The Arch-Mage

Chapter 1

A drunk man took his sword from its scabbard and swung it menacingly at the young waiter. The man had one too many beers and refused to pay. When the waiter asked him for the tenth time, he pulled a blade on him. This wasn't the first time that the young inn worker met a difficult client but it was the first incidence where a client pulled a blade on one of the workers.

-Come ere you shit, lemme teach you some respect! Exclaimed the man
-I would rather not, sir. Quickly answered the inn worker, trying to avoid this mess.
-What, you scared?

The inn worker quickly estimated his chances of survival if he decided to take on the soldier. Even if he was drunk, he was also armed and trained to kill. A few seconds after he started his reflection, the soldier angrily swung the blade at his head. Avoiding it out of pure luck, he turned his attention back to the threat in front of him.

-Why don't you calm down and sober up? After that, we could talk about this like gentlemen. How about it?
-I don't wanna get sober, I wanna drink more...
-As I said earlier, if you want to drink, you're gonna need to pay.
-I don't wanna pay for shitty drinks.

The soldier lifted his sword above his head as he slowly started approaching the poor man. The inn worker was a skilled hunter but he had no idea how to handle this situation. All he could do was back up and hope for the best since no-one would help him because nearly everyone in this town disliked him. Except for his adoptive father and an old guard he befriended, no-one liked him. Even worse for him, the noble family living in this far off village despised him for his sharp tongue and wit. It's why he had to start hunting, no merchant would sell him meat. Getting back to the situation on hand, the waiter jumped aside when the soldier slashed at him. The man might have dodged but his assailant still managed to damage his uniform. The waiter, now laying on the floor, had nowhere to go when the soldier started his next attack. The man closed his eyes and hoped for a quick death. Seconds passed, nothing happened. He finally dared to open his eyes. The soldier who was attacking him had stopped since another man in uniform put his sword to his neck.

-Are you ok, young man? Asked the man in uniform.
-Yes Sir!
-Good, then get up!

The waiter complied with his orders. Not even a second later, he was next to the man who saved his hide.

-Sorry about my subordinate here, he's angry ever since he lost his wife.
-It's alright, everyone's alright and that's all that matters. Quickly answered the waiter while forcing a smile.
-You say that but no-one tried to help you even when they could, mind telling me why?
-You could say that I'm the black sheep of this village.
-You will need to go into more detail if you want me to understand.
-Well let me start by the beginning. I'm an orphan, I was found next to the gates crying. A farmer found me and took me in but, on that day, half of the guards were killed by bandits, a noble died and a couple of houses caught fire just like that. Ever since I have been considered a bad-luck charm. Add that to the fact that I have a sharp tongue and have insulted the noble family ruling this city on more than one occasion, the family which is loved by nearly everyone who lives here.
-Well, you aren't really helping your case.
-There's no need to tell me that.
-I know... well then mr. Waiter, have a good and fruitful night.
-You too sir.

The two soldiers walked out of the tavern. It took a few seconds for the waiter to realize that they hadn't payed. He rushed outside and looked both ways frantically but to no avail since they were nowhere to be seen. He headed back inside dejected. He worked the rest of the night before locking up shop. After that, he grabbed his coat which was made of a resilient and waterproof leather exterior with a warm furry interior. This jacket also had a hood that, if pulled up, would completely hide his face followed by a bow and a quiver full of arrows. It was barely morning when he left the inn. He walked through empty streets until he reached the gate. A guard unwillingly opened the gate to let him out of the town so he could go home. He stumbled down a beaten path until he reached his home which consisted of a small shack with no windows, a barn and a farm. When he finally got indoors, he threw his jacket on a chair followed by his bow. He then laid down on a big piece of hay and slept for a couple of hours.