Omake: A Watchers Fate
Sometime During the Feastival.
Xhanar Daso didn't put much stock in fate. Things happened and there was nothing you could do about it. His capture into slavery, the scars on his back, even his eventual release. Sure the Dragon King had some nice words, it seemed he probably even believed what he said. But he was as much a force of nature as the wind and the waves itself as far as Xhanar was concerned. Sometimes there was a hurricane, and the next to be thrown into the storm could be anyone.
Half listening to the music in the background, a deep powerful tune, some great epic about the building of empires or some other nonsense no doubt. Xhanar conversed with the clerk, Syran was his name.
"Are you sure? No preferences at all? Did you have any training, skills, talents? There is plenty of labour work, but I'm here to help you Xhanar," the braavosi was patient but persistent. One of the many people sent by the King to ease the transition from away from slave labour. "If there is something that you'd rather be doing, just say so. You are still young, what about an apprenticeship? The need for skilled work has only been expanding."
Xhanar shook his head, "I thank you for your time and consideration Syran, but I just need work."
The music faded as it came to an end, applause heard soon after.
"Come now, these are new days! You could be anything, especially considering the world now. Do you atleast want to take the test at the scholarum? There's even a branch here in Tyroshi now."
"No, that won't be necessary, I have told you all I wish." His frown darken. The Scholarum? He would not be tied down, not again.
"Please Xhanar, give me something, I'm just try-"
"NO!" Xhanar flung his hand up, a burst of kinetic energy ripped across the desk, flinging papers, ink, and stationary everywhere. He stared at the chaos he had just created.
"Y-you can do magic? But why-"
Xhanar cut him off. "I'm sorry, I'll be going." He stood and quickly exited through the door.
"Xhanar. Xhanar! It's ok you just-"
Rounding the corner, he blocked the word of the clerk out of his mind. He strode down the alleyway, as someone in the mirror began to another song. Singing this time.
Good voice, sounded like another Summer islander. As he listened he slowed to a stop, was that familiar? Probably nothing... he would go have a look anyway. At least it was decent entertainment, The Dragon King knew how to provide that.
As he walked towards the plaza, hearing the music get louder, that voice get clearer. His breathing got marginally faster. It couldn't be, surely?
He entered the clearing, turning to look up at the great mirror.
The memories came flooding back. Helping to load the ship, chatting excitedly with the others onboard. Heading to bed that night. The sudden terrible crushing despair that had woken him up. Heading towards the deck to throw himself off the side. The relentless unyielding need to end it all, to escape this horrific feeling. The sudden snap in his head as he was climbing the railing. A new feeling had filled him, or rather a lack of one. He had felt a complete void. He had watched dispassionately as the rest of the those aboard had thrown themselves over into those dark waters.
He had been found a week later, boat drifting aimlessly, by pirates. Captured, he had been sold into slavery.
And now, there in the circle of battle. In the heart of the Dragon Kings empire. Was his aunt. The woman who had raised him. The woman that he had felt nothing for as he watched her fall into the ocean. It had only been months later that he had figured how to break out of that void, and by the it had been a comforting blanket. Allowing him to continue through pain and terror and despair that would have meant the death of almost any other slave.
Gathering what little coin he had left. He had bargained with the captain of a transport ship for passage to Sorcerer's Deep before the day had ended.
OOC: The second part in the small series concerning Xor. The beginning felt a bit fussy, it took me a few drafts to figure out how i wanted to convey Xhanars stance towards the imperium and magic. Considering magic, he is a level 2 Kineticist with the Void element. I had considered going into how he had experimented with his power at a younger age, but it felt unnecessary to the story.
Previous part here.
