Chapter 1

Heroes of the New Generation

The brightest day of summer could not compare to brilliant sunlight now shining down on the port city of Southperry. Wind rushed through the streets, blowing off hats and tickling the faces of those in its path. Young children, no older than three or four played tag on white cobblestone steps, or hid behind trash cans to hide from the owner of the window they just broke. Men and women walked back from the docks, carrying the morning's catch on their backs. The store owners were getting ready for what was surely to be a good day for business, for any day that a new adventurer was setting off for the mainland was a day of spent mesos and parting gifts.

Six children, only eleven years old and holding short metal swords, walked through the crowds, looking through the windows of various shops, and watching the kids play. One eyed everything with a bit of nervousness. He ran his hands through the back of his blue hair, a habit he had picked up after all the danger he and his friends had been through.

"Chaos, are you sure this is a good idea?" he asked.

"Skie, that's the twenty-seventh time you've asked," said another boy, with black, wind-swept hair and an excited look in his eye. "And my answer hasn't changed. Yes I think it's a good idea."

"Well, I thought maybe twenty-six-"

"Twenty-seven."

"Right, twenty-seventh times lucky." The boy called Skie sighed. "I don't see why we can't just stay here and keep on fighting snails. It's not like they're too strong for us…."

"Skie, don't you want to get stronger?" asked a girl right next to him as they passed a stall-manager calling them. Her greens eyes glittered, her pocket of mesos jingling loudly in her ears. "Oh, Sherrie, look at that!"

"Look at what?" asked Sherrie, her eyes darting in the direction the other pointed.

"That! Look at it! It's so pretty! Lets go get it!"

"Sakii," Chaos started. "I think we're going to need all our money to get onto the shi-"

"Oh lighten up, Chaos," another boy cut in. "We can always go get more money from dead snails. It's not like they're hard to beat." He waved jovially over at the man selling whatever it was Sakii had been looking at. He crossed the road towards him.

"Even so, Andy," said a final voice. Out of nowhere, he appeared behind Andy, grabbing his arm to stop him. "We might need the mesos when we get to Victoria Island. You never know what you're going to find there."

"Aw, Sashi, you're no fun!" Andy pouted.

"I'm just looking out for everyone."

"Who said I needed you to look out for me?"

"I just meant that-"

"You always do this-"

"I'm just trying to-"

"If you would just let me-"

The two of them started into their usual arguments as they walked. Chaos, out of habit, lifted his hands to pull his red headband down over his ears, but someone else's hand stopped him. Skie turned him around and looked him in the eye.

"Chaos, please. Are you absolutely, positively, one hundred percent sure about this?" Chaos noted the fear in his eyes and the desperation in his voice.

"Don't worry, Skie. I promise, nothing is going to happen to us." He said this with a tone of utmost determination, or at least he hoped he did. He found that he was suddenly not as confident as he had let the others believe.

"Alright, Chaos. I trust you." Skie's eyes were still nervous, but now at least he wasn't afraid.

"You'll never let me-"

"You're always messing-"

"We almost died-"

"Shut up, guys!" Sakii yelled. Sashi and Andy quieted at once. They learned long ago not to get onto Sakii's bad side. "Now, if the lovely couple is done arguing, could we please start moving again? And I saw that!" she said, as Andy mimicked hitting Sakii with his sword as Sashi muffled his laughter into his skullcap.

"Alright, team, lets get moving!" Chaos shouted. They walked on, every so often buying a new article of clothing or some sort of potion, or just a toy or some jewelry. Finally, after what felt like hours to Chaos, they reached the end of the docks.

"Can I help you young lads and lasses?" asked a man in a blue vest. "Need to get the freshest fish for mommy, aye? Or maybe buy Daddy a new fishing rod?"

"Um, actually, sir," Sherrie said to the man. "We need to find Captain Shanks, please? We're young travelers ready to go to Victoria Island."

"Oh! Is that right, young lass?" the man said. "He's my captain, he is. I'll take you right to 'im. We'll get you little rascals off to Victoria in no time. Well, come with me."

The man led them off towards dock number three. Chaos walked up next to him.

"Have you ever been to Victoria Island?"

"Me?" the man asked. "Well o'course! Every sailor worth their weight in salt's been to Victoria. My name's Rupe, by the way."

"Well hello, Rupe. I'm Chaos. So, what exactly is in Victoria Island?"

"Oh, there's lots of great stuff, let me tell you. Weapons that can cut through a drake's scales, armor that can stand up to deadly magic of a Jr. Balrog, and mesos, mesos, so many mesos!" His eyes lit up at the very thought, and it seemed to Chaos that he stood a bit straighter. "O'course-" (he seemed to sag a little bit) "I never was a great fighter. That's why I'm a fisherman. Tried the warrior test fifteen times before I gave it up. What path do you want to follow?"

"Uh, I don't know," he answered. This question had thrown Chaos way off. He forgot all about the four jobs a traveler could take. What would he be?"

"Well, don't fret now; you don't have to make the decision just yet. You and yer friends need a little strengthening up to do right now. You'll need a while's more training just to be a magician, even."

"Is that Captain Shanks up there?" Chaos asked. He was eager to get away from Rupe's questions now, even though he knew Rupe hadn't asked anything that should have made him feel this strange.

"Yeah, that be him alright. Now you kids run along now. Hope to see you again someday."

"Uh, yeah, okay. Bye Rupe!"

"Bye Rupe!" the rest of the gang called. As Rupe walked off back in the direction they came from, Chaos' mind reeled. What would his chosen path be? Who was he, what would he do? What would his friends do? Would he live long enough to become one of the strongest in the world? These and many other questions shot through his mind as Sherrie stepped forward.

"The six of us want to go to Victoria Island, if you wouldn't mind, sir."

"Aye, I don't mind, you lassie. It'll only be………….." he counted how many of them there were. "Nine hundred mesos."

"WHAT?!" the 6 of them shouted together. "Are you insane, sir? We can't pay that!"

"It's one hundred fifty per passenger. You have to each have at the very least that, right?" They stared around at each other. Finding no other option, Chaos sighed and started looking through his pack. The others did likewise. Each handed a bag of gold coins to Shanks.

"Thank 'ee very much, kids. Hop on board. We'll be off in a good ten minutes."

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Nothing more eventful than Skie getting seasick happened on the trip to Victoria Island. It was a peaceful day, and the sun shone brightly on the white city of Lith Harbor. The six young friends looked around in wonder. Burly men walked around, holding large fishes or spears. Women either called prices of wares out to passer-bys or yelled for their children. What really astonished the party, though, were how different people were here. Knights in full regalia bearing the crest of the warrior, with their spears, swords, or axes poised and ready for a nonexistent battle in the city Sneaky, quick moving flashes of color shot about, picking apples or fish out from unsuspecting noses, thieves that only Sashi's keen eye could see. Archers with huge bows or stiff crossbows, their arrows in quivers on their backs; and most impressive of all (in Chaos's eyes, anyway) were robed magicians. These magicians were completely unlike the little play magicians who did tricks back home on Maple Island. These mages radiated powerful energy. Even their large hats (which Chaos would later learn are called guiltians) had an aura of strength that plainly said it would not be messed with.

"Wow," was all he could whisper as he looked on at the mages.

"Wow is right, little one," said a gruff voice from behind. They all jumped. A big strong man wearing greens furs walked up out of the shadows. "I am Olaf. Who are you children?"

"Um, I'm C-Chaos," stuttered Chaos.

"Sashi," said Sashi, completely nonplussed by the large imposing man in front of them.

"Whoa! You're cool! I mean, I'm Andy!"

"My name is Skie," Skie said.

"We're Sakii and Sherrie!" Sakii said, speaking for Sherrie, who's voice had disappeared when Olaf had come out of nowhere.

"Hahaha, good names those are little ones, good names indeed," Olaf laughed. His voice was deep and booming. Chaos thought he noticed a few pigeons flying away before Olaf spoke again. "I welcome new travelers to Victoria Island for the Four Societies."

"Four societies?" Skie asked.

"Blimey, nobody knows about the Four Societies anymore," Olaf sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, the Four Societies are the four different classes led by the strongest of each class. First is the United Thieves of Maple, or UTM for short. They've got control of Kerning City, and dish out punishments to thieves who go overboard in stealing. Next, you've got your Warrior Guild, who has all the warriors trained and teaches them how and when to use their powers. Then, there's the Bowmen's Association. They're all the crossbowmen and bowmen in the world, and they're the ones that are the first line of defense in the towns, should monsters ever try to infiltrate, at least until reinforcements arrive. Finally, you've got the Pantheon of Magicians. They're the brains behind the operations. They figured out how to power everything in our world, how to cure diseases, all of that good stuff. Together, they're the Four Societies. That's basically the only form of government on Victoria Island. I heard the bosses of the Four Societies are trying to create a better form of government, but they haven't had any luck yet." With this, Olaf shook his head. "We need better unity. One day there's going to be a monster stronger and smarter than the rest that's going to lead all the monsters against us. If that happens, it'll be a miracle if everyone comes out alive, and a blessing from whatever gods this world has if the Four Societies are still around."

"Oooooooooooooooookay then," Chaos said. "So, why are you welcoming us for the Four Societies?"

"Hahaha, sorry, got off topic there," he laughed. His mood completely changed, and he was now like the carefree man who walked up to them before hand. "Anyway, I tell newcomers such as yourselves about each of the Four Societies so that you can pick who you want to be."

"Oh!" Sakii exclaimed. "This is what Rupe was telling us about!"

"Ah, you know Rupe?" Olaf asked. They nodded. "Good man, good man. So, about those classes…."

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"I like the sound of the Bowmen's Association," Andy said, as they walked out of the city. "I mean, wouldn't it be cool to just stand on one of those floating platforms and WOOSH!" He mimed shooting an arrow. "Your enemy just falls down dead. That would be so cool!"

"I think I like the Warrior's Guild," said Skie unexpectedly. "I could use more physical strength."

"UTM for me. That's all I'm saying," was all that Sashi did say, and one more sentence. "Sakii, Sherrie, Chaos, what about you three?"

"Oh, I dunno, Magician's Pantheon?" Sherrie and Sakii said at the same time. "Jinx! You owe me a soda! Jinx! You owe me a soda! Jinx…"

"I think I'll go be a magician, too," Chaos said over the two girl's jinxing. "I mean, magic! It's just so…………….Magic-y!"

"Then I guess this is where we all separate." Sashi voiced this unpleasant thought as they walked on. Snails were starting to appear by them, and small mushrooms, too. Soon, they would be in monster territory.

"I………I guess it is," Chaos responded. "We'll all meet up again after we advance to whatever job we're going to, right?"

"Of course!" everyone said together. "And Mike," Sakii said, using Chaos's real name instead of his new, adventurer's name. "The three of us will be together for a little while longer, since we're all going to Ellinia!" She pointed to herself and Sherrie.

"Right," Chaos said, sounding relieved. "And if we take the long way, we'll all be together, dropping people off at Kerning, Periorn, Ellinia, and Henesysyis!"

"Hahaha, Chaos, I think you mean Perion and Henesys," Sherrie teased. "Well, let's get moving!"

"Yeah! Nothing bad will happen to us if we stick together!" Chaos cried. He had no idea how wrong this thought was. When you're young, though, nothing really seems serious. So Chaos and his friends set off on their very first adventure which would end up being one of their most dangerous. They would all almost die, and it would splinter the friendship that they had. But for now, they were happy. They were young. They were the next generation of heroes.