Factions Of Power
Factions of Power
Jackson looked at the magnificent structures of rock that surrounded him. Most were erected as a result of the Great Battle of Terra, where followers of the land had battled with followers of the sea. Both factions believed that the mystical force that gave them the Life Energy required to manipulate their surroundings were greater in their area of worship. The Faction of the Sea believed that oceans contained the greatest amount of Life Energy and that the Earth should be covered in one massive sea. The Faction of the Land believed that the greatest concentration of Life Energy was in rock and soil, which motivated them to make one giant supercontinent.
Jackson did not know whether he was destined for the Sea or the Land. This troubled him. He had to decide which Faction he belonged to, for when you are a member of a Faction, you can master your realm, allowing you to become more powerful. Jackson suddenly noticed one massive rock in front of him. This rock was different from all the others, as its jagged edges thrust in the sky until he could no longer see the top. At the bottom, Jackson spotted an elderly man sitting with his legs crossed, meditating.
“Hello” Jackson said, approaching with caution, “Why are you meditating here?”
“Son, this is where the Great Respite occurred, where the Sea and Land clashed and were unable to conquer the other.”
The old man sat at the base of the rock. He had a white beard, long as Jackson is tall. His skin radiated as if it were made of gold. He seemed not to care that Jackson was staring at him as if he had never seen an old man before.
“That happened here?” Jackson asked, “Do you think this rock might help me decide whether I’m destined to follow the Land or the Sea?” Jackson hoped that this was the place that would finally end his suffering.
“This holy rock can do much more than you seek. Come, sit and touch the rock with your hands, and it shall guide you to your answer.”
Jackson slowly put his hands on the rock. Suddenly Jackson was surrounded by nothing but light. He looked around, confused at to what just occurred. Out of the corner of his eye, Jackson saw a figure, clothed in brown, standing at a distance.
“Hello” Jackson yelled, “Where am I?”
The figure turned but it did not come any closer to Jackson. It suddenly raised its arms, as if it were welcoming him to his home, and responded in a thunderous voice.
“The Land and the Sea are not separate entities, for they are one in the same, separated only by the foolishness of man and their inability to reside peacefully.”
As soon as it finished, it disappeared. Suddenly, Jackson awoke at the base of the rock, facing the sun. He did not know who the figure was or what it wanted, but he knew he met it for a reason.
“What just happened?” asked Jackson. Every muscle in Jackson’s body ached, and his bones felt as if they were hollow. Jackson noticed that the old man was now standing above him, staring into his eyes with the ferocity of a lion.
“Have you seen the truth, young boy?” The old man said, “It’s much to take in, but the Spirits have spoken, and you have listened.”
Jackson was intrigued at what the Spirits said, but he was having trouble believing them. There was no way that humans have fought and died for centuries for no reason at all. Although Jackson was confused, he felt relaxed, almost at peace with the universe. The information slowly seeped into every fiber of his being, slowly encapsulating him in its strong grip. Jackson suddenly felt a sharp rush of energy take control of his body, and he felt as alive as ever.
Jackson turned to the old man, “I feel strange, what is happening to me?”
“The Spirits have gifted you with the knowledge to unite the Factions, Jackson, it is now your duty to end mankind’s suffering.”
“Why me? I’m nothing special, I’m just a boy who doesn’t know where he belongs.” Jackson did not want such a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. He was never good with dealing with pressure. He just wanted to be a normal boy, training to maximize his Life Energy.
“Jackson, you now have the potential to become the most powerful human that ever lived. The Spirits saw that you were worthy for this power. Most boys your age have known where they were going since they were young. You are special.” The old man turned and motioned to the sky, waving his hand as if he were trying to grab something. “You are now able to gain Life Energy from both water and soil. It is time for you to do what the Spirits expect of you, young boy.”
Heeding to the old man’s word, Jackson attempted to gain Life Energy from the soil that surrounded him. With heavy concentration, Jackson sat down and began meditating, as he found the old man doing. With every deep breath, a larger ball of light enveloped him. After a couple of minutes, Jackson was covered in a sphere of light that rivaled the sun in its luminescence. He opened his eyes, knowing that he was now capable of incredible feats. With one swift motion, Jackson sent a ray of energy crashing into a neighboring rock, smashing it to bits. He understood that he was chosen for a specific purpose, to unite the Factions and end the centuries long war that had raged on for centuries. He was ready, now it was time to act.
Word Count: 962