World Myth first draft Chapter 1

          My name is Lukas Riku. I am the founder and Guild Master of the Adventurer's Guild. Over the course of the last 49 years, I have seen kids become adults, nobodies become new heroes, and even helped families rise. With the 50th year anniversary of the Guild coming up, I decided to tell my tale about how the Guild came to be, who helped found it, and its true purpose...

         This story starts a hundred years ago in a small kingdom, the home of one of our heroes. Here we meet a young man by the name of Joseph, a 19 year old knight. His youth was spent training and preparing to enter the kingdom's forces. This small kingdom was known as the Animal Kingdom, the inhabitants all worshiping the different animal deities.

         Due to this, the knights of the kingdom were split into different animal themed squads, each with different weapons, armor, and most important, different duties. Joseph was placed into the Turtle Squad, known for their Iron Shields and their duty to guard and protect everyone within the kingdom.

         A great honor for Joseph and his family, for his days would be spent protecting everyone, including the Royal family. For months, Joseph raised his shield in defense for others, slowly gaining respect and popularity. Even with dark shadows cast upon the kingdom, crops dying out, and rumors of their deities leaving, the kingdom stayed strong.

         Discord, however, tossed its hand in as the threat of war from a neighboring kingdom. In less then a month, war fell upon the Animal Kingdom, and the death toll rose faster and higher, until just those within the castle were left alive. The situation was hopeless, and with one final push, the enemy kingdom overtook the castle.

         The siege took less than an hour, and as the smoke cleared, only one was left alive. Joseph, who should have died from his wounds, struggled to stay alive, despite the pain and the loss of blood. It was this survival instinct, the need to continue on that brought him to the attention of a deity.

         It appeared before him, a large turtle as dark as the night and a snake as light as snow. They spoke to him in silent voices, telling him of his future, his duties, and how he was now their Chosen Hero. They granted him gifts, powers, and the promise that he'd find friends and allies on his quest, as well as a partner who'd take the role of the snake's hero, for he was the turtle's hero.

         With this, Joseph awoke in a small bed, his wounds wrapped up and his gear not to far from him. He noticed right away that his shield was different than before, and now appeared more turtle-like in appearance. It was as if the deity itself had given Joseph a piece of its shell.

         After getting dressed, getting up, and heading into the hallways of the house to thank those who had helped him. His saviors turned out to be a young traveling couple who followed the smoke to the destroyed kingdom. After finding him half dead, they brought him into an empty house to treat him.

         With his thanks and good wishes, Joseph set out into the world with a new quest and a new reason to live. Through 48 years, he wondered, helping people, exploring the world, and searching for the allies he was told to find.

         It was on the 48th year that Joseph found his first ally. She was a young woman, a thief that stole from Joseph when he had shown her kindness. He could feel the connection between them almost instantly, and that was what gave her the opportunity.

         He cornered her soon after though, but gave her kindness, offering her both food and money. He then explained everything to her, about his goal, and how she was a part of it and now she'd never be alone again.

         Lisa was her name, that was what she had written down for him to read. She was mute and an orphan, stealing just to stay alive and make it to the next day. Joseph promised that he'd take care of her, keep her safe, and help her if she ever needed it.

         That night, in her sleep, Lisa was presented with a pair of knives. From the knives, a snake appeared and spoke to her, telling her about her destiny. The next day, finding the knives in real life, Lisa agreed to head out with Joseph.

         The next two years the two of them traveled around the world, helping people in need and getting closer as heroes without a choice. Their future was no longer theirs to control, so their path was more without rhyme or reason, just following the road and seeing where the path led them.

         Stories of the two of them slowly spread though, and word soon reached an evil from Joseph's past. The neighboring kingdom, that years ago killed off his own land, would not rest til he was killed.

         Little did Joseph know, but these forces were led by a demonic black snake, aiming to become a Deity on the world.