The Fire Inside

PROLOUGUE

The sun rose slowly but surely on the horizon, the jagged mountains in the light’s path casting long shadows on the earth beneath them. Pastures green and rivers blue were splayed across the countryside; the pastures gleaming brilliant green, dewdrops sparkling with the hue of the rising sun, and the rivers brilliant blue water formed slight waves, the tips casting water up in the air, fragrant of wheat, causing the droplets of water to split the radiant sunlight into all the colours of the spectrum.

Willows that were planted on the riverside swayed softly in the tranquil wind. Songbirds sang cheerful melodies of nature that echoed through the air, into the morning riser’s ears. Flowers shone brightly in their merry colours – blue, red, yellow, orange and white – planted in pots that hung under the windows.

In this particular inhabitant’s room, an old but low standing oak blocked most of the sunlight from entering the window. The little that did enter created brilliant sun shafts that ran into the room spectacularly. The walls were a plain beige with a mahogany window frame. The roof was low, but still comfortable. An old armchair stood in the corner of the room and the fumes from the fireplace blew over the bed, a pleasant scent of apple wood wafted through the stagnant air in the room. All was peaceful this day.

In fact, this part of the country has not been involved in a conflict for the whole magnificent duration of a millennia. There was, however, a war waged here in ancient days, where millions of fragile lives were lost to the fogs of battle. No artefacts or symbols marked the setting of the horrific conflict. One of the two only traces were kept safely guarded in the national archives, heavily guarded by hundreds of metres of rock and the all-seeing eyes of the guards.

The other trace was now growing in the fields that were not farmed for fruit, but kept for fine pastures for grazing animals. Every springtime, flowers of blood red colour bursts though the ground as a reminder of the blood shed on the rich soil that was once hard rock. It reminded of the agonizing years, of many clashes of great empires with conflicting ideologies of how governments should be run.

In those days, the politicians who represented the inhabitants of their area were filthy rich scoundrels, who were elected by the unfair systems that favoured the higher class of society. All politicians and leaders were power hungry, with no common sense, rhyme or reason. This led to the downfall of those mighty empires, through public revolts and revolutions.

The product of all the violent affairs lead to a country that raised out of the ashes, like a glorious phoenix that was reborn. Like a phoenix, this country was fair and mighty for a long period of history, while other bordering empires that have grown from exiles of evil, have started to turn to this country, coveting it hungrily.

The violent political turmoils that led to wars were on the horizon. Any fool would see the high waves tossing and turning in the boiling ocean, not far away, of hatred. Of negativity. Something that any sentient being must learn, is to love. Respect your neighbours, but you must form strong relations with them first. Gaining their trust. Then, you can negotiate what you want with them. This flaw in beings have led to poverty, anger and social insecurity. The leader of nations would settle what they wanted with war. They were blinded by the influence of power and might. These types of leaders are the definition of ‘evil’ for no decent being would put their people, under their command through suffering unless suffering would bring them fruit, bring them prosperity in the long scheme of things.

The most intolerable of evils, however, was enslaving beings of another nation, and forcing them to fight against their own kind. The leaders of this great country had tolerated this behaviour from their neighbours for too long. It is the intolerance of tolerance in the social norm that brings change. Most overwhelmingly, change for the better of all.

Thunder is building… and there is no way to stop it…