~Anary
"A personal possession must be sacrificed," the Graybeard said, and I touched the ring on my finger. He couldn't have expected us to give him our possessions. I could understand the sacrifices made for the gods, though the one he spoke about wasn't the one me and my family worshiped, but I needed a reason to sacrifice what I cared about. I wanted to protest, when he continued. "Do not be afraid, it need not be valuable, it is simply something you have lived your life by, yet it must be material. If you could all conjure something from your person, we can start the necessary preparation."
I knew that my relief wasn't visible on my face, but I was pleased nevertheless. The others would have thought me selfish, of course, but from what I knew - and from some of the looks I got - some of them weren't exactly friendly towards me anyway.
"Don't let them see you care", my father once said, and I took that advice, knowing that my magic would bring me victory if anyone decided to take it a step too far.
I watched as some of the men and women gathered put their possessions to the pile, and as some of the others declined to follow that example. Was there something we were going to get from it? Was there a difference as to what our future will look like, based on what we put there? I couldn't tell, for our host did nothing but patiently waited, but I already knew I was too curious to say no. I wanted adventure, didn't I? And now that I've finally left home and got a chance to prove myself to be just as valuable as my brother, I couldn't just walk away. Besides, I've never seen so many races at one place before, at least not sitting calmly. It was the kind of curiosity that would usually end up badly for me, but I wondered too much to turn my back to it. I knew I've decided at the moment I chose not to object right away - the rest was just pointless talking myself into it.
I took a vial out of one of my numerous pockets, stopping the smile before it fully formed on my lips. It was the first potion I ever made, and my mother once told me that it will bring me luck. I left it next to the other things - it seemed so small, rather old and rather ordinary. It wasn't one of the strong poisons or potions that could hurt a person, like the ones I could do now - but it was something I carried by my side all the time, and I saw it suitable enough.
Glancing at everyone around - and avoiding the eyes of everyone who looked my way - I ended up staring at the Graybeard's robe, with thoughts of family on my mind.
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