Spear was a fourteen year old village boy, with black hair like thickening darkness. Thin and tall for his age, he grew to 161 centimeters by the age of thirteen. Raised in an orphanage.
One day, a caravan of merchants moving to Oraria appeared in his life. Looking at the bright carts and hearing the sounds of laughter and communication, Spear with shining eyes and a trembling heart begged to take him on this journey. This was not just a request - it was his chance to break out of the gray everyday life and discover new horizons.
- Can you please just take me to Oraria. I will try not to interfere with you if you want I will do any work you want. Just take it.
- No Spear is dangerous.
- That I can stand up for myself. I'm just tired of being here, you know how they treat me here.
The merchant looked at Copy and appeared, the more the silence continued, the more Copy's hope fell. After a few minutes, the merchant spoke.
-Okay, just listen to me. And don't get into trouble, I understand.
-Yes, of course.
Copy shook his head, beaming with happiness. Thus began Copy's odyssey, full of expectations, dangers, and surprises.
The road to Oraria, however, turned out to be harsher and more dangerous than he had dreamed of in his youthful dreams. The path ran through dense forests where hungry predators hid, endless steppes inhabited by nomads with dubious intentions, and majestic mountains whose sharp peaks were lost in the clouds. Every day, trials scurried about, with which the merchants taught him to survive. They shared knowledge of how to read the signs of nature, how to recognize danger, and how to defend against attacks. During his months on the road, Spear learned to find routes by the stars, make fire in bad weather, and extract food from the very sources of the earth. These lessons were more than just knowledge for him - they were a path to self-defense and survival.
But not only trials were part of his journey. Meetings with people - wise elders who kept ancient tales, brave warriors ready to defend their truth, and cunning deceivers thirsty for profit - enriched his life experience. Listening carefully to their stories, Spear learned to distinguish truth from lies, good from evil. These lessons shaped his worldview and character, allowing him to realize that a life full of miracles requires not only courage, but also wisdom.
With each step towards Oraria, his heart filled with trepidation and excitement. He had already imagined a magnificent city, full of wonder and magic, a place where his wildest dreams could take shape. However, he was also not naive and understood that the reality of life in such a great city could be much more complex than he had imagined in his childhood dreams. Finally, after many months of travel, Oraria appeared before his eyes - a majestic city bathed in the golden light of the sunset.
High walls surrounded him like a strong embrace, and against the black sky rose the spires of temples dedicated to the gods. Mesmerized by the beauty of this place, Spear stood in complete delight and bewilderment, realizing that his life had changed forever. New adventures, loyal friends, and also severe trials that he did not even suspect awaited him.
As soon as he stepped into the city, his black hair fell like a shadow over his face, hiding the sparkle that filled his eyes. The city he had heard and dreamed about was now before him, alive, breathing, pulsating. The air was thick with the scent of spices, the smoke of forges, and the sweet scent of blossoming trees, making him feel as if he had entered an entirely different world.
There was more to this splendor than just beauty, however. After a brief adjustment, Spear accepted the fact that here, among all sorts of people – elves, dwarves, humans, and half-breeds – he was just one of many. Excitement sought to overwhelm him with renewed vigor, but he understood that reality was far more complex than he had ever imagined.
He walked through the narrow streets of Oraria, his black hair fluttering in the wind, carrying him into the dense symphony of the city: the noise of the market, the cries of merchants, the laughter of children – all of it merged into a single whole, painting a living picture of this multifaceted life. Suddenly, a small, high tower-like shop caught his attention, hidden in the shadows. A sign with a dragon on it glittered above the entrance, and from inside came the faint smell of incense and old books. Curiosity drove Spear inside.
The shop was filled with strange artifacts - ancient swords, crystal balls, amulets with unfamiliar symbols. Behind the counter stood a woman with skin as pale as moonlight, and her raven-colored hair fell loosely over her shoulders. She smiled in a way that curved her lips like a dagger blade, and something inside Spear told him that she might be more important than she seemed at first glance.
"Are you looking for something special?" she said in a low voice, like the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Spear felt his heart beat faster. He didn't know less felt that she might know something important.
"I'm looking for… something that will change my life," he said, his voice shaking slightly.
She laughed, and her laughter was both inviting and frightening, creating an aura of mystery around her.
"In Oraria, everyone seeks change, boy. But not everyone is willing to pay the price." She leaned closer, her breath touching his face, and Spear felt a slight chill of fear. "Are you ready?"
Spear froze. Her eyes were dark as bottomless wells, and as he looked into them, he felt warmth spread through his body. A fire of determination flared deep inside him, urging him to act.
"I… don't know," he whispered, but his hand was already reaching for the amulet she held in her hands.
Unable to resist the temptation, Spear felt the magical energy fill the air between them. \"The price... what price is she talking about? \" flashed through his mind. He understood that in Oraria nothing was free. Every miracle required a price, often much higher than he could imagine. But now, with a slight tremor on his lips, he was ready to take the risk. He had come to this city not to return to the gray everyday life of the shelter, but to find his place in this vast universe.
"I am ready," Spear said firmly, looking up and his determined eyes sparkling.
The woman smiled even wider, and a mysterious glint appeared in her depths. She handed him an amulet - a small one, made of dark metal, with an engraved image of a coiled serpent.
"This is an amulet of choice," she whispered, her words seeming almost magical. — He will show you the way, but the choice will always be yours. Remember, boy, every choice has consequences.
When Spear took the amulet in his hands, his fingers instantly felt warmth, filling him with energy. Closing his eyes, he saw flashes of images - dark alleys, glittering swords, people's faces full of hope and despair. Gradually, when he opened his eyes, the mysterious woman disappeared, and the shop around him began to seem much darker and more mysterious.
He walked out into the street, clutching the amulet tightly in his hand, feeling his life turn upside down. What path must he take? What awaits him ahead? The city hummed and lived its own life, not paying attention to the confused young man, who now knew that the amulet would show him the way. Closing his eyes, he focused on his dreams and desires, allowing the amulet to guide his steps.
With each passing moment, the amulet began to heat up, and Spear felt his heart beat in unison with his inner aspirations. He opened his eyes and saw a dark alley in front of him, from which came a damp and dangerous air. Without hesitation, he stepped beyond the border of light into the depths of this darkness, full of determination and uncertainty. His adventure in Oraria was just beginning.
Spear walked along the narrow alley, where his steps echoed off the stone walls. The amulet in his hand pulsed as if alive, guiding him deeper into the labyrinth of streets. The smell of dampness and something metallic filled the air, causing slight anxiety and interest. His heart beat in time with the pulsation of the amulet, and he understood that his whole life was gradually intertwined with this ancient artifact.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a man, tall and thin, with his face hidden under a hood. His hands were wrapped in dark gloves, and at his belt hung a curved dagger, deftly gleaming even in the dim light of the alley.
"Are you looking for something, boy?" his voice was low, like the creaking of wood under the weight of time. "Or is something looking for you?"
Spear clutched the amulet tighter, feeling his palm sweat, and excitement growing inside him. He did not know what to say to this mysterious stranger, but a vague hope arose in his eye. The roots of instinct forced him to stay: maybe this man's gaze was somehow connected to his destiny.
"I… am looking for a way," he finally squeezed out, as if words were not enough to express all his thoughts.
The man chuckled, and his lips curved into a mysterious smile, full of incredible secrets. "A way?" — he said, taking a step forward, and at that moment, Kopiy felt his body tense with fear. — There are different paths. Some lead to glory, others to death. And you, boy, which path will you choose?
Before he could answer, Kopiy was caught off guard — the man moved forward sharply, his hand with the dagger flashing in the air. Instinctively jumping back, Kopiy felt danger looming over him, and the desires of the past — a life full of adventures and discoveries — were ready to eclipse the darkness that loomed over his life. The man was not only fast, but also agile. He grabbed his hand, squeezing it so hard that the bones cracked, and the blows were lightning fast and precise. There was no time to change his mind, and Kopiy felt his body begin to be covered in cuts from the cold blade when the hilt of his weapon hit him on the head, and then everything around him plunged into blackness.what he was looking for, but he knew