The Chronicle
Prologue
The sky, adorned by a sea of brilliant stars, hung low over the sweeping dunes that sheltered a small encampment of rag-tag tents. The night was quiet and still, as though the wind itself waited with bated breath. Splitting the silence like a rock thrown in a pond a single cry rang out into the night. Suddenly slender blue-skinned figures began emerging from the tents, as they did so they conveyed a sense of weightlessness, as though they could just as easily walk upon the winds as they do across the sand. Half a dozen more figures emerged from the tent and spread to reveal a woman with navy blue hair carrying a baby in her arms. The babe took a great breath as if to unleash another wail, but it seemed to catch as his gray eyes beheld the stars above him.
"Hush now Akash." the woman cooed as she brushed a lock of wispy blue hair from the child's face. "The stars are here to guide you, as they have for all of our people. I want you to remember that even when life becomes hard for you they will always be there, and through them you can connect to your past lives and ask for guidance." As she finished speaking tables were produced from the tents alongside a number of platters containing all manner of foods. Three individuals revealed small instruments from their cloaks and struck up a lively beat to which these strange peoples among the sand began to sway and dance to. The song that the bards wove was once of success and adventure, prophesying the life of their newest brother. The revelry continued far into the night until the earliest rays of the rising sun to the East chased the stars from sight.
Akash, now a young boy, clambers atop a frozen rock and looks back to call out, "Ha! I told you I could beat you to the peak Buran!" A slightly larger boy looks up at Akash, and replies.
"Perhaps you beat me to the peak, but can you hold your ground!" He lunges up the last portion of his climb and tackles Akash to the ground, their fur jackets cushioning the fall. Rolling across the the frosty lichen they tussle back and forth neither seeming to gain the upper hand until the larger boy with a gleam in his eye slides his hand across Akash's boot, a white light trails from his fingertips and a clear blue ice rushes forth freezing Akash in the spot. Allowing Buran to gain the upper hand, leaping to his feet, leaving Akash to struggle with his icy predicament
"Hey! No fair!" He exclaims, "You know I can't use magic, that's cheating!"
"Better luck next time Akash. I'm sure your magic will come soon enough. Stars know I had to wait forever for mine to finally manifest."
"I know" Akash pouted, "But I hate still being grouped with the other kids, I want to help you and the others collect the clouds."
"All in good time Akash, for now let's head back to camp, your mother is probably going to have my head for staying out so late." With a wave of his hand the ice trapping Akash's foot dissipated into a thin steam that curled into the afternoon sky.
The two boys began to descend from the peak scrambling over the jagged terrain with a practiced ease. On some of the larger rocks they would jump into the sky and spread their arms as if to take flight, only to glide down to earth light as a feather. Soon the rocks gave way to a forest of thin pine trees covered in a rich green moss. Now in the homestretch the boys flat out sprinted for a clearing in the trees from which several wisps of smoke arose and a rich, comforting smell emanated.
"Smells like we're doing goat stew tonight! Last one there has to eat the eye!" Buran yelled out.
Redoubling their efforts they spilled into the clearing, right as Akash turned to declare his victory to his friend he slammed into the steadfast body of his father with a large cask hoisted atop his shoulder. Smiling as he realized what, or rather who ran into him.
"Hello boys, I see you've had another adventurous afternoon." His voice rolled forth like a spring thunderstorm. "Who won the race to the peak today?"
"I did!" declared Akash, "But Buran cheated, while we wrestled. He froze my foot in place even though I can't use magic yet! It's not fair."
"Life is rarely fair Akash, but we learn to use the gifts we are given to make our way through it. You will get your magic soon enough" he lowered his voice so that only Akash could hear "plus, once it does, I'll teach you some tricks that even Buran's old man doesn't know and you can catch him by surprise. How does that sound?" Akash's face lit up with a quick grin, and he nodded in agreement. "Now boys, go see what you can do to help with the meal preparations, smells like goat stew tonight"
"Yes sir!" the boys replied dashing off to the center of camp. Advindr looked on at them with a fond expression, but in his eyes there was a twinge of worry. Akash was approaching manhood, and while in good spirits he still showed none of the usual signs of manifestation.
Running deeper into the camp Akash and Buran wheeled around a corner to the central dining space where a large cauldron was suspended from a low fire, spewing forth the rich scent of goat stew. Akash's mother stood over the cauldron slowly stirring it with a long paddle, her once dark hair now streaked with strands of silver. Others milled about the space getting three long tables set with carved wooden bowls and spoons. A woman looked up from the table she was setting and yelled out.
"Buran! Akash! Don't just stand there, come help with the tables. Stars know you haven't done anything else useful today!" They quickly sprang into action, Buran grabbing a stack of bowls and Akash an armful of spoons. Together they quickly finished setting the final table. As they finished more people filed into the area and began to take seats at the tables. After the tables were filled Akash's mother asked in a soft, but powerful voice.
"Is everyone ready?" After a resounding boom of approval from the tables she let go of the paddle and raised her hands. The stew raised up in a great flowing ball, and with quick, yet fluid movements she directed streams of it that shot out landing in the bowls, perfectly portioning the stew for those assembled at the tables. As she finished and took her place at one of the tables everyone clapped once and declared in a single voice, "Let's eat!"
The meal was full of lively conversation with neighbors sharing the business of the day, and elders regaling a handful of children with tales of their long past adventures. The one constant was small sparks of magic throughout the interactions. Descriptions of new techniques, or issues with one spell or another, elders creating scintillating sparks to dazzle the youths. Looking up from his bowl of stew Akash felt a similar feeling to that which his father felt, what if his magic never came, what then? Surely he could continue to live among the others, but he would never truly be one of them.
Wolves howled in the night. A common occurrence in the foothills of the Barzul mountains, but tonight the howls seemed to be carried on by a mysterious wind, they wound around the camp, and wormed their way into the minds of those who heard it. Lying in his bedroll Akash buried his head under his day-pack desperately attempting to drive the howls from his mind, but the harder he tried the deeper they seemed to pierce. The eerie howls were suddenly met by a new sound, an alarm signal from the northern edge of camp. Bolting upright, now fully awake Akash's thoughts converged into a single word, Buran. He was on the northern watch tonight. Leaping from his bedroll and hastily pulling on rough-spun pants before tearing aside the entrance flap to his tent, the cool night air stinging his exposed chest. Taking but a moment to gather his bearings before dashing off through the camp towards the sounds of combat.
When he emerged from the outer ring of tents he was greeted by the sight of man and beast locked in mortal combat. A pack of great silver wolves leapt about the fray their fangs glistening with the blood of their victims in the cold moonlight the two sentries, Buran and Kova stood back to back desperately attempting to survive the onslaught. Kova failed to fend off his assailants as three wolves coordinated a simultaneous attack, taking him by the throat. As another wolf lunged at Buran he outstretched his arms and caught his staff between the jaws of the assaulting wolf. With a shout he twisted his staff causing a sickening snap from the wolf's neck and as he tossed its corpse aside he finally noticed Akash's approach from the camp. His eyes lit up at the sight of his friend, only to fill with pain as a second wolf took advantage of his moment of distraction, its jaws clamping onto his shoulder forcing him to the blood-slick ground.
Akash felt time slow as Buran's form landed with a soft thump. As the light of Buran's sky blue eyes faded a power swelled within Akash's chest. A ring of vibrant forest green swept out from him. The wolves took notice and attempted to flee from the energy, but it rapidly overtook them, and as it did their brilliant coats withered and collapsed into themselves until they resembled a corpse left to the sun and sand of the southern desert. After the final wolf fell the energy rapidly imploded back into Akash, and he became overwhelmed with exhaustion. He stumbled forward, collapsing next to Buran, allowing his hand to brush against his fallen friend. Expecting to feel nothing but the stillness of a corpse Akash was amazed to feel the last remnants of the energy he had unleashed flow into Buran, and a new breath bloomed within Buran's chest. The two slowly turned their heads to look at each other.
"See, I told you that you would figure it out eventually" Buran rasped "one hell of a trick." With that they both looked up to the stars above and allowed sleep to take them. Their bodies weary from the ordeal they had managed to survive.
Three years later Akash rode the wind with his father far above the dry sands of the desert where he was born. Tonight they took advantage of the cool night that formed thin clouds above the dunes. They soared into the mist that made up the cloud, mirroring each other's dance-like movements they directed the cloud to bend and flow into the small cask that they had suspended between themselves. After a couple passes the cloud was reduced to a passing memory, their cask barely half full from the effort. But it was water that they could sell in Ballass or use for their own thirsty people, it would not go unnoticed. Still, Akash felt frustrated by this mission.
Since he awakened his magic three years ago Akash had yet to produce a spell half as potent as that which he had unleashed against the wolves. His training with his father allowed him to gain moments of clarity and control he was far from consistent. The one constant with his magic was that it was always easier while the stars shone bright in the night above him. Something about their unwavering celestial presence helped set his mind at ease and stilled his nerves allowing him to work the energy within. His mother always told him that the stars were his guide, and that they would be there for him when everything else failed. He felt a great pride in helping his people gather water, but something just felt off. At night when practicing his magic Akash would look up at the stars and instead of seeing his ancestors, and his history he saw a pathway forged in starlight that would lead him into the future, beyond the restrictions of his people.
Advindr and Akash touched back down to earth on a small dune just outside their encampment. As they began to haul the cask down Akash spoke up to his father. "I've been thinking father…what if in the fall, as we return to the mountains I stay at one of the towns we pass through?" A shadow fell over Advindr's face, but he remained silent. Glancing at his father's face Akash hesitantly continued, "I can help with the desert harvest and sales, the mountain harvest is easier, and Gale just had her manifestation, I can take extra time to help train her so that she can help with the mountain harvest."
"Son, we all felt the pull of adventure when we are your age, but you have to stay with the tribe. Everyone needs to pull their weight. What would you even do on this adventure you speak of? You have your magic, but you and I both know that you can't fully control it. What if you never return to us, what would that do to your mother, to me?" The two finished their brief trek to camp in a weighty silence.
They entered camp to a dreary sight. Most of their water supplies had been depleted and the desert clouds were mere wisps, providing little water to add. The two, still in the depths of their silence, carried the cask to a larger cask mounted to a set of large wheels just outside of the central dining ring. Advindr deftly spank atop the traveling cask with a burst of wind. Emptying one into the other he peered inside and even expecting disappointment he still felt a pang of frustration at the level they were left with. leaping off the cask, Advindr grasped Akash by the shoulders. "Look around you boy, our people are thirsty and we need every capable water-bearer to help us all survive. You cannot leave, we will survive this, but if you leave only the stars know what will happen to us next time. Please son, for our people."
The dinner that night was spread thin across the many members of the tribe, nobody being able to eat their fill. Advindr's words still rang in Akash's mind, and yet the hunger he felt was not only from the light meal, but also from the stars above pushing him to adventure. Once the dishes were washed with the now cooling sand Akash retired to his family's tent awaiting sleep's release from the hunger. Just as he felt its pull begin to wash over him, Aela appeared at the entrance to the tent.
"Hello Akash." she said in a quiet voice. "Your father told me about the discussion the two of you had earlier. He just has the wellness of the tribe on his mind." Akash turned over on his bedroll expecting yet another lecture about responsibility and his duty to his people. Yet, he was shocked to hear his mother continue on "That being said, if you feel the stars are calling you, I think you should forge your own path among them." Akash bolted upright.
"Do you mean that?" He questioned, suspicion thick upon his voice.
"Yes my son, we are a strong people, the stars have their path for us, but if yours takes you elsewhere you must follow it. Wherever you go, whatever you choose the stars will be your guide back to us, and a reminder of our love. Your father is so thick skulled I suspect he was born to the earth in a former life, but even he won't stop you if you leave. The only thing that I ask is to wait for us to finish the summer season before you go." Her voice trailing off at the end. Akash met his mother's eyes before pulling her into an embrace.
"Thank you mother. I promise I will stay for the summer, and I will follow my path across the stars." Releasing the embrace a new sense of calm washed over him and he felt sleep take ahold of him whisking him across the cosmos of his dream.