Author's Note: Well, so here is the first chapter of this story. A big thank you to the people who have commented on the prologue and encouraged me to write the first chapter soon. This story will be trying to reflect Zalasta's whole life, but it is NOT a book like Belgarath's or Polgara's. Those stories are written all after the main story, and are filled by their comments and views. This isn't like that -- this takes place while the story develops. Just thought I'd clear that bit. Also, it's very likely that each chapter will include several entries.

Without further trash talk, here's the first chapter of the journal!


DISCLAIMER: The characters and the world all belong to David Eddings. I'm merely borrowing them all.
THE JOURNAL OF THE STYRIC

by Ephetat

CHAPTER ONE - The Time of Innocence

I have fallen in love, and I am content.

I am Zalasta of the Styric village of Ylara. I was born sixteen years ago, and Ylara, even with its crude huts and mud streets, is my home.

I hunger for knowledge, and I have always sought to sate that hunger with my studies. And therefore, I spend most of my time in our crude library, and it is the sole place I feel fullfilled. And so I have reached fullfillment at the tender age of sixteen, and I am happy.

That was what I thought before I saw her and realized what a misconception I was living, how empty I was, and how ignorant I had been.

She is called Sephrenia. She is yet young, but already she has touched my heart with her small, gentle hand. She is fair beyond measure, and her voice falls upon my ears as the voice of an angel, purely white and innocent, one that makes one's heart ache with its beauty. And her smile. Her smile melts my defenses and makes me smile even in my blackest day. And her trust in me and her love, which she gives freely to people, leaves me in wonder.

And so I know without doubt that I love her and that with her shall my life reach its culmination and true fullfilment.

And I know I shall have her as my bride, as it is my fate, forged by the handshake of the two families.


I was there when the agreement took place. My and Sephrenia's family get on well with each other, and it was during one of the meetings between the families when the subject was brought up by my father, Ghadon.

"Our reason of this visit was not only our valued comradeship and friendliness, Vathar," my father was saying. Then he looked more grave as he continued. "We have a proposal for you and your family, and I am afraid that you may not look favorably on it. Be assured, however, that we offer you this in totally good faith."

Sephrenia's father laughed. "Why so formal, Ghadon?" he asked. "Though I have known you for a long time, friend, and you have always been a little stuffy." He grinned at my father, and I had to conceal my smile. Sephrenia's father always had an interesing sense of humor. I had to admit that he was probably right, however. I have recieved quite similar comments from other friends and my family, and a lot of comments like "That boy is Ghadon's son, isn't he? He is also grouchy like this. I tell you what, Madin, that fellow really ought to lighten up a little.", which I heard in the town tavern by a good humored patron, and a friend of our family.

My father smiled. "I guess you're right. My wife will tell you about our proposal, then. She's always better than me at this sort of thing." He smiled fondly at my mother, Sarena. I love my mother. She is kind and caring and she smiles over me and protects me just as my father does, and I realize that how lucky I am to be born as their child.

She smiled back. "Well, very basically, we want to create a bond between our two families," she explained. "For a long time we have been friends and comrades during conflict who stood up for each other, and we have never regretted it. And now we are thinking of a more permament and holy act." I began to have a few thoughts about what she may be thinking of, at this point. "Basically, we'd like your little angel here -" He smiled at Sephrenia, who was sitting near me, and I began to hold my breath. "- for our son, Zalasta."

The moment I heard mother say that, my heart started to pound like it has never done that before.

"Thus," she continued, "our families will be bound like none other, and it will, we hope, lead to even greater understanding and comradeship in the future."

Sephrenia's father and mother considered this with a faint smile on their faces. To my surprise, Sephrenia didn't really react unusally to this proposal. I got the feeling that she didn't know about the full implications of it.

"Well," Sephrenia's mother said, "it surely is an unusual proposal. However, I see your reasons and your cause, and it makes sense, and it is a noble offer." My heart began to soar within me. "I do not see any problems with it. Do you, Vathan?"

"No, Melina," he replied. "I find myself in agreement with you. However, I think our children should also have a say in this." He smiled at Sephrenia. "What do you say, dear?"

She considered it. While it is often nonsense to ask such a young child to consider such a proposal, Sephrenia always was very mature and acted older. It is one of the things I admire about her. Then she turned and regarded me with her large, luminous eyes, and my heart started to pound even harder. I think that I had even blushed that day, because Sephrenia began to smile faintly while looking at me.

"It's okay, father. Zalasta and I get along well, anyway. He's so nice to me and brings me books and tells me stories." She smiled at me again, and I somehow managed to smile back.

"That settles it then," Vathar grinned. "And you, Zalasta?"

I can not describe the thousand feelings that came over me as I said that fatal "Yes, I love her."

My father smiled shrewdly at me, and with that smile I was shocked to realize that he knew about my feelings all along! How could I have been so transparent! I was going to have a long talk with him. "Well then," he said, "it's done, isn't it?"

Everyone had a fairly indulgent smiles on their faces as they agreed.

And, as they bound my fate and made that moment eternal in my mind, so have I started this journal to preserve the rest of my life in fond memories.


Well, did you like it? I admit that it was a little fluffy, but please, it's my first try. Couple of things to keep in mind:

While writing this entry, Zalasta i) is still an innocent - ie. not yet corrupted and hating ii) genuinely is in love with Sephrenia.

The Styrics were all modelled after the ones in Sarsos, NOT the Elene kingdoms. The Eosian Styrics are no more than puppets, and no matter the condition of Ylara, I wanted the Styrics there to have real lives.

And lastly, stay tuned for the next chapter and THANKS FOR READING!

Ephetat.