A month had flown by since fate had unexpectedly cast him into the mysterious and unusual Oraria.
All this time, he'd practically lived in the library, until he'd read every single book that languished on its shelves.
Of course, the structure of Oraria and the families of the gods were important, but the library held only a meagre amount of such information — so he mostly came there just to unwind. From all the books, he managed to remember the most crucial details: for example, the primacy belonged to the ambitious Loki and Freya families, a realm that seemed forever out of reach for a mere mortal like him. But, in truth, that was about all he'd learned.
Kopii knew the time had come to act: to leave the quiet, comfortable walls of the orphanage and seek out Falna. He'd planned his approach very carefully.
The gods were everywhere, so it wouldn't be hard to find them; he just needed to persuade one to accept him into their family.
He was determined to prove his worth and earn a rightful place under the banner of one of those houses, no matter how difficult it seemed.
But, alas, all his attempts proved futile and unsuccessful. Every god he approached with a plea to join their family responded with a refusal that pierced his heart.
«Am I really that pathetic?» he asked himself yet again. Each rejection utterly shattered his hope of joining a family. They wouldn't even give him a chance.
Still, he didn't give up, striving more and more to earn at least some blessing.
After several days of wandering the city, he stumbled upon the modest «Blue Apothecary». He'd passed it countless times before, but had never dared to step inside.
He'd heard about the family that ran the «Blue Apothecary», but by then Kopii didn't care about any of that — he had no other options left, and he decided to try his luck there. Crossing the threshold, he found himself among shelves lined with colourful potions, as if in a fairy tale. Behind the counter stood a girl with long chestnut hair, piercing violet eyes, dog‑like ears, and a fluffy tail playfully swaying beneath her skirt. Her outfit was quite unusual and stood out from the rest: an asymmetrical shirt with a short left sleeve and a long right sleeve that covered her entire arm, complemented by a stylish glove.
— Hi, I'd like to ask if I can join your family.
He decided not to hesitate and got straight to the point.
— … — The girl remained silent, giving him a measured, penetrating look, as if trying to peer into his soul.
— …
— …
«Why isn't she saying anything? Maybe I came off as too blunt or too arrogant?»
Kopii's hope began to crumble under the weight of her silence — when suddenly, she spoke.
— Go up to the second floor and knock on the first door you see, — she said, pointing to the staircase.
— Thank you.
— …
— …
With one last glance at her, he climbed the stairs, feeling her watchful gaze linger on him, as if she couldn't tear her eyes away. Once on the second floor, he knocked on the door of the room where he assumed the god Miah resided. Upon entering, he saw a man with long dark‑blue hair and equally dark‑blue eyes full of deep thoughts. He wore a black robe, a brown stole draped over his shoulders, and simple brown shoes that seemed to carry a faint scent of adventure. Kopii had heard that Miah was a kind, responsive, and friendly god. He bowed and greeted him respectfully.
— Hello, Lord Miah. I'd like to join your family, — he got straight to the point.
Miah's family had once been of middling rank, but everything had changed dramatically after Naaza suffered severe injuries in an unpredictable accident in the Dungeon. Almost all members left the family after Miah incurred a huge debt to the Dian family for Naaza's prosthetic arm. Kopii had learned this grim piece of information beforehand from the old‑timers living in the area — they were the best informants. Because of this, he'd initially ignored this family.
He guessed the girl downstairs was Naaza — after all, he hadn't seen anyone else in the apothecary.
Miah gave Kopii a searching look. In his dark‑blue eyes, there was both surprise and a hint of joy. He quickly closed the distance between them, placed his hands on Kopii's shoulders, and spoke with genuine delight.
— Very good, young man! This is wonderful. It's been so long since anyone came to me with such a request!
— I…
— Ah, yes, come in! — He cut Kopii off, stepping aside to let him into the room. — First, tell me all about yourself, alright?
— Alright.
Slightly nervous, Kopii introduced himself and briefly described his desire to become an adventurer and his unsuccessful attempts to join other families. He emphasized his readiness to work hard and learn, hoping this could make up for his modest, not particularly outstanding abilities.
Miah listened attentively, without interrupting even once. When Kopii finished, he sighed, as if mulling something over.
— Very well, I understand. You're accepted!
— !?
Kopii hadn't expected such a swift agreement, but a joyful smile had already spread across his face.
Then Miah spoke, and all his playfulness vanished.
— Do you know what situation we're in?
— Yes.
— Knowing that, do you still want to join?
— …Yes.
Kopii felt the tension that hung in the air after his answer, but he could no longer waver. If an opportunity to join a family had presented itself, he would do everything he could to seize it.
Miah fell silent, as if pondering something very important. Then, looking Kopii straight in the eye, he spoke.
— I'm very glad you chose me. But I'll ask one last time: are you truly ready?
He said it with a smile, and after those words, the tension in the room dissolved, replaced by a joyful atmosphere.
— Yes, Lord Miah! — Kopii exclaimed, and Miah's face lit up with sincere joy.
— I'm glad to hear it. Let me introduce you to my small but close‑knit family. Well, you already know that my family has only one other member — Naaza. You've already seen her when you came in. Ah, I almost forgot! It's time to grant you my blessing — it's very important. Take off your outer clothes and sit on the chair.
Without hesitation, Kopii removed his worn jacket and T‑shirt, which looked thoroughly shabby, and sat on the chair with his back to Miah, a storm of emotions raging inside him.
Finally, he'd done it. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of his chest.
Miah pricked himself with a needle and began tracing something on Kopii's skin, and Kopii couldn't help but feel the weight of this moment — a moment that would undoubtedly change his life forever.
— It's done. Your stats are quite decent for a beginner… But I've never seen a skill like this before.
Miah's face reflected his thoughts on the matter, but it quickly returned to its usual expression.
Miah took a sheet of paper, carefully pressed it against Kopii's back, then handed it to him as if it were something extraordinary. For the first time, Kopii saw what he was capable of, and his face lit up with surprise. He didn't know whether these numbers were high or low, but Miah had said they were good for a beginner, and that gave him hope.
Strength: I 78
Endurance: I 93
Agility: I 96
Dexterity: I 98
Magic Power: I 0
«Magic»
[ ]
«Skills»
[Copying] «You can be anyone you want — but not yourself»
— Lord Miah, does this mean I can become an adventurer now? — Kopii asked. Miah's face suddenly turned serious, as if he were thinking about something important.
— Of course you can. What kind of silly question is that? — With these words, Miah placed a hand on Kopii's shoulder in a gesture of support and added: — Never underestimate the dungeons.
As he said this, Kopii noticed Miah's eyes fill with emotions he couldn't quite understand.
— Okay, Lord Miah. I'll be careful, even on the first floor. I'll never let my guard down, — Kopii assured him, and at that moment, Miah seemed to shed a burden of worries and became his usual self again.
Miah smiled, hearing the determination in Kopii's voice.
— That's good, Kopii. I like your determination. If you have any questions, you can always come to me or to Naaza. Don't be shy.
— I will, Lord Miah!
They talked a little more, and then they went downstairs so that Miah could introduce him to Naaza.
The girl raised her weary eyes to them, and from the happy expressions on both their faces, she guessed what had happened.
— Naaza, Kopii is now a member of our family, — Miah announced. — Help him get settled in and tell him about his duties so he can feel comfortable. And don't be too hard on him.
Kopii looked into Naaza's seemingly emotionless eyes, but he noticed her tail gave her away, betraying just how glad she really was.
Naaza nodded and introduced herself to Kopii with a kind smile. She explained that most of the time he'd be helping out in the apothecary — cleaning, arranging goods, and assisting her. He'd also take part in gathering ingredients for potions in the outskirts of Oraria, which sounded like a real adventure. Naaza stressed that the work wouldn't always be easy, but she'd do her best to help him with everything she could.
Kopii threw himself into the work with great enthusiasm. He learned quickly, trying to memorize the names of all the potions and herbs he'd be using, and with each new name, his confidence grew. Naaza was a patient mentor, explaining the subtleties of the apothecary trade in detail.
Sure, it wasn't exactly what he'd wanted, but he was patient — he could wait a little longer before becoming a full‑fledged adventurer.
Kopii felt his efforts hadn't been in vain. His journey to Oraria, the beatings he'd endured — all his struggles had led to this. He was grateful to Miah and Naaza for giving him a chance, and he was determined to live up to their expectations. He understood that the path of an adventurer would be difficult and full of trials, but with the support of the Miah family, he believed he could succeed.
An hour later, after a session rich with new knowledge, he stepped outside, where the sun stood high in the sky and the world around him sparkled with vivid colours. He decided to thank Maria for taking him in and giving him the chance to start a new life. Without wasting any time, he headed to Dedalius Street, to the orphanage. A few hours later, he reached the place and walked inside, a little shy about meeting Maria but determined to express his gratitude.
— Mistress Maria, wait! I want to thank you for taking me in, even though I only stayed a short while. I'll always remember your kindness and help. Thank you for everything! — Kopii said with genuine feeling in his voice, the gratitude swelling inside him.
Maria smiled and looked him in the eye.
— There's no need to thank me. It's my duty to help children.
— I'm not a child anymore! I'm an adventurer from this day forward!
— Haha, that's true.
But in her eyes lingered a trace of fear and worry. They'd only known each other a month, but she'd already grown attached to him, and knowing how dangerous an adventurer's life could be, she couldn't help feeling anxious. Yet seeing the joy on Kopii's face, she pushed her worries aside and genuinely rejoiced for him.
— Thank you for everything, — Kopii whispered, hugging her.
Breaking the embrace, he took one last look at her face — the face that had helped him in his darkest hour.
Before he could walk too far, he turned around and waved goodbye.
— Farewell!
— Goodbye, Kopii.
She saw how his eyes were already turning red; she was sure that if the farewell had gone on any longer, he'd have burst into tears like a little child.
— Take care of yourself…
But those words drifted into the air, unheard by him.