Completed Novice, meet, Novice (Savio)

[Sayren WindDancer]

Sayren couldn't help but offer the poor man a giggle. She hefted him off the ground with a little effort. "Come along, I'm sure my merchant friend will have something for you. You'll probably need to lean on Garel for now though. Either that, or I can help take you into the city streets" She smiled brightly. Depending on Savio's decision, she'll either slip under his arm and press forward, or walk in front of Savio and Garel into the streets.

"The woman is very nice, she was actually one of the few people that would first talk to me. I don't know her name, but she never asked for mine. It maybe just safer like that I guess." She was hoping by her talking to Savio that it would help alleviate him a little, to try to talk back to her and not think too much on the pain he was currently suffering from. It would be about 10 chimes before they actually reached the merchant, so any conversation she could at least drag him into may at least make the time shorter for him, "What all can you tell me about yourself? Do you have many friends? Or family?"

[Savio]

Savio frowned up at her when he heard her giggle at his misfortune. But he couldn’t truly be too mad at her with a giggle like that, it was rather adorable. He allowed her to help him to his feet once more, but he had to grit his teeth and hold his head as a new wave of pain rushed over him. Once it passed into just normal throbbing, Savio took a deep breath and hobbled over to her horse.

“No more funny business from you, sir.” Savio grumbled to the stallion before leaning against the horse’s saddle. Sayren took hold of the reigns then and lead the two males out of the confines of the school and down the winding pathway that connected the school to the Northern Quarter.

She then began to babble once more. At first she informed Savio of just who she was taking him to. Some strange female merchant whose name Sayren didn’t even know. That didn’t sit too well with the young man. “Why don’t we just go to The Great Infirmary in the Celestial Quarter?” Savio offered. “We can get there in less than half a bell if we take the Bridge of the Dead. As for friends and family, most of them are back home in Syliras. Though, I have made a couple of new friends here in Nyka. ” The conversation was pleasant enough and even though it was difficult to even think, he still managed without sounding like a whining weakling.

“And you? Do you have many friends here in Nyka? And I can assume your family is back in Endrykas, no?”

[Sayren WindDancer]

Sayren tilted her head as she glanced over her shoulder at Savio, "The Great Infirmary? Honestly can't say I've heard of it. Then again, I don't really have much people to talk to around here." It was a suggestion at his part while he told her he had a few friends in Nyka, and his family back in Syliras. He came around to asking her about her friends and family.

She nodded as she weaved the man and her stallion through the bustling crowds of the streets, "I actually don't have many friends here. I came here to train and I've done little of anything else. I've pushed myself so hard in training that I've just about forgot how other people are. And yes, my family are back in Endrykas. There's my father, brothers, and older sister. My father's name is Dangrie. He's a skilled warrior, well respected amongst the Diamond clan. Then there's Yusu and Gravun. They're twin brothers. Yusu became an expert marksman, while Gravun had turned into a fearsome swordsman. Then there's my sister, Karava." She gave a rather sarcastic laugh at that one. "I honestly believe she had to be born by another set of parents, because she's nothing like my mother nor father." She didn't notice she had clinched her fists as well, she loved her sister, but the woman could be so infuriating!

[Savio]

Savio chuckled slightly when he heard that she didn’t know much about Nyka. She must have been quite lucky to had found Ximal so soon after entering this city. She had been spared having to deal with the prejudice of the Nykan people for an extended amount of time. Savio on the other hand had spent fifty days looking for Ximal in his school. The good thing from it all though, is that he knows the layout of Nyka pretty well and the people treated him a bit better than the other foreigners in the city since Savio was a pretty good courier.

Savio listened idly to Sayren talk about her lack of friends in Nyka. “I could introduce you to some of my friends. I am sure Jabari would be thrilled to meet you.”

When Sayren started to talk about her family, it was obvious that she loved them dearly. The tone of her voice suggested admiration for her father and brothers, but it shifted drastically when she began speaking of her sister. There seems to be bad blood between the two.

“My father is a successful farmer by home in Syliras, and my mother does most of the bookwork and housekeeping but it’s an unspoken thing that she is the one that runs the business part of the farm. That’s why it’s so successful. I also have an Aunt in the city itself. She is a well-to-do cleric. She taught me most of the book knowledge. I don’t have any siblings. Well, I didn’t when I left home. My mother was pregnant when I had left. I hope when I visit them that I will get to meet my new sibling.” Savio offered her a reassuring smile, hoping to distract her from the darker thoughts of her sister.

[Sayren WindDancer]

Sayren tapped on her chin in thought as he brought up the name of a young man known as Jabari. She wouldn't mind more friends. It would make her training here in Nyka seem less tedious and maybe even more enjoyable. She listened to Savio talk about his parents, they seemed rather respectable. They were definitely working in honest fields. He also added in the fact that he was an only child, least he was till he left and his mother was with child. It made her smile. It always excited her when she heard of women bearing children. The child is a fruit of love and affection between the mother and the child's father. It made her chest flutter and her skin even glowed from her happiness.

She then let out a sigh as she stopped and pivoted on her toes to face the man, "That sounds delightful and happy Savio...but...seeing how I don't know where this Great Infirmary currently resides...You may have to tell me where to lead you. Don't want to be wandering around Nyka endlessly."

[Savio]

Savio chuckled, his arm lightly thrown over the horse’s saddle and leaning against it. The animal didn’t mind. In fact, the horse just leaned back into Savio so that in turn they were supporting each other.

“We are not much farther from the Bridge of the Dead, a few chimes at most.” Savio pointed a head to a bridge populated with mourning people and small shrines to lost love ones. “And after we get past the bridge, the Great Infirmary isn’t much farther than that. Just be careful of the shrines, they are very important to these people. “

As they continued to walk alone, Savio continued their small talk. “So I take it that you haven’t explored Nyka too much, hm? When did you get here? And how long did it take for you to find Ximal? I’ve been in Nyka for forty days looking for Ximal.”

[Sayren WindDancer]

Sayren smiled. Savio said they were only a few chimes away from The Great Infirmary. Which was good, cause she didn't want to make Savio trek all across Nyka just to find this place. They just had to be careful of the shrines. Of course. She didn't intend to upset any of these people, or they will bluntly tell you about it. Happily...with their fists. Then he asked her that it seemed she hadn't explored Nyka much. What day was it that she arrived? And how long did it take for her to find Ximal? She giggled. A fun tale that was going to be.

"I actually arrived around the 39th. And no, I actually haven't explored Nyka that much. I got lost around here at first. You know, with the locals being so friendly. I tried asking around and it led me nowhere. Till I finally decided to be a little more...forceful...Grabbed the first guy near me and shouted 'Where's Ximal Thgegni?!' Needless to say...it was him I grabbed...just didn't realize it at first. Actually, didn't realize it at all. Cause he said he knew of the man, and what business did I have in searching for the man? He took me to the hostel, had a drink. Then he led me to the school...where he revealed, I'm Ximal! And I was thoroughly embarrassed. That's when our test began...I was supposed to last 5 chimes..." She looked down, it still shamed her that she didn't last even the requirement. "I made it to three..."

[Savio]

Savio smiled slightly at the sound of the girl’s giggle. It was cute. He nodded in agreement at Sayren’s points. Nyka was unfriendly to strangers. He fondly remembered his entrance to the city, and how he almost had to brave the night because he had such a hard time finding the Safehaven Hostel. But Savio laughed out loud (and regretted it because of the following pain) when he imagined little Sayren grabbing Ximal like she was going to rough him up. It also appeared that Ximal pulled the same trick on him that he did to Sayren. Cunning petcher.

“Well, I guess Ximal won’t be found unless he finds you first. He pulled the same trick on me today. But he more or less ran me over while he was walking. We got to talking, and then he lead me to the school that I have been searching for. And I believe you know the rest of that whole fiasco.”

Savio then grinned as he heard her confession on her time. So he didn’t feel that bad that he only lasted for 4 chimes. But he didn’t state that out loud since he wasn’t the one for gloating. Savio looked up slightly to see the Infirmary just ahead. The young man sighed in relief.

“We are almost there.” Savio pointed out. The Great Infirmary was a very large and busy building; the outside of it was kept tidy and well-manicured when compared to its surrounding buildings. He had been here before for an injury or two that he had gotten since coming into Nyka.

When they finally got to the building and Sayren had carefully stowed away her horse, Savio limped into the building. His head still felt like an anvil but he was grateful for Sayren’s help at distracting him. The inside of the building was the spotless clean that Savio remembered.

The pair was greeted by a stern black haired woman with sharp eyes. Thera Vasta frowned at Savio and sighed. “You again?”

Savio managed a slight chuckle. “Hello again Ms. Thera.”

She looked Savio over, seeing the dirt on his clothes and his bruised skin. “Had a run-in with another monk?” She asked as she lead them to one of the rooms in the back.

Savio grimaced. “Not quite. Entrance exam for Ximal’s school.” He then explained as he sat down on one of the chairs.

The woman snorted. She commanded Savio and Sayren to stay in the room while she fetched for some medicine and tools.

[Sayren WindDancer]

Sayren couldn't agree more with Savio's remark on Ximal. No one finds him, he finds you. He then told her that they were close to the Infirmary now. When they arrived, Sayren gazed upon the building in awe. It stood out from the surrounding structures. The towering structure was certainly as beautiful as it was intimidating to her. She had never seen anything aside from the small clay houses in the city or the pavillions of Endrykas. At the foot of the building, she brought Garel to a nearby stall and told him that they would return shortly. He nodded, confident that she was speaking the truth, but his eyes were lingering upon the massive Infirmary. She gave him a reassuring kiss on the nose and parted from there, helping Savio up the steps and into the building. Then they stopped as they approached the presence of a black haired woman, who narrowed her eyes at Savio. The black haired woman sighed at the sight of him as she said, "You again."

Sayren raised an eyebrow as she watched Savio chuckled at the woman's reaction. Greeting her in his friendly manner. The woman had quickly darted her eyes from Savio's head, to toe. Then returned her gaze to his eyes. "Monks?" Miss Thera had asked Savio. He told her it wasn't the monks that had done this, but Ximal himself. Sayren glanced at her friend with concern. He had faced the monks while he was here? Surely he wasn't so daft as to take on the enforcers of the city. Sayren was thrown off guard when Miss Thera snorted at Savio's commented, issuing the command to both Savio and Sayren to remain in the room till her return.

Sayren sat down in the bench within the room, glancing about in curiosity, "Endrykas has nothing like this. Its all so...clean...and rather...oddly intimidating. Not sure if that truly makes any sense." She finally focused her attention towards Savio, "So monks?...were you really that touched in the head to think you could take on the monks here? I'm prideful, but even I knew that I shouldn't tangle with the monks...yet." It was a self challenge she had thought to herself. Surely if Ximal had taught some of the monks himself, then one of the best ways for her challenge herself, is to challenge some of Ximal's ex-students. However, that was quite a ways away until she felt she'd have the skill to face a monk in combat.

[Savio]

Savio flinched from every movement. His ribs hurt, and his headache was starting to make itself known again. He looked up at Sayren and raised an eye brow at her observation of the Infirmary. Well, perhaps she was right. Her background was much different from his so it’s no wonder that many things are different between them.

When she made the comment about the monks though, it made Savio chuckle. Or at least, he tried too but it only made the pain in his ribs ache all the more. “I never fought them. I just… There was a minor misunderstand when I first started working in Nyka. I was making a delivery and using the roofs to navigate the Southern Quarter easier, and the monk thought I was running because I stole something. Well, if you see a muscled and deadly monk running after you would you just stop running to have small talk? No? I didn’t think so either, so I ran. Turns out, after he caught me and roughed me up a little bit, that he was the designated addressee all along, and I had been on my way to his guard post. He was kind enough to escort me here and paid a nice tip as an apology.” Savio gave her a lopsided grin.

Just then, Thera entered the room carrying a tray of interments and ointments. She sat the tray down and looked at Savio expectantly. “Well? I don’t have all day. Take off your shirt so I can see the extent of the damage. “

Savio’s face turned a bright shade of red as he struggled back to his feet. At least he was soon distracted by mind numbing pain as he attempted to work off his shirt. Once his shirt was off, Savio’s lean but toned chest was revealed. But his lightly tanned skin was marred by large dark blue and black bruises, mainly on his left side. Thera tsked Savio as she reached for her ointments and started treating the bruises. Savio bit his lower lip to hold back whimpers of pain or curses.

“It looks like you managed to get yourself two bruised ribs. They will heal in two weeks, so keep that in mind.” She moved on to Savio’s head and examined a small gash on his forehead. She then went about cleaning it and, much to Savio’s dismay, stitching it up. And yes, Savio did vocalize his discomfort as she placed the stiches, and Thera did not pay it any mind what so ever.

In all, it took Thera about two bells to have Savio all patched up. She informed the young man that he also had a concussion, and not to go to sleep for five hours. She also gave him some medicine for the headache and body pains to take every morning for four days.

She helped Savio back into his shirt and led them out of the small exam room. “Savio, I hope I don’t have to see you again. But judging from your luck, you will grace my presence again soon.”

Savio offered his gratitude and he led Sayren out of the Infirmary once more. At least the medicine worked fast, since the pain in his head was no longer unbearable and the sun wasn’t Savio’s nemesis.

“Thank you Sayren for helping me out.” Savio then said to the young woman.