Sitting in the dark, my thoughts drifted off to other places. I started to wonder about outside, and if the grass would be as soft or silky as I imagined it. Or maybe there would be sand instead, hot grainy sand in between my toes. Unfortunately, I'll probably never find out. I have my arms around trying to move throughout the black endlessness I was in. After my arms start to hurt and I begin to tire, I cease what I am doing and stare disappointingly into nothing. It was like this everyday, I would try to move nothing would happen and then I would stare till I fell asleep again. This time as I was staring off into nothing, I swear it was almost like I could hear noises. That wasn't possible though, it was probably my imagination. I continued to stare off into space, thinking about outside once again and if I would ever see it. Just as I was about to doze off, something shoots in front of me causing light to pour in through a hole in the blackness. I sit there stunned for a moment before snapping myself out of it.

"HEY CAN ANYONE HERE ME, I'M IN HERE. HELP, GET ME OUT" I scream as my heart is filled with new found hope. My heart is racing and my eyes are wide making me want to scream till my throat is hoarse and I can't scream any more.
I feel a falling sensation, and realize that the black stuff around me was starting to disapate. As I slowly sink, I realize this black stuff is a lot like a sticky black goop. It's almost as if it was hesitant to let me out, I wasn't about to let it change its mind. I wriggle and squirm, willing the ground closer to me. Finally the goo drops me along with a small object. I land with a thud and the small object lands on my lap. Further inspection reveals that it is a deck of cards with a giant symbol on the front.

"KEEP FIGHTING, SQUAD C TIGHTEN UP YOUR RANKS. SQUAD F STOP SCATTERING THE ENEMY AND WORK ON PUSHING THEM BACK. LEUTENANT NIALL FIND OUT WHERE THAT YELLING CAME FROM AND EVACUATE ANY REMAINING CIVILIANS." The females voice ran clear through the all the chaos of war. It was obvious now that I was in the middle of a war, only question was should I run? I didn't get to decide, I felt a hand roughly grab my shoulder. My entire body stiffened, I look up to see a man with a short crew cut, blue eyes, a scar going from his eye to his chin and a disgusting sneer. All in all he looked mean, and his ox like build didn't help his image.

"We've got a runner, heh oh well. Looks like I will be spilling some blood today" the man's sneer great. I pale at his words and stumble back, trying to put as much room between me and him. He takes a step forward and reaches into the air, a red mist surrounds his hand. As it clears my legs begin to tremble, in his hands is a long broad sword. Is this my fate, escaping a prison only to be killed. Tears start to run down my cheeks, there's no way I can escape, I was going to die right here. I hear the swoosh of the blade and throw up my hand in one last futile attempt to save my life. A sharp sting on my palm but nothing like I thought I would feel.

"Get out of here, before you get hurt" a new voice startles me out of my shocked state. I open my eyes and see the sneering man's sword being blocked by another. The one bearing the sword that saved me was a tall young man with blonde curly hair, he was also fully dressed in armor. I scramble back a fair distance and stumble to my feet, the cards that were on my lap fall to the ground and I bend down to pick them up. Just as I am about to stand up a ball of fire flies over my head and hits the knight in the back. I turn to see another man standing there with his hands out chanting, Earth begins to rise around him forming a spear like object. My eyes widen as I realize what he's doing, I clutch my cards with my injured hand and try to dodge.

It seems as if time slows down, the earth hurtles towards me at break neck speed, the knight is to caught up in his own battle to notice what is happening behind him. Again I am helpless, I'm going to die. My throat starts to burn and my stomach fills with rage. I am not helpless, not anymore. My feet were on the ground, and I could see the world. I was not about to let that go, not yet anyways. Without thinking I take a deep breath and close my eyes, my hand reaches for a card and I drop some blood on it.

"Zakai" I utter the word softly throw the card on the ground in front of me. The sand beneath the card swirls into a 30 foot tornado before fading away and leaving a 20 foot man dressed in tattered clothing with a strap that holds a giant staff to his back. The attack that was one coming at me, hits the 20 foot man in his leg. The attack doesn't even break skin, the 20 foot man chuckles and lifts his foot. The magic user's eyes widen and he goes to run, but before he can the man brings his foot down and crushes the user. I cover my mouth in horror, what the hell was he. The man smirks and reaches for his staff, by now other magic user's had noticed and we're heading towards the man. The man with child like Glee, swung his staff sweeping the users away in a single, yet terrifying blow. All I could do was sit and stare as the man went on a rampage, he was merciless in his assault taking Glee in destroying his enemies.Did I summon this thing? Was he here because of what I did? I don't want this. 'Control him' what? As the chaos continues to rage around me I think I hear a voice, it was soft and feminine. 'give him an order' it says again.
"H-how am I supposed to do that" I exclaim.
'CONTROL HIM' The voice blasts in my ear and I flinch slightly at the pain and the harsh tone the voice used
"HEY, MR. GIANT" I yell, the knight who had saved me earlier looked over from his current battle.
"Are you mad, don't call that thing over here. You need to leave this place isn't safe for civilians" the knight says, I ignore him and start walking towards the giant careful to avoid the crimson stain left behind from the man who attacked me.
"MR GIANT, STOP YOUR ATTACK AND COME HERE" I scream, my throat was raw with all the screaming I've done today. As soon as the words leave my mouth a red flow surrounds the giant, it appears to struggle before finally coming over. My eyes widen in amazement.
"I am no giant human, I am Zephyr god of war" his voice booms across the field drawing attention from both sides of the battle field. I look up at him really taking in all the details. He has shaggy dirty blond hair that looks like it hasn't been washed in a least a few months if not a year, he looks like he did have muscle but they seem to have fade as if he hadn't moved in a while, as for his clothing, he wore rags similar to the one draped over me but brown and dirty. All in all he looked sick, there were shadows under his brown eyes and he looked skinny and malnourished. Taking a deep breath I gather my courage, I just hope I didn't regret this.
"Okay well Zephyr, I'm assuming it was my.... Card that allowed you to come here so I'm calling the shots right now. We need to leave, you are going to take me somewhere safe where we can regain our strength" I say, he laughs causing the ground to shake and me to fall backwards.
"I do not need rest I am the god of war and war never rests" he says, I snort.
"You look more like a whipped dog then a god, I don't know where you were before this but it obviously did a number on you so drop you your pride and let's go" I say, Zephyr's eyes darken and before I can react he brings his fist downwards. Oh crap, this is what I get for thinking I could control a frickin good, I close my eyes and wait for the impact. After a moment I still haven't felt anything, the pounding of my heart drowned out all my thoughts all I could do was stand still. A deep chuckle sound came from in front of me, I open my eyes and they widen in shock and disbelief. In front of me is his open hand, I stand there unsure of what to do.
"I may be in your control human but I am still a god and want to be treated with the respect I deserve. Now are you going to stand there till this war ends or shall we get going." Zephyr says amusedly. I stop gaping and nod, it takes me a few seconds but I carefully crawl into his hand just as the magic users from the battle close in. Zephyr lifts his hand and begins to walk, magic users who aren't quick enough quickly get squished under foot. My stomach becomes nauseous at the thought of being crushed to death and I have to look away.
"Someone's squeamish, tell me human do you have a name" Zephyr asks as we leave the chaos and noise of battle. I open my mouth to tell him but nothing comes to mind, I close it and try to think of what my name could be. Zephyr seems to notice that I'm struggling and laughs bitterly.
"You can't remember can you, I should have known surviving the Ulmad would have consequences. " He says. I stare at him in confusion.
"What's an Ulmad?" I ask, he looks dumbfounded.
"Explaining every little thing will take forever and confuse you. Tell me what you do know and I will tell you what you need to know right now" he says. I nod and think back to what I do know.
"I know that I was in a black ball which I'm guessing is Ulmad, I do not know how long I was in there or why, I know that sand is hot and soft yet grainy at the same time, I know those guys back there used magic and I know your a god named Zephyr." I say, he nods and sighs.
" Yes the black ball you were in was an Ulmad, an Ulmad is a prison that steal the magic of a user and transfers it to something or someone else. Usually the person inside the Ulmad dies within the first day, you are lucky to be alive." His words shock me and we sit in silence while I process the information I received. Slowly after fifteen minutes of silence I I nod.
"Is there anything else I need to know" I ask, he looks down and smirks.
"Much more, but I'm afraid if I tell you your head may explode with all the information your tiny brain is trying to absorb" he teases me, I send a glare his way but eventually let put a laugh.
"It has been a long day, I'm sorry for my rudeness earlier as well. There is one more thing I would like to know though" I say, he quirks a brow in curiosity.
"Oh and what would that be" he asks.
"What happened to you to make you so weak?" I ask, he stiffens at the question and I begin to feel bad.
"Sorry you don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable" I say, he nods and we go back to silence as he walks. Just as I'm about to doze off I hear him speak.
"Much like you I was in an Ulmad, since I am not human it did not affect me the way it did you. I was however weakened by it." His face contorts and I see the pain on his face, it was similar to my own.
"It must have been frustrating knowing that there was a world beyond the blackness and you couldn't reach it. How long did you go through that?" I know I should drop it but I can't help but be curious.
"I was in there for three centuries alone unable to do anything, so yes I was frustrated and desperate" he says sounding a bit annoyed by the thought of his past encounter with the Ulmad.
"How did you get out" I ask, he raises a brow and chuckles.
"I answered your summon and am now a prisoner of a different prison. At least this one's outside" he says, I feel a pang of guilt.
"You feel like a prisoner?" I ask, he smiled bitterly.
"Prisoner is the wrong term, I'm more like a slave, prisoners at least still have a will of their own" he laughs but it's empty and cold. I purse my lips and shake my head. As he's still moving I stand up and wobble a little, he looks at me dumbfounded.
"What are you doing, sit down before you fall to your death" he snaps, I glare up at him.
"No, in fact put me down" I say, he stares at me with wide eyes.
"What!" He says stunned. I begin looking for a way to climb down and he quickly lowers his hand to the ground. I slide from his hand on to cool soft sand and start walking back the way we came.
"What are you doing, stop this foolishness and get back here" he exclaims, I turn and glare at him before continuing to walk.
"I will not be the master to a slave, if I am then I'm no better than the people who put us in the Ulmads. I'm going back to the battle field and figuring out what I did and how to reverse it" I say. I hear pounding behind me and whip around only to see brown eyes almost level with mine. My mouth hangs open as I see that Zephyr is the size of a human being.
"You're not going back there, if you die I go back to the Ulmad. Are you really going to make me go through that again?" Zephyr says darkly. His voice is a lot softer now and not as terrifying, more guilt floods through me as I realize what my actions would have causes.
"I'm still not having you be a slave" I tell him, he chuckles.
"Whether you like it or not that's what I am" he says, I clench my jaw and get ready to yell in frustration when an idea comes to me.
"How about we make a contract!" I exclaim, Zephyr's eyes light up with interest.
"What type of contract?" He asks, I smile.
"You will be my protecter and adviser and in return I will keep you from being returned to your Ulmad and release you when possible" I say, he tilts his head in thought.
"Very well, I have somethings to add though" he says, I nod.
" Of course what are they?" I ask, he smirks.
"First of all, you will not order me around and will trust your well being to me and my judgement. If either of us break this contract I will go back to the Ulmad or you will lose your magic" he says, I nod.
"Is that all?" He smirks and shakes his head.
"No, from now on you must refer to me as Zephyr, the godliest good a god could be" he says, I stand there dumbfounded.
"Really?" I say unimpressed, I can tell he's holding back a laugh but nods anyways.
"Not a chance" I tell him, he laughs and holds out his hand.
"Alright just Zephyr is fine, shall we seal the contract with a hand shake" he asks, I nod and hesitantly take his hand. Light begins to appear on our arms and I pull away.
"What the hell!" I scream, Zephyr laughs. The light makes an intricate pattern and when it fades that pattern is tattooed on my skin going from my wrist to my elbow.
"That would be our contract sealing itself, don't worry it just makes sure we both follow the rules" he says, I stare down at my arm cautiously scared that at any moment it will light up again.
"We should get going, nights falling and I don't want to be out here in the cold." He says, I look up and nod. Zephyr begins to grow in size and I can't help but stare in awe. Once he's done he lowers his hand and I climb on.
"How much longer till we reach this safe place" I ask.
"Not much longer, we would have been there if it weren't for a certain someone throwing a tantrum" he says, I roll my eyes.
"If I hadn't we wouldn't have made the contract" I yawn, he chuckles.
"You should rest, as your advisor I insist you listen to me"  he says, I groan but comply and make myself comfy as he walks.
"Before I go to sleep, I have a request" I say, he looks down at me with curiousity.
"Your not going to ask for a bed time story are you?" He asks worriedly. I laugh and shake my head.
"No" I assure him, he sighs in relief.
"Good I'm not very good at  telling stories" he says, I gasp in pretend shock.
"Zephyr the godliest god a god could be is not good at story telling, I'm shocked and here I thought you were good at everything. I feel cheated, scammed, bamboozled, swindled, played for a foo..."
"Speak your request before I knock you out human" he says in annoyance cutting off my mocking. I laugh and nod.
"Okay okay, sorry I was just having a bit of fun." I say as I take a moment to regain my composure.
"You can't keep calling me human, so I want you to give me a name" I tell him, he raises an eyebrow.
"Why not pick one yourself?" He asks.
"Because with the whole memory loss thing I don't know many names. Also if I were to pick my own name it would not suit me, if you pick it at least it will come from someone with an unbiased opinion" I say, he nods in understanding.
"Okay how about Mary" he says, I shake my head he frowns but continues to think.
"Terisa?" I shake my head again.
"Kali?" Once again I refuse.
"Okay what then, I've suggested three perfectly fine names and you've refused them all" he snaps, I huff.
"You're just suggesting whatever comes to mind, why don't you put some thought into it." I snap back, he looks at me and I can see  the gears turning in his head.
"Era, that's your name" he says, Era huh, it's a nice name I like it.
"Why Era" I ask, he looks at me.
"Do you not like it" he asks, I shake my head.
"No I like it, I just want to know why you chose it" I ask, he smiles.
"I chose because whether you like it or not, you have triggered a new era so it seems only fitting you take the name" he says, I smile at his reasoning.
"Era it is then" I let out a giant yawn. "Alright I'm done for the day, wake me up when we reach the place. Night Zephyr" I tell him before laying my head down, just as I fall into a slumber  I hear a voice whisper.
"Night Era" with those words I slip into unconsciousness.

Zephyr's P.o.v :)

Era had been asleep for a while now, I could see the temple where we would stay for now. I debated waking her up as she asked but decided against it. Meeting her had been interesting, most humans are annoying but she's quite interesting, her powers though we're concerning. She was a summoner, a strong one too. There has never been a summoner who could summon and control a god, even a weakened on. That power would soon be found out and his job would become much hard, not to mention she survived an Ulmad for over a day which is unheard of for humans. I was surprised though when she suggested a contract instead of a summoner classic binding, she could have had complete control over me but instead chose to make me an equal. She was quite a mystery this human, I will play along with her for now and find out her plans later. I reach the temple and place her on one of the abandoned cots on the marble floor, once she's placed safely on the cot I shrink down to her size and lean against the cold marble wall. This temple had been forgotten by the humans many many years ago, now it was our temporary hideout as we regain strength and energy. I look down at my frail sickly body, I may be a good but I still need food and water. I'm sure Era would be hungry too, in the morning I would have to find some food. Just as I'm about to doze off I hear a noise and jerk awake taking out my staff and get ready to attack. As I look around I see nothing, I put my staff away and relax. It was probably the wind.
"It's nice to see you out of the Ulmad" a feminine voice says, I whip around and see her standing above Era's cot.
"It's been way too long Zephyr"

End of chapter one, let me know what you think. This chapter has been posted early, no chapters will be posted later than the Wednesday of that week. I will post one chapter per week. That's all hope you guys enjoy my book. Thanks again.