The Encyclopedia

  In this book I want to discuss the questions none of has found the answer to, yet. To be more exact, the origins of our world. A few people these days care about history and even fewer possess any reliable facts that we can build any hypotheses, let alone theories upon, but during my travels I was able to recover some interesting information, partially from people, partially from lore tomes, partially from tales. It took some time to bring it all together, but I am delighted to share with you the fruit of my efforts.

  As we know, our world was not always as tiny as it is now. It's merely a recollection of the Old World, that was devoured by ancient darkness. Not much is known about the nature of this "darkness" or if it has any affinity with "shadow" or "dark" element or to the respective clan, though some sources say that they've got nothing to do with it. Sources can never be fully trusted, in my experience, though. My research leads me to the conclusion that this is indeed a tarnished version of shadow element. Dear reader, as I am aware, you know that every primal element is bound to one of the Seven?

  Well I am surprised that you didn't notice how untrue that statement is. I once thought so too, until my eyes were opened by my mentor, who regrettably, has disappeared from public eyes, and asked that I keep their identity a secret. Well, in fact, there are seven primal Guardians, but eight basal primal elements- and many more 'hybrid' elements such as storm and time, which I hope to reserve for another issue. We do not know for sure which element does not belong to a Guardian, but it was always obvious to my mentor, who kept telling about "the Eighth, the master of dark, who was devoured by his own power or maybe by their jealousy or possibly even both and driven mad".

  Could it truly be that the Seven were the Eight once? But why don't we know a single thing about the Eighth, then? Maybe they were made forgotten on purpose, dead to the one who rebuilt this world. Some old books tell of a traitor, and I have reason to believe this shadowy figure is the one who betrayed the Seven. One way or another, the Dark, the shadows that consume our lives, despite being a fog like entity which behaves with no sanity or logic, seem to have a leader of sorts, whose intents are unknown, provided they are sane enough to reason their own intents. One of the most fascinating phenomenons is that how stable the borders of corruption and our world actually are, despite this physcotic being.

  Strangely, the corruption which has easily destroyed everything our ancestors possessed cannot finish off this last piece of uncorrupted world. Even though it sometimes ebbs into our regions for periods of time, it usually rescinds back to its original line. Even stranger, new lands are even being revealed as the shadows flee in the West! Many tales, while being inconsistent, suggest that the group of primal guardians known as Seven gave away all power they had to purify this part of the world and protect it from corruption. How does that exactly work, is quite certainly unknown. Maybe the elemental clans we are divided into are somehow directly bound to the powers of Ancients? It could be that each and every one of us, by signing our souls to one of them upon entry, lend our own powers to continue this balance.

  However, I have my own hypothesis, that I base on my personal research... My reader, could you guess that creatures known as "dragons" which all of use, study, and many of us love, are actually living vessels of Sevens' great power? Now, if you didn't know and respect me, you would think that I am a madman. However, let me explain myself to you, before you misinterpret my thoughts. Have you noticed that every single dragon possesses an affinity to one or two primal powers? Have you noticed that almost any dragon has some natural magical capabilities? Also while wandering in Lost Fields, wearing my famous head cage that some of you mock me for (It actually helps protect my brain from the horrific mental ills that one can catch while in there, just so you know), I found out that some eggs that a lot of mages carelessly throw away have the natural resistance to the corruption and even the ones that do not have this immunity do not turn completely, only become twisted physically and gain a slight, but noticeable, mental warp.

  Could it be that we don't realize the true value of dragons? In fact, some "lesser" civilizations of villages seem to worship dragons as gods not for their impressive look, but in fact for being part of the true protectors of our world? If so, maybe we should be more respectful towards them and try to increase their numbers instead of simply domesticating them for our own needs. Maybe in the future we will be able to build protective barriers of dragon eggs or do something else, probably more logical that that.

  It is also said that once almost the entire Seven fell victim for the dark, if not some "Protector" who saved one of them. Then the saved one used her power to recreate others. Now... What can that Protector be? Is it a true creator of our world or just a dear friend? And are Seven able to resurrect each other or any dead being?

  Maybe, being one of Seven is just a honorary title that is given to anyone who is blessed by immense elemental power and wishes to defend this world. Maybe even a draconian appearance is not a sign of biological breed, but a manifestation of creature's mythical power. I believe, that any creature that gains enough power instantaneously turns into an infant dragon. That's just a hypothesis, though.

  Sadly, I have to end my article there, but don't you worry, I will continue publishing new ones as my travels continue. Hopefully, if the shadows don't get to me while I travel. Together, we will figure all mysteries out.