Orion was a simple boy, almost man though according to many one can't claim that title while still holding onto their V card.
Strange mechanisms of human society always eluded him. He was far more indulged in his fantasies over the reality of his life.
At the confusing age of 23, when he felt life had come to an end, he liked nothing more than being in front of his old laptop in his free time, something he didn't have much after the age of adulthood began, and play games or watch anime.
His last bit of solace was seeing how many of his friends had found their calling, some left for better opportunities and others didn't need to since their forefathers had left enough behind.
Single and alone for most of his life, he long gave up on aiming for something big. He didn't find it worthwhile when the outcome was so undefined. No higher force told him of his success even if he put in the work.
And so, much like many, Orion was a 9-to-5 Gen Z.
Quirky as they were, many were a miserable bunch with no direction towards the future. He certainly could say the same for himself.
The biggest motivation of his life was to wait for weekends, when he could have a good time playing any game he could get his hands on.
The said laptop was one which was provided by his office, a decent machine for spreadsheets and charts, nothing for gaming.
There were two pleasures of his life: novels or fanfics and gaming.
His 4-year-old phone held fort against countless fanfics and novels on his nightly escapades just well.
Something he can't say for his laptop. It was on its last leg.
Buying a new one was well within his means; it wouldn't splurge his budget too much but Orion was not anything but frugal.
However, seeing the new DLC for Elden Ring coming out, his heart longed for a better rig altogether.
That was a year ago, however, since a strong laptop or not, he certainly didn't have the luxury to buy games on first-day launch.
No, shall wait, wait until Steam blessed him with a worthy discount, wait until he was done with his backlog of free and almost free games.
And thus three years passed since the time when he first played Elden Ring.
And now comes the time to return to The Lands Between.
For now was the weekends, and he was free.
He had completed his self-created list of cheap indulges before indulging in these luxurious indulges of his, which he solemnly had chanced to partake in.
"Man, when will this download end? I waited for the entire week to play Shadow of the Erdtree." He sighed, observing the download all but stuck at 99%.
To save money, he didn't put an internet connection in his place; he could afford it, however, he was frugal to boot, a quality he developed from the days when he all but had nothing to spend.
For an orphan he knew the importance of money. That was the only thing which would stay with him when nothing did.
So, he suppressed his desire to get a new phone, a new laptop and even a proper internet connection at his place.
He had a cheap plan on his phone, then for heavy-duty tasks like downloading this game, he had his office Wi-Fi to thank.
He jokingly called it his office wife.
A cruel joke for a single virgin dog such as him, but he rather enjoyed his life.
As soon as his download ended, so did his overtime before he rushed out of the office, laptop in tow, towards his apartment.
Time passed, people passed, and so passed buildings, vehicles and roads; not too long after, he found himself on his trusty bed, plugging his laptop into the wall plug built right next to his bed, an investment he begrudgingly made for his comfort, he was finally ready to live again.
Now all he hoped was for his trusty machine to not give up on him, for this was his companion which stayed with him when he stormed into Stormveil Castle and slew Godrick.
The one which stood by his side when he traversed the rot-blighted waste of wild Caelid.
From countless Erdtree Avatars to demi-gods of unparalleled might. He slew them all until he became the Elden Lord. And his laptop was there for him.
Surely a mere DLC won't bring it to its knees for that would be a shame for a machine too mighty.
While the game took its merry time, starting to see the ageing machine doing its best, he turned his attention to his phone for some minor distraction.
Recalling to check his indulges list, he planned to carve out time for Elden Ring for next month or so when suddenly his eyes fell on that one task which he had yet to complete.
"Danmachi..."
That one anime, like countless others, which he watched in his teenage days and never came back to look at again.
There was always something new, something more interesting and hyped. He had better things to do than get lost in yet another isekai anime.
Though he recalled this wasn't an isekai if he recalled it right.
It mattered not.
This anime was lying on his list for the better part of the year, collecting dust.
"Man, there are so many seasons available now?" He muttered with a collective sigh.
Opening that anime felt like going inside a never-ending rabbit hole. However, if he dared to miss it then he wouldn't be able to continue with the few well-reviewed fanfictions about the said anime on his 'to read' list.
Sighing, he decided to give multitasking a chance.
"I'll take some time getting used to Elden Ring system anyway, better kill some mobs before going to the Shadow Lands for the DLC pack, get used to my Elden Lord powers again while I binge-watch this troublesome anime."
Unfortunately for him, his phone didn't have much charge left itself to continue, and there was only one wall plug beside his bed.
Groaning, he gritted his teeth and put the game on a small window and opened Chrome to watch the anime.
He knew he was stressing the laptop but he had faith in his partner.
"If it crashed, then I will just restart and pick one in the end."
However, that's when he smelled something.
Smoke.
He looked around his tiny but cosy room for any hint of fire, completely overlooking the toasty keyboard his hands were too used to by now.
Only when his fingers burned did he know that he fucked up.
"Oh shit...
Partner...."
Alas, it was too late, for the laptop had grown weary of daily gaming and binge-watching. Its battery had given up, its screen had dulled, and dust had covered its components.
He fought valiantly for his own; alas, the end comes near.
With an earth-shattering roar, the machine gave out. A magnificent end of a laptop of great epic, as unlike his brethren, he refused to lie in a dusty corner as a showpiece or worse a scrap in a garbage bin.
No... he shall have a warrior's death. Most fitting for a laptop as him.
Orion was thrown back, out of his bed. Facing the full brunt of his friend's end, he found their end was fate-twisted, for he too felt life slipping away.
And that's how came the end of an era.
The end of the lord and his trusted companion.
A song of their deeds will be sung for ages...
The only thing he muttered was regret left behind.
"Fuck... someone please...
Clear my history."