Syd's story from the start of magics, battles, and war: this being the first entry recorded in Journal XXIV.

Think Hardy Boys meet a young Lara Croft — or feel deeper to sense as sword meets poison.

Encounter new civilizations and old evils In this first book of a new fantasy series. Join Syd, a strong willed lad, who crosses a deadly sharp edge toward manhood with his best friend Amos and his new teen age sister Beth.

Sydrathium is both sword and man. On his fourteenth birthday the eldest son of the Brink family inherits the family short sword Sydrathium and his name is changed to Syd. If he lives his son will inherit at fourteen, if he dies a younger brother will become the next Syd. It is not unknown for an adventurous sister to take sword and name if she wishes and is qualified, or if entrance to Reality Forest forces the choice.

Clear vision only takes you as far as Reality Forest's edge.

First sentence:
The narrow oak door to my bedroom creaked open slowly as my new sister Beth entered with fresh bandages to replace the sodden ones on my shield side.