A fantasy work written by the young author Jacob Corner. Published: April 8, 2008 by E-BookTime. It is subtitled “The First Book of the Unrest Trilogy”.

Aqueos, a fantasy planet whose surface is mostly water in the star system of Polaris. Most of the plot takes place in a highly militarized nation called Regulas, shortly after its winning independence of Redoranos, a nation that had claimed empire over nearly the entire planet. There government after the rebellion faced near immediate corruption due to its quasi-military organization. The political situation following the fall of Redoranos is complicated and the alliances of the nations formed are not firm.^[1] Interestingly, much of the action of the book is of an amphibious warfare nature, something rare in fantasy writing.^{[citation needed]}

Regu, a youth from the military town Renosule, flees his home after killing the son of a local noble. He is later arrested and consigned to the “cells of little time” (death row) in the capital, Meneslor, where he meets other such condemned men of great skill, imprisoned for minor infractions of the law.

After but a short time in prison they are secretly taken from prison and led away by Rugel, who is later found to be an influential noble, and trained for combat, among other things. Their training is intense and swift. Soon they are taken out by their mysterious leader on dark ops type missions, many of which carry these very different criminals to their origins. The highly independent characters are forced during these missions to work in unity and are soon an effective team, as later demonstrated in confrontations with their own military, embittered against the criminal unit. They experience further missions as assigned by the government, seeing their training complete, and are forced to work in partnership with standard military units. They are thus tempered and taught to work among people outside their tightly knit pack of lone-wolf specialists.

During these events, rumors and evidence of fiery beasts assaulting the world are rampant. These rumors are confirmed by the attack of a large body of the beasts on an island tower where they are garrisoned (a tower that had been key in the rebellion). Rugel then reveals his purpose in gathering the party, bringing them to the source in order to save their world from this force that threatens to darken their horizons and oppress if not destroy them.

Having saved the society that had rejected their independent natures, they return to it more able to make themselves a place and a life in their world.

The character upon whom the plot centers. He is essentially a misanthrope who is therefore content with his few friends in the world. The narraration shares his view of the world, supporting what he calls an intesity of living. As the plot advances, he largely mainatins this thought process, but does, however, encounter men he deems worthy of his friendship, helping him to discover once again purpose in his life mission in the defence of freedom. He is also the youngest of the story's heroes.

When Regu kills Rano, it is in defense of his freedoms and rights under the law. Their fight from then on under the command of Rugel is for the return of their freedom after prison, and later to maintain the freedom of their world. This theme is perhaps best represented in a climactic battle against a fiery force in defense of the tower that represents their nation’s independence victory.

Regu’s life becomes complicated when his independence places him along with the young noble Rano far from the walls of Renosule. His attitude toward the world becomes more hostile and bitter as he is forced to flee, but in prison discovers other such independent men. They are forced in these adverse conditions to unite. Soon they develop a deep trust fighting side by side. Their individual independence is turned to interdependence as they rely on each other in their various battles.

Regu’s first concerns are always the victory of the group and protection of its members. Often he takes action with little thought for himself in light of its tactical importance, bringing the group many times to victory at great personal risk. Seeing his example, other members of the group are inspired with a similar attitude of self-sacrifice.

Perhaps Regu’s greatest sacrifice is leaving his love, despite her disapproval, to embark on the final mission to save the world. While he is confident he will return, he is determined that he will not do so until he is sure his home is safe, even at the cost of his own life. He says in his own words: “‘I won’t fight a losing battle, but I won’t retreat at the cost of men or tactical positioning. If win or lose it comes to me, I’ll hold that pass while my men retreat, I’ll break their line, I will fight alone if it must be done.’ Regu stopped for breath and saw the sorrow in Serlaquo’s worried, blue eyes. ‘I’ll win the fight and come home, but I will not let my fear destroy the home I’m retreating to.’” [1]

Regu, young as he is, possesses the mind of a hero. Rugel, after knowing him for a time, says of him: “You’re extremely reckless, Regu. I trust you’ve enjoyed the study of legends, where the heroes always triumph. We’re in the real world now, heroes aren’t invincible anymore.” [2] Regu is of the thought that victories can be won without the loss of a single man, and determined that if anyone is going to fall, it will be him.

Regu considers himself a warrior of God in the defense of freedom from the beginning. Among many examples of a scriptural mentality are Regu’s assumption that the demon beasts are signs of a Second Coming event of “the Rescuer of Souls” as “sparks from his sworpray[an Aquerian freshwater vessel] of fire” and his scriptural citation of “the spirit of God is the spirit of Freedom” in the island tower. In some ways, his mentality is that of 19th Century Christian zealots: “it hardly becomes a Christian warrior to sit down and count the cost, till the season of action is gone by!”^[2]

He views all his actions with the cause of justice and truth.