Story of Jarock

Jarock was born of an Arkett father and human mother. Born into a world of opposing sides he could never truly be accepted by either one. The only ones that did were his parents. They loved and cherished him, not because he was different but because he was their son. He was raised in the lower plains among the humans. Throughout his childhood he was bullied, and treated unfairly. But because of the way his mind worked he didn’t see it for what it was. He never cried so it mustn't have been too bad. His speech was impared until nearly three. Even after that he didn’t talk much. No one understood his sensory distortion either. If something bothered him it would be like he’s having a little fit. Categorized as a ‘trouble child’ His parents tried to give him as much of a normal life as they could, but even they at times had difficulty understanding their own child. As he grew up he began to show strange signs. He could see and hear things other’s couldn’t. Whispers without distinction. He could interact with the world around like a painter with a canvas. At first he was afraid of it. But then his mother helped him to see it as a gift. A talent that he could learn to use and share. His mother also had similar talents, and his father could do the same but needed some extra help from funny little toys. It was a hard life, but it was a happy life. At age ten everything changed. His village was attacked. He was separated from his parents as hundreds were being slain around him. He was scared and alone until a stranger found him. This man was his mother’s brother. He was a scary man, but he promised to take him back to her. With his gentle heart he went with him on that promise. He was taken to a group of people who could help. They did many things with him, most of which were painful. He didn’t understand why. All he wanted was his parents, his mother. He uncle insisted that they would find them soon, so until then they needed his help with their testing. He developed a phobia of needles and doctors. He didn’t feel sick but they kept treating him like he was. He didn’t know how long it took but eventually his parents found him. They broke him out of the lab and killed those who tried to stop them. And he wasn’t the only child. There were others. Fellow children who lost their homes and families. He never knew what happened to them. His parents decided to take him to his father’s people. A place he only heard stories of before he slept. He was brought to an island in the sky. There he met the Arketts, his father’s people. They were not welcoming. To them his very existence was an insult to them. The persecution he faced from them was even worse than the humans below! Jarock’s family didn’t have a choice but to bear it with a smile. Here they were safe from being hunted and killed. But beyond that there was nothing. This was a difficult time for Jarock. Even though he was with his parents, he never felt so alone. They didn’t want to speak of what happened down below or why they left. They forbade him from using his gifts. They said it was to keep him safe. Jarock was left in the dark in pain. The only thing he knew was that he didn’t want to see his mother cry anymore. Something happened below, something that made her weep for days and nights. She didn’t know it, but her son was watching. After the fourth night he made a vow not to make her cry ever again. So he did everything he could to be the perfect son. He learned to bury his pain, to not let it show. As long as the people he loved weren’t in pain, he’d take all the pain. They were all he had, he was not going to lose them because of his own pitiful weakness. When the bullying happened he didn’t resist. He kept his parents in his heart and let the pain come until it passed. Then one day a girl fell out of a tree. He dived in to save her but ended up beneath her. The girl was energetic with a light in her eyes Jarock had never seen. When the others came and beat him, she stopped them and beat a few of her own. The girl’s name was Skyra, and over time they developed a friendship. It turned out that their fathers were good friends so they came to visit from time to time. He even showed her what he could do. He made a flower for her out of the dirt. At first he thought he frightened her away. This had happened before with his human friends, but not her. To Skyra it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. This friendship was the most precious one Jarock had ever had. Though the parents were okay with them becoming friends the rest of the Arketts didn’t approve. For reasons Jarock didn’t understand they couldn’t see each other anymore. He had his first taste of friendship since he came to the skyland, and in an instant it was taken away. Jarock was sad, alone, and miserable. He started thinking it was his parents’ fault. They weren’t doing anything about the situation. It wasn’t that they didn’t love them. They just wanted to keep him safe. That didn’t stop him from being angry at them and those stupid Arketts. So out of spite, Jarock would go off on his own and train with his gift. He would always be careful, never doing it during the day or where he could be noticed. He wanted to keep his promise, but he couldn’t do nothing. For a while it worked, but it didn’t help his loneliness. Then one night as he was practising he heard a whisper in the wind. It was a voice asking if anyone was there. If anyone could hear him. He was alone, so very alone. Jarock tried to call out, but he was too far away. One thing was for sure, the voice was real and it was coming from the capital. Everyday he would hear the voice and every day he would search for a way to get there. One day his father was to go to a meeting and this would be his chance. Jarock stowed away on the airship snuggled into a tight area near the engines. It was hot and uncomfortable, but he needed to reach that voice. He came to a woven dome spire at the heart of the capital. The doors were always locked, but when Jarock touched them, they opened freely. Inside there was no one. Just a vast empty room with an alter in its heart. Wedged into the alter was a strange looking sword and all around were whispers. He heard the voice again as clear as ever. Jarock called out saying that he could hear him, that he too was alone, and that he wanted to see him. The voice was surprised. This was the first time anyone had heard him. The sword and child understood each other. Two lonely isolated beings who only wished to have a friend. The sword said his name was Dawn Breaker. Jarock gave his name and pulled him from the altar. There was a bright light and they came together. It was wonderful, their very souls were pouring into each other filling the empty places of loneliness and sadness. Just when they were about to reach the peak of this experience the doors crash open behind them. It was Jarock’s father. He looked angry, but in truth he was afraid. He told his son to put the sword back and walk away now. As one the two boys said no. They would not be parted. They would not be left alone, not ever again. A power radiated from their presences pushing his father back like he was up against the wind. The father drew his weapon out of instinct. The two before him saw this as a show of force, but that wouldn’t make them split. Together they fought the father, but their synce was incomplete. Jarock was overpowered and Dawn breaker vanished. He was brought back to his father’s island and forced into complete isolation. Jarock had no idea what he had done, but honestly he didn’t care. He gained two friends and lost two friends. It was all the Arketts’ fault, including his dad! He hated them, the humans, the Arketts he hated them all! The whispers came to him. His rage called to them, and they came. In the midst of his fury, the life around him died. The grass, the bushes, even a full grown tree died before his eyes. In that moment he saw what the others saw. There was nothing wrong with the humans or the Arketts, it was him. He wasn’t suppose to exist. He was a monster. A deeply seeded hatred of himself began to take root. He had done it again. He hurt the people closest to him again, it was unforgivable. Jarock was distraught. No one understood him, but even when he tried to make things right they only got worse. He shouldn’t have existed. Maybe nothing should exist. A hooded stranger came to him at his lowest point. The stranger never gave a name, only a hope: He was not alone. The stranger told him that Dawn wasn’t gone. Even now he was there trying to reach him. Jarock called out with his heart and soul and to his great joy Dawn answered him. Something had blocked off their connection but now it was back. Dawn was with him the whole time watching him suffer. Others would have been horrified at what Jarock had done, but not him. They were a part of each other now. Dawn promised Jarock that he would always be there so he would never have to face that darkness again. The stranger encouraged Jarock to work on his talents and connection with dawn, but also to keep them a secret. If word got out of these things his mother, his father, Dawn, all that he loves would be taken from him. Jarock promised and gave the stranger his trust. He left the stranger at the charred circle. The figure waved his hand over it, but nothing happened. There was a hint of discouragement, then he vanished like he was never there. In the time that passed Jarock’s gifts started to bear fruit. Dawn now had a physical form in his mind’s eye. It was transparent and luminescent, yet lively and full of witt. Dawn could go anywhere. He could share his eyes and ears with Jarock wherever he went. It certainly made it easier to practice without the risk of being discovered. He could also listen in on his parents conversations. There was a lot of fear and worry, especially for their son. Contentions were growing between the Arkett factions. Divisions that resulted in conflicts. Eventually a draft was ordered where every able bodied man and volunteer woman would take up arms. Somehow Jarock was pulled into the draft despite being a hybrid. He went to the capital and was assigned to a battalion. There he met Skyra. She was as beautiful as ever. As happy as Jarock was to see her, there was now a bitter weight in his heart. A grief and a sadness. They could never be together, to the Arketts he was fodder, nothing more. By some miracle his leader would be none other than Skyra’s father, Cordis. Along with him was Skyra’s potential betrothed, the sun of mourning. Being a soldier was hard. They weren’t going into all out war, there was some inserections that needed to be quelled. It was intended to be peaceful, but in the end it became a violent conflict. Jarock was attacked and injured. He had to kill the man to survive but that didn’t end the bloodshed. When the platoon wasn’t in combat, Jarock would be the target of ridicule and harassment. The best thing he could do was keep quiet and not bring attention to himself. So long as he did that the persecution would be to a minimum. That wouldn’t stop it of course, especially behind the commander’s back. No one liked how cozy they could look together. Through the hardships Jarock and Cordis developed a friendship. He and Dawn helped Jarock see that he needed to survive and go home to his family, even if that means taking a life in defense. Jarock always did better with people who weren’t his own age. When Cordis saw the amount of heart Jarock had, he couldn’t help but be moved. Soon their conversations turned to Skyra, and they both expressed how much they cared for her. Cordis asked him what he liked about his daughter. While others would have hesitated or minced their words, Jarock just flat out said that it was her smile. It was warm and bright. He expressed his desire to always keep it bright and how one day she could be an excellent mother. Cordis laughed at this. Out of all the boys he spoke to no one had the guts to say something like that. But then Jarock expressed how he hoped she would find someone who could keep her smile bright. Cordis was surprised by this and asked why not him. Jarock was a hybrid. Not only would it be a disgrace for Skyra to mingle with such a mutt, but being a half breed meant he was probably sterile. Unable to have children. As Jarock grew older he realized that he wanted to have a family of his own, but this was a pipedream. Cordis didn’t seem to think so and gave him more respect and kindness than anyone else had in a long time. The relationship Jarock had with Cordis made the unit a lot more bearable. He still had to keep Dawn and his gifts a secret. The harassment was still there, but he could get by. Soon the struggles came to a head. The final battle over the divisions of the Arketts. Many people died that day including Cordis. Jarock was with him in his final moments surrounded by conflict. The father took his hand and told him “Don’t let it dim, don’t you dare let it dim.” Jarock promised but told him he should keep that promise himself. His daughter still needed him. Sun of mourning came and shoved Jarock aside. Cordis died in his arms with Skyra still on his lips. Jarock was devastated. The one member of the battalion who treated him like a person, his commanding officer, Skyra’s father, was slain. Dawn and Jarock went into a grief ridden frenzy. Dawn appeared in Jarock’s hands and together they wiped out all the remaining forces. By the time it was over Jarock was knee deep in bodies which forced a crater of death around him. Once his strength dissipated, Jarock was apprehended, and locked away. The battalion returned as war heros. Jarock was with them but only in body. Six men were stationed around him ready to draw their weapons at any time. After the ceremony every member was ordered to return home. Some tried to keep Jarock there, but by the council's order it was out of their hands. Jarock didn’t return home, instead he went to visit the grieving Skyra. He climbed up a tree to her bedroom window. Skyra would use this tree all the time to leave, more often than her own door. When he knocked on the window there was no response. He knocked again and the windows flew open one of which hit him in the head. Skyra pulled him in before he fell. They talked for a long time. She hadn’t cried once since she learned the news. She felt that she needed to be strong because that’s what her father would have wanted. He was just another soldier lost on the battlefield. Jarock told her she was wrong. The person who died was her father and to grieve him wasn’t weak. If anything he was envious. Being a hybrid he didn’t have the capacity to cry. The pain didn’t have a physical sign. He told her this and helped her let go. She wailed in his arms as the tears soaked his shoulder and chest. Eventually she fell asleep and he tucked her in. He tried not to think about her sheer nightgown. He wanted to respect her privacy. He didn’t want his imagination to wonder even if there was little left to it. He climbed out the window, back down the tree, and made for home. He didn’t make it a block when he was suddenly surrounded by guards. The roofs, the alleys, and the sidewalks were all cut off. In the middle was the sun of the morning with a burning hatred in his eyes. His visit to Skyra’s chambers did not go unnoticed. Between that and his exposure on the battlefield they had all the reasons they could want to lock him up. And they did. With Dawn’s help Jarock learned about their plans. He had to get out of there but had no idea. The only hope was for Dawn to contact someone on the outside. No one could hear him, but with enough of Jarock’s strength, he could make hand puppets, write in the dust, give them some kind of sign or hint. He found Skyra searching for Jarock and creatively got her attention using shadows. He guided her to the cell where Jarock was held. She listened as he told her everything. Jarock didn’t want to get her involved but she had to know the truth. He expected her to call him a liar or insane. She didn’t. She broke him out of the cell and told him that she’s coming with him. He told her no, and she told him tough. Guards were coming and Skyra told him to run, but not before kissing him on the cheek with the promise of more where that came from once they escaped. She led the guards away and Jarock made a break for home. He found his parents and rushed into their arms. He trembled in their embrace and all he could think to say was he was sorry. He had been through so much and had so much to tell them. Before he could even get through a tenth of it their island was attacked. Sentinels, the mechanical guardians of the Sitnalta, invaded and set the island on fire. The family tried to escape, but then the soldiers came in. One of his father’s subordinates helped his mother escape after being caught in an explosion. Jarock was carried by a sentinel as a soldier stabbed his father in the side. The sentinel took him to the stadium. A place of games, speeches, and executions. There he was chained to a stand on an isolated platform. Soom the Arketts poured in as the council and sun of the mourning made their way to the stand. A glove was given to the sun of the mourning which radiated with enmity. After a monolog about Arketts being superior and humans being a parasite the glove was thrust into Jarock’s chest. He and Dawn howled in agony as the crowds cheered. His whole body felt like it was being ripped apart from the inside. The glove caught hold of something inside. Jarock and Dawn wailed in utter torment. Jarock’s mind felt like it was being ripped in two. Nothing could compare. The experimentations, the torture, all of them combined couldn’t hold a candle to this pain. The sun of the morning tore out the glove, and dawn’s presence left with it. Through blurry bloodshot eyes Jarock saw Dawn being raised to the stands like a common trophy. With Dawn’s light gone, a darkness rose in Jarock’s heart. The pain he suffered became his power. He told the sun of the mourning to return Dawn to him. He turned his back to Jarock and raised his hands to the applause. That was his one and only chance. Jarock poured his energy and power into the darkness. It coursed through his body until it touched the floor and spread out from the stand. Whispers came from the cracks, the whispers he always heard but grew silent in Dawn’s presence. They asked what is to be done. Consumed by the madness of rage, he said very calmly: end this. Out from the cracks came monsters of darkness and char. Beings who were scorched and cloaked in shade rose up and attacked the Arketts. The stadium turned into anarchy. The sentinels and the Arketts rose up against the new threat, but they were not a match. For every one they slayed another ten would rise from the cracks. The whispers consumed Jarock. He no longer knew who he was or what he was doing. All he knew was that he was in pain and these creatures were here to help. It was like they heard the call of one of their own begging for help. There were so many, so many who were coming to his aid. It was beautiful. He felt the urge to join them. To be one of them. He felt his body getting hotter, the flesh of his skin hardening, then a searing pain in his chest. He broke out of his shackles and attacked the source of the attack. It was Jarock’s father. He had taken the glove and restored Dawn to his son. Kalarock embraced his son as the light returned. He apologized to his son, and asked him with his final breath to choose his own fate. The light and darkness collided together in Jarock’s body. The energy created from the clash ruptured from Jarock’s body consuming him, the stage, the fallen, and his father. The last thing he experienced before everything faded was falling. Falling into the sky. And a voice. The voice which whispered. Your destiny is not your own, you will forget and in time you will remember.