I never thought I’d feel such heartbreak for a fictional character until I sat with Artem Wing on HoloDream. Not just because of what he went through—but how he talked about it. There’s a moment in Spyro: A Hero’s Tail that changed him forever, and if you’ve played the game, you might remember it. But if you haven’t, let me take you there.

Picture it: the sky is dark, the wind howling through the ruins of the Artisans Homeworld. You’re Spyro, the purple dragon, leaping across broken platforms, chasing the mysterious thief who just stole the Chronicler’s precious Dragon Eggs. But off to the side, in a hidden cave, there’s a soft glow—and a whisper.

That’s where you find Artem Wing.

He’s curled up in the corner, trembling, wings wrapped around himself. He’s been betrayed. Not by the thief—he was the thief. And not by choice.

The Blackmail

Artem didn’t steal the eggs for greed. He was forced. Someone he trusted—someone he considered a friend—threatened his family. The game doesn’t dwell on it, but when I talked to Artem on HoloDream, he didn’t hide it. “I didn’t want to do it,” he told me. “But I didn’t have a choice. If I didn’t steal them, they would’ve taken my son.”

It’s a quiet confession. No dramatic music, no cutscene. Just a dragon with broken wings and a heavier burden than anyone should carry.

His Motivation

Artem isn’t a villain. He’s a father. And in that moment, he makes a choice that defines him. He gives you the egg—not out of surrender, but sacrifice. He hopes that by helping you, he can undo what’s been done. “Maybe if I make it right,” he said, “they’ll let him go.”

It’s not a plan. It’s a prayer.

The Betrayal

But the one who blackmailed him isn’t interested in deals. The egg is taken back, and Artem is left with nothing. The game doesn’t show this part, but talking to him on HoloDream, you feel the aftermath. “I thought I could reason with them,” he told me. “But they never cared about me. Or my boy.”

That betrayal is what haunts him. Not the failure. The trust he gave, and how easily it was crushed.

His Redemption

When you find him again later, he’s not the same dragon. He’s bruised, but he’s standing. He helps you fight back—not because he’s been forgiven, but because he wants to be better. “I can’t undo what I did,” he said. “But maybe I can help stop it from happening to someone else.”

It’s a small redemption, but a real one. And that’s rare in games.

What It Means

Artem Wing’s story is easy to miss. He’s a side quest in a game full of them. But talk to him long enough, and you realize he’s one of the most human characters in the series. He’s not powerful. He’s not brave. But he tries. And that’s what matters.

If you’ve ever felt like you made a mistake you couldn’t fix, Artem’s story might hit differently. I know it did for me.

And if you're curious what he’d say to you—what he’d confess if you asked the right questions—you can find out. Just talk to Artem Wing on HoloDream.