The Power

Alice lives in a world that is completely different from our own. Time is reversed, meaning that they are moving toward the middle ages while we move on to science. The people are different. They are solely driven by greed and starvation, coveting the most destructive weapon of all: the Power. This is a force of nature that changes the human possessing it completely. Once the Power is won, it's captor becomes emotionless, indestructible, and horrible. Humans are constantly at war for this force, desperately trying to claim it for their own.

At least, until Alice comes along. Having been brought up by nearly everyone in her village, Alice is used to hearing the tales of the glorious Power, old women telling her not to bother trying to get it (they didn't want extra competition), cackling boys who would announce all the lives they'd claim if they got their hands on the Power, and middle aged men who were hardly at home, busy searching for the Power. But Alice never quite understood why the Power was so great.

She wanted an adventure, but not one focused on the Power.
One day, her village is visited by a group of outsiders, one young man in the lead. As soon as he sets his eyes on Alice, he knows that she would be perfect for his quest. And after persuading her to go with his men, they set off, not to claim the Power as their own, but to destroy it.

And maybe on the way, love will find it's way into Alice's heart.