The world of magic is a wondrous and mysterious place, full of secrets and wonders beyond imagination. From the towering mountains to the vast forests and the shimmering seas, the world of magic is a tapestry of beauty and danger. And in this world, there lived a young loner named Zephyr.

Zephyr was just fourteen years old, and he had been living on his own for years. He was an orphan, left to fend for himself in a world of magic and mystery. But despite his youth and his solitude, Zephyr was a survivor. He had learned to adapt to the dangers of the world, and he had become a skilled scavenger, able to find valuable treasures in the most unlikely of places.

It was in the aftermath of a skirmish between two countries that Zephyr had found himself scavenging for valuable items. The battle had been fierce, and many had lost their lives. But for Zephyr, it was an opportunity to find treasure amidst the carnage. He searched through the corpses, looking for anything of value that he could sell or use.

As he moved from one corpse to the next, he noticed something strange. There was a stillness in the air, a sense of foreboding that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. It was as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

Zephyr knew he should leave the battlefield, but he couldn't resist the temptation to continue scavenging. He had collected a lot of valuable items, more than he ever had before. He felt a sense of pride and accomplishment that quickly turned to fear when he noticed a group of adult scavengers watching him from afar.

Their eyes were fixed on the items in Zephyr's hands, and their greedy expressions made his heart race. He knew they wanted what he had, and he was not going to give it up without a fight.

Zephyr quickly put his things in his bag and tried to make a run for it. But the scavengers were fast, and soon they were upon him, grabbing his bag and throwing him to the ground.

The world around Zephyr turned upside down as he was kicked and punched by the adult scavengers. They did not care that he was just a child, they only wanted his belongings. The pain was excruciating, and Zephyr's vision blurred as tears streamed down his face.

He screamed for help, but there was no one to hear him. The battle was long over, and the only sound was the wind rustling through the trees and the cawing of the ravens overhead.

Zephyr's body felt broken, and he knew he was going to die. But even in the midst of his agony, he refused to let go of his bag. It was his only possession, the only thing he had left in the world. He clutched it tightly as the scavengers continued their assault.

Eventually, they tired of beating him and took his bag, leaving him lying on the ground amidst the corpses. Zephyr was beaten, bruised, and broken, but he was still alive. He lay there for hours, crying and trying to catch his breath.

As the sun began to set, Zephyr slowly got to his feet, determined to keep moving. He knew he couldn't stay in one place for long, not if he wanted to survive. So he limped deeper into the battlefield, leaving the memories of his assault behind.

Zephyr was determined to keep going, to find a way to survive in this cruel and unforgiving world.

After a whole night of scavenging Zephyr walked towards the city, clutching his bag of stolen treasures. He knew he had to sell them quickly, before anyone else could take them from him. He made his way through the winding streets, careful to avoid the watchful eyes of the guards.

Eventually, he arrived at the doorstep of the man he usually sold his goods to, a shadowy figure known only as "The Dealer". The Dealer was a notorious figure in the city, feared and respected by all who knew him.

Zephyr knocked on the door, his heart racing as he waited for a response. After a few moments, the door creaked open, and The Dealer appeared before him.

"Ah, Zephyr," he said, his voice low and smooth. "What have you got for me today?"

Zephyr hesitated for a moment before opening his bag and revealing the items he had scavenged from the battlefield.

"This is all you have?" he asked, his voice cold.

Zephyr shifted uncomfortably. He knew that he hadn't brought as much as he usually did.

"I'm sorry," he muttered.

The Dealer shook his head, disappointment evident on his face.

"You know I can't pay you much for this," he said, his tone clipped. "This isn't even worth the trouble of selling."

Zephyr felt a lump form in his throat as he realized that he might have to go another day on an empty stomach.

"I understand," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The Dealer handed him a small amount of money and closed the door, leaving Zephyr alone in the street. Zephyr felt a sense of despair wash over him as he counted the coins in his hand. It wasn't enough to buy food or shelter.

Zephyr's stomach grumbled with hunger as he walked through the city streets. He scanned the crowded market stalls, looking for an opportunity to steal some bread or fruit.

After a few minutes, he spotted a stall selling apples. The vendor was busy with a customer, leaving the crate of apples unattended. Zephyr saw his chance and crept up to the stall. He quickly grabbed an apple and stuffed it into his pocket before darting away.

As he wandered through the city, looking for more opportunities to steal food, he noticed a group of tough-looking men watching him. They looked like trouble, and Zephyr knew that he needed to stay clear of them.

But as he tried to slip away unnoticed, one of the men grabbed him by the arm.

"What do you have in your pocket, boy?" the man growled.

Zephyr tried to pull away, but the man's grip was strong. He knew that he was caught, and that he was in deep trouble.

"I...I didn't mean to steal it," Zephyr stammered. "I was hungry, and I had no money..."

The man snorted in disgust and shoved Zephyr to the ground.

"Get lost, you little thief," he spat. "And don't let us catch you stealing again."

Zephyr picked himself up from the ground, and ran as fast as he could, tears streaming down his face.

As he found a quiet spot to sit down and eat the apple, he couldn't help but cry. He had been through so much, and yet it felt like it was never going to get any better.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching. He looked up and saw a man walking towards him, a cruel smile on his face.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the man sneered. "A little lost boy all by himself. How pathetic."

Zephyr tried to stand up and run away, but the man was too fast. He grabbed Zephyr by the arm and pulled him close, his breath hot on Zephyr's face.

"You know, I think I'll have some fun with you," the man said, his voice low and menacing.

Zephyr's heart raced with fear as he realized what was about to happen. He knew that he was in danger, that he might not make it out alive.

But then something strange happened. He felt a surge of power coursing through his veins, a force that he had never felt before. He closed his eyes and focused, channeling the energy inside him.

Suddenly, a burst of magical energy erupted from his body, throwing the man backwards with incredible force. Zephyr stood up, feeling a sense of strength and power that he had never known before.

As the man lay on the ground, groaning and clutching his head, Zephyr ran as fast as he could, feeling the wind rushing past him as he moved. For the first time in his life, he felt alive, powerful, free.