The Elixir of Freedom

By M.R. Neer

Book One in The Light Finder Legends Series.
A Journey of Awakening that will stir your heart and soul.

A love story for nature and life itself.

A Tale That Echoes Through All Time and Places.

Finding the Light that Defeats Darkness

When 21-year-old Ravi's twin brother Vik is captured by the Mine Master's men and taken to work in the coal mines which are also polluting the air in his town, he seeks help from the old legends of Raam. There, he learns about the secret of the Heart of the Sun which is said to defeat all enemies. Ravi embarks on a journey to find this light, which takes him deep into the forest, the dark mines, and his own heart. Guided by the lovely Verda of the Forest People, he discovers a powerful elixir, made of sap and sunlight, which holds the key to freedom for his brother, his town, and his own life. The Elixir of Freedom is a mythic tale that suggests a path to real freedom for all of us.

The Elixir of Freedom is in the new category of Visionary Fiction, which uses story to paint a vision of a better future. The journey of the novel's heroes mirrors our own quest to find real solutions to doubt, fear, bad habits, and even the pressure of time. The Elixir of Freedom depicts a powerful experience of light that transforms the characters and their world. Like other Visionary Fiction books, such as The Chronicles of Narnia, A Wrinkle in Time, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Celestine Prophecy, and The Alchemist, it reflects universal human values that stretch us and connect us to something more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.R. Neer
• Release date: Mar 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9780974956275

M.R. Neer

AUTHOR M.R. Neer (aka Michael Roy Neer) writes fairy tales, fables, and legends about the quest for the secrets of life. He believes that deep human values are universal and can be awakened through stories.He likes to think of organizing words as similar to connect-the-dot puzzles he enjoyed as a kid. When you connect the dots, something that is hidden suddenly appears; it’s magical! The light goes on! This quest for connections, for light, has directly led to his novel, The Elixir of Freedom, Book 1 in The Light Finder Legends.He has won awards for journalism, newsletter writing, and teaching, and makes his home in Fresno, California. And, he is still connecting the dots!

Book preview

In every time, in every culture, ordinary people have done extraordinary things.

Like a seed taking root in the earth, and then spiraling upward to the light of the sun, these people, these heroes, kept going through all difficulties and despair. Some were called by a still small voice inside them. Some were driven by events around them.

But all took action to make the world a better place, to end suffering, to help others, to find the light that would eliminate darkness. Some called it the light of knowledge. Some called it the light of life. Some called it the light of God. But in every case, they pursued their quest until they found the answer to their question, till they found the solution to their problem, till they found the light that dispels darkness.

These are the Light Finders, and this is one of their Legends.

1: The Cry for Help

Land of Gaia, State of Bengalia

The sun was shining! Ravi moved through the rows of vegetables that stretched out in terraces on the hillside below their mountain farmhouse. He noticed the pepper plants curling around the supporting posts. The leaves were moist and fully formed. That was good. They were getting enough sun, and he knew the soil was good.

At the end of the row, though, something was wrong. Looking down, he saw some leaves were trapped and twisted against the end post. They were deep in the shadows. Ravi bent down and gently freed them so they could grow naturally to the sun. The leaves quivered, as if thanking him for their freedom. Ravi smiled.

Suddenly, he heard a sound, like a hum from far away. It wasn’t the birds singing or the bees buzzing, but something different. Soon, he identified the clattering of hooves and rolling of wheels. A horse! And a wagon! Someone’s coming! he yelled.

He left the garden and walked up the stone steps to the front of the farmhouse on the hill. His parents, Kristof and Marya, had come out of the house and were waiting there too. Ravi brushed his black wavy hair back from his forehead to squint down the hill to see what was coming. He could see the dust kicked up by the horse and wagon on the dirt road that led up to their house. It must be his twin brother Vik returning from town. But the wagon was coming awfully fast. The clopping of the hooves and the creaking of the wagon wheels got louder, and the wagon got closer till they could make out who was riding in it. Vik wasn’t there; it was only Davita, Vik’s girlfriend. Something else wasn’t right. She was sobbing, louder than the sound of the wheels.

Ravi! Ravi! called the agitated voice from the wagon. He’d never heard such urgency in her voice before. He rushed out into the dirt road as Davita yanked on the reins to stop the wagon near the front of the farmhouse. The usually calm and pleasant Davita was crying uncontrollably.

She threw the reins at the sweating horse, stood up, and staggered off the wagon, collapsing in Ravi’s arms, soaking the sleeve of his kirta with her tears. Ravi, she started. It was awful. They took Vik. He’s gone. Marya came up and put her arm on the girl’s sobbing frame to comfort her, and Kristof stood by to hear what was causing this upset.

Take it easy, Davita, said Ravi. Slow down, please. Tell us what happened. What is this about Vik? Who is they?

You know! The traders! exclaimed Davita, waving wildly with her arms. Vik and I were with Jamil and his brother Alak down by the Market Square at the port. We were watching the new coke shipment unload from the barge. As we talked to the merchants about getting coke for my family—and not having to pay the big tax—the trader soldiers surrounded us. They said the Mine Master needed some good workers. Vik started to argue with them, and they pulled out their knives.

"A big, mean-looking trader with an eye patch threatened them with his knife. He said the guys had to come with them now —or else. The guards lined up Vik, Jamil, and Alak next to the coke bins in the market and searched their pockets for weapons. Then, they marched them onto the coke barge.

I started to complain, and the one-eyed guard yelled at me. ‘You, girl,’ he said. ‘Tell the others that these boys have the honor of working for the Mine Master and mining all the coal we make into coke for you. Here is a bag of coins that you can share with their families in payment for their services.’ He tossed me this bag, but I don’t want it. She threw the bag onto the ground and collapsed again in Ravi’s arms crying,

What can we do, Ravi? she pleaded. He’s gone, and we don’t even know where they’ve taken him.

I’ll find him, Davita, Ravi assured her. He’s my brother.

Kristof, said Marya, a lump rising in her throat. They’ve got Vik.

Yes, I heard, he replied, putting his hand on her shoulder. His mouth tightened with anger.

Then, Kristof turned to Davita, still weeping in Ravi’s arms. There, there, Davita, settle down. Why don’t you go into the house with Marya, get something to drink, and rest—and Ravi and I will try to figure out what to do about this.

2: The Legend’s Hope

This is outrageous, protested Kristof, shaking his head in disbelief. He pointed Ravi towards the stone steps that led down the hillside. A bench sat next to a large image of the sun and its rays which was outlined in the earth with small stones.

Sit down here, and let’s try to make a plan. From the steps, they could look down the mountain to the fishing town of Twining. The jumble of houses crowded both sides of the big Ganzi River just as it reached the sea. Casting an ominous pall over the town, dark smoke blew in from farther upriver. The soot came from the Mine Master’s factory ovens which processed coal into coke for heating homes and for feeding steam engines that ran many of the larger river boats and barges.

I’m going to find him, Dad! vowed Ravi, his eyes narrowed, his fists clenched. This isn’t right. They can’t just walk up and take Vik and the others. It’s like slavery. They can’t do this!

Now, Ravi, advised Kristof, seeing the fire in Ravi’s eyes, Take it easy. We have to look at the odds here. Those traders have the power of numbers and weapons.

Yes, I know, objected Ravi, but one of them somewhere has got to listen to reason. I mean, no one from around here has ever gone to talk to this Mine Master. It’s time someone did, and I’m ready to do it.

Reason? scoffed Kristof. We don’t know what we’re dealing with, but they obviously rely more on weapons and force than reason. There has to be some other way—something other than violence. Especially, since I don’t want to lose both my sons!

But we have to do something, insisted Ravi. We can’t just let Vik—and the others—rot in the mines for the rest of their lives. He’s my brother, for God’s sake!

Kristof looked intently at Ravi, as if he had just spoken the answer to the question. Then he spoke slowly and carefully. Yes, you are brothers, and for God’s sake, I think you may be the one who can help win his freedom—and hopefully the others’ too.

What do you mean? questioned Ravi. You agree, then, that I should go and try to talk some reason into this Mine Master?

What you said, answered Kristof, choosing his words carefully, reminded me of the old legends of Raam and his brother Lakshman. They too had to face a seemingly unconquerable enemy—the 10-headed Ravan. They battled for days until finally a wise man came to Raam and gave him the secret of the Heart of the Sun. From that moment on, all of nature worked with Raam, and he defeated the mighty Ravan.

Ravi stood up, frustrated, waving his hands.

Dad, I know you and mom are legend-keepers of the town, and I respect that, conceded Ravi. But what does that have to do with helping Vik?

Don’t you see, Ravi? answered Kristof, his eyes excited by a possible solution. Vik has been captured by a dark power and taken to work in the tunnels. The only way we can really help him, without getting you trapped in the mines too, or worse, is to get nature’s power working with us. We have a clue to that in the story of Raam. Somehow, we need to find the secret of the Heart of the Sun and use that to free Vik and the others.

Ravi sat down again, thinking about what his dad had said.

Okay, I realize rescuing Vik seems like a slim chance — sort of like trying to grow seeds on rocky soil, right — unless we have some kind of help or power. But do you think there is truth in this old legend? Is it even relevant today? asked Ravi.

Kristof sat up straight, shocked at Ravi’s questioning of the old legends. Then, his eyes glanced at the sun circle before them. Look at this sun symbol here. It could be just a bunch of stones in a round shape, but we know it means a whole lot more. In the same way, as you and I have talked about before, a legend is not just an old story. A legend is a story that means something more. It points the way to something bigger. It connects us to something deeper.

Yes, I remember you talking about that, agreed Ravi, but still, I don’t see how it applies to finding Vik.

Ravi, said Kristof, putting his hand on Ravi’s shoulder, do you remember why your mother and I moved out of the town and up to this mountain?

Yes, you had a dream, recalled Ravi.

Yes, Marya and I had just married, and we weren’t happy in the town. People were always complaining and didn’t honor the old legends we tried to tell them. I dreamed that we moved to the mountain to be close to nature. It took a while, but we acted on that dream. We built our house facing east and laid out our garden and orchards like I remembered from the legends.

Kristof stood up and walked around the sun circle. "I created this big sun image here on the earth in the center of the garden. I wanted to remind us that all life comes from the sun. Raam used a similar symbol in his time. Also, your mother liked to show our gratitude through many of the old songs she had learned. I’m sure you remember the one we taught you that she sang as we planted the seeds.

All living things just want to grow

From deep within the earth they know

To light they go until they see

The sun’s bright glow that sets them free.

After Kristof sang the words to the song, he quickly rounded the sun circle till he stood in front of Ravi. His eyes sparkled, and he leaned down to put both hands on Ravi’s shoulders. Do you see now? continued Kristof. To set something free, we have to find the sun’s bright glow—and I think that works for all of nature, including us, not just plants. If we can do that, then we will have nature’s help to free Vik and the others—and maybe even get rid of these black clouds over the town. I think this could be our solution.

Kristof sat down next to Ravi again and continued, You are certainly right; we do need to act! But we need to do it with light; otherwise we just move around in the same darkness as the traders and the Mine Master. You know, it only takes one candle to dispel the darkness in a room. So I think that’s what we need. We need to first find the light!

So, you think this is something I can do? questioned Ravi, wondering if his quiet nature would let him go and do this.

Ravi, assured his father, I don’t want to lose Vik—and you. But I think you have the best chance of succeeding. You’re younger than me, and my leg is still weak from that fall I had, or else I’d go. But more importantly, all these years of tending our garden and hearing the legends, you understand what it means to work with nature—not against her—and you have the focus to find Vik.

Ravi stood up, walked past the sun circle, and looked out over the town and the river. Then, he turned to Kristof. Okay, I am willing to try this, and I know I need help. I’m not as outgoing as Vik, but I do have an ability to focus on things. So how do I find this Heart of the Sun?

Ah, that’s the big question! It sure seems impossible, mused Kristof, leaning back on the bench with his hands behind his head, thinking and then smiling, but it is also easy. I think the right way is to let the light guide you. That means have a strong intention and keep moving toward the light till you find the heart of it!

Ravi turned and pointed to the sun over the sea, wondering out loud, Where do I start? Obviously, I could go east and try to catch the sun. But you and I know that’s not possible.

You’re not trying to catch the sun, Ravi, replied Kristof, standing next to Ravi, looking at the sun. You’re looking for the secret of the Heart of the Sun.

That sounds mysterious, maybe symbolic, offered Ravi, wondering what the phrase really meant.

Yes, it must be, said Kristof. We know the sun gives light and warmth to help things grow. It can also burn.

But what is at the heart of the sun? questioned Ravi.

Kristof bent down and plucked a seedling from the ground near the pepper plants. The heart of this plant could be said to be in the seed, deep inside it, where it starts growing from. I think the sun must be the same. Its heart is where all the qualities of the sun exist together, deep inside something, perhaps something that radiates light.

"So I’m looking for something that has

Reviews for The Elixir of Freedom

[pardamustang · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Neer’s Elixir of Freedom is a journey of discovery for young Ravi. His brother is kidnapped and forced to work for the Mine Master, digging coal. Following the guidance of old legends, Ravi sets out to find the ‘Heart of the Sun’, and free his brother from the mines. His goal is to hopefully talk sense into the Mine Master, getting him to free the people captured to work in the mines, and to do something about the smoke polluting the towns close to the mine. Along the way, Ravi gets help from several people, from the peddler Gleme, to the Forest Guardians, to a dwarf named Nuri. Fun stuff: I loved that this story uses the Indian saga of the Ramayana for its inspiration. So many books like this use Christian themes, which gets old after a while. All spiritualities and religions have valuable lessons to impart, usually along a very similar vein. One of the biggest lessons in this novel is the notion of living and working in harmony with nature. I also learned something I didn’t know, namely that a substance called coke is made from coal, and is used for heating homes and efficiently running steam engines. The word ‘coke’ kept coming up in odd contexts, so, of course I had to go look it up. Haha, who knew :PI read this story to my cubs, ranging in age from 6- 14. They all enjoyed it, but it was the youngest who most adored it, suggesting to me it is best geared towards ‘tweens’. A seven to twelve age range. Their favourite parts were when Ravi and Verda had to confront illusions while traveling in the misty swamp, and when the pair found the Heart of the Sun. The kids made the rather astute observation that people need the strength of others in order to best overcome adversity. Alone, Ravi and Verda could not overcome their illusions, but they helped one another do so.Not so fun stuff: As an adult reader, there were times when the writing seemed too ‘simple’, and sometimes too wooden. Ravi’s challenges never seemed that great, or challenging. The characters’ Indian names did not mesh well with the very British sounding village names, in my mind at least. The kids either didn't notice or didn't care, except for serious Ben. As an adult, something else that seemed jolting to the story flow was the use of dozens of different dialogue tags. Declared, surmised, pondered, continued, responded, interrupted, added, praised, proposed, smiled, and growled are just a tiny fraction of those used. Some did not make sense either. You cannot smile words. A few uncommon tags scattered throughout would have been better, with a healthy mix of said and asked. A hundred different tags can be confusing.All that being said, Elixir was still a fun read, especially for the kids. Seeing their enjoyment as we read the story, well, that’s something priceless, that is. If you, or your kids, like movies like Warriors of Virtue, or The Neverending Story, or the books of CS Lewis, be sure to check out MR Neer’s Elixir of Freedom!