Nightshade Prologue

By Phoenix

It didn’t start out as I expected. None of us knew what would happen, for that matter ... but I’m forgetting myself- like always. Although I’m the story’s teller, I am not the main character. In fact, I barely took part. To keep my part in this tale and make sure I was not forgotten, I paraphrased an old history document. But let me explain first where I’m taking you. This all happened in the country of Yura. Yura is a single land split into several different realms. These realms include humans, sorcerers (some are awfully mean!), elves, and fairies. And for a while, peace reigned. But not for long.

I am not mentioning that one ten thousand years ago, when there was a large business enterprise involving those from Earth. But you ought to know anyways, since that is how this whole mess started in the first place. I’m going to start the historical stuff now.

Our world consists of four different planes, rather in the shape of a disconnected window frame. Yura is on top. However, there are other creatures and beings that live on those sides which hang vertically and survive by magical means. Their magic capability is much stronger than those who live in Yura. There is also that bottom edge, which hangs upside down … but we don’t discuss what is down there. For we don’t know.

In the middle of our world is a round ball. It is rather large, and touches only the top plane. It is transparent, and therefore, invisible to most. That is Earth. Again, it is on a different dimension and is very difficult to access, from Earth to us, or us to Earth. It also is very difficult to perceive. But the area where Earth and Yura connect is subject to very violent earthquakes on Earth, otherwise known as San Andreas Fault. Where Earth touches us is a place called Witch’s Canyon.

Long ago, many eons ago, some on Earth had discovered a way to gain access to Yura by means of a portal. That portal was used to cross onto our plane. They had many armies trying to invade Yura, their main purpose was to gain more land. Again, they looked rather like Yura’s humans. That’s what fooled us all and gave them the advantage. Long battles followed their horrible footsteps. But the great wizard, Eurchess, drove them out. Eurchess had had enough and forced them back through the portal and sealed it. Only those from Earth who would help Yura would be able to open and find the portal. But that’s a story for another day.

However, they forgot their general’s copy of one book. A tactic book. The Art of Warfare was left behind. When Eurchess discovered the book lying in the humans’ trail, he saw that to keep it safe from humans, he would let the elven leader keep it for safe keeping, and use it in case the people from Earth came back.

Finally! This is where I come in! Your narrator. That historical telling was pretty bland, but it is slightly relevant. Sorry. Back on topic …

The sad thing is that most humans are different. All three human kingdoms; Easterner Aarchen, Western Lenain, and Southern Menelays are no different from any other human realm. And the way people settle those differences are through war. It doesn’t matter where that human is from-Yura, Earth- War is infectious. Soon it spread to every corner of the country. None could escape it. Not even elves and fairies. That was when the Cyrus came to take over.

Before I properly knew David, I thought he was just a simple boy. Instead, he aided the princess settle her problems with the Cyrus, for both their sakes.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Oh … I still remember the sights of David’s and the princess’s faces even now … so many years afterwards. David said that it was ridiculous to write about this, but soon, he swallowed his words when the princess said it was a good idea.

Now … where to begin? Oh yes. My name is Starlight. And I forgot. I’m a horse. Just thought you should know that.