her their whole life together must be dedicated to giving her a chance to help children grow and change.
“Bey is ready to leave he wants to say goodbye.” she greeted him with a sweet kiss on his five o’clock shadow.
“His Mentor finally slipped him a positive?” he asked
“It was actually a full message. Stating how eager
Axal the Machinist is to finally work with him. And how the ‘Engineer’ title is on his horizon.” she squeaked out excitedly
“I saw it too he is ready to learn beyond what we can give him. I for one am excited to see him do it.” Nathaniel said reaching into his pocket for a little baggie handing it to her
“that kid is going to change the world ” She agreed taking the bag and looking inside. Her eyes got big as she looked back at him. “Chocolate!” sheexcitedly walked back to the children playing Duck Duck goose. “Nathaniel Got us chocolate Who wants a piece!” She said aloud for any children to hear. The children swarmed her some came running out of the wood house. The odd one out was Beys the “un-adopted child.” and older than the rest by a decade or more. After each one received a piece they ran over to Nathaniel and took his attention. Asking various questions they had been holing all day. This kept him busy as Tresska arrived calling for the kids to come to the garden for a meal giving Nathaniel a chance to breathe “so when are we leaving?” Nathaniel asked Beys who opened his arms for a hug.
“Actually… He called and wants to advance me deeper into the program. He said that after analyzing my data I belong in the next class. I go in tomorrow.”
“Great job kid you did it I knew you could show him your potential. And after only a day I guess they really do want you beys great work.” This time Nathaniel grabbed him and pulled him close for another hug.
I’ll get you tomorrow and we will go to trust-home. Jara will be pleased to bring you to Axal the mechanist. Nathaniel explained.
“I’m going to go tell Mom. I’ll see you at dinner?” Bey wondered
“I’ll be a little late but yeah I think I’ll see you.” Nathaniel said heading toward the garden. Tresska walked out of her garden holding the boy’s hand and giggling,
Nathaniel’s wife came out of the garden after Bey entered “so this little one is called The Boy?”Tresska asked as she approached.
“All I got was this note” he said reaching into his pocket and procuring thenote the boy came with and handed it to Tresska just as Nathaniel’s wife walked up behind Tresska
Who is thi…. ”she started. She read the note over Tresska shoulder
“Slone’s Kid!!” Nathaniel’s wife said in a volume that startled Tresska making her drop the note.
Nathaniel’s wife apologized. Nathaniel picked up the Little scrap for the first time he saw some small writing on the back. it’s said “Please help him.” Fire burned in his heart. “This is all I got.” He said referring to the note. “And the boy isn’t talking” handing the note for his wife to inspect. He pointed to the back of the note.
“No name?” Tresska added. Looking down to the boy in wonder. The boy shook his head. Shocking them all. “Surly you have a name.” Tresska said The boy shook his head again.
“Well then what do we call you?.” Nathaniel asked the boy moved his hands to give his name. After a short pause Nathaniel said “I don’t know how to say that.”
The ladies giggled about it a sec before Tresska spoke up. Perhaps we need to talk to the Trusted they always know something we don’t. Besides I got a feeling I need to visit.
“They don’t usually send feeling they must not want it intercepted.” Nathaniel replied
“it was the rebellion. They have a mission for me.” Tresska smiled.
“You know the rebellion is in trouble when they need the help of a 269 year old ‘Glass head’” Nathaniel laughed.
“well they need this old glass head to make good on her 269 year promise. The feeling is that he is here.” she looked at the boy with a smile adjusting him on her hip.
“What do we call The Boy” Tresska asked looking at the boy who was nodding to
“You’re okay with us calling you the boy?” Nathaniel said more than asked but The Boy nodded enthusiastically in response.
Farewells we’re had before Nathaniel left. Went through the portal back to the real world to ask some trusted friend some questions
It was a short trip in the real world. Over some hills far away from the forgetting lake. Tresska Nathaniel and the Boy arrived at the Trusthome. on the left was a tall tower living trees wrapped around each other to form is massive height. Atop it sat a massive wide brimmed black pointed hat golden braided cable wrapped around the edges giving it a natural elegance.
Next to it another tower this one made of countless enormous stones. A wrinkly old brown wide brimmed pointed hat. Giving it the air of an old wizard.
“The story goes that when Thramm met Cinnth. The had a bet to see who could make the biggest tower fastest. A contest on the powder of creation.
It is said that Thramm quickly conjured several small pebbles and Cinnth conjured only one seed. They both planted it deep in the fertile ground. When at the same momenttogether the pair tossed their hat their onto what they conjured. The hats began to grow together. Thramm looked at Cinnth at it was that exact instant the fell in love and trusted each other wholly. Now we can all trust them for their love helped their differences grow.
Nathaniel looked down at The Boy who was transfixed by the oddity of the towers. Awe plain on his face.
“Let’s head in and meet them.”
Tresska was a woman who loves wearing gowns.With long auburn hair and a look of someone fifty years her junior she was well known. She knock on the door in front of her saying, ” I was told to meet a Draelynn.” The door opened to reveal a quite tall, quite well-dressed man of middling years. His voice came out sweetly ” and I was told to meet a Tresska. “in my one hundred and twenty seven years and Travels across this land I have never heard the name Draelynn, nor would I imagine him to be quite as tall and dashing.
His response caught her off guard with its quickness ” In my Sixty years and travels across now two worlds I’ve heard that name once and ever since ive needed to see someone so highly spoken of she would come to be known as Tresska Of Love.” She blushed which she never does. But her response was just at intriguing “Well then as the one who got you here maybe I should be the one to show you around.” she offered her arm and he took it after grabbing a bag, they ascended the stairs to the entryway they saw Nathaniel and a little Blond boy.
“this is Draelynn” Tresska said introducing her new friend to Nathaniel who greeted answering with an introduction of his own “This is the Boy.”
Draelynn looked at the Boy shocked “Surely he has a name”
he told me that he has a name but no way of communicating it because he’s mute. In fact every time someone tried to name him he refused to respond. Only when you refer to him as ‘the Boy’ does he respond.” Nathaniel said as he approached the boy holding out a small wooden top. “Tresska made this for any child that may want it. I’ll show you how it works.”
He knelt down and spun the top on the hard wood floor beneath him. ” it is enchanted so only the owner can stop it. Im giving it to you now. Look I can’t stop it.” he reached down to stop the top but all Nathaniel could do was get a small burn on his hand. The little boys Eyes grew as he reach down carefully to grab it stopping it instantly. The boy giggled and went to task to get it spinning again.
“Nathaniel your nobility is known across the land” the most average looking man stood in front Cinnth the Trusted wife of Thramm the Trusted consorts of Slone the divine. The only ones that could be trusted. The title being quite apt at describing them. “I must ask why you have come?”
Nathaniel smiled broadly “I found this child with a note”
“He came with a note saying this is Slone’s son.”
A servant came to retrieve the note. The look on their face as they read the note was grimm “I feared this most of all. Nathaniel the noble be warned Slone has made a deal with the Seed of Chaos beware taking in someone so close to him.” Cinnth warned
“Nathaniel return home something is not right about this. Don’t let Slone hurt your family” Thramm exclaimed. But Thramm’s warning was too late Nathaniel disappeared to a horrifying display of abject terror.
