PROLOGUE
It was a summer afternoon on the famous Maple Island. In the town of Amherst, the sun was brightly shining, fathers were playing with their children, mothers were in their houses cooking dinner for their loved ones and the town was getting ready for this year's Victorian Gathering. Cameron Klaus's bright green eyes lit up as he breathed in the scent of freshly made mushroom shaped sugar cookies. He could almost taste it. Cameron popped his head into the Amherst bakery.
"Getting those snacks ready for the Victorian Gathering?"
"Of course," Rina, a young, plump Amherst baker laughed, "What greater joy is it to see you youngsters enjoying my famous cookies?" It was Cameron's sister, Janie who told him about the snacks the adventurers would get after training every day, and one day, Janie mailed home a cookie to Cameron so he could have a taste. He still remembers the explosion of cinnamon and vanilla, the sparks of chocolate and the wonderful aftertaste it left lingering in his mouth. Ever since then, Cameron's been looking forward to eating those cookies. The auburn haired boy soaked in the sun as he walked down Maple Road, heading toward his home. Cameron opened the ovular door to his house.
"Hey dad, what's for dinner?" he asked as he climbed the stairs and headed to his room. Mr. Klaus, an aged man with wire-rimmed glasses, hesitated before he replied.
"We're ordering," he said sheepishly.
"Of course we are," Cameron muttered, shaking his head. But it wasn't Mr. Klaus' fault. He never learned how to cook and was so used to leaving that responsibility to his wife. Cameron thought back to when his mom was still around. Everyday she would bake or cook him something new for supper. She always sang these strange rhymes about adventures and destiny. He still remembers a few of them. One of them resonated deeply within him, "The power of the darkness, the power of the sea, lead him to his destiny, draw your weapon, look and see, choose your path and set them free". That's all Cameron remembers. The baking, the rhymes and her bright, warm smile. Since then, Mr. Klaus bought TV dinners more often, the house was usually silent, the stove went unused, and Mr. Klaus went into a period of depression. Everyone gave the Klaus family their condolences, as if Mrs. Klaus were dead; but Cameron knew better. She must've left for a reason. It pained Cameron to think about his mother, so he flopped onto his bed and opened his school textbook for a distraction. But halfway through The History of Mushrooms VII, Cameron threw the book across the room. What the heck would he need that for? The Victorian Gathering was tomorrow! He would never have to go to school again! A grin slowly spread across his face, and a surge of happiness soon came rushing back into him. Exploration, training, independence and freedom soon awaited him. Cameron screamed with excitement into his pillow.
His life was about to begin and his dreams were about to come true.