Prologue

           There is an age-old legend about the four magical stones of the elements - stones that had limitless power, because all of the most powerful elements of the earth obeyed their will. Those who wielded these stones also wielded the most powerful weapon in the world, capable of changing the course of human history.

Red like pulsating blood that runs through human veins, the ruby was able to wield the fearsome and terrifying power of fire.  Shining like a crystal, the diamond, like a pure tear rolling down the cheek, could cause and quell the most terrible storms and whirlwinds because it was subject to the invisible power of the air. The hardest stones and the largest rocks, the boundless deserts, the sandstorms, and all the elements of the earth obeyed the enchanting power of the green emerald, glistening like the dewy grass of the morning. And the blue sapphire, as blue as the boundless blue of the sky, ruled over the irresistible element of water, which had the force to sweep away everything in its path.

Although the world could have been subjugated to the power of the stones, humanity was never ready to wield such a weapon. The human’s desire to dominate nature and to be the strongest part of this food chain could have caused terrible and irreparable damage. That is why a secret brotherhood was founded many centuries ago. Monk-soldiers were entrusted with the great responsibility of guarding the stones of the elements and ensuring that they never fell into the wrong hands. They called themselves the “Guardians of the Stones”.

The Brotherhood forged four gold rings, set with powerful stones and sent them to four different countries around the world. For hundreds of years, the monks protected and hid the stones, but there were those among them who wanted to see this power in the hands of their enemies. There was a long silent war between the “Guardians of the Stones”, the hardy warriors of the monks who protected the secrets of the Brotherhood, and the “Lightbearers”, an organisation whose main objective was to obtain the secret stones and to concentrate in their hands the most powerful weapons known to humankind. Unfortunately, the ranks of the dedicated “Guardians of the Stones” diminished over the years, and the enemies grew stronger and more powerful. The greatest secret was at stake...