Act I Chapter I

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Ulvala, Emree Grove, Time: 12:00 PM

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The land of Gaia, how magnificent it is with its lush green grass, the gentle breeze that sweeps across the sky, and the harmonious coexistence of animals and people living in absolute peace.

This is Ulvala, a country nestled within The Congregation Of Unity government, known for its tranquility. 

The world of Gaia had been protected by The COU for many years with them dealing with Eldritchs, criminals, and phenomena that are beyond human understanding. Of course, they aren't the only factions who own the world but we will leave it here for now.

As the residents of the main city of Yoshos Empire went about their day, the town bustled with activity. People engaged in various tasks, from trading to training, and even some mischief tomfoolery caused by a group of mischievous 8-year-olds who were on the verge of being caught by an elderly man. 

"Damn kids!" he exclaimed as they made a hasty retreat after tossing a thousand rolls of toilet paper into the house. However, this incident is not our main focus.

Beside the town lay the enigmatic Emree Grove forest, where two young kids embarked on an adventure through the uncharted wilderness. The young boy, with tousled brown hair and dressed in a simple T-shirt and brown shorts, leaped onto a log resting in the river. 

"Come on, Mianne! Let's keep moving!" He held a stick in his hand, pretending it was a flag.

The boy was joined by a young girl, her long pink hair flowing, and she wore a black robe with a yellow cross on it, along with a hood. She also had rosy cheeks. 

"I'm not so sure, James... Can you guarantee a safe landing?" Mianne scanned the surroundings in search of a safer path.

"Don't worry, Mianne. I've got you!" James reassured her. His words eased Mianne's concerns.

Mianne blushed happily, touching her cheeks as she leaped down, saying, "Catch me, Jamey, ~"

James did his best to position himself beneath Mianne as she descended, resulting in a firm landing on the soft earth. "Well, I guess this will do," she mumbled to herself as she got off him and offered a hand to help him up. 

"Thanks, Mianne! Now, let's continue our journey and search for that fox's nest!" James pushes forward the goal they had been looking for.

Mianne and James continued in the same direction, with James saying, "We should be getting close now." He glanced around for a moment, and Mianne, feeling mischievous, wrapped her arms around his left arm, clinging to it like a koala.

James scanned the bushes, and after a while, he exclaimed, "Ah! Mianne, look!" Both of them leaned in to get a better view, their cheeks brushing against each other. 

What they saw was a heartwarming scene: a family of orange foxes snuggled together, fast asleep.

"Awwww, they're adorable!" Mianne couldn't help but squeal in delight as they watched the foxes sleeping peacefully. 

"I know, right!" James smiled, equally captivated by the sight. They both enjoyed the serene moment with the foxes.

However, their reverie was suddenly interrupted when their stomachs began to rumble.

"I'm hungry..." Mianne whined sweetly to James, who nodded in agreement. 

"Hmmm, maybe I can find some berries here." James began searching for berries. Behind him, the bush had mysteriously transformed into a berry bush. 

James turned around and spotted it, exclaiming, "Aha! Found one!" He hurried over to it, with Mianne still clinging onto him. 

"Wow, they look tasty too!" James picked one and took a bite. It was perfectly sweet. 

"It's delicious!" James said as he gathered more. 

Mianne joined in, eating some berries as well, and exclaimed, "You're right!"

As they savored the berries, Mianne's eyes suddenly widened, and a look of fear washed over her face. In an instant, the tree they were standing near began to shift, and a wooden figure emerged. 

"Hm, what's the matter, Mianne?" A yellow eye appeared through a crack in the wooden figure, and it swiftly seized James, who cried out, "WAAAAH! MIANNE-"

Mianne's scream was the only response as the wooden creature kidnapped James, leaving her all alone with her thoughts.

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Ulvala, Emree Grove : Hidden Cavern, Time: 9:00 PM

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In the darkness of the cold cavern, James slowly opened his eyes to the unfamiliar surroundings. 

"Where am I..." he muttered to himself, looking around, though the dim light provided little visibility. Determined to escape, he began struggling to free himself, realizing that his body was entangled in the grasp of a bloodied tree. The wood had encased him, making every movement a struggle.

Suddenly, he froze as he heard a noise, and the wooden figure returned, emitting eerie creaks with each step. The wooden creature grabbed something, a small skull, and devoured it with a disturbing crunch. It then turned its full attention to James, approaching him. 

"No! Stay away!" James cried out, tears in his eyes, desperately trying to break free. The wooden creature stood in front of him and brushed his cheek with its root. Then, it abruptly vomited all over James's body, causing intense burning sensations.

"AGH! AAAAA!" James screamed in agony as he felt as though his body was being consumed by the flames.

Suddenly, the creature was forcefully kicked away, and James was freed from his wooden prison.

Exhausted and in pain, James could only whimper as someone approached him. A voice exclaimed, "JAMES! OH MY GOD! THANK GOD, YOU'RE SAFE." A tall woman with brown hair rushed to him, hugging him tightly, while Mianne stood behind her, her face reflecting the shock and concern for James's condition.

The wooden creature rose to its feet and menacingly glared at them, ready to lunge at the group. But before it could make a move, a voice called out, causing it to freeze in place. 

"Really? You're going after their family?" The voice spoke with authority, chastising the wooden figure. Then, the voice's owner revealed himself: a man with disheveled, overgrown blue hair, clad in a blue coat with a fur hood and black leggings. A black sword with sharp edges and a crystal on the sword guard was strapped to his back.

The wooden creature let out a growl and attempted to strike at the man. He simply grunted, taking the punch head-on. When the creature attempted another punch, the man swiftly sliced off its wooden arm.

"Feeling lucky? Want to try for another round?" He taunted the creature, which stumbled back in fear. Desperate, the wooden creature tried to dig into the ground for an escape but ended up kneeling skyward.

The man gripped his sword and leaped toward the creature, slashing it into bits and pieces. With his hand held out in front of the falling fragments, he unleashed an energy beam that disintegrated everything left, reducing it to ashes.

James stood in awe of the incredible action that had just unfolded, as the mysterious man spun his sword in a skillful display before sheathing it. 

"Stacey, dear! Did you find him?!" A voice called out, and a muscular man with short brown hair on the sides and long hair on top hurriedly entered the cavern. 

"He's over here, Aren," Stacey chuckled, watching the man rush to hug his baby boy, James, "Thank the stars, you're safe!"

The mysterious man prepared to make his exit, but Aren stopped him, saying, "Wait, hold on! What about your payment?" He wanted to show his gratitude for the man's heroic rescue. 

"Oh, that. Don't worry about it! I've already received payment in the form of your happiness! Consider this one on the house," the man declared, causing Aren to exclaim, "Oooh."

As the man was about to leave, James felt compelled to ask one more question. "Wait! Who are you?"

The man paused, a sly smirk forming on his face. "Just an ordinary guardian passing through. Don't you ever forget that!" With those words, he departed, leaving James with a newfound feeling he had never experienced before: inspiration.

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Ulvala, Yoshos Empire: The Woodheart Residence, Time: 10:00 PM

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The Woodheart family left the cavern and returned to their hometown, deciding to accompany Mianne back to her home as well. As the two kids bid each other goodbye and parted ways, they entered their own home. 

There, they gently placed their exhausted son on his bed. "Dad..." James spoke weakly, and Aren turned to his son, ready to listen to his words. 

"Yes, son?" Aren responded, curious about what James wanted to say.

"I want to become a guardian..." James's words surprised his father. 

"Well, son, you should be prepared for the responsibilities that come with being a guardian. It's no easy task," Aren advised. He sat down on the side of the bed and continued, "Once you're all better, I'll train you to become one. After all, your old papa used to be a guardian!" Aren chuckled, and James joined in, his laughter tinged with weakness. 

"Rest well, son," Aren said as he kissed James on the forehead, then turned off the light and left James to his thoughts.

"Guardian..." James began to reflect on what the mysterious man had said, and the words echoed in his mind, "Just an ordinary guardian passing through. Don't you ever forget that!" Weakly giggling, James drifted off to sleep, his dreams filled with the promise of a future as a guardian.

As the years passed, Aren dedicated himself to training James, guiding him on the path to becoming a guardian. With each passing day, James honed his skills and learned to harness his powers. Mianne, his best friend, watched in admiration as she daydreamed about James being her protector. During his training, James made two new friends who joined in to help him develop his abilities. 

Years rolled by, and James's training continued, preparing him for the day when he would turn 20 and assume his role as a guardian.

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