Chapter 1

“I close my heart to the softness of the grass, to the beauty of the trees, the feel of their bark, and to the rays of light that were oh so very warm. Monoxia is all there is, and all I need.” - Translated from the journal of Pax, the Grey. 

Aros and Maria beat down upon the fields of the region of Koira. Kane wiped his brow. His hand came away soaked in sweat. A moment later the sweat had already returned to his face. The twin suns were raging again today. It was a leap beyond just hot. The very air seemed to boil. It should not be this way during harvesting season. Kane crouched down and began to tie a bundle of the long dry grasses, which had been cut the day before so that it would dry and not mold. A habit, really, but entirely unnecessary with the heat. Rain rarely fell, and so the hay would never have become moist enough to mold. It was not always this way. The region used to boast greenery that covered every inch of its surface, but times had changed. For the past few years it had been scorched by an endless heat. They were lucky the taller grasses of the land were so sturdy. They did not require much water, and would still grow despite the heat. As long as they had hay and water from the river they could feed the livestock and keep themselves alive. 

Kane tossed the bundles onto the cart nearby and began work on another one. The heat was a great topic of discussion among many of the poorer classes . There was usually nothing interesting happening in the area, so gossip and rumors were often the only activity to take part in. The Noble and Merchant classes surely knew of the cause of the heat, but did not deign to tell the peasantry. So all the people had left was just speculation. There were generally two main theories that floated around Kane's circles. First was that the heat was a curse placed on the Kingdom by the Creator. They believed that they had somehow offended him. This belief had spawned fanatics that had been causing more than a few issues around the regions further north. The second theory, and the one Kane thought was more likely, was that it was simply a great Alay user who somehow found a way and funneled enough power to simply heat the kingdom in order to ruin its food supply and cause chaos from within its borders in order to bring the War to an end that much quicker. It wasn’t that Kane did not believe in The Creator. Everyone knew he was real, he had sometimes come to lend a hand in peoples times of need, and other times he had caused the problems people faced, but for the most part the creator did little to interfere with daily life. Alay users were becoming more and more powerful, so it wasnt that much of a stretch to think they could cause the issue. Not that Kane knew much on the extent of their powers. He couldn’t control the Alay, the energy that flowed through all things and was the very cause of all things, himself. He had no talent for it and wouldn’t know how to tell even if he did. The only lower class peasants who were ever even tested were those who showed obvious signs, unlike the nobles who were much more likely to have the powers and were all tested anyways.

Kane looked down at his own hands and focused as hard as he could. He strained his fingers and tried to feel the Alay that was around him and in him. Nothing happened. All his hands were good for working the fields, it seemed. He returned to his task of bundling hay and thought no more of the heat. 

As the second sun began to set Kane decided that his work day was over. Some others had already left the fields when the first sun set, but he wanted to make sure his portion of the work was at least done, lest he get in trouble by not filling his quota. He finished up his last bundle and tossed into the back of the near full cart. 

“I’m heading home. I’ll see ya tomorrow.” Kane said to the old man that had been working beside him the entire day. Kane could not recall his name, even though this was not the first time he had worked with him. 

“Alright, Kane,” Of course he would know my name, Kane thought. “Tell your mother and grandmother that I said hello then.” The old man bent down to continue his work, before looking at Kane once again, “Oh, and don’t worry about the cart. I’ll get it to where it needs to go, and be sure to report your work as well.” 

“Ah, well thank you.” Kane said. The old man smiled and returned to his task. Kane stood there a moment longer and watched the man. Kane could tell the man was in pain. He had probably worked the fields his entire life. Worked lands he didn’t even own for little pay and, now, so close to his end that man still worked. Trying to make a living for his family, because he had no other options. Kane’s fate would be much the same. If only he could use Alay he would be sent to be trained and made into a respectable individual. He might even be given a title and lands of his own. He would most likely be required to partake in the war between Ontar and his own lands, but it would be a small price to pay for the luxury he would gain for not only him but his family as well. Plus, it was better than just being drafted or sold into the war, serving your contract and returning home to work the land until you dropped dead. Kane turned away from the old man. 

The way to Kane’s home took him along the main road. It was entirely paved by enormous flat stones that were so seamlessly connected that it was almost impossible to tell where one began and another ended. Such work would be difficult for even the greatest of stone layers, but Kane knew it was not them that had built these roads. They were laid by the local Lord’s hired Alay controller. Kane recalled as a child the way was nothing but a muddy mess, so much so that often when it rained travelers would walk beside the road in order to avoid it. This had caused the crops that were grown almost the path's edge to be trampled underfoot by passerbyers. The Lord did not approve of this and so a few years ago he had contracted an Alay user to install the magnificently large stones. Kane was not sure the cost of the rock rock and hired controller was worth the crops not being lost, but then again he was not privy to the thoughts of nobles. Perhaps they just wanted the place to look cleaner. It was, in fact, beautiful for a couple years. Then the heat came and the green trees and plants all around had withered and died. The few trees that flanked the road were now just husks of what they once were. Their leaves had died that first summer and had not returned. 

This time of day the roads were crowded with those returning home from their jobs in the fields and in the town further away. Some waved and greeted Kane. He returned in kind, but he had never really even tried to get to know the people he had worked with and lived near his whole life. He had always assumed that, somehow, his life would be flipped on its head and he would become rich and well known. That he would have no worries in life and would have no reason to know any of these people. That had been a mistake. He never suddenly awakened to find himself an Alay user, nor did he somehow catch the eye of a noble woman. He was almost twenty now, and his life remained as it had always been. Full of long working days and a barely livable wage. He felt it was too late to even try and get to know the people he had casually brushed off for years , and so he didn’t even try. Plus he did not want to offend those he conversed with by not remembering their names and trades. He wished he could turn back time and change his past behavior, but it was not possible. Time marched on indefinitely and despite Kane’s desires. He would always remain this way it seemed. 

Kane swung open the short gate to their home that was nothing more than a few branches tied together. It disconnected from the post and began to sag. Kane sighed and after he passed through he just set it in place. He would fix it later, but he was tired right now. The house before him was large for their station. It had two rooms, one more than the usual homes you would find littering the roads. Its roof was made of thatch and its walls were nothing more than wood beams and packed clay. The first room was quite large and held the stove and a few beds. The second room was above, more like a loft more than a real room. Even so it was more than most had. It had been built by Kane’s father, when he was still around. Kane was not sure how he acquired the materials to build such a place, but he was grateful that he had. 

The house was home to six, not including Kane. It was, in some ways, crowded, but overall it was not horrible. Living with family for one’s entire life was not uncommon in the region. Kane had heard that in some places when a man reached adulthood he would move out and establish his own home. Such practices were not really realistic around here since with all six living here they could barely get by already. Plus, it was not like they could just buy more land. Land was given out by the Noble family as rewards or to migrating families who wished to settle the region and work in the fields or nearby towns. If they somehow acquired more land, they couldn’t build a house. Wood was scarcer than ever and wages were at an all times low. Most of the region's money went towards the war effort. 

Kane entered the house. He was met with fresh cool air like he hadn’t felt in years. He shut the door behind him and closed his eyes. The air was heavenly. It refreshed him more than any amount of sleep could ever. He stayed by the door for a few minutes, just enjoying the feel. After some time he opened his eyes. Why was it so cold in here? He wondered. He looked around. His two older brothers had not yet returned from work. His mother and younger brother and sister were not around either. A woman sat in the corner of the room at a small table. Her form was silhouetted by a faint bluish light. Kane’s grandmother. He came to stand beside her. She didn’t seem to hear his approach. She was asleep. Kane looked at the object on the table that was emitting such a soft light. It was rock, no larger than acorn. It was transparent, but held a blue tint. Just by laying his eyes upon it he felt as if he was taking a dip into the clear streams that came from the Mountains to the south. The stone was obviously infused with some sort of Alay that allowed out to cool the space it resided. How had his family come by it?

He was staring so intently at it he did not notice his grandmother had awakened. She reached towards him and tapped on his arm…

“Ahh!”m Kane screamed and jumped away. He brought his hand to his chest, his heart was racing. 

“Oh, calm down you. I didn’t spook ya that much.” She curled her nose, “Creator love me, you smell like a dead fish left out in the sun for too long.”

“If I smell like anything, it's a day's wages. Some of us don't have the luxury of getting to sit in a cool room all day. Also, a fish is likely to cook in the sun these days then begin to stink.”

“When you get to my age you’ll realize sitting around all day is nothing but luxury. It’s more of a damned curse.” She retorted. 

“Maybe so,” Kane said as he took the seat across from her, “but it would be preferable to slaving away in this hellish heat.” 

“Perhaps.” She said. Kane waited for her to say more or even explain where the Alay stone had originated from, but she didn’t seem to be in an explanatory mood at the moment apparently. 

“Where did you find the crystal? Or did mother acquire it at the market today?” He certainly hoped not, an item like this would probably have cost more than they could make in a decade. 

She did not answer. 

“Grandmother!”

She jerked up. She had fallen back to sleep. “Hmm? What?” She looked around, seemingly lost in her own home. Her eyes finally settled on Kane. “Oh, Kane honey, you’re home. Has your mother returned as well?” She smiled. 

“Grandmother, where did the stone come from?” Kane was slightly annoyed, but he knew his grandmother had an aging mind and the coolness of the room did much to curtail his slight anger. 

“Oh! Yes, isn’t it beautiful? And its effect is so nice. I wish I could have experienced this more often.” Her eyes seemed so very sad. 

“Where did it come from?” Kane repeated his question.

“An old friend I hadn’t seen in years came by today and gave it to me.” She laughed a bit, “He even looked like he hadn’t aged since last I saw him. I bet he felt pity for me.” 

Kane didn’t expect that. He wasn’t aware that his grandmother had friends that had access to such things, and he had the money to be giving them out to old friends. He voiced as much.

“Don’t worry too much on it, honey.”

Kane exhaled deeply and stood. He wasn’t going to get satisfactory answers at the moment. “I’m going to wash off.” 

His grandmother didn’t say anything as walked away from the table and exited through the room's back door.

As soon as he was outside the heat overwhelmed him once again. Sweat began to run down his face and his shirt was soon drenched with it. He made his way to the small water well and lowered a bucket. After filling it he quickly rushed to get back inside. The moment he stepped inside the cool air rushed around him. He felt reinvigorated. Being outside for just a few moments after experiencing such refreshing air was harder than when it was just hot all the time.

He set the bucket of water on another small table. It slightly seemed to steam as the almost boiling water met with the cold air around it. Using a rag he tried his best to wash away the day's reek. It did little to reduce the stench. He left the bucket there and decided to lay down and rest until his family returned home and they could eat supper. 

Stolen story; please report.

He climbed the ladder to the loft and just flopped down onto the floor. They rarely used any sheets because of the heat and instead opted to just sleep in their clothes. It glanced over to where the blankets were pushed into the corner of the room. With the now cooler air he may need them. He reached out towards them, but they were too far. To grab a hold of. Oh well. He thought before closing his eyes. 

He awoke suddenly when what felt like a large rock had been dropped onto the center of his back. 

“Heh heh.” He heard his youngest sibling, his sister, laugh from above him. He pushed himself up, his back hurting the whole way. His sister slipped off him and onto the ground. 

“Ouch!” She was rubbing her elbow where she had hit the ground. “That wasn’t very nice, Kane.”

“Neither was elbowing my spine while I slept, or whatever you did. That hurt more than a bit.”

“I didn’t know you were sleeping!” She protested. “I thought you would catch me. Honest to the Creator!” She didn’t meet Kane’s eyes.

“Don’t use the Creator’s name in your lies, Samyra.” Kane said as he stretched his arms out wide and yawned. 

“I’m sorry.” Her face was sullen. She looked up into Kane’s eyes with a serious expression. “He isn’t going to kill me is he?”

Kane set his hand on her head, “I don’t know, maybe. He has been cursing people lately apparently.” He teased her.

She smacked his hand away. “Mother said to wake you! It’s not my fault! The Creator can have her instead!” She yelled at him and climbed down the ladder. 

“Hey don’t say that about your own mother!” Kane shouted as she disappeared down the hole in the floor. He sighed and followed her down. 

“Well, look who finally decided to join us.” Kris, Kane’s older brother said from where he sat at the table. Everyone else besides his mother was there. She entered from the back door carrying a bucket of water and smiled at him. At least she hadn’t heard what Sumatra had said. She stood her seat between the two youngest children. Samyra the youngest and only daughter, and Elex the youngest of the brothers. At one head of the table sat grandmother, as the oldest one of the house, it was technically her household and so she sat in the most important seat. Directly across from her was Kris, the oldest of the siblings. To his right sat Wryn, the second oldest. Next to him was an empty seat. Kane moved to occupy it. As he began to sit down the chair was pulled out from under him by Wryn. Kane almost fell to the ground, but was able to get his balance before he did. 

Wryn burst out laughing. “Little clumsy there aren’t ya, brother! Haha.”

“Good one, Wryn.” Was all Kane said. Reprimanding Wryn never did any good. He was the type of guy somehow never to take any blame, and just push it all to someone else. 

“Wryn, be nice to your brother.” Their mother still tried to have some control over him. 

Kane finished righting himself and took his place at the table. He looked down at the wooden bowl before him, filled with a brown broth and some sort of meat. Whatever his mother had found at the market that day, or maybe what she had found on the roadside on the way home. Certainly it was no meal fit for nobility. It was appetizing enough to eat however, and Kane wasn’t one to really complain about food.

“Kane,” his mother said, “You’re the last one to be seated, you say the words of the Creator.”

He did not want to, but he wouldn’t disobey his mother. “Creator guide us. Take us along your path. Let our world become like yours. Perfect in all ways. Provide for us. Protect us. Let us not be overcome with evil, but exist off you alone.” 

“Now let’s eat.” Wryn said as he picked up his spoon and began shoveling food into his mouth. 

Kane did not begin eating along with the others. “Mother, do you know how grandmother came to have the Alay stone?”  

“I told you already, Kane, an old friend gifted it to me.” Kane’s grandmother said. He did not readily believe her. His mother had a different opinion.  

“If she says it came from a friend,then that’s where it’s from, Kane. Don’t put too much thought on it. Let us just be grateful to the friend and the Creator. It’s not everyday people come across far things like this.”

“That’s what I am getting at, mother. It’s not just that it isn’t an everyday occurrence, it literally never happens. How would grandmother even know someone who had access to such stones?”

“Oh, quit badgering our mother, Kane.” Kris said. “Grandmother has lived a long life. It’s possible she’s met a few noble lords or well off merchants. Just be grateful like she said.”

“I’m grateful!” Samyra said joyfully as she stuffed her mouth with a spoonful of stew.

“Me as well,” Elex said, “It has been so long since I have felt cool that I barely remember it. Samyra only had a couple of winters before the summer set in forever. I bet she doesn’t even remember them at all.”

Kane looked at Samyra. She smiled at him. “Forget it then. I won’t ask about it again.” He finally said.

Wryn snickered at that, “Yeah, better not ask questions, Kane.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Shh. No questions, Kane.’ Wryn said with a wide smile.

“Whatever.” Kane began eating his fill.

The rest of the meal passed quickly. Everyone talked about their days and what they had done. There wasn’t much to share. They all pretty much followed the same daily routines as long as they could remember. Kris would go to the town and apprentice for a blacksmith he had gotten to know. He was always good with people and usually could use that to his advantage to find good work. Wryn, like Kane, just worked the fields. Their mother had taken the two youngest children into town that day. It was market day and she was hoping to find some goods with reasonable prices. She had gotten the meat they were eating today along with a few other things. Their grandmother had, of course, remained inside doing nothing but waiting around for the family to return. The only change was when her supposed friend had appeared and given her the stone. Kane wanted to ask for more details but he could tell everyone was in agreement that they should just be happy for the moment. 

After dinner everyone retired for the night. Most of the family had decided to sleep in the loft, leaving Kane and Kris to take the two cots that were on the ground floor. Usually his grandmother did not wish to climb the ladder and instead took one of the cots, but tonight she decided to sleep in the loft. The cool air seemed to give her some life she had been missing. 

Soon after they laid down to sleep, Kane could hear his brother snoring away. Sleep did not come so easily to him. He was thinking of the old man whose name he never learned, and the stone that his family never should have had. Both weighed heavily on his mind. Was he destined to work until he was gray and very bones ached? Even if he worked that way for his whole life he would never be able to afford an item like the stone currently just a few feet away from him. It wasn’t right that they had it. Although, maybe he was really just worrying about it too much like his mother said, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was nothing but bad news. Lost in his thoughts he drifted into a fitful sleep. 

Kane was jerked awake by a loud crash. He quickly sat up in his cot and glanced around in a panic. It was still in the middle of the night, and the room was for the most part dark. Except for the stone on the table, a figure outlined by moonlight in his doorway. He realized the crash was the sound of their door being smashed in. Kane was on his feet in an instant. 

“Thieves! Kris get up.” Kane yelled. He needn’t have done so as Kris was already on his feet as well. They both backed up towards the ladder then ran upstairs and stood shoulder to shoulder. The man in the door came closer. The light shone off of his silvery armor. This was no thief, but some sort of knight. 

“Don’t come any closer.” Kris said.

“Or what?” The man responded. Five more men came in from behind him. They all were wearing leather gear, and all were marked with the crest of their region's lord. 

“Shit. Kris these are soldiers.” Kane whispered.

“Where is it?” The man in front asked. 

“Where is what?” Kris said back.

“The Alay cooling stone. It was stolen, and we were tipped off that it was here. And based on the temperature of this little shithole you live in, I would say the tip had been correct.”

There was no denying that we have it. He was right about that, but who would have told him? Kane wondered, but he had more pressing things to deal with right now.

“Enough.” The man waved his hand. “Just search the place and bring all the criminals outside.” He exited the house. 

Kane eyed the guards around him and Kris. They were all armed with short swords, and were probably world’s better in terms of fighting then Kris and Kane. Plus, to fight them would probably just make whatever punishment they were going to receive worse. Kris must have been thinking the same thing. “Listen, we’ll come outside and give you the stone, but we didn’t steal it alright.” 

“That’s for the commander to decide. Wake the rest of your family.”

“Alright.” Kris said, “Kane go get them up.”

Kane didn’t say anything, but turned and climbed the ladder. His family was already awake. They all were against the back wall bunched up together. 

“Kane,” his mother said, “What’s going on?” Her voice was weak and she was obviously scared.

“Soldiers, mom, they want us to come outside with them. Just come down.” Kane climbed back down the ladder. Kris and the four of the guards were already outside. Only one remained here. 

“They’ll be down in just one moment.” Kane said, before heading towards the door. When he exited he was grabbed and dragged over to where his brother was before the commander. He was pushed to his knees next to him. A moment later the rest of their family was escorted outside by the guard. They too were pushed to their knees, but remained in front of the house and not by Kris and Kane. Kane noticed Wryn was nowhere to be seen. Had he snuck out earlier for some reason? Kane didn’t know. The commander was tossing the stone up and catching it over and over again.

“Now what to do with a family of thieves?” The commander wondered out loud. 

“We’re not thieves. We didn’t steal the stone. It was given as a gift to our grandmother. Tell them Grandma.” Kris said. 

Their Grandmother just stared at the ground and did not speak. Kane could not tell what she was thinking. 

“Speak up woman.” The commander said, “How did you come by this stone?”

She didn’t say anything. Kane was starting to think there was something wrong with her, she couldn’t even seem to raise her head up.

“Well, if you won’t answer my question then…” He gestured with his hand and the guard behind her slit her throat. Kane was frozen still by the sudden violence, Kris tried standing but a guard pushed him too his knees and put a blade against his back. Samyra cried out and Elex held her. Their mother fell over their grandmother’s body and began to cry, “Why?” She asked.

“That woman has committed a grave crime. She stole a stone from the coffers of the lord himself. Death is what she deserved.” 

“How could she steal that? She was an old woman, she can barely stand some days!” Kris shouted. 

“Quiet boy. You said it yourself that she was the one who acquired the stone. Her death was just, but it is not enough.”

The guard picked up their mother by her hair and held a knife to her throat, intending to cut it. She screamed and kicked to no avail. 

“Noo! Stop!” Kris yelled out and again tried standing.

“Oh you want us to stop?” The commander said. “Then how are we supposed to carry out the lord’s will?”

“We’ll do anything. Just stop. Please!” Kris pleaded.

“Hmm. I guess I could stop…”

“Yes, please. Thank you.”

“But only if you agree to pay back the cost of the stone right now.” The commander said while smiling. 

“That would be impossible, we barely make enough to get by.”

“Is that so? Too bad.” The commander lifted his hand.

“Wait. Surely there is some way we may pay you back.”

The commander rubbed his chin, thinking. “Well, perhaps there is a way.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“I’ll take you two.” He pointed towards Kane and Kris. “The Kingdom can always use a few soldiers in the great war across the mountains.”

“That’s practically a death sentence for us and our family. Without us here they won’t be able to provide for themselves!”

“So you think my offer unfair? We can always take out your punishment as I originally planned too.” the commander still smiled.

Kris looked over to Kane and held his eyes for a few seconds. He saw what Kane was thinking.

“Fine. We will accept your offer.” Kris looked deadly, his brows were drawn together and Kane could tell he was a level above furious. 

“Ha, good choice, son. Let the mother and kids go.” The guards released them. Samrya ran to Kane and threw her arms around him, while Elex stayed next to their mom and grandmother. 

“Brother don’t leave!” Samyra cried. Kane hugged her back, but didn’t speak.

“We have to go.” Kris said as he stood and pulled Samyra off of Kane. “Elex,” He called out and Elex snapped to look at him, “You’re the man of the house now. Provide for Sam and Mom.”

“I’ll try.” Is all Elex said. 

“Good. Now come on Kane.” Kris helped lift Kane off his knees. Kane was still in a sort of shock, but he realized he needed to put on a brave face for Samyra.

“Sam.” Kane said, and she stopped to look at him. “You have to be a good girl while we’re gone. No fighting with Mom. You understand?”

She looked at her feet, “Yes, I understand.”

“Good. and you’ll continue going over to old lady Vev’s house to learn to read and write, yes?” 

“Yes, I will.”

“Then this is goodbye. We’ll be back, so don’t go too far and take care of the place. Befriend as many people around here as you can.”

“Okay.” She was really crying now, “I’ll become a good person. I’ll become important, and when you get back we can all eat supper together again.”

“That sounds nice.” Kane smiled a bit.

“Well, look at all these sweet goodbyes.” The commander laughed, “Let’s get moving.” He turned to leave with his escort. Kane and Kris followed, now no more than slaves. Not much will change really. Kane thought, Practically slaves in the fields of hay to slaves on the kingdoms fields of killing.