Hannah S. Chacko

Dear Readers,

                I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all to the world of the Elementalists.

   As the leader of the Letrans in the Elementalists' war, I feel it is my duty to welcome you and explain the ins and outs of our world.

   As a people, we have been fighting for many generations. For most of our history, in fact. This war has caused the predicament we are in today.

   As a direct result from our division, our own world collapsed. It was a beautiful world, but one we may no longer enjoy. We were at home there. Now, we are Lost.

   We wonder the thirteen known realms, homeless. In some places, both sides have bases, ready to fend each other off. We have lost much of our power, as the link to our realm was severed the day the walls collapsed. And our numbers are greatly diminished, through both fighting and those who were trapped and unable to escape the fall of a realm.

   So why fight is it causes such problems, I hear you ask. To be honest, it is partly my fault for the war continuing in such a way, but it has been ragind since long before my time. However, it was on much smaller a scale.

   As a people, we were originally all governed by the Council. The high-councillors made all decisions on how to run society, based around the votes of the people. However, they became power-hungry, relishing in the control that they could exert over so many.

   As the years passed, they spun a web of lies, capturing within it, all the people over whom they governed. They took absolute control, and the general population was clueless as to what had happened.

   It was a cruel time. No one could leave the realm for any reason. Every town was enclosed underground and the public forbidden from venturing out under the sky. This limited our powers further, particularly any Elementalist born into Air. But the people complied, believing the high-councillors to have their best interests at heart. The sunlight was pronounced deadly.

   Shortly after this, a system was introduced, into which boys would be forced into "training" in order to become hunters. These chosen few would be "trained" to withstand the sunlight and provide food for the towns. In reality, their families were transformed into beasts and the boys, while learning the truth as to the situation, were forced into silence.

   It did not take long for the secret to leak out. Many dismissed it, but others tried to escape. Those that succeeded formed the breakaway group, the Letrans. Forever moving forward, they looked for ways to grow and develop. Those that remained, the Zyrons as they became known, were told that the Letrans were dangerous, and plotting to kill all others to become the most powerful people in all the realms, second to the Clorans.

   It is sad that the fighting had to begin. The Letrans would not abandon their own, and the high-councillors would not relinquish their power. The Kha'sandric, a race that seemed to appear from nowhere, were generally obedient to the Zyrons and attacked the rebel bases. Soon, however, they were attacking both sides as hatred for all Elementalists grew.

   These creatures were once Elementalists themselves, but the longer they were animals, the wilder they became. I hope that some day, we can help them return.

   I, myself, was once one of those under the spell of the Zyrons. I had no family of which to speak when I learned the truth for myself. I, too, left to join the rebels, and quickly became a leader to one camp. My ideas differed greatly to those who had originally started the war, but many saw things in a similar light. The old Letrans eventually faded away, with my group rising.

   It was the fall of the Clorans that worsened the divide. We tried to save as many as we could, but we were too late to rescue them from their sanctuary, and most were lost. We know of only a handful of survivors. They were the most important race to all those who had magic in their lives. The Zyrons did nothing to help them, and we were then blamed for their demise. That is when the fighting worsened.

   We spread across even more realms, brining others into our battle. Now I wonder if we made the right decision. The walls between all realms are crumbling now. Our war has put all of existence in jeapordy.

   But there is hope for us yet. The Clorans spoke of four children. Those four children would be born of the war, but have no knowledge of it until the time was right. then, they would come into their powers, discover how to save us all, and either bring about our salvation or destruction. But, should they save us, only one side of the war will see victory. I pray that it is us, but any inteference in their future may prove ill.

   The four children were identified early, and their inheritance chains registered. I then switched their chains around, so that they may all be drawn together. That was my hope until one was killed.

   Now we must find one to take his place, for the prophecy cannot be fulfilled with only three of them. Darkness is looming now, but we must hold strong.

   I pray that if you choose to join our fight, you join the Letrans. What life is ruled by lies and is worth living?