They had been friends since childhood but had grown distant over the years due to their different interests and paths in life.
Anoris felt guilty for not keeping in touch with him more often, especially now that Lara was gone.
He could use a friend right now.
Taking a deep breath, he pressed the call button and waited for Aerowind to answer.
"Hey man," came the familiar voice on the other end of the line.
"Hey Wind," Anoris replied with a small smile. "How's it going?"
Aerowind paused for a moment, likely surprised by the sudden call. "Uh, it's good, man. Just been keeping busy with work and stuff."
Anoris tried to sound casual as he asked, "Yeah, me too. I just wanted to catch up, you know, see how things are going."
Aerowind chuckled, "Oh, I see. Well, it's good to hear from you, Anoris. Yeah, I've been pretty busy, but nothing too crazy.
What about you? How's life treating you?"
Anoris sighed, trying to gather his thoughts. "It's been a rough day, to be honest.
I've been feeling pretty lost since Lara left, and... well, I just wanted to talk to someone. I guess I missed our friendship more than I realized."
Aerowind listened attentively, his eyebrows furrowing in concern.
"Man, I'm sorry to hear that. Lara's leaving must be tough. I can imagine how you feel. But it's never too late to rekindle old friendships, right?"
Anoris nodded, a small smile forming on his face.
"Yeah, you're right. I think I needed this talk more than I realized. It's good to hear your voice again, Wind. Thanks for picking up."
"I'm always here for you, buddy," Aerowind replied. "Just let me know if you need anything or want to chat again. We're on the same team, you know that."
Anoris chuckled and replied, "I appreciate that, man. I'll reach out if I need to, I promise."
They talked for a while longer, catching up on everything that had happened since they had last spoken.
After they hung up the call, Anoris heard a knock on his door. Startled, Anoris momentarily forgot about his worries as he moved towards the door.
Who could it be at this hour? His heart pounded in his chest as his mind ran through possibilities. He swallowed hard, trying to quell his rising anxiety.
"Who's there?" he called out, standing on the other side of the worn wooden door.
"It's old Mr. Adam," came a gruff voice from the other side.
Anoris's pulse quickened. The apartment owner. He had completely forgotten about the rent due today. His hands trembled slightly as he opened the door.
"Evening, Anoris," Mr. Adam said with a cough. "I trust you've had a good evening thus far."
Anoris gulped, feeling the weight of his missed due rent squashing down on him.
"Um, yes, I've had a... somewhat busy day," he said weakly, trying to keep himself composed.
Mr. Adam raised his thick eyebrows, his gaze penetrating. "Is that so? I can't help but notice that it's past due.
Your rent has been overdue for a few weeks now, haven't you been keeping up with the payments?"
Anoris felt a shiver run down his spine as he scrambled to come up with an excuse.
"It's been a bit of a struggle lately," he stammered, attempting to sound convincing.
"My father left me and won't send any financial support. He got married and I've been unable to find steady work."
Despite Mr. Adam's stoic expression, Anoris could sense his disapproval. "Difficult times, you say," he responded, skepticism evident in his voice.
"I understand your situation, Anoris, but it is my responsibility to provide for my family. Living in London is tough if you don't have money.
You know what needs to be done."
Feeling the chill of impending eviction, Anoris nodded quickly, "Yes, Mr. Adam, I understand... I will try to sort it out as soon as possible." He could feel his face flush with embarrassment.
Mr. Adam gave him a curt nod. "See that you do, Anoris. You're a good lad, I don't want to evict you, but business is business."
That was the end of the conversation. The door clicked shut behind Mr. Adam, leaving Anoris now alone in his apartment, the dim light casting long shadows that only emphasized his loneliness.
He faced his reflection in the mirror and began having a conversation with himself.
"Look at you, getting old and ugly," he muttered, stopping before he could finish. "No wonder they all leave you.
You're just a sad, pathetic fool, fooling no one but yourself."
Anoris sighed and collapsed onto his threadbare sofa, burying his face in his hands.
"What am I going to do?" he whispered aloud to the empty room. The only response was the ticking of the faded old clock on the wall, each second marking the passing of time.
"You look pitiful mortal."
A voice cut through the silence, making Anoris jerk upright. He looked about wildly, his heart hammering, but there was no one to be seen.
"Who's there?" Anoris demanded, rising from his seat and stumbling over the worn coffee table in the process. The last thing he needed was some squatter hiding in his already dismal apartment. His eyes darted toward the cramped kitchen, the hollow hallway, and even under his sagging bed, but they found no intruder.
"Your pathetic life amuses me. Don't worry, all of this is going to end, Zellrid," the voice resonated again, this time from the mirror he had been looking into just moments ago.
It was a deep, gravelly voice - one filled with cold amusement and a chilling undertone that made Anoris's blood run cold.
"Zellrid? What do you mean?" Anoris stammered, slowly backing away from the mirror. His gaze was drawn to his reflection, but it was no longer his own face staring back at him.
Instead, a pair of glowing eyes stared directly into his own. They were narrow and slitted like a cat's, their eerie red glow sending shivers down Anoris's spine.
The rest of the face was hidden in darkness, but those eyes alone were enough to fill him with terror.
"That is your true name," the voice whispered, sounding almost seductive.
"Your world is about to change, mortal. Let me provide you with what you need to understand.
It is time for your memories to resurface, Champion Zellrid. Don't repeat the same mistakes; it is your only chance."
With those words, the mirror suddenly shattered into countless pieces, scattering sharp shards of glass everywhere and leaving Anoris trembling with fear.
He could hear the deep, rumbling laughter echoing in his ears as he sank to the floor, the shards biting into his skin.
The laughter grew louder, bouncing off the walls and filling every corner of the room.
The sound was haunting, with a weight that seemed to come from ancient times.
Anoris felt himself losing control as memories rushed back into a torrent.
The name "Zellrid" echoed in his mind, and he remembered everything that had happened, understanding it all now with regret and sweat dripping down his face as he clutched his head.