• If you drop a pebble into a pond it makes ripples. If you were to compare this to the life of an average human, you would find they are much the same. The ripples the rock creates radiate out into the water mingle for a fleeting moment with the other ripples, but in the end they die out all the same. However there are always exceptions, the special ones; that small hand full of people who are born to do great things. The closest thing that the analogy compares to at that point is a giant boulder tossed into that pond that causes all the water to be displaced entirely. These boulders of change come into our world and with their capable hands, mold and re-shape our world leaving giant ripples in their wake. Looking back through history we seldom remember the average people; we tend to focus on the great boulders of change and those are the people that legends are told about.

    Life is like a unique pebble pond relationship all its own. Where does life truly start does it start? At birth, most people would probably say yes. However if you could ask one of those special people I think they would say you don't start living until you start making some of those change ripples. If the latter of these were true then the majority of people never live at all. Most people move through there life as if they are content to be just normal; and though it might not be the most satisfying life there is nothing wrong with just living. Being a story however, a narrative of a few people just living would be simply unacceptable. No this is much more than a story this is an epic. This is a journey of discovery and tragedy, one of treachery and friendship, a story of understanding and acceptance. This is a story about how even in a world vastly different from our own everyone can make those great ripples of change.

    That being said every story must have a beginning. So let us begin with the creation of a pond.



    Chapter 1

    In the beginning



    Finally the man found the book he was looking for. He placed it on the table and let it fall open to the page he had marked and he began to read.

    "All things on earth are based on three basic energies, physical, spiritual and elemental. These three energies govern our world and flow through us and around us at all times. Many millennia passed and man flourished and grew their numbers. With this exponential growth of course came many new technologies.

    Aspiring minds continued to be born, chisel their mark into the history of science and then disappear in a blink of the universe's eye. Slowly but surely they blazed a path into a technologically driven future. With the discovery of elements like, coal and oil, mankind began to make machines that used these elements to make life easier for humans. This era was known as The Time of the Metal Colossus.

    However these inventions came at a terrible price. The chemicals released by the consumption of these elements produced waste material that had no more material use or value. To make matters worse this waste was starting to degrade the land itself. So at first man built great barges and dug large holes to contain this evil necessity. Eventually man kind discovered the waste was also poisoning the air they breathed, but they ignored this complication and continued to slowly destroy their world.

    One day a great cataclysm came, a reckoning of sorts that would change the world, and forever be known as The Great Light. A large blast of pure energy, seemingly out of nowhere, radiated out from the Coratic Ocean and wiped away the waste in the air. Some believe the Maker of all things summoned the blast to aid us, some believe that it was to test us; some think it was to punish humans for our arrogance in ignoring the gradual decay of our world. The religious theories behind the why of the Great Disturbance include everything from relief to a signal of the end of the world.

    The world however did not end; as a matter of fact it would continue turning for many years to come.

    Scientists of that time quickly gathered to the area where the source of the blast had been pinpointed. After many years of researching the sea floor near the Blast point, as it would later be known, it was found that the energy had surged straight upward in a cone like shape. The cones base was estimated at five hundred miles wide (about four hundred and twenty one miles wide). It then tapered down to the size of a needle head and with deadly accuracy it pierced the air shell that kept our air in poisoned as it was. With the tiny breach in such a great shield a massive vacuum was created that sucked out all of the poisonous air.

    Mysteries surrounding this subject continue to baffle scientists to this day. Many of their notes seem to infer that some of them thought the energy was sentient because of the way it behaved once the shell was pierced.

    Had the energy continued surging out of control it could have widened the whole and caused all the air we breath to escape into space and be replaced by emptiness This would have single-handedly ended most life on this planet as we know it. Instead the energy stopped as soon as the last Air Shell was breached. Some how, as if it had a sense of purpose, when the poison was gone it assimilated itself to reform the now gaping hole in the Shell. All the leftover energy took on the form of whatever matter surrounded it, in this case that matter was air. Concentrating itself into a tight ball the energy exploded out filling in all the empty space where the poison air had initially been.

    Even though this would appear to be a miracle, the more peculiar subject that the scientists began studying was the abilities that the humans on the nearest landmasses to the Blast Point began to develop. These special humans could now manipulate the three energies that all matter is based on; physical, spiritual, and elemental power. Over the next 20 years the number of special people increased to fill around seventy percent of the population, some stronger than others. In 30 years it was found that through persistence and harsh training most of those born without a natural affinity to the Ring could attain it.

    Shortly following these discoveries an inevitable war erupted all over the world. Many of the governments of old still claimed the right to their power over their people. The people, most of who now had The Ring as they called it, wanted the respect that should have come with this newfound strength. So began the Great War.

    Raging for 7 years nothing escaped the deadly hands of the Great War; it carved a path on this planet and warped everything it could get its corrupt hands on. Innocent animal's body's were distorted through forbidden experiments and turned into monsters of war. Entire civilizations were split by great disagreements like morals, religion, and science. The struggle claimed many human lives and even distorted the very land we now stand on.

    In the end the war was a stalemate. The most powerful leaders of each of the 12 factions came together and forged a pact to end the mindless destruction. Together they formed what would later be known as the Human Ring's United."


    Chapter 2

    The Rest as They Say is History.

    "Teacher?"

    "Yes Mical," Drel said as he closed his book and looked up.

    "If there were so many great Ring wielders back then, why aren't there more people born with the Ring today?"

    Drel sighed as if he had been dreading the question he knew would inevitably come, "its simple most of the original Ring wielders were killed in the war before they could reproduce. Thus the bloodlines were severely thinned and mixed over the years following. These days' trying to predict a natural Ring baby is about as easy as reinventing coal."

    "Well actually sir I had another question about that." The boy said hesitantly not wanted to make his teacher irritated.

    "Yes, what is it?" Drel said pushing his glasses higher up on his face.

    "If The Great Light washed away the poison in the air, then why did human stop using the things that made our lives easier like, coal and oil and all that other stuff?"

    "The first thing that the Human Rings United did was enact a law that banned the use and exploration of technologies powered by these things. Their reasoning was based on the events surrounding these fuels. This decision was made based on the after effects of the Great Light. You see class; once the initial Light subsided several more instances of light were found all across the world. Strange phenomena resulting in coalmine cave-ins, oil deposits suddenly turning up dry; all of them had marks resembling that of the first Light. It was quickly concluded that something did not want those things to be used. As one world it was unanimously decided that Ring was the way of the future."

    "We took the Great Light's message and resolved ourselves to forge a new world that ran off of our own power. Mankind is adaptable but at first it seemed like we had doomed our selves. Most of the technology was based on the fuels we had come to revere, because they were now not allowed scientists of at the time had very little to go on. Eventually we found a starting point like a beautiful flower that took root in a foul soil. The only technology that ran on Ring was the weapons created in the war. Although the technology that was created for the war was primitive compared to what we have today it served as a basis for all the progress science has made since."

    A loud beep was heard, "However that is not my class. See you tomorrow everyone."

    As he finished his dictation Drel sat down at his desk and the spectacles made of physical energy slid back down to the end of his nose. Waving his hand he let go to the power that created the glasses and they disappeared back into the air from whence they came. He was a tall man, thin, with a long face that said more about his wisdom than his age. Swathed in a simple black robe, which had it not been clean, Drel could have been mistaken for an ordinary beggar. His appearance was clean and simple he liked it that way; it allowed him more time for his passion. Drel lived for the pursuit of knowledge. The only thing he enjoyed more than gaining knowledge was sharing and discussing it with others. This made him a natural candidate as a teacher.

    Still looking at some papers on his desk Drel addressed three desks that were still filled in the back of the classroom. Shadows ran across them so they were not easy to make out

    "My class is over, is there a reason you three are still here."

    "Yes," the boy on the far right said, "If all of the Ring wielders were the same when this started how did the abilities of each clan's Ring develops so different in nature and volume."

    Drel stopped what he was doing and raised his head. He squinted to get a better look at his interrogator. However the lights at the front of the class room failed to pierce the shadows that danced about the back of the room shielding the three distinct figures in the back.

    "That is an interesting point, for many scholars and scientists alike have pondered that same question for as long as I have been alive. Despite how far our technology has come, we still do not fully understand how the Ring works. Some believe that these deviations are caused by the will of the people who the Ring resides in."

    "The will?" the inquisitive, and distinctly female, voice came from the middle of the group.

    "Yes the will of the people based on the clans' religion and way of life we have observed that the energy seems to adapt to suit them as best it can." Drel replied, "Many children born of an intermarriage of the clans have come to know how to manipulate that of each clan. Some claim this is out of necessity, and exposure. Some simply believe the Ring is an entity all its own and is independent of our frail human minds, yet seeks to aid us through the will of a higher power." Drel cleared his throat to indicate he was eager for a reply.

    "What do you believe?" Came a deep voice from the far left," With so many theories what does an educated scholar like your self choose to place his faith in."

    A grin spread on Drel's face as he stood from his desk," I don't." he stated simply.

    "What?" inquired the gruff voice.

    "I don't choose any of these theories for they are but theories. None of them fit my fancy because neither of them can present enough consistent evidence as to deserve my faith."

    The source of the deep voice leaned forward and his wide jaw line appeared in the light. There upon his lips sat a mischievous smile.

    "Then you would choose to remain neutral to further your understanding of the issue on all sides. By refusing to take a side you hope to transcend them all." He said in a slightly mocking tone.

    Drel started up the aisle between the desks. The classroom was big built like a coliseum. Desks went up in tiers away from the stage, more or less, which was comprised of the teacher's desk and a board to scretch on. The room was lit with two great glass spheres that were mounted in the wall on either side of the board. A strangely colored flame danced inside each one. They served to illuminate most of the room. However Drel liked to keep the lights low to match his relaxed attitude.

    "Yes, I guess you could say that. Honestly I would love for you three to come back and speak with me again but I believe if you stay any longer you will be late to your next class; and I will never get any work done."

    Now standing directly in front of the row they were sitting in Drel saw them clearly. The first boy was average height for a 16-year-old boy. His frame was lanky but it seemed he had filled with as much muscle as it would hold. Steadily leaning back he seemed very nonchalant about everything. So much so Drel thought describing him as laid back would be an understatement.

    Next was the girl who seemed much more presentable than the first one. She wore a button up top that was only open enough to air out her chest, and around her waist she wore cloth pants. Her legs were crossed and her hands were folded neatly in her lap. She sat up tall and seemed that no matter what was said she was interested and noted what knowledge she deemed worthy to commit to memory. Drel stole back a smile as he thought to himself, a worthy opponent.

    Finally the boy on the far left seemed, if possible, more polite still than the girl. His head sat neatly upon his enormous frame, which seemed to get bigger the longer Drel observed it. He stood at about six feet tall and his body showed no signs of ceasing to grow. The muscles on every part of his body were toned; and despite his large shape he looked the friendliest out of the bunch. His body was hidden behind a large shirt that sagged around his upper torso and his pants came loosely to the ground as if to protect the world from something that shouldn't be seen.

    The three looked at each other smiled and followed Drel's queue to head for the door.

    "One moment you three." At the same time they all turned their heads back toward the teacher, "I hate to admit this but I usually have little reason to learn the names of students in my classes; however, you three seem different. May I have your names for future reference?"

    The large one spoke first," Come now teacher we decided we like you, don't prove us wrong so soon."

    "Excuse me!" Drel exclaimed.

    Next was the girl,"Yes don't you miss the hunt for knowledge or do you just expect it delivered to you from a book all the time?"

    Drel was in a daze. The question had caught him off guard, "Well I-"

    The smaller boy cut him off, "It is true we could tell you our names; but you would probably discover more about us from finding the answer on your own. Perhaps tomorrow we will come and pick your brain a little more after school."

    "Bye, Bye for now!" They said in unison and rushed out of the classroom and down the hallway. Quickly they rounded a cornered and were out of site.

    Drel was left standing there in his classroom frozen by the encounter he just had. Drel thought, "Those kids had a good point. I can gain much more from what I can observe about them. It's decided then I will know more about them in one week then their parents do, and I will do this with nothing more than a good open ear, and some well placed questions. However I will never ask them." Drel grinned as he relished the challenge before him. Then he shuffled to his desk, grabbed a few things and stuffed them quickly into his bag. As he left for the day his class room became dark as Drel let his concentration wander and the energy flames focused into the two glass balls returned to the air.