Time is the enemy.

Time does not always bring wisdom, and years spent philosophising do not always supply wholesome thoughts. If anything, given enough time, even the most earnest seeker of truth and bringer of light can become receptive to corruption. I know this first hand, though I’d like to consider myself aloof to the matters that lead to the reprehensible actions of my siblings.

I once lived with my brothers and sisters on a world that was truly great so very long ago. It was home to thousands upon thousands of unique forms of life, all working dutifully towards what they all believed was a greater good. There may not have been complete equality, but no one complained initially, so it was not seen as an issue. There was, of course, some degree of social differentiation between the various races. It was a simple fact of life. Our world required a high standard of living to strive for. Someone needed to set that standard. Someone needed to maintain order. Someone needed to be followed, looked up to, and longed for. My siblings and I played that role. We lived luxurious lives in a magnificent metropolitan city located in the heart of a bustling, mechanized worldwide organism. We became the world’s elite, and bore a title capable of instilling hope and joy...as well as fear: Element Lord. We were the Element Lords. Beings capable of bringing light to the darkest edges of our world...and swift justice to those who refused it. This was the beginning of our world’s Golden Age.

Over the span of a mere few thousand years, we successfully created a mold for the rest of the world to fit into. The violence, discord and war of the past had been washed away in our wake. We observed the outside world from our thrones. Watching it grow, prosper and change. Over time we became less prominent in the affairs of our neighbors. We became more of a figurehead than anything else, and fell slowly into the background. Millennia after millennia passed us by. New nations rose up as others fell. We became the only constant. The only thing that remained strong throughout history. The new civilizations came to us for support, as they were still very young. We gladly shared with them what we could. For this they were very grateful. They came to look up to us as more than just an elder species. They began to see us as living legends.

We were adored by our new subjects. Most praised us as gods among mortals. We accepted this praise with humble grace, but below the surface something else was manifesting itself. Pride had begun to emerge. It methodically worked its way into our hearts and slowly contorted them. We became pompous and conceited. These smaller races kept coming to us for guidance, but we grew weary of their constant need for a helping hand. We had already done so much for this world, but they just kept coming back for more. They became pests. Mere annoyances that were better off being ignored, and ignore them we did. After all our efforts to provide them with a guiding light, we no longer saw the point. We were better off building ourselves up, so we cut ourselves off from the rest of the world. We closed our eyes and ears to them, and when their plaintive cries rang out and the sky became mottled with dark plumes of smoke, we simply turned our backs to them and went about as if there was nothing wrong with the world. For us, the Golden Age was far from over. The same could not be said by everyone else.

As time lumbered onward the world fell apart around us. Civilizations turned on each other in a restless and desperate effort to preserve themselves. In what seemed like mere moments, cities were reduced to little more than ash, and lives were swept away in the winds of bloodlust and fear. Extinction came daily, and one by one the lights that we had kept burning for so long went out until almost nothing remained. The few remnants had grown insane from their murderous rampage. Perhaps, deep down, they already held deep seated contempt for us. Perhaps the insanity simply pushed these derogatory emotions to the surface, but the trivialities were of little importance. Before long, the creatures that had once looked up to us came clawing at the walls of our shining city. At this point we had to admit that our work had been undone. The Golden Age was over. We watched, safe and protected in our homes, as these pugnacious, crazed, bloodthirsty monsters tried repeatedly to breach our gates. Sullenly, we accepted the reality of the situation.

The leaders of our city arranged a discreet meeting to discuss the necessary actions. There was to be one representative for each of the seven elements. Fire, Ice, Earth, Water, Air, Light and Shadow. I was part of that meeting. I represented Air. This meeting did not last long. Each ethnic leader voiced their own variation of the same thing: “Kill them. Wipe them out. End this madness. Put them out of their misery”, and so on. I was the only one who suggested otherwise. I received derisive comments from nearly everyone present. A few more wasted months of ceaseless banter ensued. We then went back to our homes and each thought individually about the final decision, but as I waited for the upcoming and presumably final meeting, I already knew what laid in store. There was no way to change what was set in stone. I wrapped my mind around this with grave reluctance. I developed a morose disposition, and when the meeting finally came, I arrived but refused to attend. Around me an abomination was being born. I did not want any part in it’s creation.

The fateful day finally came. A decision was announced to the rest of the city. It was time for action. Violent action. Those that did not want to join in what was about to take place were not obligated to. A stunningly heartfelt speech was read aloud to the public. Many were inspired. Very few were reluctant. Once the speech had ended and we were given a chance to each consider our upcoming undergoing, It was time to do what so many thought needed to be done. Our fiercest warriors, along with various enthusiasts, gathered in the streets and awaited the signal to begin. A moment passed. An order was given. We ran towards the front of the city, towards the gate. Outside, the creatures who had been tearing ceaselessly at our outer wall for days finally paused for a instant, confused. Their vast army converged tightly, moved back, and prepared to take us on. They never had a chance. My people were too strong for their own good. I still remember the scene very vividly. Screaming, but not in fear or pain. There were screams of rage coming from these poor souls. We ended most of those screams quickly. In moments the deed was done. An army had been crippled and wiped out by the sheer force of our elemental discharge. There were bodies everywhere. Some charred to the point of barely having a distinguishable form. Others, having been flash frozen, lay in shattered pieces. There were even some who had been dragged halfway underground, only their upper half remaining. Various methods had been employed to kill the rest. Some were drowned, incinerated, and I was horrified to see some get torn apart by vicious cyclones. There were a few who were still writhing in half dead hysteria. I stood at the top of one of our many towers and watched, crestfallen, as my people, even if only for a moment, took on terrifying forms reminiscent of something out of a nightmare of the worst sort. Never at any point did I look away from this event as it unfolded. I stared intently and allowed my own emotions to flare up. Rage began to build. Pure, untamable fury swelled up inside me. This was wrong. We had crossed a very fine line. After all was said and done and the day met it’s end, the scorn I now had for my people did not.

Over the next few days an ominous silence had fallen over the city. Many were trying to return to their normal ways of life, with little success. Some even began to regret their actions. After a few days lingering in a room by myself, I decided something had to be done. I arranged a council meeting once more. The other council members were confused, but willing to humor me. We all sat down around a fancy table as they waited for me to speak. I was the one who called the meeting after all. I smiled at them disarmingly, then remained silent for what seemed like an eternity. There was an awkward shuffling sound, and one of them began to ask something, but before they could, the table abruptly collapsed. I stood up, and as I did the chair I had been sitting on was thrown against the wall behind me and shattered into dust. I stared at them all, my eyes filled with rage. I lost control. Before long I was ranting at them full force. I could not be mollified, nor was I in the state of mind to accept empty offers of consolation. I don’t remember how loud I was. I don’t remember how long I shrieked at them. It didn’t matter. They deserved my words and so much more. They, along with my entire race, had used their gifts to overpower those weaker than them, and when they were needed most they abandoned those they swore to protect. This was the truth that we had all denied for millions of years. It was time that we owned up to it. We were liars, swindlers, and murderers. Of course my words enraged everyone in the room. They started calling me things I don’t dare repeat, but by then I was too busy laughing. The meeting was over. The damage was done.

I soon became known as a traitor to our species. This was never an issue. Besides, I wasn’t alone in my standings. I met supporters after my status had been made as obvious as could be. After a while, my group of followers had grown to be quite impressive. Impressive enough to make quite a few important people very uneasy. Uneasy enough to promote me to anarchist. The title suited me well. I no longer had any desire to be part of the system I had helped create. I wanted it done away with, and I was going to do whatever it took to fix what I had helped break. To do this I needed to arrange something unconventional. Something that would force us to realize how horrible we really were. I needed to set an example, and I knew just how to go about doing this. I remember laughing to myself as the air shimmered around me and I vanished into it.

The six other members of the council were soon found dead. I might have killed them. I really don’t remember. All I remember is what happened afterwards. I was soon sought after. My people wanted me dead, which was perfectly fine because I wanted them just as much so. They never found me though. Instead the people I had inspired rose up to face them. Each side was met with heavy opposition. A few from both parties got injured, but it didn’t end there. I, the source of this upheaval,  was still nowhere to be found, and perhaps my followers knew of my whereabouts. Of course I had never told them anything, but the loyalists had no way of knowing that. There were captures, which were followed by rescues, which lead to more fighting. A few poor souls finally managed to get themselves killed. Then it became personal. It was suddenly about who was to avenge whom. So the avenging began, and there were more deaths as a result. It became a cycle, and before long it escalated to terrible new heights.

Civil war finally broke out. Our immense power was loosed upon our home at full force. It was utterly decimated in an overwhelming burst of elemental energy. Soon the entire world suffered from the war. There were earthquakes and flash floods. Dark shadows loomed over the ground below and the sky burned crimson as fire and lightning rained down. The planet was ravaged to an extent it would never recover from. The Element War lasted eons.

My people fell apart as I knew they would. My point had been made. My work was complete, and I feel that vengeance was exacted where it applied. Those I once called my family were nothing more than a disease that needed a cure. I was that cure, and with us out of the way maybe the world can move on. Let’s hope so. Otherwise I may be forced to repeat the past.