CTMAS - Prologue

Computer, Tell Me a Story

Prologue

War.  No one wants it.  But differences and scarcity make it inevitable.  This is Eldris.  The days long past when the five ruling kingdoms turned against each other in an effort to impose their principles on one another.
“Run Marko!” A soldier clad in reinforced armor shouted, passing a little baby to a friend.  “Get him to safety!  Hurry!”
Those were his last words as Marko ran, channeling his feet with magic, hastening his stride.  A fireball erupted behind him as the emblem of the winged lizard fluttered in the burning sky.  Not even reinforced armor could have that much stopping power.
Everything behind him was ashes.  He could hear shouts and the flapping of reptilian wings giving chase.  Marko held the infant close, hastening his steps.  He’s almost drained.  Magic was not holding up.  They failed.  How foolish of them to consider magic as an infinite resource.  As time took its toll on their abuse of nature, it became a big question of preservation and ownership.  Magic was dwindling.  The stronger countries sapped the powers straight from the core of Eldris, weakening it little by little until crops no longer grew.  Animals died off one after another.  Water became corrupted and unsafe to drink.
If only there was a way to turn back time.  No… it would still end up this way.  The inexperience and selfishness of people would still lead to this end.  The only way now is to survive… and move forward.  The child Marko held was one of the few remaining hopes for the future.  He must not die here.
A screeching sound tore through his thoughts.  A winged lizard swooped down.  “Barrier! Reinforce!” He shouted, touching the ground.  The earth shook and took a round form, hardening like stone, covering Marko and the child.  It shuddered as the impact threw the rider off the lizard mount.
“Found you.” He heard a voice as well as the sound of a few more lizard mounts landing close by.  “It’s all gone.  Your friends, your family, your king.  Give us the child, and we can end this quickly.”
Time.  He needed time.  The last unmastered element in this world.  He could hear the enemy soldiers pounding on his hastily prepared earth-dome.  It will give way soon.  “Little one, take these memories with you…” He murmured, tears welling up his eyes.  “As my world ends, so shall yours begin.  Trapped in time, waiting for faith’s return.  For what has a tongue, yet does not taste, what has skin yet does not feel, what has life, yet does not breathe… return to us awakened and healed.”
A purple light enveloped the child.  Marko didn’t know what to expect.  This aspect of magic was never studied because of risks.  A risk he is now very willing to take.
The barrier broke, and he felt hot iron stab into his back, puncturing through the soil.  “Talk.  Tell us where you sent the child, and it will be less painful for you.”
Marko allowed himself some laughter.  “Nowhere.” He replied, choking in his own blood.  “The child is not where… but when.”
He could hear cursing… and afterwards, soothing darkness.