[Syliras] New Beginnings [Complete][Awarded]

[Maya]

Day 5 of Summer of 510 AV

Maya walked down the street, attempting to talk to those around her, but not having any luck.

"Where can I-" she started to one man.

"Sorry, can't help'ya" was all he said, not even slowing down.

This is hopeless... she thought, and was about to give up and resign herself to sleeping in the alleys, until she spotted a small signpost at an intersection that read 'Travelers Rowe'. Thinking that the name sounded promising, she turned and looked around her.

She saw rows of apartments, and various people hanging about. Approaching one of them, she asks, "What is this place?"

[Kane Roth]

The first impression that was made on Kane as soon as he'd entered the city was that of the cobblestone streets, differing greatly from many of the dirt paths of Sunberth, and the sidewalks... he'd little need of the hobnails on his boots, their purpose now seeming to serve as an announcement of his arrival rather than anything else, and the constant scraping almost began to wear on his nerves, though the euphoria of having finally arrived in Syliras overpowered it easily. The city's organization almost seemed vertical, as opposed to Sunberth's more horizontal layout, the many houses and shops in Syliras being built up instead of out... It's a nice touch, Kane thought to himself, saves space.

The District was Traveler's Row, a place, though affordable, Kane didn't want to dedicate himself to before testing his chances at becoming a Squire. The place was made for foreigners, and though tempting, Kane wanted to risk living outside, he needed the money and he was still without provisions-"What is this place?"

"Hmm-What?" Caught off guard by the sudden question, Kane looked to the one who had asked him, and saw a small, young Inarta woman, awaiting his answer, which he figured he wouldn't delay any longer, "It's uh-a sort of apartment complex. I understand that one could rent a room here." Looking at her for a moment longer, he offered his hand in greeting, "Name's Kane."

[Maya]

"Maya," She answers, not taking the hand. She suddenly feels sheepish, not used to the intricacies of human interaction. She takes the hand and shakes it, after a brief awkward silence. "How much is it for a night?"

She looks up at the tall, lean, yet somewhat handsome figure she had approached, and wonders why she chose this person in particular, when there are so many others. Rather than dwell on it, she decides to ask another question.

"And how long might one stay?"

[Kane Roth]

Maya, a good name, probably Inartan. Waiting for her to take his hand, he offered a slight smirk, the right side of his face drawing up as he did such. Eventually she shook his hand, and as she lowered her hand back down a sort of silence sat in, Kane feeling slightly uncomfortable as it set in, though Maya soon broke the barrier, "How much is it for a night?" Pondering for a moment, trying to recall, Kane started to answer as she inquired yet again, "And how long might one stay?"

Smiling slightly as she finished, he answered, "If you don't mind spartan quarters, I think it's one Silver Miza a night. As for how long... as long as needed." She was a nice enough lass, wasn't from around here, a fish out of water... Not too different from him. "New in town, I suppose?"

[Maya]

"I am used to poor quarters, so I think I will manage," she says, answering his smile with a small one of her own. "And as a fact of matter, I have just arrived in Syrilas... Me and my father come here from Wind Reach, but we seperated at the gate, for he had business to carry." The extent of her common is evident as she speaks anything longer than a simple sentence.

She suddenly remembers the warning she got in the form of an interrogation on her fathers convoy. Thankfully they were not that far from Wind Reach, and she was still hidden in the cart. The Inartans who stopped them asked her father if he knew anything of her disappearance, and he denied it. He was not well known in the city, so they did not know he was her father. They made it through that obstacle, but there were bound to be many more ahead of her.

"Why do you want to know...?" She inquires, cautiously, and she mentally prepares herself to run, shifting her balance to one foot and grasping the strap of her backpack. You never can be too careful... Perhaps mother sent him to search for me... She thought, examining this so called 'Kane' more carefully. He doesn't look familiar... perhaps I am overreacting...

[Kane Roth]

"I am used to poor quarters, so I think I will manage," The statement made an impression on Kane, and a good one at that, considering Kane's early history in the slums of Sunberth any housing, if it was more than a tumbledown shack and had a means of disposing with filth , then it was nice. Speaking further, she explained her reasons for being in the city, and it was slightly obvious that common wasn't her first tongue, though she knew its intricacies. Soon after she finished a look of caution appeared on her face, squinting her eyes. At this, Kane took half a step back, having spent too long in Sunberth. Soon Maya asked, "Why do you want to know...?"

Reaching with his right hand to scratch the back of his head, thinking of a reason when the most obvious occurred to him, "So am I. Just arrived the other day from Sunberth." Maya seemed deep in thought, looking him over for some quality that likely only mattered to her. Attempting to lessen the tension, or at least take her attention away from him, Kane pondered out loud, "Something the matter?"

[Maya]

"Mmmh... No. I thought maybe... Never mind." She stumbled on her words. Obviously, he wasn't out to get her. She felt slightly embarrassed at her rashness, but not so much that it bothered her.

"So... Sunberth," She started, trying to make small talk. "I've heard that place is dangerous..."

[Kane Roth]

"Mmmh... No. I thought maybe... Never mind." That was a yes. Something is amiss with her, that much he could tell, but he decided not to linger on it, and listened as she continued, "So... Sunberth," trying to move the conversation away from her past, more reason to wonder as to just why, but he put it aside, "I've heard that place is dangerous..." His smile faded for a moment, looking to the ground to her left, he simply answered,

"Very dangerous. Not the kind of place you want to go, and I hope I never have to." Pausing for a moment, looking back up to her face, a faint smile returning to his own, he gestured down the street, and offered, "Care to-uh... walk?"

[Maya]

"Sure..." she says, uneasily. She is still on her toes, but is beginning to trust Kane. I seem to have made a friend... An acquaintance, at any rate... I hope he doesn't turn out to be a creep... Her mind wanders to how little training with her Talon Sword she has, and she regrets not spending more time sparring.

"Is there an office, or kiosk, or something, where I may pay for my room?" she asks, looking about her for any sign of such a building.

[Kane Roth]

"Sure..." There was something in her voice, something akin to fear, for fear was something Kane knew well, dealing in it for nearly a decade of his life, and he'd learned to recognize it. She'd done something, that was for sure, though to just what it was... Kane had no clue. As they ventured down the cobblestone street, Maya asked him, "Is there an office, or kiosk, or something, where I may pay for my room?" Thinking on this, his brow wrinkling slightly, Kane recalled just where it was he'd been, and after doing such pointed up the street a ways,

"Should be about four buildings down that way, on the right side of the street."