In that darkness, there is nothing.

  In the void, there is no sound, only the vibrations you bring with you.

  You reach out, but even if it is there, you are cut off.

  Everything might as well be miles away if it is but an inch away.

  This emptiness has been known to drive men mad.

  Only a mind like a vault can exist without being crushed by the endless emptiness around them, the futility of all motion and action.

  Those who survive, bring horror upon those who know them.

  This story began in a village in the dark lands of Taneria. Emperor Beal had slain or driven to hiding the last of the Tyrannical Dragons and the world for the first time in a long time was settling into a rhythm of peace it hadn't known for millennia. This was an ancient age, a mythical one of heroes before the heroes you probably have heard about, but with all ages, there comes an end.

  Ambar was a quiet boy. Very unassuming for what he soon became, but I am getting ahead of myself.

  On this day, his life, and the rest of the world would begin to change.

  “Ambar! Where are you! Your father needs you in the fields!” He heard his mother call him. Her long black hair shimmered like the night sky, with her pale face the moon within it. At least that's how his father always described her.

  He sighed and put his tablet down, erasing the chalk with the corner of his sleeve. He wasn't as attractive as his mother, nor did he have the strength of his father. Where her hair was resplendent, his was greasy. Where his father had arms like an ox, he had twigs on his shoulder that looked like they'd break from a slight breeze. His father said he just needed a few more summers, that he still had plenty of time to grow at just 16, he wasn't sure if he believed him.

  Gertra would never pick him for anything. She'd likely be married to some dolt like Rolven before the end of next summer. She had to see he was better! She had to know that. . .

  “Ambar! Your father needs you in the fields! Get your jacket on!” His mother interrupted his thoughts.

  “Yes mother!” He said, quickly pulling a jacket over his shoulder. He started towards the door he was nearly there before a hand on his collar stopped him.

  “Don't forget your breakfast, and bring your father some too!” His mother passed him two packages, neatly wrapped in thick burlap and gave him a kiss on his forehead.

  “Thanks mother," he said softly.

  The fields were black with volcanic soil, the volcanoes here in Taneria kept the land fertile, but the dirt and ash blackened everything they touched.

  Ambar carefully crossed the irrigation canals that fed the fields water from reservoirs up in the mountains. It just wouldn't do to fall in in the darkness.

  It didn't rain here often, the mountains around the great valley caught the rain.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  It made farming difficult, but not impossible.

  It just meant they had to work smarter and not take seasonal rains for granted.

  Ambar crossed one canal he was especially proud of. He helped build this one himself last season.

  “Ambar m’son, what took ya so long?” He heard his father's voice call up ahead. No one else spoke like his father. No one knew where his accent came from. Ambar half guessed that it was an intentional inflection.

  “Mother sent me with a present!” He called back, holding the packages high.

  His father smiled.

  “She always was a thoughtful un, come join me. We have a few minutes to spare”

  It was peaceful, sharing breakfast with his father looking out over the furrows of the black field, the sun peaking over the mountains.

  It was a moment of peace, a moment where it felt like new life would begin.

  Then he saw it in the distance.

  “Father, what is that?” He pointed, small whisps of smoke were rising at the edges of the fields.

  His father stiffened. “We won' be planting today after all.” He whistled loudly and the farm help turned. There were maybe 50 of them for this field. His father pulled them close and said something quietly, Ambar couldn't tell what it was, but the farmhelp ran off towards the neighboring fields.

  It felt wrong, something was wrong that his father wasn't telling him. Planting was never cancelled!

  “What is going on father?”

  “Just go home, ya don' have to worry about it.” His father said distractedly.

  “If I'm supposed to help as an adult, I should be treated as one!” Ambar pressed back.

  “Ya’ll do as ya told son, but ya are right, it looks like bandits. I need ya to get yar mother and siblings into the cellar. Do this for me”

  Ambar wanted to argue, he could fight! That would impress Gertra! Hero of the fields! Then he saw his father's expression and ran towards home.

  He ran, the canals that seemed to be proud achievements now seemed like blackened scars in the land. Up ahead he saw his home, but it was too late. The roof had caved in as if a giant had smashed a boulder through it. The sky was red as if it wept blood. That's when he felt the rain. He wiped his face and found this rain was sticky, and smelt of blood.

  A corpse smashed into the ground beside him. His mother.

  Her eyes stared blankly as he heard the roar above him.

  He saw it flying, a dragon.

  It wasn't rain, it was his mothers blood. His mother's blood.

  He was too late.

  He turned back to the field, his father had rallied an army of farm help, they could stop this beast right?

  Then he heard it inhale.

  His father didn't even have time to scream as fire engulfed him.

  Ambar fell to his knees in the ashy soil.

  Why? Why him?

  The dragons were driven off. Why was one here now?

  His siblings! He rushed back to his broken house, afraid of what he'd find.

  Fallen wood had collapsed on Torien. His chest was shattered. His cold eyes were accusing. If only he had been there. He didn't know where Zeryyc, Serai or Delaisha were.

  ‘Help’ he heard a quiet plea.

  Thalia! He dug through the rubble where he heard her voice.

  A beam had struck her, her legs shattered.

  “I'm going to get you out of here. It's going to be ok.’ Ambar struggled to keep his voice from cracking. He didn't know how he was going to get her out. Even then, once he did. . . He could tell she would never walk again.

  “Where are the others?” He asked. Maybe they could help if they were ok?

  “Gone, the monster ate them. I want mommy. I don't want to be eated!” Thalia was crying and sobbing.

  “I'm sorry you can't see Mother right now. I'm going to get you out.” Ambar looked at the heavy beam, he knew couldn't lift it. It had taken 5 men to lift it when they built the house, but he couldn't just leave her there.

  He looked around, for something, anything.

  The poker for the fireplace!

  He could use it as a lever.

  He rolled a stone over and braced the poker against it.

  “It's going to be ok Thalia, on three I'm going to lift. One, two, three!”

  He pushed down with all his might.

  The beam refused to move.

  He tried again.

  It still wouldn't budge.

  No, this will not stop me! He thought. If there's any justice or mercy in this world this beam will move!

  He screamed as he pushed down on his lever, the cold iron biting into his hands.

  It felt like something inside him snapped and the beam moved.

  “Thalia, it'll be ok now.” He picked up his broken sister and looked around.

  “I need to check for the others.”