Prologue

 

Alexander Shine sprinted up the side of the hill. As the grass and dirt rubbed up against his bare feet, his strides lengthened, and his smile grew wider. Alex had discovered something truly extraordinary, and the first person he thought of sharing it with was his mother, who had the most impact on his seven years alive.

          As he arrived at the top of the hill, he stopped for air and to look around. He had lived here for as long as he could remember, and had loved it. The city was huge and teemed with life. In front of Alex, the great city was spread out before him like a map with the Sea sitting on the far side of it, while behind him were rolling hills. After his panting had ceased, he resumed his journey towards the palace in the center of the city; his home.

          As Alex raced up the seemingly endless steps, he saw his mother just walking out of the front doors, and smiled with open arms when she saw him.

“Alexander Shine, where have you been off to?” She asked teasingly, and graciously embraced her son in a hug.

“Mother! Mother! You’ve got to see this!” Alex said, pushing away from his mother with tender dominion.

“Alright then,” She said laughing, “What is it then, honey?”

After making sure that she was really watching, Alex slowly raised his right hand up to eye level and snapped his fingers. As he did so, there was a small *pop*, and two tiny little sparks jetted out of the tips of his fingers. His mother gasped and raised her hand over her open mouth.

“Alex… when did you-”

“Just now,” He cut in, “When I was out walking in the hills. You aren’t mad at me, are you?” His voice had dropped to a whisper.

“Uhm…” His mother paused for a brief second, “No! No, I’m not mad at all.” She took a step forward, put her hands on his shoulders, and kneeled until they were face to face. She took her hand off his right shoulder and raised his slouched head until they were staring right at each other.

“Alexander,” she started, “you are one of the most special boys I know. And I’m not just talking about the fact that you father is a great man, I’m talking about you. You have a gift, Alex. And someday, someday you will bring good into this world with it, just like your father. Someday you will have someone to protect, and I hope that…” she paused, “No, I’m certain that you will do whatever it takes to do just that.”

As she stood up, Alex realized just how tall she really was.

“I know you may not understand all of this now, but you will, Alex. You will.” As she said this, she bent over, gave him a soft kiss on the forehead, and hugged him again. He might have been seeing things, but for an instant, he could have sworn that she was crying.

 

Later, during the night of the same day, Alex woke from his sleep to the sounds of shouting and screaming. As he sat up in his bed, he pulled the sheets up to his nose, his hands trembling. Fear spread throughout his body, and just as he was about to creep out of bed to find out what was happening, his father burst into his room and pulled him out of bed.

“Hurry, son! We must make it to the harbor!”

Alex had never seen his father like this. As he ran over to the dresser on the far side of the room and began dressing, his father intervened.

“There’s no time for that! Grab some clothes and dress on the way!”

As they ran down the steps of the palace towards the Sea, Alex looked around to see mass chaos. Soldiers of the same uniform were attacking each other, and just about anyone and everyone else around them.

“Father, what’s going on?” Alex asked, on the brink of crying. “Why are our own soldiers attacking us?”

His father said nothing, but merely stopped. They were at the docks, where a small rowboat was waiting. His father turned to him, bent over, and put his hands on his shoulders just like his mother had done earlier that day.

“Alexander,” he said, breathing heavy, “I need you to be really, really brave for me. Can you do that?”

Alex attempted at a nod, and said “Father, where’s Lowell?”

His father sighed. “Son, don’t worry. Your brother is safe. He and your mother were on the outskirts of the city when they attacked, and were able to flee to the hills. They’ll be safe there, for now.” He paused, then, “Now, here’s what I need you to do, ok? I need you to take this rowboat out to Sea until you feel far enough away, but you can still see the city. Understand?”

Alex managed a nod this time.

“Good. Now once you’re out there, I want you to stay there, until you see the first rays of sunshine. That will be your signal to come home. Got it?”

Before Alex could say ‘yes’, his father had lifted him up, and set him in the middle of the rowboat. As he untied the rope connecting it to the dock and began pushing it to Sea, he shouted a reminder, “Remember, son, come back when the sun rises! It will all be over then! Goodbye! Goodbye!”

He seemed to choke on the last word, and Alex watched as his father turn around and broke into a run. This was the last memory of his father Alex had, for he never could remember the sun rising on that beautiful Sea again.

 

“Is he dead?”

“No, he ain’t dead. Jus’ sleepin.”

Alex tried to open his eyes and get a grip on where he was, but found it was harder than he thought. He lay there for a few moments, listening to their argument, and then blacked out again.

He passed out to the sound of rain on a window, and the rocking of a boat on a stormy sea.

 

When he woke the second time, he was feeling much better he sat up and looked around, all the while yawning comfortably and stretching his stiff limbs. He felt as though he had been asleep for days.

Just as he was done, a short man strode into the room, and stopped when he saw that Alex was awake.

“Hello there!” He said, smiling. “My name is Doctor Kent. How are you feeling?”

“Uhm…” Alex thought for a second, “Fine, I guess…”

“Great! That’s just wonderful.” He stopped and leaned up against a nearby table, staring at Alex. “So would you mind telling me what happened?”

“Umm, I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about…” Alex said slowly.

“You were found drifting in a small rowboat during a storm in the middle of the Sea By some fishermen. Now, this is a fairly small village, and typically, we don’t allow others in, so I know you’re not from here. Care to tell me where you’re from, kid?”

Alex thought for a moment, then raised his head in desperation.

“I don’t know.” He said, his eyes wide in shock, “Sir, I can’t remember anything at all.”