The swampy mire clung to my finely crafted robes, once a testament to my wealth and standing in my hometown. My disdainful gaze swept across the ramshackle shacks and cabins, a stark contrast to the opulence of my family. Maybe the search for bringing riches to my family's name wasn't such good idea. This forsaken town was a far cry from the grandeur of the Lorenov's palace.
Despite the filth that clung to my clothing, I took deliberate steps through the fetid swamp, my expensive boots sinking into the mud. My fingers traced the edges of the intricate religious symbols adorning my pendant, a reminder of the faith that had guided my family for centuries.
A tattered tent loomed ahead, barely standing amidst the desolation. Stepping inside, the flickering glow of suspended candles barely pierced the gloom. The damp fabric of the tent clung to my garments as I ducked inside, and my eyes met those of an old hag who seemed to have been waiting for my arrival.
"What brings you to this dingy town?" she cackled, her voice a cacophony of croaks and whispers. Her gaze bore into me as if she could unravel the depths of my soul. "Ah, it's you. I've been expecting you. Sit."
A gesture towards a cushion prompted me to lower myself onto the makeshift seat, my richly embroidered robes protesting against the indignity. The hag's eyes gleamed with an unsettling knowingness, and the air hung heavy with an otherworldly aura.
"Tell me your story," she rasped, her words dripping with an eerie wisdom that sent shivers down my spine. I leaned back, my disdain masked behind a mask of stoicism. "My tale is one of a rivarly between brothers" I began, my voice resonating with the authority that once commanded deals and trade routes. "My wretched brother and I are always fighting who is will enherit the family's treasure. This time the desire to bring riches and glory to my family and the will of the gods brought me to these lands... and now I am condemned to tread through these wretched swamps."
The hag's laughter echoed through the tent, a maddening sound that seemed to pierce the very fabric of reality. "Fate has a peculiar way of weaving its threads, Sighard Lorenov," she crooned, her gaze unwavering. "You are not here by chance. The swamp harbors secrets, and your presence is a part of a larger tapestry."
I dismissed her cryptic words with a disdainful sneer, but curiosity lingered in the depths of my eyes. Despite my loathing for this wretched town and its inhabitants, a spark of intrigue ignited within me. Perhaps there was more to these lands than met the eye, and in my search, I would unravel its mysteries, using the teachings of my faith and my family's rightful future place in the nobility to guide me.
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