ℑPrologue

Light was never something to fear. At least it wasn’t until that day. Darkness had always been the enemy before. Until that day, when I realized that the darkness was not the enemy, but the light was. Darkness had hid me, kept me safe.

Light had disintegrated that embracing blanket of protection. Light had shown the truth. Light had revealed what I really was.

It was light that showed the monster I had become.

And it was the light that saved me.

One world ended as another began. Ethyn, a short, scraggly man, ran through the mud, the puddles splashing up onto his bare shins and tattered clothing. He leaped over a body, causing himself to land in a puddle of red, the blood still warm on his feet. He felt light-headed, but he kept running, dodging the dead of the battlefield. He ran along a beach strewn with bodies. There was no sound other than his footsteps, the rain and the crashing waves. He came to a tent set up near the edge of the island and he skidded to a stop.

Another man stood in the tent. His clothing was much more elegant, with his silver armor and red cape. His hair was long and white. He was old. Wrinkles covered his face and hands, but his body was lean with muscle. A scraggly beard adorned his chin.

He looked to Ethyn, who prostrated himself on the ground, the mud touching his forehead.

“Are the boats ready then?” The man asked. His voice was husky, as if he hadn’t had a drink in ages.

“Yes, Captain Logan. All 24 subjects are in the boats,” Ethyn said, his own voice cracking with thirst.

“Good. It’s time for your last task as my servant, Ethyn,” Captain Logan reached a hand inside his bag, pulling out a tattered book. Ethyn stood, facing Logan. Logan held the book out to Ethyn. “I want you to take this.”

Ethyn took the small book. It was the size of his palm, the pages covered with symbols, quotes, and pictures. On the front cover, a picture of a tiger with twisting stripes had been imprinted on the left bottom corner.

“What is this?”

Logan smiled and took the book back, flipping to a specific page. He handed the book back. Ethyn read the passage, then slowly looked up at his master, his face confused.

“This will be the new religion you give to them. You will preach it. You will live it. These people must believe in it. Never lose this book. You will pass it down after you are gone. You understand?”

Ethyn shook his head. “What? … No. Captain Logan why must I take it? Why don’t you take it yourself?” He paused, realization coming over him. “You aren’t coming with us, are you?”

Logan smiled keenly at his servant. He shook his head. “I am not going with you on this voyage. I must stay here. Take your people and go. You are free now. You are in charge,” Logan paused for a moment before saying, “It’s the least I can do for you.”

He then started walking out into the battlefield, the rain and wind tossing his red cloak. Ethyn read the passage again. Then he called out to Logan.

“Is it true?”

Logan turned to look back. “That is for you to decide for yourself, Ethyn. I cannot create your faith for you.”

He turned back and kept walking. Ethyn watched for a long moment, before he started running back from the way he had come, the opposite direction of Logan.