Jay closed his eyes and breathed in the cold air.
His hands dropped to the side and the living vines began creeping up his arms, pulling him deeper.
His energy dropped to zero and his whole body felt heavy, as if he was in thick chains; relaxing now was too tempting to resist, if even for a moment.
Yet as he sat there, without backup or help, his thoughts drifted to the darker places.
“There is no one to help me. No one who understands me.”
“I’m so tired… Who would know if I disappear, who would care?” Jay asked himself, but he already knew the answer.
“Dad left; I raised myself. Everyone else had a head start, but they still turned and pushed me down as if I was one of them. The guild used me. Anya escaped Losla without me. They left me to die in the wilderness or by the hands of the mage hunters.”
“… now the only ones looking for me are my enemies. Fools.”
After a moment, his breathing slowed down; his sweat felt cold.