The Elementalist: Sky City

By Alexander Lounsberry

In the Elemental kingdoms, the people harness the powers of their kingdom’s element. Each kingdom is powered by the cities that hold the Elemental cores; Sky City, Magma City, Ground City, Aqua City.

Without the cores, life in the Elemental kingdoms comes to a halt.
This is the story of the Sky Kingdom.

In Sky City, every household knows the tale of the Elementalist. The Elementalist is the only individual who can use the powers from not one, but all four of the Elemental cores in each kingdom. While his destiny is to unite the four Elemental kingdoms, if this power were to fall into the wrong hands, the kingdoms could be destroyed forever.

Floating magically above the clouds, Sky City has been left in ruin, ever since the city’s power core was extinguished by a rogue Elementalist, Viktor Krane. When a new Elementalist is called many years later, in the form of a 14-year-old boy named Ben, it is a mystery to all, since the legend has always stated that there could be only one true Elementalist at a time. Together with his friends Wade and Fred, Ben fights to relight the four cores... but Viktor Krane isn’t far behind...

With the Elemental kingdoms counting on him, can Ben relight the core of Sky City, return the peoples’ powers, and live up to the destiny of a true Elementalist? Discover the excitement in The Elementalist: Sky City, the first book in a five part series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alexander Lounsberry
• Release date: Jun 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005448899

Book preview

Chapter One:

Fallen Kingdom

Higher than any tree, far, far above the clouds, just where the sky meets the sun, hovered one of the four marvels of the Elemental Kingdoms: Sky City. The world could seem so strange and enveloping from up high. The winds howled and smashed against the strong, marble walls of the floating city, rushing down the crowded streets, past the school, past the homes, all the way to the gold and white trim of the prestigious palace—a breathtaking jewel atop an already astonishing testament to the skies. The entire city swayed effortlessly on its solid, metallic platform, supporting the weight of the city through mysterious means quite unknown. How it managed to stay afloat, and how it was ever built remains ever a mystery to those who lived then and to those who live there still. Some could live their whole lives atop the city, only leaving to soar among the clouds themselves, with gifts given to them at birth that could allow such things. In a kingdom atop the world, with people gifted in flight, most days were a blessing.

Where our story begins would, unfortunately, not be one of those days.

The king of Sky City, a burly man with a thick beard and hardened exterior, awoke from his bedchamber to the sound of thunder crashing, not an unusual occurrence in a city among the clouds, but with enough foreboding and thickness in the air to instill an unsettled feeling, nonetheless. The Sky King’s senses were inflamed as though awakening from a bad dream, the individual hairs on his arms screaming instinctively that something was amiss. The force of the wind and the power of the thunder echoed from outside his kingly room, out into the tall, grand hall of the palace. Storms of such ferocity were not all-too frequent in the city in those days, but fear of such things would be far from the minds of any native of the city walls, accustomed to such acts of nature’s wrath. Still, despite this, the king can’t shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong, if not from the storm raging outside, than merely from instinct alone.

What is it? the queen mumbled groggily as she too sat up from her side of the bed. As she wiped her eyes and let loose a long yawn—the noise of the storm outside attempting to lull her back to sleep like a child—she noticed the grim expression of uncertainty on her husband’s face. Is something wrong? she asked, her voice beginning to fill with worry.

I’m not sure…

What is it?

It’s—I’m not sure... the King drifted as he squinted his eyes, attempting to let his instincts that had awoken him guide him further.

By now the queen was on alert. Despite not knowing what reason, if any, that there was to worry, her motherly instinct kicked in. Quickly throwing her feet over the side of the bed, she rushed to the crib lying in the corner of the room. Looking down, she saw the baby prince sound asleep amid soft silk blankets, laced in the gold trim of royal cloth. In moments like these, just brief moments of love and light, the queen could look into those blue eyes, eyes filled with curiosity and the possibility to change the world with their gaze, and she could forget all around her--if only for a moment.

The baby prince, future king of the Sky Kingdom, looked just like his father, with bright, blonde hair of the sun, befitting anyone born of the Sky Kingdom, and bright blue eyes, the color of the sky on the clearest of days. To wake him felt like a terrible thing to do, but soon the same instinctive feeling the king was wrestling with creeps into the queen’s mind as well. A shudder of a cool wind bit at her neck and she quickly scooped her son from the bed. Fussing, he began to cry, his wails drowned instantly by the sound of bellowing horns being blown just outside the great hall.

Not in the royal family’s lifetime had the signal been called, but they knew what it meant, nonetheless. As quick as an eagle, the king ran to his royal armor displayed on the wall, dusted regularly in that time of peace, and began to throw it on with haste. He’d grown in muscles and his shoulders had broadened since the last time he wore it in his impressionable youth, but it still fit, if slightly snug.

What could it be? the queen asked as she ran to her husband, baby in her arms. That the horns signaled an attack was all-too clear, but the idea of an attack from any of the other kingdoms seemed unfathomable. War between the Elemental Kingdoms had not come in decades.

I don’t know what it is, the king growled in determination as he collapsed the front of his breastplate into place. But I’m going to find out.

Grabbing his sword sheath last, the king thrust the sword from its grasp, a fluid motion that brought his mind back to the days of glorious battle, before family and patience had been instilled in his mind. There’s a sharp, slick noise as the blade effortlessly slid from its container. Despite the years, it was still razor sharp.

Stay here.

But I can fight, the queen replied defiantly, as she went to her own armor displayed on the other end of the room.

The king reached to grab her. I know, believe me I know all too well, but right now you need to keep him safe he looked down at his infant son.

Looking down at their baby, the queen nodded. Before he left, the king grabbed her wife’s arm, holding her as he kissed her gently.

It’s probably nothing, he tried to say comfortably and unconvincingly as the horns continued to sound from near, amid the fury of the storm that accompanied it. Don’t worry.

With a look of concern and faux comfort from the queen, he ran to the chamber doors, slamming them open. Past the winding staircase leading to the royal common rooms, he wound down two more corridors, making two turns, until arriving in the royal courtroom. From there, the king throws open the large doors that lead to the great hall. His heavy, armor-clad footsteps echo in the great hall as he reaches the entrance to the palace.

Two sentries ran toward the king. Their missing presence in his bedchambers to warn both he and the queen of impending danger boded ill-fortune and troubled the king further in its implications.

What is it? he asked severely, not breaking stride as they followed him to the outer doorway.

We don’t know sir.

The king noticed their grogginess and assumed they’d been asleep on the job, something these two guards were known for, but there was an exhaustion beyond that on their faces, one of fear.

Go guard the queen, he ordered. Keep her and the prince safe, no matter what happens.

They nodded and turned to obey.

Before the king could reach for the gold handles that opened to the outer city from the palace, they burst open from the raging storm outside. Thunder flashed before his eyes, along with rain cascading powerfully from above.

Normally it would have been foolish to fly in such conditions, given that a strong gust of wind could throw one like a ragdoll. Many Sky Kingdom citizens had been known to attempt such feats in the past with bad and often painful results. The king had no time for worry of broken bones though.

Gritting his teeth, he felt his body begin to lift from the ground, gravity leaving him. As a young child he could remember the magic of his first flight, the joy of being born a part of Sky Kingdom with powers so freeing, that the world could be laid bare for one to be a part of—the sky being a home rather than a dream. Such feelings were so strong and vivid that years and years later, on this day, he could still feel the echo of all the pride of his youth and the power of his abilities. The armor he had may have weighed him down and the wind could attempt to further throw him back to the marble steps of the palace, but the king had trained for this, both in body and in spirit.

Holding tightly to his sword, he willed himself forward, flying through the air at as fast of a speed as the winds would allow. The rain made it impossible for him to see the cityscape below, but he knew the way by memory and by heart. Floating many feet above the buildings, the king finally saw in the distance the city’s keep, where a commotion of Sky Kingdom soldiers could be seen and heard. Putting his head down, the king barreled towards it. It was not the cleanest of his landings, but the king managed to fall in the right spot despite the hail of rain and lightning, landing next to the commander of his army, who was in the midst of shouting orders as he frantically tried to organize the city’s defense from this unknown threat.

The commander jumped in surprise, taking his eyes away from the blind horizon. Seeing the king, he went to bow but the king immediately grabbed his shoulders to stop him.

Commander! the king yelled through the wind. What’s going on?

We’re not sure, sir. The rain is making it hard to see the target, but we think he’s getting closer to the palace.

Target? Is this an attack?

I’m afraid so, sir.

The king was taken aback. Relations with the other kingdoms had been sketchy recently, but never in a million years did he ever think they would openly attack Sky City. And how? It’s far above any of their reach. Only citizens of the Sky Kingdom had the ability to fly up to its white, marble walls and enter.

Who? is all the king managed to ask. The Magma Kingdom? The Ground Kingdom?

We… don’t know sir, the commander replied. We can’t see a thing. And whoever it is… they’re moving far too fast for us to track. Right now we’re trying to—

A thunderous quake shook all of Sky City as flames erupted in the distance. A small explosion, followed by another, and followed by yet another, could be seen through the rain—fire that billowed brilliantly, only to be immediately extinguished. Loud crashes of flames began appearing closer and closer, blinding those who looked in the direction with their sparks.

The commander and the king held onto the keep’s railing as the ground continued to shake from flames and fury. Yells could be heard from below as a battle ensued from the explosion’s origin below.

Magma Kingdom! the commander said aloud to the troops behind him and the king. Explosions such as these could only be from grenades of the Magma Kingdom.

It’s the Magma Kingdom! the commander repeated. And they chose to attack us in the rain? How foolish.

No… The king muttered in disbelief. It’s not them. I know the Magma Queen would never—

Before he finished, and before the commander could question him, the king launched himself into the air once again, this time with a purpose. His vision was locked on the explosions in the distance, fear of harm leaving his mind and horror at the realization of the origin of the attack flooding him.

Sir! the commander yelled for him in an attempt to protect the city’s king But years of servitude taught him the pointlessness of asking such a king to wait. Follow the king, he ordered his men as they too took off.

The king landed firmly this time upon the city streets, concentration guiding him effortlessly to the ground despite the storm. Soldiers fled past the king through clouds of smoke as further explosions erupted from the silhouette of fire and rain. Despite this, the king stands still. Through the flames, a familiar figure emerged. Fire crackled and licked the air as the young man stepped through it without any pain. The flames caressed and held him but didn't burn. The fire was strong enough to endure the torrent of rain in moments of defiance of two opposing elements, and yet it’s impossible to singe any part of the approaching figure.

Viktor! the king yelled, holding his sword tightly in his closed fist as the man approached.

A smile creeped across Viktor’s face as he casually approached the king, seemingly oblivious to the pain and chaos around him. Slung across his chest was a belt of round, metallic balls—the source of the explosions. Water dripped down his short, red hair into his gray eyes, but he felt no sting. Like the fire he’d walked through effortlessly, the water could cause him no pain either.

There you are, Viktor chuckled as he came face to face with the Sky King. I was wondering how long it’d take you to show up. You were never one to just let people fight for you. But then again, you haven’t really been tested in forever, have you?

Crashing behind the king as they landed, the Sky City commander and the following soldiers pulled their swords from their sheaths. Viktor reached for one of the bombs strapped to his chest in reply, and the King quickly threw his hands up in both directions, a desperate plea for silence amid the destruction.

No! he yelled to both Viktor and the soldiers to make them stop. Please… stop this, Viktor. Why are you doing this?

Viktor smiled as though he’d been waiting for the question. Years of training, years of harsh expectations and building resentment festered in his soul. A boy could be born of the Sky Kingdom and expected to be one thing, he could be born of the Aqua Kingdom and expected of another, but to be The Elementalist… To have all four kingdoms, the whole world in a sense, expecting perfection and compliance from a boy who wanted nothing of the sort… To be expected to harness your abilities of all the elements to maintain peace in a world of nothing but anger and resentment… It was all too much for a teenage boy like Viktor. To prove all those who held him in expectation wrong… that was all he could imagine in his life.

You and the council think you know everything, don’t you, Collin?

Saying the Sky King’s name rather than his respected title gave Viktor a thrill of defiance as he continued. "You think you’re above everyone, that you’re better, but you’re not. You’re worse. You fight and squabble over meaningless things because of a few differences. The Sky Kingdom, the Magma Kingdom, the Ground Kingdom, and the Aqua Kingdom are all one kingdom; don’t you understand?"

The Sky King chose his words carefully. Thinking was hard given the circumstances, but he had to be cautious. Viktor Krane, despite his youth and anger, was far more powerful than all of them. And even with the skill of Sky City’s finest soldiers the Sky King was not sure if the teenager could be stopped.

"That’s what your job is, the king yelled through the rain, keeping his sword lowered, yet ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. The Elementalist is supposed to help unite the kingdoms, not destroy them. This is not what your power is for!"

Like you would know! You all just love to tell me what I’m destined for. You couldn’t care less about me. If you could strip me of my powers and hold them yourselves, you’d do so in a heartbeat!

That is not true, Viktor--

But it is!

Anger quelled in Viktor as well as in the king. All the kings and queens of the four kingdoms had taken part in the Elementalist’s training from youth, but none more so than the Sky King himself. Things were hard at times, it was true, but Viktor grew strong and seemed to have had the potential early on to create and maintain peace in the world. The Sky King saw so much in him, and it was only now that he realized the burden of these expectations on such a youth--what anger and resentment could arise from worries of failure and disappointment from an entire world. Viktor had been like a son to the Sky King. To have him follow this dark path… he could not help but to blame himself.

You’re right, Viktor replied after a long silence, malice filling his face. "It is my job to unite the kingdoms. And the Elemental Kingdoms will never be whole as long as the kings and queens reinforce differences. As long as you all quibble and bicker like the children you really are. As long as you use and harm those under you without regard of--"

We don’t—

Yes, Viktor snaps. You do! Take it from someone who holds the fate of the world in his hands, who holds sway over all the elements themselves… These powers we have only separate us. But no more.

Viktor’s eyes moved to the palace in the distance. Its walls were hard to see, but the torches inside made it visible through the rain. The king followed his gaze.

Only without powers can we all be free…

Realizing what Viktor planned to do in an instant, the King raised his sword as he turned to face him. The soldiers did so as well, a trained and organized unit, as they charged at the Elementalist.

As all the swords came down, Viktor sank quickly into the ground as though he were standing on quicksand. His head quickly vanished as he fell completely through the marble of the street. The power to phase through objects, a power held by citizens of the Ground Kingdom, who could manipulate the ground around them, tended to only work through loose soil. The Elementalist, however, was different from the rest. His hold of the elements could outmatch those of any of the four kingdoms, and this power could only grow with age and practice. Even the thickest of materials like marble could hold no resistance as he effortlessly fell through.

What the—? a soldier mumbled aloud in confusion.

Out of the corner of the king’s eye, he saw a head emerge from the street behind him. Turning, he saw Viktor’s entire body come from the ground in one fluid motion, as though it were made of nothing but liquid.

Grasping one of the bombs, Viktor threw it at the group of soldiers with fury and purpose.

Watch out! the king yelled as he tackled the closest soldier.

A burning wave blasted and launched them into the air. Disoriented, the king spun his body through the air and managed to hover before crashing to the street pavement. The rain immediately extinguished the fire burning away at his clothes not moments after they had caught hold. The king could no longer feel the soldier he’d tackled in his arms, and as he steadied himself midair, he tried not to vomit from the pain and disorientation.

Despite his dizziness, the king saw a figure speeding towards him through the air as though a blur. He attempted to raise his sword in defense, but Viktor soared and flew through the air and smashed his shoulder viciously into him before he could.

As Viktor and the king collided with force, the two flew through the sky toward the palace like two meteors barreling towards earth. A lightning bolt crashed by them mid leap, with triumphant energy, electrifying the air and causing the hairs on their heads to stand on end.

The sting of the rain hurt as the king felt himself launched to the ground. Both men smashed into the marble of the palace