Kopii, unhurriedly, walked along the long, crowded and bustling street of Orario, through the motley, saturated hubbub of the market, where every merchant, with enthusiasm and zeal, vied to praise their wares, promising unheard-of benefits and uniqueness that supposedly could not be found anywhere else, nowhere else. But Kopii, accustomed to these tricks, did not succumb to the enticing cries and continued on his way further, past this bustle that had become routine for him lately, a part of everyday life. Wearied by walking, he sat down on a bench, closed his eyes and tried to feel the elusive tranquility of a rare free day, when one could simply rest and think of nothing, simply enjoy a moment of peace.
Kopii sat, inhaling the warm and alluring aroma of roasted chestnuts wafting from a nearby stall, and felt how life around him bustled, well, basically as always. He felt the tension that had accumulated in his body leaving him, dissolving in the warm air, filling his lungs. Somewhere in the distance, the melody of a street musician could be heard, tender and sad, as if telling a touching story of lost love, of the bitterness of parting.
A reminder that he is still alone and will never find himself a girlfriend.
«Bastard!»
Suddenly, beside him, as if out of nowhere, an elderly woman sat down with a wicker basket in her hands, which was filled with various produce. Her face, like a map of ancient lands, was furrowed with wrinkles, each of which seemed to hold its own story. She silently took a ripe, juicy apple from the basket and held it out to Kopii.
Kopii stared at her in shock.
– Take it, young man. – she wheezed with a kind smile. – Today is a good day to enjoy life and everything it bestows, and you bestow a smile upon everyone.
– What!? No, thank you.
And not waiting for her words, he got up and walked away as far as possible from her. After that day when he had been deceived and robbed, his wariness had reached the highest level. Maybe this granny would send him off. He did not want that, and especially he did not want there to be a drug in it.
And thoughts involuntarily began to creep into his head on their own.
«Phoo! Phoo! Enough, stop thinking about it.»
Walking further down the streets, his mood began to change sharply. He began to feel very funny for no reason.
– Hahah...
He quickly covered his mouth with his hands, unable to hold back his laughter.
«What is happening?!»
But with time he managed to get himself under control, but the joy and smile did not leave his face.
He turned into a narrow alley, where in the shadow of old houses hid small, secluded shops of artisans creating amazing things. Silence reigned here, broken only by the quiet tapping of a hammer and hushed, as if whispered, conversations. Kopii stopped at the window of a workshop, where an old master, with a concentrated expression on his face, was meticulously carving a dragon figurine out of wood. Spellbound, he watched his work, feeling a forgotten admiration for the beauty and craftsmanship invested in every detail awaken in his soul.
No sooner did he realize it than he fully returned to himself and at last he could feel completely himself. And not as if someone were controlling you.
«What was that?»
Suddenly, the master raised his gaze and, noticing Kopii, nodded his head affably.
– Do you like it? – he asked, pointing at the dragon, which was not just a toy, but a true work of art. Kopii silently nodded in response. – This is a symbol of fate and soul. – Continued the master, explaining with an air of importance. – But most importantly, it is a symbol of despair that beats in every scale, in every twist, for without fate and its own soul, it feels that it is deprived of its life.
Kopii pondered over his wise words. Soul, fate… It truly beats all around, in every moment, in every encounter, in every apple offered by a stranger. And today he, Kopii, felt this soul especially keenly, insistently and deeply. He smiled and walked on, carrying in his heart a new, bright feeling. A feeling of gratitude for this wonderful day and for all those small miracles that it had prepared for him.
– Hey, wait. – No sooner had he gone far than the old man called out to him. – I haven't told you everything yet.
– Yes?
– What do you think, if the dragon were to gain a soul and finally have a fate, what would it do?
– ... Live?
– Yes, you are right. But if because of one mistake it could lose everything, be lost again, again without a soul and fate. Maybe then it is destined to lose itself.
– ... Then nothing can be done, for it is destined to be lost.
Answered Kopii, beginning to understand less and less what he was talking about. Wasn't he going to finish telling the story? Why the questions?
– Yes, you are right, but it does not want to be lost, what should it do then? Do you know?
– I...
– Yes, you are right.
He interrupted Kopii, not letting him answer.
«But I didn't say anything.» – Beginning to grow irritated with his behavior, Kopii thought.
– It simply needs to rise above fate. A being surpassing fate itself.
«Nonsense, that's impossible. No matter how powerful the dragon might be, it could not rise above that which even gods are not capable of.»
He began to realize that the old man was talking sheer nonsense. He probably just wanted to chat with him, that's all. So slowly but surely, he began to edge away from him little by little. And when he had almost left, he heard the old man's words reach his ears as if he were right behind him.
– Or it could regain its own soul once more, but at what cost.
– What!
Kopii turned around in bewilderment, there was no one behind him.
«Imagined it.»
It was already getting dark, and Kopii decided to rest in the shade. He watched the people passing by him: elves and dwarves filling the streets. More than once he saw children happily spending time with their parents. Kopii watched this for a long time and wondered: where are his parents, why did they abandon him, or did someone force them to leave? Kopii did not want to admit it, but he envied these children, because they had what he would never have. He too wanted to have parents, but he quickly cast aside these sad thoughts, not wishing to spoil his good mood.
So he decided to distract himself from the sad thoughts with something else, for example, about the dragon.
– A dragon without fate and soul... Having gained it, its fate turned out to be losing itself again... A sad story.
Kopii thought, understanding more and more what a sad story the old man had told him. The dragon, an almighty being, also wanted to live, but fate had other plans in this regard.
His gaze fell upon a little girl playing with a wooden horse, as if it were the best toy in the world. Her ringing laughter echoed through the area, making Kopii involuntarily smile, awakening warm memories. He recalled his childhood, full of hardships and dangers, of dreams. He had never had the chance to play with toys or feel the warmth of parental love, security and care. The thought of his parents caused a sharp pain in his chest, but he immediately chased it away, not wishing to sink into the abyss of memories and sadness.
«How is the nanny?»
He remembered the person who was the only one to care for him.
He rose from his spot, brushing light dust from his clothes. The evening cool air pleasantly refreshed his heated face. Kopii decided to walk to the outskirts of the city to admire the sunset and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Having reached the outskirts, Kopii stopped, spellbound by the magnificent view of the setting sun. A huge fiery sphere slowly sank below the horizon, coloring the clouds in incredible shades of red, orange and violet, as if an artist were painting on the canvas of the sky. He stood, motionless, until the last rays of the sun vanished beyond the horizon, leaving behind only a faint glimmer on the darkening sky and a sense of the day's completion.
– The dragon simply wanted to live... happily. – He whispered to himself.
He stood there for so long, immersed in his thoughts, until the cool night breeze made him shudder. It was time to return home.
Approaching the already so dear Blue Pharmacy, he noticed that it was already closed. He stepped inside, thinking that Naaza and Miach were already asleep, as usual. He went up to the second floor and stopped before the door of his room and, without hesitation, went inside.
He lay down in bed, burying himself in the pillows, and closed his eyes, allowing himself to rest. Bright memories of today flashed through his head: the master with the dragon, the magical sunset on the outskirts of the city. His face expressed no emotion as he recalled every moment he had gone through today.
He smiled.
«Naaza and Miach are my family.»
He thought, to comfort himself, and he succeeded.