They say copper doesn't rust… but they've never been born a Copper.
Deep within the mine, where every breath choked on dust, the sound of pickaxes striking rock echoed like a heavy heartbeat.
Every strike stole a day from the lives of the slaves, and every spark reminded them that they were nothing but cheap tools.
Amid this metallic hell, a seventeen-year-old boy lifted his pickaxe with hands trembling from exhaustion. Sweat ran down his forehead, mingling with the taste of blood and salt. His name was Spark… but he had never felt a single spark in his life.
"I always hated being a Copper."
Those words never left his chest.
In the midst of his thoughts, the entire mine shook with the ringing of a bell, causing stones to fall and dust to make the slaves' eyes water. Dust stuck to their tongues, making them cough violently.
A hoarse voice shouted from the center of the mine:
— Come on, you lazy lot! Breakfast time!
The Copper slaves put down their pickaxes quietly and began walking. Spark moved with them, jostled by the crowd, their stench so foul that even the mine guards recoiled.
When they reached the mine entrance, the sunlight struck Spark's face like the embrace of a loving mother.
But the brief moment of comfort was interrupted by another slave shoving him—not that it bothered him; he was used to it. The mine was packed with slaves carrying stones, overseen by guards on the four surrounding towers.
"They wore copper armor too… yes, Coppers as well, but luckier—they worked under the orders of an Iron."
Spark didn't like the idea of flattering the Irons. He continued walking until a voice called from behind:
— Hey Spark, wait for me!
Spark turned and smiled. A bigger boy with long hair was running toward him—his childhood friend, Andrew.
Andrew placed a hand on Spark's shoulder:
— Don't tell me you were going to eat without me, buddy!
Spark laughed sarcastically:
— As if I care.
Andrew gasped with mock sadness:
— I didn't expect you to be this cruel… truly heartless, like the Silvers!
They looked at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter.
The two walked together to the mine kitchen, each taking a loaf of bread and a little water.
As they sat on the floor, Andrew turned to Spark, nibbling half his loaf:
— Did you hear the news, Spark?
Spark looked indifferent:
— What news? The Golds' parties and the Coppers' executions?
Andrew laughed with excitement after a sip of water:
— The Purification.
Spark scoffed internally. "Purification." In this world, every few decades "Purification" was announced—not merely a religious rite, but a brutal game invented by the Golds to maintain their absolute power.
Andrew finished his bread:
— What do you think, Spark? You and I… think about it, we're both skilled fighters… we've survived battles before.
Spark's face showed his irritation:
— Andrew, that's enough… I told you not to bring this up again.
Andrew stood eagerly:
— Think carefully, my friend! We have a chance to become Irons… isn't that better than living under their rule? Joining them is better than dying for them.
Spark's anger flared at his friend's enthusiasm:
— Andrew, that's enough! I will not take part in this cursed game!
A long silence fell between them, then Andrew exhaled sharply:
— Think carefully… consider the consequences if we win, and think about your sister too.
Andrew walked away, leaving Spark and his bitter thoughts. His sister… she was his weakness. He tried to calm himself, focusing only on the immediate problems: paying his father's debt and getting out of the mine as quickly as possible.
After finishing his shift in the mine, Spark boarded one of the slave transport wagons, which headed toward the city.
At the outskirts, near the high walls, Coppers lived in crowded, narrow districts. Their houses were made of mud and wood, their streets dusty, children running barefoot through the alleys.
Spark stepped off the wagon, exhausted, walking among the filthy streets. The color of the sunset reflected on the walls… a fleeting moment of peace for his soul.
He arrived at a small mud house and knocked. A female voice came from inside:
— Who's there?
— It's me, Sophia! — Spark replied eagerly.
The door opened to reveal a girl around fifteen, with silky black hair and compelling ash-gray eyes… enough to make any Copper think she was a Silver.
Sophia hugged him tightly:
— I missed you, brother… I've prepared everything! Come quickly!
Spark couldn't continue the hug; she pulled his hand and led him inside, seating him on a wooden chair. She grabbed a damp cloth and wiped the sweat and blood from his face. He smiled lovingly at her.
He noticed a bruise on her hand and squeezed it:
— Who did this to you, Sophia… was it Rashik?
Sophia tried to pull her hand away but failed, looking at him sadly:
— He came this morning to remind me to tell you the debt is almost due.
Spark didn't speak, letting go of her hand, his anger visible. Sophia tried to calm him:
— Please, Spark… listen, he didn't hurt me… I swear!
But Spark stormed out in fury. Rashik was part of a gang of thieves involved in gambling and human trafficking. His father had owed them money but died in the mine. Since that day, they harassed him and his sister; Rashik even tried to turn his sister into a prostitute, something Spark would never allow as long as he lived.
Yes, he was a Copper… but he would not let his sister become a mere tool.
In a dark alley, two men sat outside a tavern, both Coppers. One had light brown hair and scars across his face, holding a dagger. The darker, larger man beside him said:
— Rashik, where were you this morning? No collections today.
Rashik smiled, tossing the dagger onto the table:
— I visited a beautiful bird, my friend.
Garek, the big man, stayed silent. Before he could speak, a loud voice called from behind:
— Rashik!
Rashik rose, gripping his knife, staring directly at Spark, whose face radiated anger. He pressed the knife harder, laughing in Spark's face:
— Long time no see, bastard.
Spark's hatred grew; Rashik was the one who had expelled his sister two years ago, and by bad luck, he was a gang member.
Garek motioned for silence, but before Rashik could say anything, a massive man emerged from the tavern door, black short hair shining, muscular—clearly the gang leader. A snake tattoo coiled around his neck, a bottle in hand.
Rashik respectfully placed the bottle down:
— Boss, no need to intervene… it's not that important.
The leader, Karath, gave a silent glance, then focused on Spark. Placing the bottle in front of Garek, he walked toward Spark:
— It's been a long time, Spark… why didn't you and Andrew come to the tavern?
Spark spat on the ground, looking at Karath with contempt:
— We're no longer friends, Karath… and if your follower touches my sister again, he will die.
Karath studied Spark for a moment. He, Andrew, and Spark had all grown up under Spark's mother… like brothers. But everything ended when Karath killed the previous gang leader and became the boss. Though he wanted Spark and Andrew in the gang, they refused due to his father's death and the debt.
Karath said:
— As you wish… but remember, if the debt isn't paid, you know what will happen.
Spark clenched his lips in anger and walked away:
— I know, and it won't happen… I will pay the debt.
Silence fell after Spark left. Karath sat, pouring himself a drink:
— If you approach the girl again without my permission, Rashik… I will kill you with my own hands.
Rashik glared, pressing the knife to his forehead:
— Why, boss? You know the boy can't repay that massive debt even if he works in the mines for a hundred years… let me kill him and take his sister.
Garek laughed, finishing the bottle:
— Because you'll die if you try, you fool!
Rashik looked at him in shock:
— What do you mean? The boy will be able to kill me?
Garek threw the bottle, shattering it, and said one word:
— The Demon of the Rick Mine.
As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere shifted among the three men. Karath closed his eyes, leaning back, lost in a sea of memories.
Rashik asked, trembling:
— The Demon of the Rick Mine… isn't he the Copper who killed the Iron guards?
Garek smiled:
— Yes… the very same.
Rashik's eyes widened in disbelief. He gasped, voice trembling:
— Impossible… don't tell me… this boy… he is… the Demon of the Rick Mine!
Karath opened his eyes:
— It's been a long time since I've heard that name.
The Rick Mine was the largest mine in the East, known among the Coppers as Rick's Hell. Being sent there was like a death sentence.
Ten years ago, the mine was shut down completely because of a single Copper.
That night, over seventy Iron guards were killed—an impossible feat for weak Coppers. But what happened… was catastrophic. No one knew the truth… except Karath, who was there and saw everything.