The merciless march of time continued and the great cycle of life with it. Kingdoms rose and fell in a seemingly endless path. The age of exploration had ended, and the era of war, the age of darkness, was dawning. The world had become static, locked in endless conflict. Jazarin the Inventor changed that. Born in a small kingdom, his inventions shifted the paradigm of existence. No longer was life purposeless and static, but rather its purpose was now progress, and it moved and changed, as life should. He sparked the race toward the end, reigniting the fading embers of humanity. The race we still run in today. A single man realigning the very definition of life, guiding it to its final paradigm. Just as I must do.
My children had grown. They now occupied every continent on the verdant planet I had created for them. I watched in satisfaction as they finished the monumental task of exploring the world. They had come so far from Adam’s simple shack. However, at the same time…I worried. Exploring the world had become their purpose, and now that the task was complete, I wondered what was next.
As I watched, my worries proved themselves true. Now that there was nothing to explore, a new purpose was found: War, and I watched in horror as it consumed the world. Soon even the purpose of war was lost, and life descended into an endless cycle of death and vengeance. I will not lie, upon witnessing the destructive behaviors of humans, I considered destroying them in turn. Their purpose was to create and eventually ascend. Their actions showed the opposite. Progress stopped in the name of pride. Cities burning in the face of arrogance. Angelica’s last words kept me in check, but the growing void within begged for the end. It was fed with the actions of man, greedily drinking up the essence of death and nihility, opening up old wounds that had yet to heal. Darkness descended upon humanity, and all seemed lost.
Then the sun rose.
Jazarin was born in a small village bordering the City of Michael, within the kingdom of Royals. He grew up poor, struggling to help feed his small family. His oldest sister had been born missing a leg, and the poor family struggled to make enough. As a child, Jazarin tinkered with anything he could get his hands on, to his mother's chagrin. His tinkering paid off, and at only 6 years old he proudly presented a prosthetic leg, made of woven grass and wood, to his sister. From then on he didn't work in the streets but instead created things to sell. Basic inventions like improved plows for farming, and water-carrying screws, but hugely successful all the same. He gained a reputation in the village for being able to fix anything. He spent the next 10 years of his life in that village, quietly fixing and creating things.
One day, an old man showed up in the village with his horse. Dressed in long azure robes far too clean for Jazarin’s humble village, he pulled out one of Jazarin’s inventions, a tool for weaving wool, and asked about its origin.
The villagers pointed him to Jazarin, and the old man limped down the dirt road to find Jazarin tinkering with a strange wooden machine.
“Jazarin is your name, right?” the old man questioned, “I am Abelin su Darkan, vice-chancellor of the University of Hephas. I have seen the things you have created, and I would like to personally invite you to the University. We think we could accomplish great things with your help.”
Jazarin didn't answer, simply continuing to tinker.
Abelin continued,
“Of course, your family is welcome to come to the city with us and we will give them a generous stipend to live off of.”
Jazarin remained silent,
Abelin squinted at the tinkering youth,
“Hello?”
Still no reaction.
Finally, Abelin cleared his throat forcefully.
The result was immediate.
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Jazarin jumped,
“What?! I didn't do it! I'm sorry!”
Abelin cleared his throat once more,
“Why don't we go inside? I have something I want to discuss with you."
Jazarin, having no reason to refuse, agreed to go to the University with the old man.
The villages bled past like droplets on a window as the miles disappeared under them. Finally, they arrived at the great walls. Jazarin was entrapped by their majesty and construction.
“This is stunning” He commented to Abelin, “Did the University build this?”
“The one time they actually listened to us,” Abelin replied proudly.
However, as they continued through the gates and into the cities, Jazarin frowned.
“Why is everything so… basic?” he articulated “The buildings are badly constructed, the people are doing everything by hand, and we have more useful tools in our small village.”
“Well…” Abelin hedged “That's one of the reasons we brought you here. We need help.”
“With what?”
“Everything. Oh, look we’re here” he replied, waving at a medium sized building with a small dome on the top.
This is it? Jazarin thought.
Abelin, seeing his skeptical expression, coughed awkwardly,
“Well… education and invention are not exactly priorities around here” he grumbled “All they care about is war. War! For what! It has been so long we’ve all forgotten! All they do is fight and fight and fight never bothering…” he noticed Jazarin’s raised eyebrow at his rant and quickly changed directions,
“...Anyways, that's what we need help with. Getting the attention of the nobles.”
“You have my attention” Jazarin joked.
Abelin snorted and handed the reins of their horses to a nearby groom.
“You see,” he started, leading Jazarin inside, “For centuries now, the kingdom of Royals has been caught in a war with our neighboring kingdom of Roma.”
He pushed open a broad door, painted with constellations, and led Jazarin into a large library.
“Nobody even knows what the war started over anymore. All we know is that Roma is supposedly our enemy and we must destroy them at all cost. And we have been trying for centuries with no success.”
Jazarin frowned, “That's… stupid.”
Abelin sighed, as he led them to 2 chairs in front of a merrily crackling fireplace.
“Indeed it is my boy. Progress stopped in the face of worthless war. Lives thrown away when they could reap the rewards of technology. The purpose of existence has become war. Nobody lives for pleasure or even simple happiness. Only for war.”
He sighed again, taking a deep swallow from the cup of warm tea that had just been delivered to him.
“That's what I want your help to change. I want to stop these stupid wars. I want to stop these centuries of societal and technological stagnation. We can do better! We can be the ones they will speak about in a thousand years! This could be our legacy boy, life and progress!”
When he spoke so passionately, his ancient body seemed to fill with life, his eyes kindling with fire.
Jazarin hesitated, “...And why do you need me?”
Abelin got up and started pacing around the chairs,
“Because you have talent, boy. Much more than anyone here. I have seen the things you have created, even with no training. Now, Imagine it. Your talent and my experience. We could create wonders! Wonders that the nobles would finally need to acknowledge!”
He was speaking passionately now,
“See all of this” he waved his arm at the massive library, “This is only a fraction of what we have accomplished with virtually no funding. Imagine what we could do with more! We could change the world. Cure illnesses. Feed the hungry. Save the doomed.”
He got up and kneeled before wide-eyed Jazarin’s chair,
“We could engrave our names in the pages of history itself,” he entreated softly, “and raise up others so that they may do the same. For too long has humanity stagnated. We could be the torch to ignite the fading embers of progress and nurse it back into a raging fire. The world is in our hands if only we can seize it.”
He extended a hand to Jazarin, who looked at it in wonder. This was his chance. To create marvels and make an impact. To reach beyond himself and touch something eternal, and perhaps… to create something eternal.
Two hands met, one old and wizened with wisdom, and one young and calloused with genius, and the course of the world changed.
I watched from my perch high above, and upon witnessing the earnestness and conviction of the two creators, I smiled.
The morning sun shone over a new city.