At the Hamsa Kingdom, in the royal palace, if you look from a distance, the palace appears to be surrounded by small hills. But as you get closer, you realize that these are not hills, but bodies in the form of small mounds. It is sunset, and the sky is painted red, casting a crimson hue over the palace. Everywhere you look, the color red dominates.
At a distance from the palace, there is a hill made of people. In the center of the hill, one person suddenly opens his eyes. He sees pitch blackness around him. With great difficulty, he stretches out his hand, and through a narrow gap, he can see the red rays of light. Slowly, he pulls himself out.
Everywhere is bathed in red. He looks back and sees bodies without heads, some with pieces torn off, others completely destroyed—remnants of a massacre. Far from the palace, he can see people drinking and roasting meat, as if they were pigs or wild animals. He looks behind him, sees the chaos, and the only thought that runs through his mind is that he needs to save himself. One of the soldiers from the palace had stabbed him through the heart, but somehow, he survived.
Barely alive, he starts walking, not knowing where he's going—only driven by the instinct to survive. At some point, his strength gives out, and he collapses.
When he opens his eyes again, a voice speaks.
"Ah, you're alive. A lucky person indeed. I thought you would most certainly die. Are you a path initiator?"
"Yes," he replies weakly. "I just reached the entry level."
"And what is your name?" the voice asks.
"Aditya," he responds.
"I am Druva, an alchemy master. These people call me a doctor. I am well-versed in poisons."
"You need to pay three celestial coins for your treatment," Druva says.
"I don't have any celestial coins," Aditya answers.
"Then contact your family," Druva suggests.
"I am an orphan, living in the slums of the outer side of royal city. I don't have any family. If you want me to repay you, I can work for you. I know many things about the world," Aditya offers.
"Take care of all these plants," Druva orders. "For three years, you will be my errand boy."
"Okay, Master," Aditya agrees. "I will do it."
"Take rest. It will probably take three or more days for you to fully recover," Druva adds.
Aditya spends his time reading the books available in the room, learning all kinds of things about poisons and alchemy.