Prologue
Wind teased the silvery hair on the back of a young man's head,
and water lapped gently across his side. In a flicker of movement,
his eyes fluttered open, taking in his surroundings for the first time.
They were emerald green, like his mothers. Slowly he rose into a
sitting position, wiping the sand from the corner of his mouth. It
took him a while to realize just what had happened, although he will
never forget. Finally the memories washed upon him, and all he could
do was lower his face to the sand below, and weep...
*******************************************
"Don't get too close to that reef, Ryne." his mother's voice came
gently, but still somehow strict. Her bright green eyes flashed sternly,
and Ry eased the "Silvite's Sorrow" a little further from the rocks
that threatened to collide with them.
He didn't argue with his mother, and as far as he could remember,
never had. Her gentile wisdom had never steered him wrong, and he
trusted her completely. She was, after all, a living legend, and
the only remaining pure blooded Silvite. He, on the other hand, was
only half Silvite. This was evidenced by the silver moon crystal
embedded in his right hand, though he lacked the control over it his mother
had gained over the years.
They called her "Fina the Wise" for it was through her wisdom
that the War for the Crystals was won. That was nearly
twenty years ago, and still a hushed silence would come into a room
whenever she entered. She didn't like all that attention, which is
why she usually stayed at home on Crescent Isle, and left his father
Vyse to handle things.
His father seemed to enjoy his time in the limelight, much more
so than his mother. He was always off doing something or another
in his ship the "Phoenix". After the war he'd returned his renowned
ship the Delphinus to King Enrique, who'd received it gladly. Valua
had been targeted by Black Pirates, who'd regularly raided the
fledgling city being built on the ashes of the old Valuan capital. When
the "Delphinus" joined his arsenal once again, raiding ceased, and a
grand city was built, no longer divided into the upper and lower halves.
Noble family lines were all but forgotten, and prosperity rained upon
all citizens of Valua.
Then there was Aika. No one had seen her for nearly seventeen
years, ever since his parents were wed. Everyone had known that
she was in love with Vyse... except Vyse himself. The night of the
wedding Aika disappeared into the night, taking a small ship she
called the "Wings of Gold". There had been sightings of her of course.
Her face was as well known as the rest of them. The last anyone knew,
she was captain of an all female pirate ship, that raided black pirates
and hunted for lost treasure.
"Ease back on the throttle, Ry. Shrine Isle is just ahead."
Ryne did as his mother asked, finally seeing the small island for
himself. Ever since the lost continent of Soltis disappeared under the
clouds once again, taking with it the lives of those fighting against
Glacien, the island had been turned into a graveyard. There were
small monuments all round the isle, honoring those who gave their
lives for the cause of freedom. As long as he could remember He and
his mother had come to this place to pray for their souls.
******************************
A shiver ran down Ry's spine. The sun was beginning to set, and the
Silver Moon becoming more visible in the cold night sky. This place
was eerie in the day. He didn't even want to think of what night was like.
He was scared, though his mother was only about twenty yards away,
kneeling at a strange unmarked grave, the same one she visited every
year. She never talked about whose grave it was, but Ry knew it had
to be her childhood friend. The name Ramirez was never spoken by
anyone, and no child has ever bore that name since. Finally he saw his
mother stand, wipe a lone tear from her eye, and make her way toward him.
"Come Ry... Your father is waiting at Pirates Isle.." She said softly.
Suddenly, the ground around his started to quake violently, and he
heard his mother scream as she fell to the ground.
"MOM!" He shouted, stumbling over to her.
He felt a searing pain in his right hand, and looking forward he saw a
white light emanating from his mother's chest. He heard a roar from
above, and only had enough time to glimpse a sliver shape
free falling from above, before the pain became more than he could bear,
and he drifted into a deep blackness...
****************************
Wind teased the silvery hair on the back of a young man's head,
and water lapped gently across his side. In a flicker of movement,
his eyes fluttered open, taking in his surroundings for the first time.
They were emerald green, like his mothers. Slowly he rose into a
sitting position, wiping the sand from the corner of his mouth. It
took him a while to realize just what had happened, although he will
never forget. Finally the memories washed upon him, and all he could
do was lower his face to the sand below, and weep...
*******************************************
"Don't get too close to that reef, Ryne." his mother's voice came
gently, but still somehow strict. Her bright green eyes flashed sternly,
and Ry eased the "Silvite's Sorrow" a little further from the rocks
that threatened to collide with them.
He didn't argue with his mother, and as far as he could remember,
never had. Her gentile wisdom had never steered him wrong, and he
trusted her completely. She was, after all, a living legend, and
the only remaining pure blooded Silvite. He, on the other hand, was
only half Silvite. This was evidenced by the silver moon crystal
embedded in his right hand, though he lacked the control over it his mother
had gained over the years.
They called her "Fina the Wise" for it was through her wisdom
that the War for the Crystals was won. That was nearly
twenty years ago, and still a hushed silence would come into a room
whenever she entered. She didn't like all that attention, which is
why she usually stayed at home on Crescent Isle, and left his father
Vyse to handle things.
His father seemed to enjoy his time in the limelight, much more
so than his mother. He was always off doing something or another
in his ship the "Phoenix". After the war he'd returned his renowned
ship the Delphinus to King Enrique, who'd received it gladly. Valua
had been targeted by Black Pirates, who'd regularly raided the
fledgling city being built on the ashes of the old Valuan capital. When
the "Delphinus" joined his arsenal once again, raiding ceased, and a
grand city was built, no longer divided into the upper and lower halves.
Noble family lines were all but forgotten, and prosperity rained upon
all citizens of Valua.
Then there was Aika. No one had seen her for nearly seventeen
years, ever since his parents were wed. Everyone had known that
she was in love with Vyse... except Vyse himself. The night of the
wedding Aika disappeared into the night, taking a small ship she
called the "Wings of Gold". There had been sightings of her of course.
Her face was as well known as the rest of them. The last anyone knew,
she was captain of an all female pirate ship, that raided black pirates
and hunted for lost treasure.
"Ease back on the throttle, Ry. Shrine Isle is just ahead."
Ryne did as his mother asked, finally seeing the small island for
himself. Ever since the lost continent of Soltis disappeared under the
clouds once again, taking with it the lives of those fighting against
Glacien, the island had been turned into a graveyard. There were
small monuments all round the isle, honoring those who gave their
lives for the cause of freedom. As long as he could remember He and
his mother had come to this place to pray for their souls.
******************************
A shiver ran down Ry's spine. The sun was beginning to set, and the
Silver Moon becoming more visible in the cold night sky. This place
was eerie in the day. He didn't even want to think of what night was like.
He was scared, though his mother was only about twenty yards away,
kneeling at a strange unmarked grave, the same one she visited every
year. She never talked about whose grave it was, but Ry knew it had
to be her childhood friend. The name Ramirez was never spoken by
anyone, and no child has ever bore that name since. Finally he saw his
mother stand, wipe a lone tear from her eye, and make her way toward him.
"Come Ry... Your father is waiting at Pirates Isle.." She said softly.
Suddenly, the ground around his started to quake violently, and he
heard his mother scream as she fell to the ground.
"MOM!" He shouted, stumbling over to her.
He felt a searing pain in his right hand, and looking forward he saw a
white light emanating from his mother's chest. He heard a roar from
above, and only had enough time to glimpse a sliver shape
free falling from above, before the pain became more than he could bear,
and he drifted into a deep blackness...
****************************