1 PRELUDE: ALISTER'S FUNERAL
People were leaving the Benjamin mansion where the funeral of Alister Benjamin was held that morning. CEOs and representatives of several corporations were present at the funeral. The room was filled with business tycoons and relatives of the Benjamin family. Laura Benjamin, a girl in her late teens was approached by people one after another who were there to offer their condolences. She was the only surviving member of the Benjamin family. Her brother Alister Benjamin met with an accident while driving home. He died on the spot and the news shook the industrial world. He had just turned twenty-one and was expected to take over his family corporation 'Big B'. The one who was most affected by this heartbreaking event was Laura. The siblings had lost their parents at a young age and each other was all they had.
The next person who walked up to Laura was Jerry. He was the only son of Roy walker, the co-founder and the CEO of Dream Inc. He stood next to Laura and held her hand for some time.
"You've been standing here all day, no one would mind if you want to take some rest. I can see them off, don't push yourself", he said.
"No, I'm okay. Thanks for asking though",Laura said.
"At least let me get something for you to eat."
"I don't have an appetite but please, help yourself", she said.
He stood by her side till everyone left and he was the last to leave. Laura thanked him and went into her room. He stared at her as she went off and then started to walk.
As he was leaving the mansion, he received a phone call. After he took out the phone from his pocket, he saw it was his father. He looked around and made sure no one was there. He moved over to the side and answered his phone...
Laura was tired after a long day and she had barely eaten anything. She went into the bathroom to fresh up a little. After a while she lied down on the bed and started to process everything that she has been through for the past couple of days. The death of her brother had hit her like a thunder and took her by surprise that she didn't have enough time to come to terms with reality. Her eyes hovered over the wall where there were pictures of her brother, parents and what was once a happy family. Her eyes got teared up and she was too tired to hold them back anymore. Her eyelids became heavy and before she knew, she was asleep.
........
Far from the eyes of the world, there stood a mystical island which was covered by perpetual tornadoes and thunderstorms. A volcano situated at the center of the land was roaring and fuming with lava. No lives were found on the surface except for the wild trees that were surrounding the mountain. The land and the trees were layered with heavy dust and ash.
At the foot of the mountain, there was a gigantic door with intricate architecture that could never be achieved by the mortals. There was someone standing in front of the door. As he placed his palm on it, the door started to cave in. He walked into a vast hall filled with darkness and decorated with black gems which reflected the orange hues of the lava flowing across the hall, crossing each other and making a heavenly concentric pattern.
At the end of the hall, there was a majestic throne which did not look like it was sculpted but as though it was naturally formed at that spot. A hazy figure could be seen sitting on the throne enveloped by darkness and it seemed almost like a mirage.
The one who entered the hall kneeled in front of the throne and said, "Master, the seed has been planted."
As soon as those words were said, heavy pressure started to swirl through the chamber like a hurricane and the lava that lit up the hall started to recede into the earth leaving the darkness that filled up the hall.
