The Return of Truth

Chapter One

"As the days of the sun bring new life, so shall the coming ages bring Truth." – Words of the Creator sent through the prophet Credor.

All was peaceful. A young woman stood on a boulder, where she gazed at the mountains, forests, and lakes of the North. For all fifteen years of her life, Joanna Novare had called the Northern Mountains home. Nothing was more beautiful, she thought, than this mountain scenery at night. The only audible sound was the gentle lapping of Lake Serenus' waves. Joanna turned her gaze upward, and the sight of a thousand points of light took her breath away. Everything was bathed in the lovely, pure, ethereal light of the night sky.

Joanna looked to the land south of the Northern Mountains. She sighed as she remembered another reason she liked viewing the outdoors at night. The darkness partially concealed the plains south of the Mountains. Joanna loved the plains, but they always reminded her of what lay even further south. The Lands Beyond Goodness, the Evil Regions, Once-beautiful, Hopeless – she had heard and read all these titles and descriptions of the lands once called the Regions of Truth. Her people, the Remnant of Truth, had fled from their kingdom when the Deceiver took over its rule. From the Northern Mountains and the Unknown Forests of the West, they had watched their people fall under the Deceiver's power. They had willingly given everything over to him – their lives, lands, and even the Truth. What once had been an indescribably beautiful world of good was now a desolate wasteland of immorality.

Tears filled Joanna's eyes. Every hope is gone, she thought. Even my own people have begun to forget the Creator. Joanna thought it strange that she would feel so strongly about something she had never experienced fully. To her knowledge, none of her friends, siblings, or cousins felt this way.

A cool night wind wound its way around her. As it did, a remarkable feeling pierced her heart and mind. It was a longing so deep it seemed to fill her whole self. Joanna recalled feeling this strange desire even when she was a small girl. It had grown stronger every time. She didn't know where it came from or why, but she always knew it was a longing for Truth to be restored. What made it even stranger was that it defied everything she had ever been taught about the Restoration of Truth. She had always heard it was an impossible feat, but whenever she had this feeling, she didn't feel that the Restoration was impossible. In fact, she was bursting to set out and defeat the enemy herself. Like the hundreds of other times she had felt this wish, Joanna settled down to ponder what it could mean.

She was still thinking when the first rays of light shot over the horizon. Joanna heard her father's horn sound and echo. Shaking herself out of her thoughtful mood, Joanna turned toward the small settlement she lived in. Her strange longing disappeared with the night, replaced with great excitement. Today, she and friends and family were to begin the two-week journey to the heart of the mountains. Every three years, the Remnant held a special celebration in memory of the Last Victory. All members of the Remnant of Truth would attend, even the forest dwellers. Still Joanna couldn't resist taking one last look at the mountain range, now rimmed with the rising sun's red glow.

Joanna returned to camp and helped her parents pack all the provisions needed. She then ran into her family's cabin to retrieve her sword, daggers, and bow. Unlike the rest of the world, the Remnant encouraged their daughters to train in combat. Joanna thought with eager anticipation of the various tournaments held at every celebration. But as quick as her anticipation grew, a new thought popped into her head. If the Creator wanted her to restore the Truth, she might soon have to use her weapons in real wars and battles. Joanna sighed as the strange longing overtook her once more.

It seemed only a minute later when she felt someone tap her shoulder. For the second time that day she shook off her deep thoughts and turned to face her older brother, Amorus. Apparently he too had returned for his weapons.