The Guardians Of The Divine: Fall Of Echoes, #1

By Rayn Owens

When an innocent 6-year-old boy named Trisch is scourging for food, a beast hunts for his innocence. This entity unwillingly abducts him from his small village and flies him to a magical Eden. There legendary angelic creatures hide and await to offer their wisdom to mankind.

 

Over time, Trisch becomes trained as a member of the Guardians of the Divine to deliver their divinity. Soon, the guardians realize the world is a cold and harsh place under the rule of the Fallen lords. As the evil seeps into their souls. Can they find a way out of the labyrinth of sin and survive with their faith intact? Or is the realm of Light and Dark eternally doomed by the Fall of Echoes?

Approximate Page Count: 300

• Language: English
• Publisher: FOE Publishing
• Release date: Sep 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215712146

Rayn Owens

Rayn & Owens began to create the Fantasy world of the Fall of Echoes when Owens was six years old. Rayn & Owens never intended or thought this would ever become a book for public eyes. Rayn's original intention was only to keep a written journal of all of Owens's childhood epic fantasies. So one day, when Owens was older and had his children, he would be able to tell his children what was going through Owens's head when he was growing up. For years, Rayn sat back with open ears and diligently attempted to record Owens's uncontaminated imagination. Then 2020 happened; Owens became a home-schooled student, and Rayn was his teacher. For his English assignments and writing practice Owens would spend hours and hours crafting interesting characters, world-building, and short stories explaining his philosophical queries. Before they knew it, a storytelling roadmap was born. After three years and thousands of hours of writing and writing, Rayn & Owens created an entire universe that stretches across time and space of the Fall of Echoes universe. They welcome you to their first epic fantasy novel, The Guardians Of The Divine.

Book preview

Prologue

IN A UNIVERSE MUCH LIKE OUR OWN.

BEFORE, THE EXISTENCE of time and space in the realm of light and dark. There was only a nameless, unsized, and shapeless void of infinity. This null dimension became the blank canvas of miracles for the other more advanced dimensional astral planes.

When the other higher dimensional planes ruptured, they produced light, darkness, and energy. The result manifested infinite infinities, and the immeasurable womb of the multi-tiered labyrinthine cosmos blossomed into existence. This rhythmic matrix allowed the perfect garden to grow elements and life. Over billions of cycles, frequencies bonded energy together. This symphony formed the nurseries for stars of light and cold for the darkness of shadow. Intelligence from the light realm observed the chaotic symphony and conducted, tuned, and controlled the oscillation. The organized harmonics birthed geographical symmetry and different forms of life. One malicious species developed into the barbarous elemental life called the Nolux.

The Nolux only hungered to consume and destroy all life throughout the cosmos, never to propagate it. The creator of the light sent his servants to combat and control this unruly menace. These entities of light were named Arc Spirits. For over five hundred million cycles, the war between the Arcs and the Nolux raged and ravaged countless universes. The Arc Spirits prevailed with the creation of a light spirit hybrid creation. This life form was part Arc Spirit and part Nolux. But the victory for life to thrive came at a monumental cost. It created another dimensional rift that only shadows could pass. This event paved the way for the realm of light and dark to create love and consciousness. The cosmos celebrated and flourished with life.

The creator of light would soon discover something was missing in his glorious creations. All of the life forms were incapable of making their own decisions. The radiance gifted the blessing of free will to allow life to be self-sufficient. After billions of attempts to bring life, love, and consciousness together with free will. Only one successful race could control and balance the blessing of free will.

The race was called Manderith, and within a nursery of light, the maker assigned the Arc Spirits the assignment to mold and refine his perfect creation. The Manderith rejoiced in the illumination and grew from their adolescence. Most of the Arc Spirits performed their duties as commanded. But one ancient Arc Spirit obtained the Father of Light's blessing of free will, and he soon discovered the endowment could pass to Arc Spirits.

An ancient Arc Spirit named Maliebris acquired the blessing and instantly began to feel envy directed at the Manderith. This jealousy would soon be ripened into the sweet fruit of envy and he rebelled over his wounded pride. This tainted Arc Spirit secretly deceived and ordered five hundred thousand Arc Spirits to corrupt the Manderith with sin. The unwitting deceived spirits found the Manderith were easily corruptible, and soon, their light became impure.

Upon realizing this treachery, the creator cast out all of Maliebris's impure followers from the pure light and into the light and dark realm. Their punishment was to be born from beasts, unable to reproduce offspring, and upon expiration, they would be sent into the shadow realm. The tarnished Manderith fell along with them. Their bodies were conceived from a previously failed humanoid race called the Aanderith. The mass conception of Manderith pushed the Aanderith to the brink of extinction.

For the following ten thousand cycles, the Fallen Spirits ruled the realm of the light and dark. As their expiration time approached, Maliebris and the other nine Fallen lords refused to relinquish their control over the domain. They placed all their efforts into preventing their spirits from falling into the eternal shadow.

Chapter 1

INNOCENCE IS THE INFANT OF TIME

The orb of the nocturnal obscurity went to its rest as the illumination returned the colors to the world. A mesh blanket of overcasted-gray mist hovered throughout a dense old forest in central Fijal. Young Trisch woke up as the result of a damp maple leaf dribbling tiny droplets of dew on his cheek from a gap in his flat straw-roofed hut. With one groggy eye unsealed, he shook off his cognitive impairment. He sluggishly shuffled out of the path of the subsequent water globule assembling. As Trisch watched the slow-forming drip increase in proportions, he anticipated when it would make its terminus leap. His adolescent mind contemplated why the forest cries so many tears at daybreak. He concluded it must be a teardrop resulting from the sadness of this cruel and broken world that offers him life and what was the purpose of this sad life. As he pondered, the morning's radiant ambassadors exposed a way into the dilapidated hut from a slim crack in the weathered mud wall. Its brilliant light refracted through the transparent fluid. The droplet hung on to the edge of the tilted leaf for its dear life as a tender breeze blew. Trisch studied and was amazed by all of its dazzling refracted colors. It reminded him of a time not too long ago when his mother showed him a rainbow streaking across the blue sky. Soon and as expected, the crystal clear fluid fell into the compacted dirt floor. His mind was mystified, where all of the beautiful colors had gone. A long yawn brought smells of blooming lilac and made his belly rumble for breakfast. His head laggardly raised as he stretched his grimy, stiff neck. He ran his fingers through his hair to shake the loose debris out of his long and dirty brown hair. Trisch frantically rubbed his bare arms to scare away the cool air chill as he crawled closer to the small smoldering fire-pit that failed to keep his splintered shelter dry and warm. His mother and older brother remained asleep on the other side of the naive dwelling. His stomach prodded him again with growls as the songbirds frolicked on a nearby branch, reminding him of the dark-blue berries he passed the last moon not far from their deep wooded camp. He thought it would be best if his appetite did not wake his family from their peaceful slumber. Trisch's young mind imagined how happy they would be when they awoke and found a basket full of dark blue berries waiting for them. His sound judgment went missing as he failed to consider the many dangers that lurk in the deep wood and the beasts that continue to hunt along the clearing edge of the forest this time of the morning. He acquired his sibling's harvester pouch and soundlessly brushed aside the wide strips of rawhide door. Trisch’s light brown eyes scoured the scattered mud huts to plan his stealthy escape to the winding path leading to a glen. With warm wishes from his tummy, his soft hands and knees sunk into the pine needles and in a ready position. The trailhead appeared clear to initiate his scurry. A strange twinkle of orange light reflected deep in the condensation of the wilderness calmed his mild jitters. The nearby song of a flock of red-rumped swallows issued him the signal, all clear to go. He sprinted from the ten-hut camp like a blow-dart shot and ran down the path towards a wide gap to the forest where the sweet dark-blue berries were waiting for him to pluck. His mouth filled with saliva as he thought of the treats that would soon be swimming in his belly. As he started to breathe the clearing's open air, the brilliance of the morning light broke between the thick grouping of trees. His courage grew with his shadow skimming the brush border. He closed in to see the hundreds of matured blue-colored berries on a massive bush. Trisch pounced, then skidded on his tummy with the assistance of his four limbs. He pretended to be a slow-moving raccoon ready to steal the soft fruit. When Trisch approached the closest side of the prickly shrubs, his eyeballs widened in caution. There may be a sharpened tooth beast that may still linger from the night. He immediately planned his retreat in case anything were to scare him. At this point, he only had two options. He could jump backwards to hide in the forest or climb an oak tree only a few steps away. With fingertips as fast as lightning strikes, Trisch twisted and pulled the dark-blue berries free from their branches and into his catch. The only thing hindering his production was the occasional juicy ones he popped into his mouth. But, as his hunger began to recoil, his apprehension grew, reflecting on the stories the men at campfires talk about. They said strange beasts watch over the edge of the forest. But Trisch's older brother told him they only tell those tales to keep the young ones close to the community. So they don’t get lost or eaten by wolves or a tree cat. The thought of a pack of wolves or a cat making him dinner quaked his hands. At that moment, he picked up his berry-picking pace and filled his brother's harvester bag to the rim. Both his shoulders and bum worked together to scoot his bottom to exit the brush. Trisch prepared to jerk his body rearward. His eyes made eye contact with a plump light brown snake flickering its tongue. Deep breaths filled his lungs while he crept cautiously backward on his hands and elbows. Withheld air puffed-up his cheeks, he tried not to make a leaf turn or abrupt movements that would provoke the snake to consider him a snack. Unexpectedly, from the brushwood, a swift and forceful hand reached into the bushes and captured Trisch by his dirt-brown tunic. Trisch impulsively held his breath again and pushed away from the clutches of the mystery monster. He expelled his puffed cheeks containing his gust, realizing the rough hand belonged to a man from his campsite.

Trisch, you should not be so far from our camp. I traced your little feet scampering down that path and thought you could have been a small wild boar. How do you taste? Do you think you would taste better than a boar? joked the coarse-hand man as Trisch rocked his head to answer no. Alright, I did not think you would be that tasty. Wow, look at all of those berries.

Trisch looked backward in fear at the winding brown snake.

Oh, that snake won’t hurt us; it prefers mice over little boys. That little snake doesn't even have sharp teeth. Come; let us get you back to camp before your mother figures out you are not at her side.

Trisch tugged his full pouch closed with a joyful snicker to seal the dark-blue berries.

All he could think was his family would be so pleased with their morning gift. He glanced at the man and bobbed his head, agreeing it was time to return to the camp. Followed by his shy smile, he offered the man a few berries in his hand.

Thank you, they look like a delicious snack, said the coarse-hand man. It looks like you have more than one meal in your harvest bag. You did a fine job collecting them, and I am sure your mother will be so proud of your bravery.

They trekked back up the path. The view became familiar to Trisch's feet as he increased the pace of his adolescent stride. Out of nowhere, a resounding crack, snort, and thump peeked their concern. Melodies from the cheerful chirps of the birdlife went anxiously silent.

Trisch waited patiently as the man's eyes scanned the misty early air with his spear extended. Green-brown scudded leaves raced across their feet as the tense moment alleviated. Trisch reached down and collected a few acorns on the path as he listened to only the movement of the wind in the trees.

Do you smell a rotten smell? asked the man with a side mouth whisper.

Trisch replied with an up-and-down nod as they continued to freeze their steps until the man gently pushed Trisch’s back to continue his progress to the camp.

Trisch rambled forward and bounced on his toes for a few dozen energetic footsteps. He focused on a squirrel dangling on a branch and tossed the acquired oak tree nuts. In case he was hungry.

Unexpectedly, his ears perceived another out-of-the-ordinary grunt and a snort. Expeditiously, he flipped his head around to survey the situation and to question the coarse-hand man about what he should do next. They made curious eye contact, then the man and the boy delivered an at-ease frown and a smile. Trisch extended his hand upward to give a friendly wave, and the smiling coarse-hand man returned his gesture with his own silly but cordial wave. Within a flash, an unknown beast with a stiff pitch-black mane and fire-red-rimmed eyes leaped from behind the coarse-hand man. Trisch tried to gather his composure from the terror the odd black beast presented. The unidentified creature had the body of a man with long human arms covered in raven-black hair. Its mouth, nostrils, chin, lips, and front of the nose reminded him of an undersized horse's head. Above its pointed cheeks sat long-thick hair upon its crest, forehead, and upper back. Ill-paced galloped hooves sounds rummaged through the dead leaf forest floor. Suddenly, the wild beast charged toward the man. Its long black hair brutally wrapped his long arms and sharp fingers around the coarse-hand man before he could stretch his rock-tipped wood spear. They both disappeared deep into the brown-green brush. Trisch's eyeballs expanded wide as he twisted and ran as fast as his young miniature legs could carry him back to his camp's protection. Finally, the path widened, and the encamp came into view.

Help! Help! Monsters, come! screamed Trisch in a loud, haunting voice.

In an instant, men and women of all ages came out of their dirt-colored huts and bestowed poorly sharpened wooden spears and campfire torches as weapons.

The Mysterious sounds of the unknown stomps approached through the trees. One high-pitch nicker rang out to further alert the small village of the immediate danger. All went to soundless, but a foul stench filled the air. Leaves quivered and rustled as the whirl of the breeze blew. Yet again, a distant crinkling of the loose brush crackled. The noise of the snapping sticks became bolder and bolder as the clopping eerily started to echo from many different directions around the camp. Once more, the noises fell to silence; only the sound of the breath of the wind fluttered amongst the trees. In one breathtaking instance, the stillness broke. A deep whinny groan interrupted the peaceful draft. The members of the camp all braced for whatever vile deeds might happen next. From three sides of the campsite, five beasts revealed themselves through the dense timbers. Each half-horse and half-man creature had a pair of eyes that flared with a blood-red color. Their hovels charged with a forceful pace. The creature's hairy legs thumped quicker than hummingbird wings. The ill-prepared inhabitants of the village acted confused as some of the women picked up feeble armaments or ran aimlessly into the forest with their children. Trisch cried and called out in dread to his mother as he ran for his small hut. He smashed the flimsy leather door aside, expecting the embrace of his mother and brother. Only to determine they abandoned the safety of the dwelling. Desperately, Trisch peeked out the negligible cracks, hoping to locate them with his highly impaired vision. The only thing he perceived from the small grass-covered shelter was the shouting of his disoriented neighbors. After a few moments, he didn't notice any ear-splitting whinny, nickers, and squeals. With a stroke of luck, Trisch overheard his mother's voice crying out to him from the lush forest. He dashed out of his frail refuge and into the thicket, listening for the proper direction of her desperate pleas and prayers.

Trisch's mother finally detected him running full speed toward her through the wildness. They both held out their arms and anticipated a comforted embrace. Unexpectedly, the tree tops above Trisch's head grew a spectacular glow of light orange. A silhouette of a white-winged creature twice the height of an ordinary man emerged from the illumination. Trisch fell to one hand before he could tilt his head back. The noise of vast and powerful wings flapped, and a tremendous gush of wind paused his mother's scream. With no time to react Trisch's feet lifted off the ground as powerful arms wrapped around his chest. Its long hair was light dirty blonde and flowed recklessly in the wind. The upper body of the entity wore impenetrable silver armor, and its body radiated a cozy heat. Trisch's mother watched helplessly as this creature violently scooped up Trisch and flew away beyond the canopy of clouds high in the sky. The pouch of dark blue berries swirled down and scattered in the air as the half-full bag fell to the ground. Trisch's mother screamed and cursed the beast in vain. Her heart dropped as she was helpless to do anything but listen to Trisch's horrifying cries for help echoing from the sky.

Chapter 2

TRUST IS FAITH

The clear blue sky opened wide to a sight Trisch had never witnessed. He ducked and protected himself as they entered into the fluffy clouds. Trisch’s stomach rolled as he could only peek down, briefly at the tips of oak and pine trees that streamed by far below. He struggled to escape; as he flipped his body towards the ground, he realized the harsh woodlands below would guarantee his peril. The immense winged creature returned his feeble small grip with a sturdy but pleasant cradle with his strong arms. The frigid wind whipped over their bodies with much velocity. Trisch expected he should be ice-cold, although he felt a soothing warmth in this flying creature's immense entwined arms. They flew without pause until the sun began to plummet. Below them, the thick forest was now an open plain with dense patches of evergreen trees.

Warmth in the atmosphere waned as the tired yellow-orange sunset light sank beyond the celestial horizon. The moon peeked from behind a cloud to exhibit its luminescence crest and colored the land into a waxing moonlit gray. The light gray winged flying beast changed his angle of attack, and Trisch went vertical. His hands covered his light-shaded brown eyes as his heart skipped a beat and his belly fell onto his feet. Trisch's legs were so tense when he touched the ground his knees were afraid to bend. He cracked his eyes and thought he could have never dreamt of such a frightening sight. They stood on a rock-high cliff overlooking a never-ending body of turbulent frothing dark greenish-blue water. The fury of the waves smashed and crashed the steep-jagged rocks below. Trisch crouched and panicky crawled over the sharp tooth rocks to find a safe spot between two smooth boulders. He attempted to restrain his pessimistic thoughts but was unsuccessful as to what villainy would come next. Terrifying visualizations flashed in his head and vile notions asked his imagination, Do you think he will want to cook me over an open fire before he eats me? Or Is he going to sacrifice me to a sea monster hiding in the enraged arctic-blue and corpse-cold waters below? he continued to question himself about how he would meet his demise. The orange-pigmented beast must be hungry after the distance they covered. Trisch caught the blue-eyed gaze of the towering winged creature as he revolved around his massive wings. The bird beast peacefully approached Trisch and kneeled before him. The wind passed over his enormous wings and carried a pleasing, spiced aroma from the cypress trees below.

Take this young one; you must be hungry. My name is Vean, the wing creature said while handing Trisch a strange brown-colored puffy square object that smelled like vanilla. Unsure but starving, Trisch sampled a nibble as small flakes trickled over his chin. His eyelids stretched open as big as coconuts, and his mouth exuded the taste of cinnamon and honey. What could this possibly be; his taste buds marveled as he gladly welcomed another bite. Its taste wasn’t anything he had ever tasted before or considered possible. In an instant, he devoured the oddly shaped brown-colored food. Eagerly, Trisch licked each of his fingers and held out his hands to ask for another, please.

Ah, you would like more? We call it honey pollen spiced bread. I thought your palate would appreciate such a sweet flavoring. Your kind tells me that it tastes even better with butter. But I am sure you do not know what butter is, said Vean with a kind and trusting voice. He slowly reached into an opal-white pouch on his belt strap and handed Trisch another puffed-up square.

I know this is very stressful for your emotions. Please do not worry, you are very safe with me. What is your name, young one? asked Vean as he adjusted his wings, exhibiting his bright orange aura.

The phenomenal glow radiated from behind his wings connected to his body. With his hunger somewhat satisfied, Trisch tucked his legs to his chest and remained still. His words still hid in his throat and with exhausted-anxious eyes.

Young boy, position your head to peer above into the celestial sphere. Did you know there are more stars in the heavens than all the grains of sand on every shore of this world? Do you see that vivid dot in the sky? asked Vean, aiming his long fingers at a gleaming speck.

Trisch could only answer with a deadpan stare. Vean resumed his one-sided conversation, That isn’t even a star; it's a planet just like this one, but it lacks light, life, and love. What's funny is men know it is not a star. But they still call it the evening star. Vean drew a deep breath, glanced around with his crisp-blue eyes, and stretched out his wings in wonderment. In a flash, his wings retracted, and he found an uncomfortable hard seat on a large rock close to Trisch, still hunched and hidden. Vean refocused his finger in the opposite direction of the radiant glow of the reflective planet.

"Your inexperience