Hero

CHAPTER 1: LUKE I

Always gossiping, always cheating. That pretty much sums up the people in the city of Vox. Apart from a few of the residents. There's a young bard called Jason Clearwater, only 19 years old but acts like he's five, then there's Kathryn Valarae, possibly one of the most beautiful girl in all of Fardawn and a fearless archer. Lastly there's Luke Golderan , a blacksmiths apprentice at Fiery Blades. It would be nice to get a better job though since the pay isn't that good and his boss Mr Helm isn't the kindest of people to put it nicely. When Luke woke up on the first morning of Summer did he know he was about to go on the biggest adventure of my life. Too be honest he hadn't a clue.

Luke climbed out my bed and downed his porridge at the speed of light since he was already running late for work. He rushed out the door, sprinting down onto the Main Street. The city is spilt into four quarters; first you have the industrial corner where all the produce is created, second is the traders corner where the produce is sold, third is the housing corner where all the people live and lastly there is the abandoned quarter. It has been over a century since anyone has ever set foot there for reasons unknown to that of anyone alive today.
So, Luke arrived over in the industrial corner at Fiery Blades and tip toed in hoping Mr Helm had fallen asleep whilst at work.

"Late again Luke, that's the third time this week alone!" Exclaimed a voice by the fire.

Luke scurried over,"many apologies Mr Helm I was busy feeding the homeless so was unable to get here on time, I'm just helping the people you know ?"

"Alarm clock broken?" He asked.

Luke stood still for a few moments before replying with a firm nod. Mr Helm grunted before sending Luke off to do some work.

When Luke's first shift finished he darted out of the door and ran over to the traders quarter. Two young people were fighting over what seemed to be a small blue creature.
"I don't care if you saw it first, it is clearly the wrong colour for you," shouted the boy.

"I hope you're not implying that because I'm a girl I'm not allowed to have a blue Wooble!" Replied the girl in an angry tone.

The boy let go of the cage and walked off in a huff. Luke ran over to the girl who happened to be his best friend Kathryn. Even though she was his best friend ever since Luke could remember He'd always had some other feelings towards her. Her dark brown hair complimented her tanned skin tone and her blue eyes glimmered in the sunlight.

She greeted Luke with a hug, "Hi, sorry you had to see that it's just some people can be so arrogant and sexist, especially Jason Clearwater."

"Jason's not all bad when you get to know him, anyway who's this little guy?" said Luke pointing at her Wobble.

"Are you assuming it's a boy!" She exclaimed. Luke paused for a moment unsure of what to say."oh relax I'm only joking, his names Boo, he comes from the distant land of Ikarus Island. They're pretty rare."

Tales about Ikarus Island portray it as a tropical paradise where everyone is equal with very little fighting. Luke looked at the time on his old pocket watch which showed the time to be 4:00 P.M. Kathryn held Boo's tiny hand making him wave at Luke as he walked away along the cobbled pathway. His eyes were straining because of the sudden sunlight which now beamed down over Vox creating a more pleasant atmosphere around the city.

When Luke arrived back at Fiery Blades, Mr Helm was in an argument with a tall elderly looking man that had a thick grey beard.

"Do not think you can come in here acting like you deserve to know all the information about the swords because you don't, now if you don't mind I would like you to leave!"

The Man turned around and looked right into Luke's eyes with his ones that were partly purple, partly red. As he began to walk out the shop he gave Luke a peculiar stare that ended when Mr Helm slammed the door shut. Luke put on his apron and took a seat on a stool.

"What was that all about?"

"The people in this town are like hungry animals that crave only power, money and information, that man who came in wanted more then that, he wasn't from around these parts... Anyway I must speak with you urgently, I need to know if you have heard of the ancient weapon known as Mèros or more commonly referred to as the Sword of power?" Replied Mr Helm.

Luke shook his head and Mr Helm grunted putting a scroll on the table in front of them. "Legend has it that over three hundred years ago an elite race called the Traodor caused havoc and chaos over the land. The people decided to fight back though so the king ordered the greatest forger of the time Bartholomew Lukinoor to create a weapon strong enough to defeat all of the Traodor. The master weapon was created and known as Mèros which means Traodor slayer in the old dialect of Tanarian. The only problem with this was that there was not one person who could wield the sword to its full power. That was until almost fifty years later when Prince William took up the master weapon and travelled to the mountains of Lokinoor where he battled the Titans banishing them to a far away land. The part not many people know though is that he died whilst in battle with them and the sword lies with his corpse to this very day."

Luke stood there unsure of how to react to the story he had just been told. Then it hit him. He knew what Mr Helm wanted him to do.

"You have always dreamed of leaving this place and with the money I will give you for bringing me back this sword you can go to wherever you want, wether it be to The sandy beaches of Ramos or the lush forests of Ikarus Island."

Every bone in his body was telling him it was wrong of him to do it because of the danger level but his mind which was now driven by his love for money made him agree with Mr Helm and begin the quest to retrieve Mèros from the tomb of the dead king.

Luke stood up off the stall." I am prepared to go on this quest and collect the sword for you but how much will you pay me?"

Mr Helm reached into his pocket placing 1000 Istoren gems onto the table. This made Luke quickly agree to the deal.

As Luke walked out fiery blades part of him had a feeling that he wouldn't be returning but part of him was willing to do anything to get those gems.

Luke returned to my house where Jason and Kathryn met him. Jason noticed the scroll in Luke's bag so he explained to them where he was going and what he had to do.

"As you're friend, as you're brother, I ask solemnly if I might share in this adventure with you... And maybe split the profit?" asked Jason.

Kathryn butted in before Luke could reply to him."Neither of you are going, it is far too dangerous and both of you have no experience fighting."

Jason then whispered to Luke quite loudly,"That's why she should come as well."

Luke didn't know what to say at first but after about five minutes of constant arguing he said that they could both come.

A large grin appeared on the face of Jason and he went to high five Kathryn who ignored him and went to collect supplies for the journey ahead.

* * *

The first day of summer was drawing to a close as the stars were now visible in the sky and the moon was a dark red colour. Kathryn met Jason and Luke by the edge of the housing quarter where they were discussing
about what weapons they were going to use. Kathryn opened up the bag she had brought over revealing three different swords. The group all attached them to their sides and entered into the abandoned corner.

It was covered in dilapidated buildings with distant screams echoing off the walls. Jason was clinging onto Luke's arm out of fear, shaking like someone who had seen a ghost. Kathryn showed her bravery by leading at the front with confidence. The group reached a sign post in the ground that read ,'travel through the plains of Dox towards Winterwell'.

None of them knew who had wrote it but decided to trust it because the scroll Mr Helm had supplied was written mostly in Tanarian. They walked for a few hours before reaching the end of Vox.

Luke turned around facing the only city which he had been in."So this is it, one more step and we have left our home."

Luke grabbed Kathryn's hand and Jason grabbed onto his other one. They all did one big step over the border into The Plains of Dox.