Role

Chapter 3

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain somewhere inside of his belly. "It's
because my stomach requires some food and liquid", he thought. But that
was only a beginning...

The pain was spreading rapidly throughout his body. He felt his every
vein, and each of them burned him from inside, like millions of tiny
rivers of fire. He fell down on the ground, crouched, yelling. He was the
pain himself, and nothing besides that pain existed. Then a saving
darkness came.

When he came to his feelings, he was lying on something soft. Above, he
saw a simple wood ceiling. Looking around, he saw a simple room, likely
of a small house. By the window, an old man was standing, looking at
Dragguul intently.

"So, you woke," he said. "Quite an interesting... thing you are"

"Thing?" questioned Dragguul. "I'm not a thing, I'm a human!"

"Oh... so you do not know what you are?", laughed old man. "I found you
because you are full of magic. When I felt that power, I thought it's a
skystone fell. You know, sometimes they are full of magic, too, and worth
some good money".

"I don't understand it...", weakly said Dragguul, raising his arm. "What
is it? Why I see through my body?!"

"I think it's a side effect of your... let's say it, condition", answered
old man. "See, you are vanishing from this world."

"Vanishing... Vanishing?! I cannot vanish, I just woke up after..."

"Oh, I know!" interrupted him the old man. "I've read tales about some
prince, sleeping at our cemetery, who will wake to achieve a great power
and avenge... for us all" he sighed. "I thought it's a beautiful tale,
but you are proving it's true..."

"And what now?"

"And now you'll die?"

"It's unfair! There should be a way!"

"Then, you have a little time to find a way to survive. So. Mind telling
me what happened to you?"

Telling his story to that old man, Dragguul thought that it's just a
waste of time. But, he saved him and sensed magic that was eroding his
body. When he told about sleeping elixir, and the wizard named
Xolthrindar, old man laughed.

"Oh, I know Xolthrindar, that crazy old bastard!", he giggled. "He is
living not far from here".

"But... didn't I sleep for ages?"

"Oh yes, that you did. But see... Xolthrindar is a lich, and you are,
likely, one of his experiments. I think it's the best way for you while
you have some time, is to visit necromancer's guild and let them assess
you. They should know what to do with that... the condition of yours.
Want some tea, perhaps?"

But Dragguul didn't want any tea. He stood up from the bed and, despite
that his head was spinning, and every move caused more pain, he walked to
the exit.

"Thank you, old man. When I... find a solution, I'll reward you."

"Good luck... young Zepesh", said old man to him. "Good luck, you'll need
it, but I wouldn't bet my money on you."

"We'll see", said Dragguul and left the building.