Arthur Turner and the Elevator Of Time

C h a p t e r O n e ~ The River of Magic "Did you hear that?” Meliaen said to her husband, as she peered outside of the small Waterfall where they lived. "Here what?" Kaened responded, from across the room. “I don't know, it sounded like it came from the sky, far above us. I couldn't be sure." Meliaen saw nothing when she looked into the sky. Just a black night. The stars were shining, and there was a bright full moon out. However there was nothing else she could see. "I didn't hear it." He said, but of course this meant nothing, since he barely ever heard anything no matter how loud. "Oh. I'm quite sure I did." “Well, I'm sure whatever it was, we are quite safe here." He said, reassuringly. But Meliaen did not feel the same way. “I don't know what it is," she continued, ignoring what he had just said. "But it doesn't seem right. It didn't sound like anything I have heard before." Kaened left his chair where he had been sitting, and appeared out of the darkness. He was a very large man, with black hair that was now more silver with age. However his character did not match his appearance. He was usually shying away from anything he didn't like. Meliaen however, was less so. Her features were not charming at all, and her old age did not help a bit. But her kindness and knowledge of most everything made her all the more pleasant to look at. Her hair was quite long, but not long enough to reach the floor. Her eyes were dark brown, and the rest of her face was long and serious looking, her nose even more so. And at this time, he seriousness was no less genuine. Meliaen and her husband Kaened were people just like you and I, but they lived long, long ago only a hundred years after the earth was born, and they lived under a waterfall, with no children, no friends beside one family member, and had lived longer than I care to mention. But they were happy in their small space. "I don't see anything." He said, as he looked into the night. "Wait!" Kaeneds' face lit up with curiosity as he said this, and he leaned in closer to see better. "What is it?" Meliaen too leaned out of their small opening, and could see dimly behind a gentle stream of water, a light. A very bright light. Moonbeams were cast down directly on it, as if to say "here, come here." They both looked at each other. There was no logical reason, to leave their home after dark, just for a bright light in the distance. There was no point in even suggesting it. However they both felt compelled to see what it was. They could not escape the feeling of wonder, so they decided to follow the light to whatever was casting it. Without a word, Meliaen and Kaened, exited their house and began walking out into the deep night that surrounded them. Had it not been for the light, they would have stumbled much on their way. Down a small hill, on which at the very top was their little waterfall, they walked drawing ever closer to the light. Nearer and nearer, and still they could not tell what it was. At last, and in very short time, they finally came to the end, where a small pond lay, shining like the sun. Its light was soon to darken as they drew closer, so now they were able to see it clearly. It was perfectly normal, the same river as ever before they had seen, however, now there was a beauty to it they could not describe. Its reflections did not turn with the tide, the wind could not seem to stir it. It shone with brilliant light. The waters glittered with no moon or stars to make it so. There was a majestic presence it carried. The sound of its waters was like a singing chorus. A simple tune that was more powerful than all the most beautiful voices that could be heard. It was indeed the most amazing thing they had ever seen. They stood there for many minutes in awe. No one spoke a word. They felt a strange need to drink. Drink from this river of pureness. Although many would believe, and rightfully so, that the urge to drink came from a wicked source. An evil desire none could turn away. But this was not so. It was more of a need than a desire. A thirst for beauty. This river was not evil. It had no flaw. It was the first touch of magic the earth had ever seen. No, this was a good need. They seemed to know that this was a good thing. Kaened slowly reached both his hands into the river with care, and he drew out water and touched it to his lips. He closed his eyes as he swallowed. A smile appeared on his face. “Meliaen, it is beauty. I can't……...I can't describe it.” “What is it? How did this happen?” “I do not know. Drink my love, it is filling.” Meliaen was not in the least reluctant. She too drank from the river and just the same, a cool sensation came over her and enraptured her and every beautiful and perfect thought there was she felt. In her heart and soul. A tear fell from her eyes. “It is Beautiful.” She said. “How did this happen?” Kaened did not respond, but he took another drink, and in his mind asked how did this happen, what is this? He waited a moment. There was no response. And then, a voice appeared. It was the same voice that sang with the river. The same sweet melody. And sang: ~ A star from the heavens sprang A light was seen from afar A song soon after was sang Of this, a shooting star: Magic in the sky O beauty in the night The fallen star, magi Has fallen to give light To men and women, and all the earth To protect, to keep, and to heal; The greatest of all a treasures Worth Though even For some tis a myth not real Though they try at changing time To break the earth for one true gain None but words with true Devine Of stars, their power, can break this chain And yet for some, it is a power deep To help Earth's people to laugh Or to cause those people to weep To you we give this light Use for good and do no wrong Help to shine away the dark Remembering this song “Meliaen, I know what happened.” Kaened said. He had not just heard this song, deep inside he could feel the meaning of everything there. “What? How do you know?” “The river, her voice. She told me.” “What? Tell me!” “There were five stars that shone in the sky beneath the power of Alpheda the first star. Magi fell from the heavens, and they have a power in them greater than any. She called it...magic. And Sorcery. Sorcery fell into this deep River. It gave it the power. To drink from it would give us the power to do anything. It is the duty of those who drink, to do right. To do good on this Earth. To heal and protect it. It is our job Meliaen. We can do good. We can make this world a better place.” “I can hardly believe this.” She said. “I know, but can you not feel it? The power you have? We can do anything! So we must do good.” Meliaen and Kaened found that they had become sorcerers. They could cast any spell, they could find the right words from deep inside them. They did do much good. They helped heal the sick, bring back to life the dead. They protected the race of humans. They never used their magic for anything but good. The world was growing. And it was beautiful. Not only did they heal, but they also made everything around them grow. They created the first flower, the Rose. And after that, all the most wonderful plants were growing all over the earth. Earth had never been more fantastically beautiful. Three and a half years later, they had a child. They called him Alpheda. He too had the same magic that was in them. No greater, no lesser. They trained him to learn compassion and kindness. Not to look down on those without his powers. To help the week and be the strong. He was a good child. He followed his parents path and did as they did for many years. Later they had two more children. Sered and Dineth. There were many battles in that time. And the family would use their magic to make peace. Not just on their side, but for both. They were merciful to their enemies. They kept the law. The world was already grander than ever before. Meliaen and Kaened continued to drink from the same river, making them stronger, and all the more kind. With so much magic in them and their sons, they knew their race would never die. However, the evil of greed and hatred could not be kept off for long. When Alpheda was 38 years of age, his parents found him conjuring a number of dark evils. They did not know what to do. They had no idea how this happened. He had never shown any rebellion or injustice to any. Alpheda confessed later, that he had found that with an angered and hate filled heart, the magic within became stronger and even more effective. He had no boundaries or limits. He felt like a god. This was the first taste of dark magic. Meliaen and Kaened feared now what would happen if ever an evil person drank from the river. And so they buried the it. They knew that by doing this, none could ever drink again. They knew there were be very few Magicians from then on. But they could not risk the earth’s destruction, so they let it be. The River of Magic was buried deeper than anything ever was. And It could only be found by Meliaen and Kaened themselves, by their magic alone. And so they had saved many people that day.