CARGEO FLAMAS

Cargeo Flamas sat in the corner of Asri Inn's Tavern. His hood-covered face glazed, far out of the window where caravansary visitors were gathering in the large front yard and surrounding a campfire.

Instead, to socialize himself into the crowd, he only takes his drinks alone. His drink were just a pure water, not ale, even the cheapest one.

But he chosed to be alone. No words, no friends. Just need to be alone.

It did not take any genius to guess his current feelings. Even Helck understood that he is bleeding. The invisible wound which not everyone was able to see the blood.

All his feelings are messed up. He used to be a very successful professional in his line of work. But now he was penniless.

He was fired, twice in a month, by his employers. Now his feelings are no different with an old dog being kicked up into the middle of the rain and slowly drown in the flood.

Sigh!

He sighed heavily.

Now, He was no longer a deadly assassin nor alchemist. Every time he closed his eyes, many illusions come, mostly about his victims dying and cursed him.

He still remembered that he was a soft and kind hearted child.

But the world didn't spare an empty spaces for those kind of people. He lost both of his parents in the age of five years old, just a few years before the real mage war two broke out in Vajya.

Grmbl...

His stomach complain.

But he was peniless. All that he had was only his pure water, a set of ranger cloth, a robe and a blanket. He was purely bankrupt and penniless.

His views weighed. He was sleepy, but starving until his stomach felt hurt.

"Now, even you, my very own stomach were betrayed me, huh ?"

He grumbled himself.

"Well, looks like the world are joined in a conspiracy against me. Not even Earl Franc Zonk or Earl Fritz Hayes himself who betray my absolute loyalty.."

"What have I done to my life until now?"

"Just a living puppet for some powerful nobles?"

He grumbled himself.

"Maybe these are my karma. I have kill too many people back then. But how much choice do I have?" He grumbled himself, before slowly fall a sleep. "In this vast world, actually I do not have many choice.. sigh!"

Tap.. tap.. tap

"Yow!"

Cargeo opened his half-closed eyes. "What is it Helck? Are trying to pull my debt?"

"That's too excessive, Cargeo. I am not such a black-hearted person to oppressive such poor, miserable and penniless person like you now." Helck laughed.

Cargeo snort annoyedly.

"Here, take this!" Helck laughed and give him a glass of drink. "It is free and good to drinks. It's a good friend to accompany for someone in deep trouble like you, Cargeo."

Helck then put that glass in front of Cargeo's table.

"Hehehe.... Helck you bastard ! Thank you!"

" Now I take my leave. Take care yourself Cargeo. Everyone has their own problem but the most important thing is to survive!"

Cargeo snort annoyedly. "Don't lecture me, you muscle head!"

Sigh!

Cargeo sighed heavily.

"Now, even Helck is pitying me.. sigh !"

Grmbll... !

His stomach raise another objection. Soon it would raise a revolt that will put Cargeo into biggest trouble.

"Shut up, you fool stomach !" Cargeo decide to sleep again. Sleep while sat on the chair is not too bad, he tought.

When he was just lose his awareness, another strong aroma of cuisine assault his nostril.

"Hey, you. Let's eat together!" Someone come to his desk.

Cargeo opened his eyes. "Who are you?" He asked.

"It's Jack. I'm just a wanderer merchant visiting this caravansary. I sell goods and foods. Now, this is my sample product. Would you like to try ? Do not worry, It's free, you don't have to pay."

"I am Cargeo. And? In exchange.. What do you want from me, Jack?"

"Come on, Sir Cargeo. Let's eat first. I am also hungry. Hahaa..."

That person looks like an easy-going person, weak magical power, and talk too much, just like any ordinary merchant found anywhere, Cargeo talk to himself. But why do he wear a robe and cloak like a mage ?

Jack put a seat in front of him. Judge from Cargeo faces, Jack seems to understand Cargeo's confuse.

"It's instant noodles, some of local food at my hometown."

Cargeo nodded and start to gobble that food.

Deep in his heart, he was too happy. So happy that the tear start to flow in his cheeks.

"Is my food too spicy for you ?"

"Nonono... well yeah a little bit spicy for my tongue. But that's okay, I like it" Cargeo hurriedly answer him.

Five minutes lates all the instant noodles are finished without any trace left.

Cargeo feels his stomach has stopped its demonstration, Its no longer provoke some starving screaming. Moreover, its feels full.

Now, Cargeo feels so thirsty. His hand reach a glass given by Helck before.

And he drunk all in one gulp.

Glek !

Bruak !

Cargeo meet the same fate as Helck. He fallen to the ground because of drunk and then faint or feel a sleep.

Jack's dumbfounded look at this scenery.

"I haven't had a chance to questioning him, and now he was fainted, how unlucky me!"

Jack grumbled irritably. He tried to shift Cargeo's body, but failed.

Jack tried a second time, this time with all his breath. Until his breath is panting. But seem his effort was in vain. It still failed, even in the fourth attempt.

" Dear Bastard, you are really troublesome person, even for someone tries to help you. You should realize your bad habit soon or there will be no one else will willing to help you!"

Until somehow Jack realize that this person hide a metallic armor behind his cloak.

" No wonder you're so heavy, skiver!" Jack cursed inwardly.

" Oy, Helck! Come here, help me,"

"What is it?" Helck run hurriedly toward him. " What happened to him? Is he drunk?"

" Yes."

" Is he drink yours too?"

" Sure! It was from your glass.."

" Wahahaha !" Helck clenched his first. " At least I know someone worse than me in drinking! "

Jack looked at him with disdainful eyes.

"You know, Jack. I'm unbeatable in any drinking contest in this caravansary. My defeat of you did not count, due the difference drink specification!" He smiled wickedly.

Jack put an disparage face to him. "Whatever, come here, help me to bring him to the bed!"

Helck helped Jack, still with overbearing laugh.

"One, two, three... come'on Helck !"