Change of Chaos Read online

  Table of Contents

  FRONT MATTER

  OTHER BOOKS BY JACINTA JADE

  QUOTE

  KASLON TIME

  THE PROPHECY

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FORTY

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  END BOOK 1

  KASLON ANIMALS

  LETTER TO THE READER

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  BOOK 2 EXCERPT

  JACINTA JADE ONLINE

  CHANGE OF CHAOS

  Jacinta Jade

  This book is brought to you by Jacinta Jade Books.

  www.jacintajadebooks.com.au

  Southbank VIC 3006

  Copyright 2018 © Jacinta Jade

  All rights reserved

  Cover design by Ravenborn_20876 through SelfPubBookCovers.com

  Licence Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the author and publisher.

  Disclaimer

  This story is entirely a work of fiction.

  No character in this story is taken from real life. Any resemblance to any person or persons living or dead is accidental and unintentional.

  The author, their agents and publishers cannot be held responsible for any claim otherwise and take no responsibility for any such coincidence.

  OTHER BOOKS BY JACINTA JADE

  The Change Series:

  Book 1: Change of Chaos

  Book 2: Change of Edict

  Book 3: Change of Darkness

  If a book is a good story, you will form those pictures in your mind…

  ...and you will fade away from this reality around you and become part of that story.

  Hans S.

  KASLON TIME

  Cycle - is one Kaslonian year or 742 days.

  Seasons - there are seven seasons on Kaslon that make up the 742 days.

  Turn - 10 Kaslon days.

  Day - 28 Spans.

  Span - One hand shift of the sun (comparable to an Earth hour).

  THE PHROPHECY

  Two will fall,

  And two will rise.

  One who wears two faces.

  One who wears many.

  Through trial and hardship,

  They will meet.

  A new path forged,

  The white fire will burn.

  She will defeat those who oppose.

  PROLOGUE

  OUR WORLD, KASLON, had oceans full of life, diverse ecologies, and abundant growth. We not only lived in cohesion with other life on our planet, but, as a society, we valued our natural environment and revered its complexities, sharing the same life as many of our animal friends. This high regard meant that much of our planet remained untouched and pristine, and we honoured the Great Mother in keeping it so.

  True, we were similar to other intelligent anthropoid species that had developed in the same and nearby galaxies—almost like distant cousins, in some instances. From our remote observations of some of those species, we had determined that, although we shared some similarities, our evolution had taken a different path many eons ago. These differences had given our people, the Kaslonians, something unique.

  The Change.

  It came upon us once we reached ten cycles of age, with one cycle equal to one revolution of our sun. Each revolution itself was long, approximately double that of planets in other galaxies we had observed. Just one cycle involved seven different seasons—the first winter, the golden time, the second winter, the final winter, the short summer, the plentiful rain, and the long summer.

  At ten cycles, the Change meant the transition to official maturity, and the immediate integration into the second life of our people. Approaching one’s Change was both a time of apprehension and excitement, as this important event determined where an individual would fit not only within our society but within the entire animal hierarchy.

  Success in life for our people was measured by achievements in preserving our world, and through lessons learned during one’s second life while experiencing the existence of our chosen form and the nature of the Kaslonian wilderness.

  Over time, the three cities on Kaslon had developed an intense but friendly rivalry around the Change ceremony that would take place twice a cycle in each city, revealing the chosen form of each youth as they officially reached maturity. A city’s prosperity was determined by its leadership in the animal world, and thus the outcomes of each city’s Change ceremony had the potential to increase or decrease a city’s influence.

  In a Change ceremony, under the guidance of a Change master, youths would assume what was known as their ‘second form.’ While some might Change into the same species of animal, each form was always slightly different, reflecting the differences within the individual. Our people believed that the Great Mother, our guiding nature spirit, had a hand in choosing each form.

  Following the ceremony, each youth would live in their animal form for a period of their choosing; however, respected Kaslonian society members always spent at least one to two full cycles in their form. Following this period, individuals usually returned to a city of their choice to begin the next phase of their life, including selecting a mate and finding their path of contribution.

  As a people, we were led by a ruling mated pair, whose animal forms were usually revered for their special qualities and rare occurrences. The current rulers, Tasde and Yealo, resided in the city of Tunet located by the shores of the Great Sea. The pair had been selected by the ruling council many cycles ago, following their leadership in winning a war that had threatened to ravage our world.

  Each ruling pair had one directive as set down by the Great Mother—to protect peace and ensure balance on our world.

  CHAPTER
ONE

  SIRAY INHALED DEEPLY, savouring the brisk morning air before she glanced at her friend and smiled widely.

  Trelar’s eyes were bright as they made their way along the garden path, and the grin she returned was just as happy.

  ‘I can’t believe it’s finally our turn,’ Siray exclaimed, her feet doing a little dance on the path in her excitement. ‘Did you hear that Hivna thinks she’ll be chosen to become a saluni?’

  Trelar snorted. ‘As if she has the grace for those kinds of wings!’ The light-haired female kicked at a rock on the path in front of them, sending it skittering along until it came to rest against a tuft of grass beside the path. Then she turned to Siray and drew closer. ‘I just hope I Change into something good,’ she said softly. ‘A limret, or a kitespray, would be good.’

  Siray smiled reassuringly as she wrapped an arm around her smaller friend in a walking hug, squeezing her tightly. ‘I’m sure you don’t have anything to worry about. You’re going to Change into something amazing.’

  Siray gave her friend another quick squeeze before they separated to continue ambling along the path. After so many cycles of crammed schedules, it felt odd to be taking their time to go anywhere, but Siray thought she could quickly get used to being outdoors in such glorious weather. She felt like the Mother was smiling down on them, given that their Change ceremony would occur now at the start of the golden time.

  As she and Trelar followed the lakeside path’s winding route, the sounds of excited chatter and laughter began to drift to them from somewhere ahead. She lifted her head to better catch the sounds, her steps quickening in anticipation. As the path guided the two young females around its final sweeping curves, she saw other members of their cycle class beginning to group together by the edge of the lake.

  The surface of the lake—named the Great Mountain Lake due to the far-off mountains that fed it—glistened with brilliant points of light, its calm surface reflecting the beautiful purple of the sky. The lake area was a picturesque part of their city, Lalinta, although Siray thought that most of the city was beautiful due to the way in which it had been built to work around the natural environment.

  As she and Trelar drew nearer to the other members of their class, she could feel her excitement building. A nervous giggle escaped from Trelar, and Siray shared in it. After hearing so much about the Change ceremonies, which were held just twice a cycle, it was hard to imagine that, in just a few spans, she would be somewhere else, as something else.

  Their cycle mates welcomed them with eager smiles to join in the discussion and speculation of the night to come.

  ‘I heard we’ll be allowed to drink nectar!’ exclaimed one eager youth.

  ‘Where did you hear that?’ another voice demanded.

  ‘Chogar told me—he went through the Change two cycles ago.’

  ‘Chogar’s probably lying,’ put forwards Trelar. ‘You know no one’s allowed to tell us anything about the ceremony.’

  Each cycle class about to undergo the Change ceremony was only told about the formalities of the night in the span before it commenced. It was strictly against protocol for any Kaslon elder who had completed the second life stage and returned to a city to tell a youth what had happened at their own ceremony. Afterwards, however, Siray and the others in her cycle class would be able to talk to any other mature Kaslon about their ceremony. At least, they could once they had re-joined society.

  Siray thought that the Change ceremony masters enforced this rule to keep them open-minded about the ceremony, although it was also rumoured that the rule was in place because the ceremony was dangerous. Some of the more nervous youths in her group even thought that they might not all survive the ceremony itself.

  Siray chose to ignore those whispers.

  The group continued to swap their gossip, fears, and hopes, and as the large orange sun slowly sunk towards the horizon, Siray glanced up every now and then to look at the path. Her eyes were not the only pair to do this. In waves, the group would chatter excitedly for a few moments before they would settle into an edgy silence, hands fluttering, eyes scanning, until someone would break the silence and conversation would burst out once more. Their cycle guide would be coming down the path to meet them soon. She hoped he wouldn’t be delayed. She felt like she was developing a muscle tick from looking up so often.

  Cycle guides were trained, unbiased nurturers who were entrusted with overseeing the development of Kaslonian youths from birth. A prestigious and difficult position to attain, only one cycle guide was appointed to each group of youths. Indeed, following their birth, after the healer and parents had welcomed the baby, the nominated cycle guide was required by tradition to be present to greet their new charge. Although Kaslonian infants were allowed to be looked after by their parents for the first cycle of their life, each mated pair was advised on raising and looking after their offspring by the chosen cycle guide.

  After their first cycle, each youth was then brought to the Development Dome in the centre of the city in order to begin associating and learning with the other youths born in the same part of their cycle. The cycle guide for each group stayed with them until they took part in the Change ceremony.

  This way, the youths maintained a close connection with an elder who was wholly invested in their development, but who was not restrained by the fears or hopes a parent might hold for their own blood offspring. The resulting health and independence for all youths would serve them in their second life following their Change.

  As Siray and Trelar continued to discuss the impending ceremony with their friends, they saw their cycle guide, Firna, finally approaching. A kind and wise male, Firna was highly respected and, of course, loved by them all. As he drew closer to them, Siray and the others let their chatter die away and sat down promptly on the velvety grass. After nine cycles of tutoring from Firna, they were well practiced in his habits and how he liked to run his classes.

  ‘Greetings, young ones.’ He smiled down at Siray and the others who were visibly excited. ‘Tell me, why do our forests support life?’ As was customary, Firna began the day’s lesson—the final lesson for the class—with an exchange of questions and answers.

  All the youths raised their hands in front of their chests, their palms facing up and hands touching. It was a customary gesture, demonstrating that they held the knowledge he required.

  Firna extended an open palm out to a student on his right, his fingers held closely together, his hand slightly cupped, as if asking for the gift of their knowledge. ‘Hivna?’

  The red-haired student lowered her hands. ‘It is true that the forests support life, but it is also true that the forest is supported by life. We all support each other.’

  Firna nodded, and the class lowered their hands. ‘In your second life, what should you be searching for in your new form?’

  Hands lifted again.

  ‘Trelar?’

  ‘Experiences,’ the female responded. ‘Only by understanding the life of our chosen animal forms can we have a true appreciation of the balance that exists between all life on Kaslon.’

  Firna smiled. ‘That’s right.’

  As the afternoon wore on, Firna asked Siray’s class many more questions, a final test of their knowledge of Kaslonian values, and all they had learned about their world during their studies with him.

  When he had finished, Firna signalled the end of the lesson by clasping his hands together and bowing his head to them.

  Siray and the other students bowed their heads back respectfully. This was a traditional gesture, one they had repeated every day for nine cycles, but today it held far more weight with the conclusion of this final class.

  Firna turned and waved to two large storage units that sat near the end of path that Siray and the others had walked down earlier. Siray was surprised she hadn’t noticed them when she had passed by, but then, she had been distracted.

  ‘Your ceremonial robes for tonight are waiting for you in the units beyond.’
r />   Although she felt like letting out a squeal of excitement, Siray stayed silent out of respect for Firna, only allowing herself to fidget eagerly and exchange a small grin with Trelar.

  ‘Each robe is named and sized just for you,’ Firna continued. ‘Of course,’ he said smiling at them, ‘I don’t expect there to be any returns.’

  Siray laughed with the others. Going into the ceremony, the students would wear the ritualistic flowing purple robes, but following their Change into their second forms, they wouldn’t return to their normal or ‘first’ forms for two cycles. The robes would become a part of them and would only be taken off upon their return to society. Another tradition that Siray looked forwards to experiencing.

  Firna extended his hands towards them, his gaze roving proudly across his group of charges. ‘It has been my greatest privilege to watch you all grow from infants into the remarkable people you are today.’

  Siray smiled with affection at Firna, a feeling she could see reflected on the faces around her.

  The guide continued. ‘I look forwards to seeing your greatest achievement yet in the ceremony to come. But remember, no matter what form you take during the Change, every form is chosen for a reason.’

  Siray nodded silently with the others. As Firna pointedly stepped aside and waved once more to the storage units behind him, she leapt up and raced her cycle mates to the storage units, laughing as Trelar bumped her playfully, and digging happily through the stack of material to search for her robe.

  ***

  Later that day, when the sky had faded from the pale violet of day to the deep purple of evening, Siray found herself lined up at the bottom of Ceremony Hill with the others, all of them looking resplendent but nervous in their dark robes as they checked each other’s attire, front to back, and head to toe. It wouldn’t do to emerge before their parents, Firna, the heads of the various branches of society for their city, and the Change masters with the robes in disarray.