The city was bustling, the noise of the market mingling with the cries of street vendors. Evan, packed with little more than a sack of provisions and the map, felt like a stranger in his own home.
He had never ventured far beyond the city's gates. But now, the unknown stretched before him, a wide expanse of possibility and danger.
"Hey! You look like you're heading out." A voice, sharp and curious, cut through the crowd.
Evan turned to see a boy, no older than sixteen, grinning mischievously. His dark eyes sparkled with energy, and his clothes were a patchwork of old fabrics, barely held together.
"I'm Leo," the boy said, extending a hand. "You're leaving, right? Looks like you could use some company."
Evan hesitated. Leo wasn't exactly someone you'd expect to find on a hero's journey, but something about him felt... right.
"I don't need help," Evan muttered, but Leo didn't seem to hear.
"Suit yourself," Leo said with a grin. "But you'll find the world is better with someone watching your back."
The first danger came sooner than expected. A gang of thieves tried to rob them, sensing an easy target. But Leo, quick and clever, outwitted them with a series of well-timed tricks and quick thinking. Evan, who had never been in such a situation before, watched in awe as Leo's street smarts saved the day.
"Stick with me, and you'll make it," Leo said, offering Evan a confident smile.
Evan didn't know what the future held, but he knew one thing: Leo was now his first companion.