Growing up, my deepest desire was for my life to be like one of the books I loved to read. I wanted it so badly that it hurt, deep down in my soul. I wanted adventure … the world-changing, life-altering, incredibly dangerous kind that I read about in my favorite fantasy novels. I wanted to go on great journeys, fight fierce battles, and ultimately save the world. Searching for this in real life always felt flat to me — two-dimensional and stale. Sure, I could travel — but that wasn’t really the same thing. I could dress up in costumes and go to conventions, or join some sort of role-playing…