Chapter 1: Chapter 1. The beginning of the journey
He was thin and tall for his age, having grown to 161 centimeters by the age of thirteen. Raised in an orphanage.
One day, a caravan of merchants heading to Orario appeared in his life. Watching the colorful wagons and hearing the sounds of laughter and chatter, Kopii, with burning eyes and a trembling heart, begged to be taken on this journey. It wasn't just a request—it was his chance to escape the gray routine and discover new horizons.
"Please, can you just take me to Orario? I'll try not to bother you, and if you want, I'll do any work you want. Just take me."
"No, Kopii, it's dangerous."
"What? I can stand up for myself. I'm just tired of being here; you know how they treat me here."
The merchant looked at Kopii, and the silence grew longer, and the longer the silence continued, the more Kopii's hope dwindled. After a few minutes, the merchant spoke.
"Alright, but you listen to me. And don't get into trouble, understand?"
"Yes, of course!"
Kopii shook his head, beaming with happiness. Thus began Kopii's odyssey, full of expectations, dangers, and surprises.
The road to Orario, however, proved to be harsher and more dangerous than he had imagined in his youthful dreams. The path led through dense forests, where hungry predators lurked, endless steppes inhabited by nomads with questionable intentions, and majestic mountains, whose sharp peaks were lost in the clouds. Every day brought new challenges, and the merchants taught him how to survive. They shared knowledge of how to read the signs of nature, how to recognize danger, and how to defend against attacks. Over his months on the road, Kopii learned to navigate by the stars, make fire in bad weather, and extract food from the very sources of the earth. These lessons proved to be more than just knowledge—it was a path to self-defense and survival.
But it wasn't just trials that were part of his journey. Encounters with people—wise elders who guarded ancient tales, brave warriors ready to defend their truth, and cunning deceivers eager for profit—enriched his life experience. Carefully listening to their stories, Kopii 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 wonders requires not only courage but also wisdom.
With each step toward Orario, his heart filled with trepidation and excitement. He already imagined the magnificent city, full of wonders and magic, a place where his most daring dreams could take shape. However, he was also not naive and understood that the reality of life in such a great city might be much more complex than he had imagined in his childhood dreams. Finally, after long months of travel, Orario appeared before his eyes—a majestic city, bathed in the golden light of the sunset.
High walls, like strong embraces, surrounded it, and against the black sky, the spires of temples dedicated to the gods rose. Enthralled by the beauty of this place, Kopii stood in complete delight and bewilderment, realizing that his life had changed forever. New adventures, loyal friends, as well as harsh trials, which he did not even suspect, awaited him.
As soon as he stepped into the city, his black hair, like a shadow, fell on his face, hiding the sparkle that filled his eyes. The city he had heard so much about and dreamed of was now before him—alive, breathing, pulsating. The air was saturated with the aromas of spices, the smoke of forges, as well as the sweet touch of flowering trees, creating the feeling that he had entered a completely different world.
In this splendor, however, there was something more than just beauty. After a brief adaptation, Kopii accepted the fact that here, among all kinds of people—elves, dwarves, humans, and half-breeds—he was just one of many. Excitement sought to overwhelm him with renewed force, but he understood that reality was much more complex than he could ever have imagined.
He walked along the narrow streets of Orario, his black hair fluttering in the wind, carrying him into the thick symphony of the city: the noise of the market, the cries of merchants, the laughter of children—all this merged into a single whole, painting a vivid picture of this multifaceted life. Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a small, high tower, a shop hidden in the shade. Above its entrance shone a sign with the image of a dragon, and from inside came a faint smell of incense and old books. Kopii, driven by curiosity, entered 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 freely on her shoulders. She smiled in such a way that her lips curved like the blade of a dagger, and something inside Kopii suggested 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 rustle of leaves in the wind.
Kopii felt his heart beat faster. He didn't know exactly what he was looking for, but he felt that she might know something important.
"I'm looking for… something that will change my life," he said, his voice trembling slightly.
She laughed, and her laughter was both alluring and frightening, creating an aura of mystery around her.
"In Orario, everyone is looking for change, boy. But not everyone is ready to pay the price," she leaned closer, her breath touched his face, and Kopii felt a slight chill of fear. "Are you ready?"
Kopii froze. Her eyes were dark, like bottomless wells, and, looking into them, he felt warmth spread through his body. Deep inside, a fire of determination flared up, which prompted him to act.
"I… don't know," he whispered, but his hand was already reaching for the amulet she was holding in her hands.
Unable to resist the temptation, Kopii felt magical energy fill the air between them. "The price… what price is she talking about?" flashed through his head. He understood that in Orario nothing is free. For every miracle, a price is required, often much higher than he can imagine. But now, with a slight tremor on his lips, he was ready to take a risk. He came to this city not to return to the gray routine of the orphanage, but to find his place among this boundless universe.
"I'm ready," Kopii said firmly, raising his gaze and flashing his resolute eyes.
The woman smiled even wider, and a mysterious gleam appeared in her depths. She handed him the amulet—small, made of dark metal, with an engraved image of a serpent coiled in a ring.
"This is the Amulet of Choice," she whispered, her words seeming almost magical. "It will show you the way, but the choice will always be yours. Remember, boy, every choice has consequences."
When Kopii 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, sparkling swords, faces of people full of hope and despair. Gradually, when he opened his eyes, the mysterious woman had disappeared, and the shop around seemed much darker and more mysterious.
He went out into the street, clutching the amulet tightly in his hand, feeling his life turning upside down. What path does he have to take? What awaits him ahead? The city buzzed and lived its life, ignoring the bewildered young man, who now knew that the amulet would open the way for him. Closing his eyes, he focused on his dreams and desires, allowing the amulet to guide his steps.
With each moment, the amulet began to heat up, and Kopii felt his heart beat in unison with his inner aspirations. He opened his eyes and saw a dark alley in front of him, which smelled of dampness and danger. Without hesitation, he crossed the border of light into the depths of this darkness, full of determination and uncertainty. His adventure in Orario was just beginning.
Kopii walked along the narrow alley, where his steps echoed off the stone walls. The amulet in his hand pulsed, as if alive, directing 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 a face hidden under a hood. His hands were wrapped in dark gloves, and a curved dagger hung on his belt, deftly sparkling even in the dim light of the alley.
"Are you looking for something, boy?" his low voice said, like the creak of a tree, which is produced under the weight of time. "Or is something looking for you?"
Kopii squeezed the amulet harder, feeling his palm sweat, and excitement grew inside. He didn't know what to answer this mysterious stranger, but hope arose in his eyes. Roots of instinct forced him to stay: maybe, this man's gaze was somehow connected with his destiny.
"I… am looking for a way," he finally squeezed out of himself, words were not enough to express all his thoughts.
The man smirked, and his lips curved into a mysterious smile, full of incredible secrets. "A way?" he said, taking a step forward, and at that moment Kopii felt his body tense up 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, Kopii was caught by surprise—the man moved forward sharply, his hand with a dagger flashed in the air. Instinctively jumping back, Kopii felt danger looming over him, and the desires of the past—a life full of adventures and discoveries—were ready to overshadow the darkness that hung over his life. The man turned out to be not only fast, but also agile. He grabbed his hand, squeezing it so that the bones cracked, and the blows were lightning-fast and accurate. It was no longer possible to change his mind, and Kopii 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 darkness.