Chapter 1: A Hard Life

Arin woke up to another cold morning in his small, modest house on the outskirts of a forgotten town, located on the borders of the Kingdom of Eldoria. The town was poor, neglected, and full of danger. The streets were narrow and dirty, often filled with garbage and dead animals. In some places, there were even human corpses that no one had removed. The people here were desperate, and death lurked around every corner. Arin had seen many people die from illness or hunger, and he knew that if something didn't change, the same fate awaited his family.

The roof of their house leaked occasionally, and it was unbearably cold in winter, but it was all his mother Elira could provide for him and his two younger sisters, Livia and Elenor. After the death of their father, whose circumstances were still a mystery, Elira was left alone with three children. She worked from dawn to dusk to support them. She often returned home with an exhausted expression and back pain, but she never complained. Elira was known for her kindness and tireless work, cooking for wealthy families in town to bring home at least some food. Many times, she returned home late at night, tired and worn out, but always with a smile on her face to keep her children from worrying.

Every morning, Arin prayed that one day he would awaken and gain abilities that would change their fate. Every evening, he imagined how he would lift them out of this poverty. Even the smallest awakening would mean a chance for a better life. His mother often told him that if he worked hard and had faith, he could achieve anything he wished. These words gave him the courage and strength to face everyday hardships.

He often watched his two sisters play with simple toys their mother made from pieces of wood and cloth. Livia, the younger of the sisters, was always cheerful and full of energy, while Elenor was cautious and often looked out for her younger sister's safety. Arin knew he had to do something to secure a better future for them.

The school Arin attended was divided into two parts: wealthy students who had access to special materials and individual lessons, and poor students like Arin, who received only basic education. Wealthy students had more than a 60% chance of awakening due to the special supportive materials and lessons they received. At home, their parents also provided them with other expensive materials that increased their chances to almost 100%.

Awakening in this world is a key moment when an individual gains their magical abilities. This process is very important as it determines a person's future. Those who awaken have the opportunity to become powerful warriors, mages, or other significant figures, while those who do not awaken remain ordinary people without special abilities.

Arin and the other poor students had only a 10% chance of awakening, which was unfair. In a class of 40 students, only 3-4 would awaken, and that was in a good year. Unlike the wealthy students who had everything needed for success, Arin had to rely only on his natural abilities and hard work. The teachers in the poor class tried their best, but they had limited resources and often outdated textbooks. Still, Arin never gave up. He always took textbooks home and studied late into the night, hoping his efforts would one day be rewarded.

One afternoon, when Arin arrived at school, he saw the wealthy students receiving new textbooks and magical aids, while he and his classmates got only a few old and damaged books. "Why is the world so unfair?" he often asked himself. But then he remembered his mother's words and decided not to give up.

One day, on his way to school, Arin encountered Marcus, Edmund, and Jackson Blackwood, the baron's son. The three had been bullying him since the first day. Marcus and Edmund were sons of merchants, but Jackson was in another league. His father had power and money, allowing Jackson to do whatever he wanted.

"Look who it is. Our favourite rat from the slums," Marcus said with a sneer.

"Yeah, looks like he didn't even wash his face," added Edmund with a laugh.

Arin tried to pass them, but Jackson grabbed his shoulder. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked with a sneer.

"If you don't make us happy, maybe we could help you find out what happened to your dad," added Edmund with an ironic laugh.

Arin resisted, but Jackson shoved him. "Look at him trying to fight back. Like an animal cornered."

"I bet he jumped into that well out of fear," Marcus laughed. "He's such a coward."

"Leave him there. Maybe he'll learn how to behave if we leave him there," added Jackson, and the others nodded in agreement.

Arin's heart pounded with fear as he fell. The fall lasted only a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity. When he hit the bottom, a sharp pain shot through his body. The bottom of the well was filled with mud and debris, which partly cushioned his fall, but it was still very painful. He tried to get up, but the pain in his leg was too much. He lay at the bottom of the well, injured and desperate. When he gathered his senses, he noticed something shiny among the leaves and dirt.

It was an old ring on a bony hand of a skeleton. Despite the pain, he put the ring on. He didn't want to lose it while climbing up, and he had no other place to put it. Immediately, he felt a sharp pain that knocked him out. It felt like someone was stabbing his hand with thousands of needles. The pain was so intense that he lost consciousness.

When Arin woke up, he found that his injuries were miraculously healed. The ring wouldn't come off, but he felt a new strength within him. He looked around and realized he had to climb out of the well.

The well's walls were old and rocky, with some stones protruding, providing better handholds. Every movement was a challenge, painful and frightening. He climbed slowly, every handhold was strenuous and painful. He thought he would never make it, that he would stay there forever. But something inside him urged him to keep going. After twenty minutes of strenuous climbing, with his muscles burning and sweat running down his face, he finally reached the top.

At home, his mother Elira greeted him with concern. "What happened to you? How are you okay?" she asked.

Arin decided to keep the ring a secret. "Nothing, Mom. I just tripped and fell. I'm fine now," he said with a smile. He didn't want to worry her unnecessarily and feared the ring might be taken away if anyone found out about it.

After talking with his mother, he ran to the shared room he had with his sisters. Finally, he had a moment of peace to look at the ring properly. The ring was beautiful and ancient, with a large crystal that was a combination of blue sapphire and red ruby. It shone with a mysterious power, and Arin knew this ring was something special.

But new plans were forming in his mind. He knew this ring could be the key to his dreams and a better life for his family. He began thinking about how he could use this new power and how he could change his family's fate once and for all.