DRAGONBORN SORCERER

(Roughly Two Years Ago)

The alarm clock started ticking. The sunlight fell on the bed through the glass window. Only a hand emerged from the blanket, moving to smash the clock but stopped just before. Gently pressing the button, the person woke up.

His black hair was all messed up. His beard was unshaved. His skin was pale. Dark circles around his eyes distorted his face. He looked all gloomy as he stared through the window.

He could hear the whams next door as usual. Ignoring the sound he looked at the table next to his bed.

Several half smoked cigarettes were scattered randomly around the ashtray followed by several empty bottles of beer. An unwashed plate was also on the table.

He ignored all of it and reached for the cigarette pack.

"Life sucks!" murmuring to himself, he lighted up a cigarette. The smoke spread around his bed room; making it more gloomy. He just stared with lifeless eyes at his cigarette— burning up each time he inhaled.

Xan Slynger, a forty-one years adult, was quite the handsome man. During his life time, he faced countless numbers of betrayals. Sometimes came to an dead end where one might even had given up on life. Yet he always persevered through it and moved on.

Right after he was born, his mother threw him away in dustbin after getting discharged from the hospital. To her eyes, he was something like an unwanted child who ruined her entire carrier.

The child crying inside the garbage was soon rescued by a person who handed him over to the adoption centre. However, the adoption centre was not what it should have been.

Rather than getting adopted at age eleven, he was sold to a couple. They trained him to sell drugs and stuffs. However, Xan never wanted to engage in those stuff, so he ran away and took care of himself.

Worked his butt off to earn his own expenses. Got proper education. Though his misery never ended there.

When he was in high school, the girl whom he dated, cheated on him with his friend. He simply forgave them with a cheerful smile; such a kind person he was.

When attending to university, he dated the most beautiful girl in the entire university. She always stood beside him, no matter how many friends left him or how bad the situation got.

After getting job at age twenty-six, he proposed the girl whom he dated for almost four years. It was the happiest moment of his life.

Or so he thought back then. His dreams were shattered when he found out she was already pregnant. But Xan wasn't the father. Utter despair fell upon him. His heart was completely broken. Yet he just smiled and moved on.

For the next few years he kept himself busy in his job—day and night, overtime, off-time and so on. He just kept working and working for the sake of the company he worked in.

His fate betrayed him again. The colleagues whom he trusted, stole all of his credit and got promotion. Xan remained at same spot. Instead of getting mad at them, he congratulated them with a radiating smile. He quit afterwards though.

As talented he was, he soon got another job; another new starting. He devoted himself again. His charisma attracted one of his female colleague. She devoted herself to support him.

No, she didn't deceived him. In fact, they were married and lived happily. Or at least for a year or so.

Xan's wife sold her body to the boss they both worked for. At the time Xan couldn't understand why she changed her mind. Latter on, after quitting the job, he heard that his ex married their boss.

Pretty shameless— what Xan remarked and moved on again.

No matter whichever turn Xan made in his life, he reached the same dead end over and over again. He was betrayed over and over again. Yet didn't thought for revenge for a single time.

He just bottled up his entire emotions and moved on with a cheerful smile. Even back when he was fired from the previous job, last week.

"Man! At least my unlucky fate never betrays me." Looking at the mirror he mumbled as he thought of his past memories, "What shall I do now? Maybe go for an walk, taking some fresh air, and rest up a bit."

He sobered up from last night's hangovers. Splashing the water on his face, he wiped it with the towel, changed his cloths and stepped out of his apartment.

"Yo, m'boy Xan." As soon as he locked the door, the neighbour spoke, "What's up today? Are ya leavin' for work already?"

Hemsworth, his neighbour, was nearly the same age, yet was still lively as he'd been in his twenties. He had long curly hair and slightly brown skin. His black eyes was enthusiastic as ever.

He loved to play rock songs with full volume all the time. Xan never complained about it, not even once. Well, he was only the person who always checked up on him whenever they met. Xan was little happy to exchange greetings and stuffs with him.

"Ah! Hemmy. I'm fine. I was just going for a walk that's all." He effervesced cheerfully, "What 'bout you? Having early morning party as ever, eh Hemmy."

The music was still coming from his apartment. Xan himself sometimes took part in their enjoyment. So he knew what he was up to.

"Nah man! Not today. M'boyes are busy workin' their butts off. They ain't got any time to spare. I'm just gonna blow m'mind solo. Why not ya join me for today, eh?"

"Forgive me, Hemmy. Not right now." He chuckled as he put his hands together in a sorry manner, "But I promise, I'm gonna join you tonight."

"Sure man! That ain't a prob." he gently patted on Xan's shoulder, "And if ya got any prob, just let yar boy Hemmy know. Woodja?"

"Sure, why not."

****************

Walking down the streets, Xan was busy thinking about what to do next. He had already changed so many jobs for the past fifteen years. Not even once, he settled properly. Sometimes he thought of quitting and enjoy life just like Hemsworth did.

But he got no funds to back him like Hemsworth had. He might not look it, but Hemsworth was pretty rich; despite how he lived. Xan could always ask him favour financially. But he didn't.

He was self-dependent. As he faced countless betrayals, he forgot how to rely on others. Though Hemsworth won't betray him.

"No, even so. I can't ask him for anything. It's good that he always checks up on me. But I don't want to be a burden to him."

He thought while feeling the gentle wind touching his face as he stood for the signal to go green.

It was the moment when a school bus lost break. The driver was trying so hard to control the speed. The children were screaming as the bus was going left and right. It was getting harder for the driver to focus.

Xan was too preoccupied by himself to notice the commotion. When he realised, it was already late.

The bus was about to hit him. As if the time had stopped. He could see the bus approaching for him as he turned towards it.

"Is this my end? Is this how I'm gonna die? Is this how my existence will be perished." He thought, "No. I refuse. I won't give up that easily."

His sub-conscious mind was determined. He wasn't a type of guy who'd easily give up despite how worst the circumstances were.

He jumped with all his might. Just in a second the bus hit the nearby building. Xan, however rolled over the road; was safe with some minor injuries. He stood up.

He was relieved to find himself unharmed. An excitement was running through his body as he screamed, "Yeeesssss!"

A car hit him from behind.

He got careless that he forgot the other car might be running on the road. Just when he thought he was saved, yet again, his fate betrayed him— more like his bad luck didn't betray him.

His body, covered in his blood, rolled again on the road. The light in his blue eyes slowly faded away. he lost consciousness. His lips tried to say something but the word remained to himself as there was no sound.

"Am I done for?" He tried to mumbled.