《The Alchemist and The Herald》


 Rewriting Plans

    Greetings fellow readers,


    As the chapter title states, I''ll be rewriting this novel from the ground up. I know there haven''t been that much development in my story from the start and that the over half a year long hiatus might''ve put others off from delving into this story but I''ve realized that I wrote myself into a corner.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    I''ll refrain from going into all the issues I''ve found with my own work but I have major overhaul plans for the plot and character introductions. Criticism from my brother has also helped me realize that I need to adjust my world building and the POV system for my chapters.


    In conclusion, I will shift gears on this story and pour more effort into it. I''ll start posting rewritten chapters by december and will hopefully be back on track by january.

 Prologue

    ??? POV


    *Inhale*


    *Exhale*


    *Inhale*


    *Exhale*


    *Inhale*


    *Exhale*


    A slow and steady stream of breaths push back against the cool dawn breeze at winter''s end as I purposefully and intently engage in meditation. My thoughts remain uncolored and without focus as I center myself around the energy churning within me as each breath comes and passes. The monotonous process consumes me as I slowly churn and shape all the strength in my mind and soul, my internal mana, and feel it mixing with the energies of the world around me, the world''s breath, slowly coming together and enriching the core of my being.


    The world around me feels so distant yet the power I draw from it''s own breath create a bridge between my self and the fleeting consciousness of the planet. Time becomes irrelevant and my awareness shifts to the task of molding the roiling energies within myself, sculpting the immaterial powers into a physical form and creating a crystalized mass of mana.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    With my breath syncronized with that of the world, I feel a part of my being leaking out into the world. Thoughts, emotions, and the sensations create a mass of "meaning" that ventures out into the world in exchange for nature''s blessings. I lose a little bit of my "self" every time I do this but my soul remains intact and the world graciously allows me to grow from every bit of investment I make. Improving my self at the cost of feeding the world with my being but growing all the more stronger as the payment returns to me in time.


    The dawn twilight wanes and the sun''s rays blaze stronger as my meditation session comes to a close with me being rewarded with a perfect sphere of crystalized mana a meter in diameter. My breath slowly disconnects from the world and I admire the pure azure sphere resting in my lap. A myriad of lights dance around me, showering the snow-covered landscape I sit upon with an air of mystical fancy.


    The soft crunch of boots treading the last winter snowfall come to my notice. The perpetrator stops a few paces behind me and lowers itself into the snow, likely kneeling before softly speaking out.


    "It is time, Master," says a deep male voice.


    He never fails to bow whenever he addresses me. I think to myself.


    "Are all the preparations in place?" I reply as I rise from my seat atop a levitating pillow. The magical item winking out of existence as both my bare feet touch the snow.


    "Yes, Master. Our agents beyond the barrier have been signaled weeks in advance and defensive precautions are in place and only require your final review before the next phase is set into motion."


    "Excellent." I say as I effortlessly lift the sphere of crystalized mana and feel the last remnants of mana within myself wrap around the item in question. It winks out of existence and I feel it occupying a void space within my soul. Carefully tucked away from the world and joining thousands of other such crystals I''ve stockpiled accross a millenia.


    "Rise, my general." I command the still kneeling titan of a man encased in armor.


    He swiftly salutes me and pounds a gauntleted fist upon his chest. The crisp ring of metal striking metal shaking the snowdrifts around us before he falls into step as I pass him by.


    An ovoid portal opens before me.


    Before crossing the threshold, I state aloud, "Much and more will come to our plate soon and I for one wish to keep the gods guessing with how we''ll bring about their downfall."