Alex Fieldstone 
and 
The Burning Book

by 

Zachary Karpel


Copyright © 2016 by Zachary Karpel


















Dedication:

This book is dedicated to my mother, for her constant love and support and to my English teacher, Mrs. Reese, for introducing me to the magic of literature. 

Two weeks before the completion of this novel, my grandmother Cindy suddenly passed away. She was incredibly supportive and excited to read my first novel, but sadly, it was not meant to be. To Grandma Cindy in heaven: I hope you enjoy reading this. I know you are watching and I love you. See you there someday. Save me a dance and we’ll feed the ducks together.





Note to the reader for extended understanding:

Time in Ferrafore is in a constant state of flux. There is no direct correlation between how time moves in Ferrafore and how it moves on Earth.

BACKSIDE DESCRIPTION 



On a cold and cloudy winter morning in the town of Whitewood, Maryland, a boy who would become a hero, of a world hidden on the other side of a book, knew nothing of what would occur this very day. 

In the world of Ferrafore, a sage named Hin, in a weakened state, sent a book far across dimensions to bring this boy of hero’s blood to save Ferrafore. But an evil threatened to corrupt and destroy both worlds to create a new and more terrible one. Can the boy save Ferrafore or will he burn along with the book that was left on his doorstep that cold, winter morning? Only time will tell; and in Ferrafore, heroes can live for all of eternity, if that is what they wish.





Prologue
“Ferrafore”

Ferrafore was once a prosperous world of peace and harmony. It was unlike any place here on Earth. There was no fighting amongst the people of the land. Those who lived there cared about each other and shared time together and laughter and joyous moments with family and friends. There was a common serenity. Sunny days were met with smiling neighbors willing to share a funny story. Neighborhood cookouts were frequent and everyone contributed and felt included. But a man in a blood red cloak decided to change everything that existed there to fit his own dark desires. 

When Ferrafore was in its prime, there were hundreds of cities and tens of thousands of small towns and villages dotting the landscape. Now, they were all razed to the ground with only one explanation. Evil, like a plague, had enveloped Ferrafore. 

Historians tell of a man in a red cloak always fleeing a fiery scene on a headless horse. This terrified the survivors who lived to tell their story to the bards of the land. No one ever saw the face of the cloaked man, but they heard his laughter ringing through the streets; a slow “Ha…Ha… Ha…”

A league of Oracles told a prophecy of the only one who could stop the evil; a true hero, one with the powers of The Entities themselves. Only he could bring Ferrafore back to its former glory; the lush and beautiful forests and rivers of tranquility, the towns and cities bustling with activity and laughter, the world in harmony, the forests and the deserts and the seas all bursting with life, and the people who would greet you when you entered their taverns, shops, emporiums and markets.

Ferrafore used to have a soul of its own, but its soul had been extinguished. Harsh laws and terrible people now filled the streets, but that time of picturesque landscapes could still be reclaimed if someone...anyone...any hero would come and change the past. 

Although he will be warned to keep his distance, will he have the courage to defy his teacher’s wishes or will Ferrafore be destroyed forever? The only way to stop the evil that now plagues Ferrafore is to return heroes to their rightful place at the top of their thrones as the protectors of the world. Will the boy be able to conquer the most evil magic that exists or will everything he loves be destroyed forever?






















Part One:
Birth of a Hero

Chapter One:
“Blank Pages”
     

Alex Fieldstone was a strong and lean young man with short, raven-black hair. At 17 years old, he was 5’9” and still growing. He was a normal and very busy teenager. Whenever he came home, it was always dark outside. He would eat dinner, and since his mother was a fearful, technophobic, illogical, and paranoid human being, he had no form of entertainment except for his exercise and books. After doing his homework, would always fall asleep in his school clothes. As he slept the night away, he wore yesterday’s blue jeans and a shirt with fantasy themed swords on the front. 

It was a cold winter morning and the sun was just rising. As Alex was sleeping soundly in his bed, his annoying older brother Leonard stormed through the door shouting…

“WAKE UP!!!”  

Leonard Fieldstone was a pale-white large and blubbery blob of chubby fat. He was very tall and never fit into anything. He had unkempt brownish-black hair and was a true slob. He never ate over the table, so was always dropping food on the floor. He blamed everything on Alex. He was excessively clumsy, which was a trait he blamed on Alex for no good reason. He seemed to break things wherever he went and no matter what he did wrong, he blamed Alex for every broken vase, piece of furniture, painting, and ripped book page. Worse even, Leonard had been driven mad by the mother he reluctantly was forced to share with Alex. Leonard constantly tortured Alex with angry words and inane comments about things that were none of his concern. Because he was so large, he used his strength to push Alex around, locking him in closets, bathrooms and the kitchen storage pantry. Leonard was a bully and Alex was his chosen victim.

Hearing Leonard screaming once again, Alex awoke abruptly and started rambling on about getting to his high school Calculus class. He didn’t know yet that it was a snow day. Leonard had woken him up from a terrible dream where his teacher had sprung a surprise test on the entire math class. In his dream, he was in his underwear standing in front of the class giving an oral presentation about calculations he had never studied and everyone was laughing at him.

Realizing this was just a terrible nightmare; he jumped to his feet, brushed his hair and ran to the bathroom to brush his teeth. He grabbed his favorite hat from the hook on his bathroom mirror and put it on, only to mess up his hair once again. He didn’t care as he rushed around the house grabbing his things for school, clueless that they were snowed in. 

Leonard began laughing hysterically. “You’re such an idiot. There’s no school today, you loser. Look out the window.”  

Alex went back into his room and looked out of his bedroom window at the snow blanketing the ground and streets. He tried to push Leonard out of his room but Leonard had kicked open Alex’s locked door and had broken the door frame with his massive weight. 

“You won’t believe what’s on the news!” exclaimed Leonard. 

Alex, who was now furiously angry, said, “What now?! Bug off, you rude oaf. Why’d you wake me up if I didn’t have to go to school?” 

“We’re gonna get another two feet of snow. It’s gonna snow all day. AND night.”

“You could have told me that later. You’re so lame. You should’ve let me sleep! You didn’t have to….”

Leonard quickly interrupted Alex by covering Alex’s face with his massive, flabby hand and whispered, “You got a strange gift. Someone left this weird book at our front door. It’s leather-bound and made with a strange paper. But the book is blank inside.” 

Alex took off his hat and exclaimed “Why’d you open it if it was addressed to me? Give it here.”

“I felt like it. It’s just a stupid book. Like a diary or something. Only girls write in diaries. Why’s it addressed to you? You a girl or something?”

Alex noticed that he was able to see something about the book that Leonard couldn’t see. It was strange, like it was calling to Alex. Alex quickly took it out of Leonard's hands! He looked closely at the leather book and stared intently at the old buckled clasp on the front that lead to the back of the book. He tried to unclasp it and successfully did so. Although Leonard couldn’t see it, Alex stared at the so-called blank book’s first page and saw ancient-looking writing. 

“It’s not blank!  Whatcha do? You hit your head, Leo? See here?” 

Alex pointed at the page and Leonard looked very confused.

Leonard and Alex were looking at the same page… but seeing things very differently. Leonard saw a blank page and Alex saw writing that was just barely legible. He read the first passage quietly to himself. 

‘If I am reading this text...’ just then, a bright light burst out from his eyes and the words bellowed powerfully from out of him, “I AM A TRUE HERO! THE LAST OF MY KIND! I COMMAND THE MAGIC WITHIN THE WORLD OF FERRAFORE!” The light disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Alex looked at Leonard, but Leonard’s face did not show any fear. He said nothing about the light or about anything that might have happened. Then, a powerful wind whooshed around Alex’s bedroom. The wind was warm and comforting. Alex thought that maybe he was going insane, but then the book spoke to Alex and when it spoke, Alex heard a booming, powerful voice.  

“HE OF HEROES BLOOD, RIP THIS PAGE FROM THE BOOK AND THEN PLACE IT IN A FIRE. THE PAGE WILL BURN… SO SHALL END YOUR STAY ON EARTH! THE BOOK WILL TRAVEL WITH YOU! LET THIS BOOK ONLY TOUCH YOUR HANDS AND FEW THAT YOU TRULY TRUST. THEY WILL GAIN THE POWER OF THE BOOK AS YOU DO, BUT ONLY IF THEY ARE DEEMED WORTHY. IF THEY ARE NOT, FROM THIS MOMENT ON, THEY WILL BURST INTO FLAMES AND DIE. PURE INTENTIONS OF HERO’S BLOOD WILL SAVE THE WORLD OF FERRAFORE!”

The wind stopped and everything was silent.

Alex stared at Leonard. He looked around the room.  The wind had not moved a single object. No papers were strewn about; nothing had been knocked off of his bookcase. Everything remained as it was before the indoor cyclone. It was clear to Alex that Leonard had not seen or heard a thing.

Alex relished the chance to get away from Earth. He shook the book at Leonard, “Do you see this?! Did you hear that?!” Alex rambled on saying, “This is my chance! I have never been good at anything but lifting weights, martial arts, and running! This is my chance! My dream! I have always wanted to get off this wretched rock we call Earth! No more pollution! No more troubles! No more stupid commutes down the Pike for school! Just a land that I have never seen and a land I wish to see! I have always wanted to be an explorer!” 

Leonard, who was still confused, muttered, “What- what the- what the heck are you talking about? Are you crazy? What- what does it say?” 

Alex shouted with his hand pointed to the staircase, “The fireplace!!”

With Leonard fast on his heels, Alex flew down the stairs until he reached the fireplace. Leonard shouted at Alex, “Are you nuts?! What is going on?! The fireplace?! And what did the book say and why couldn’t I read it?!” 
Alex quickly replied, “You probably just don’t have the capacity to read it! This is magic!” 

“Magic?” Leonard quickly scoffed. “No such thing! Have you lost it?!” 

Alex grabbed his coat off of the rung near the door ran towards the fireplace. 

Alex said, “Goodbye, you stupid oaf! I hope your girlfriend gives you crabs!” 
Alex quickly ripped the first page from the book, crushed it, threw the paper into the fire, and before Leonard could knock his lights out for his comment about the crabs, Alex was gone with the wind in a cloud of smoke and ash.