Darkness: The Beginning by S. G. Ricketts (good books for high schoolers TXT) 📕

In an age before time, when evil was unknown, a shadow began to spread over the world. It was the age of peace and friendship, when two of a different race could come together without quarrel, an age when all of creation was one. But a darkness grew, blossoming in men’s hearts. It gave light to the differences and darkened the similarities. It kindled anger where once there had been love. This darkness spread through the lands of Kerista, lending its hand to the battles of men. Animals, once friends of people, were hunted, murdered, and forgotten. The Other Folk were scorned, said to be animals, and animals, beasts. The darkness reveled in the easy victory.
Years passed. Winter became spring, spring became summer, and summer fall. Young princes became kings, and then bones hidden behind a stone mask. The Other Folk became myths, tainted by the darkness. Animal kind lost their connection with men. The world fell to disrepair. Men willingly turned to the darkness and became Lesser demons, their bodies blacker than the night and their eyes black holes, a reflection of their empty souls. The Noble People, hindered by their pride and anger, fell to the darkness as well, becoming the Greater demons. Proud of its new slaves, the darkness gave them the ability to shape shift, deceiving and corrupting others to its vile cause. And so the light dimmed. Kerista fell completely to the darkness. The kingdoms of man crumbled beneath the weight of the darkness, their greed and malice and lust devouring entire cities.
There was no light, except in one small kingdom. The kingdom of Therin, son of Guider, stood against the darkness. It was a dagger of white against a drowning wave of death. Trogan sat on the edge of the Diamond Sea, the last stronghold. Some said the ocean breezes pushed the darkness away from her high, white walls, protecting her people from its taint. But even in Trogan, the darkness had begun to rule. The streets were full of it, black tendrils of evil and malice. The commoners had swiftly fallen, their minds already corrupted by their greed, and lies. The soldiers’ stolid hearts were being worn down by the whispers of the darkness The chancellors had been broken by the darkness’ whispers, ruining the king bit by bit. King Therin had no one left to him unscathed but his daughter, Breena. In the city of Trogan, Breena was the only one holding the light together.

In the year Princess Breena turned sixteen, the soldiers revolted. King Therin was murdered, and Breena was left for dead as the darkness ravaged all that was left of the city. Merchants banded together, robbing the common folk of their very lives and killing each other for wealth. The soldiers ruled in anarchy led by the dark wizard Camlin. Kerista had finally fallen completely to the darkness, lost forever in the evil of men’s hearts.

Publication Date: 03-01-2011

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