Change and Death come for us all. When it does, will you disappear in ignorance? Or will you learn and fight, and Ascend to a higher Reality? All that Anos wanted to do was live a comfortable life as a merchant, helping to provide for his family and maybe even uplift them to a higher caste. He had everything prepared, he was succeeding magnificently in his mentorship, and no problems had appeared for him in the idyllic and wealthy town he called home. There was nothing he wanted to change. But life doesn't let us have what we want, just what we need Wenceslas is a slave. Taken from his clan and mountain home, he was stripped of everything he had, including his magic. He suffered for years under the brutal control of his masters, not a single shred of sympathy given to him by those who looked at his plight. But one thing they could never steal from him was his pride and resilience. When an opportunity presents itself, he escapes from his masters. Taking with him the magical artifact he was assigned to protect. When these two inevitably run into each other, it sets off a journey of personal growth that will change everything their world thought they knew. What to expect: - Partial Gamelit: There won't be any levels or classes, but there will be special abilities and skills - Cultivation-esque World: This won't be a typical Xianxia novel, it initially takes place in a Greco-Persian style culture and uses several paths involving separate magic systems - Some romance: It's not a main part of the story, but there eventually will be relationships between the MCs and others - Good Storytelling: I'm a long-time avid reader, and I've taken the time to build various tips and tricks to help in my writing - Adorable Spirit Familiars: Just for the fun of it, I'll add in some wacky and cute spirit animals that travel with the group Temporary Cover created by AI Participant in the 2024 November Writathon