Lost and Encumbered (Savio)

[Kallos]

2nd of Fall, 513 AV

Kallos has been in Nyka for the better part of the day, but the sun was still high in the sky. What heat it gave, was chilled considerably by the cold looks Kallos got from the Nykian people as he paused to look at a map of the city he'd bought from the traders that got him here. He had been warned about the way the people of Nyka treated outsiders, but it still made him slightly uncomfortable. And here, he'd though that he was accustomed to the stares, because of how much his left arm makes him stand out.

He looks up from the map, and then to the shops in the area. With a sigh, he stuffs the map into his bag. He couldn't see any of the land marks listed on it, it was useless to him. He considered asking directions, but he didn't think anyone would help him, and a monk was looking at him rather hard. Resigned to his fate, he picks up a chest in each arm, and follows the road North, figuring he'd eventually find a landmark, or a wall. Hopefully sooner rather than later, his belongings were getting rather heavy.

[Savio]

Savio sighed as he sat atop one of the roofs of the Northern Quarter, his feet dangling over the edge while he fished out a small package of food from his messenger bag. He had packed a half of loaf of bread, dried meat, and a small apple for his late lunch. As he happily ate his food, he watched the people below go about their daily lives. Some looked up at him and either glared or waved at him. His regular customers were the ones who wave at them. Those who glared got a rude hand gesture from Savio.

Halfway through his lunch, something caught his eyes. Savio watched as a rather short man make his way through the narrow streets below. What really stood out about him though, was his massive left arm and its odd coloring. Savio had once heard of people like that from his mother, but for the life of him he couldn’t remember what they were called. He was obviously new the Nyka, since Savio had never seen the likes of him before and his clothes were rather plain. The man look helplessly lost.

Savio sympathized with the foreigner; he himself had been in the same predicament just last season. A small smile crept onto the acrobat’s lips as he slipped down from the roof and landed gracefully on the ground below, landing in a crouch so not to hurt himself. Savio moved quickly to the man and touched his shoulder lightly to catch his attention.

“You look a little lost, my friend. The Safehaven Hostel is in the other direction, if that is where you are heading.” Savio’s tone was light and as friendly as possible. A welcoming face in this city was hard to come by when you are new.

[Kallos]

Kallos had only made it a few steps before a hand on his shoulder stopped him. As he turned, the man told him the direction to a hotel. He didn’t look quite like the others, and not just because of his smile. Kallos offered one in return for the kindness.

“Thank you, friend. That sounds like a nice place, but it isn’t the one mentioned by my travel companions.” He pauses to shift his grip on his chests. “They told me there was a school to the north, that could teach one how to fight. They said there were beds there, so I wanted to visit that first. Do you know anything about it?” Kallos hoped the man did. He wasn’t very good at common speech, never needing it in Sultros. He couldn’t give more detail.

Kallos wondered for a brief moment where the man had come from, as he hadn’t noticed him when he was scanning the crowd earlier, but dismissed that train of thought quickly enough. He figured that it didn’t matter, though. The important part was he appeared to be here to help.

[Savio]

When the man turned around to face Savio, he seemed surprised at first but his smile quickly grew once he realized that Savio meant no harm. The man’s words confirmed Savio suspicions that the man was in fact new to the city and was looking for the Iron Fist School. A smile crept onto the young man’s lips as a strong sense of déjà vu hit Savio.

“A School?” Savio asked. “If you are meaning the Iron Fist School, I can take you there right now. There is still a ways to get there, since it is just outside the city and in the wilds. Come, follow me!”

Savio started walking in the direction of the school, expecting for the short man to follow him.

[Kallos]

The relief was apparent in Kallos’s face when the stranger not only knew where he needed to go, but offered to lead him there. He adjusted his grip on his chests again, and followed, jogging at first so that he could walk beside the stranger.

“Thank you, again. I am Kallos Stonehammer, of the Pitirus clan. It is nice to see a kind face so far from home. You look like you know the feeling. What brings you to this place?”

Kallos was fairly sure he had guessed correctly as to whether or not this man was native. He had spent more than two years traveling, and was fairly confident he could pick out other wanderers like himself. He didn't know if it was rude to ask, but walking in silence didn't suit him.

[Savio]

Savio slowed his pace slightly so the man could keep up with his long strides. He seemed like a nice fellow, and he reminded Savio of his friend Seryk. It was possible that Drykas man was taller than Kallos, and Savio was sure that if he said anything to his friend that Seryk would either try to hit him or laugh. Or hit him while laughing. It was hard to tell sometimes with that man.

“My name is Savio Cazzola and you are correct. I am not from here, I was born and raised in Syliras but I came here for training last season. I am a student at the School.” Savio answered the man. “And if you don’t mind me asking, where are you from? I don’t believe I have ever seen anyone quite like you before.” He couldn’t help but eye Kallos’ large luggage with concern. “Uh… Would you like some help with one of those?” The acrobat asked. They looked a little heavy, but he was sure that he could help carry at least one of them.

[Kallos]

Kallos considered it for a moment. “Yes, I’d appreciate that.” Without stopping, he moved his left hand further under it’s box, and moved it so that it was in front of them both. It was the lightest of the two, so he had very little trouble supporting it that way for a short time.

“I come from Sultros, my people’s homeland in the center of Kalea, in the mountains. I travel simply to see the world and learn what it has to teach me. It is strange that you haven’t met another Isur, if you are from Sylrias. There is a place there, run by Isur, called Sultros Blades. The easiest place to find one of us, is at a forge. Even a Piritus like me.”

Kallos pauses his speech for a moment, mainly to look around, trying to commit the path to memory. “You say you are a student of the school? It looks like we’ll be learning together, then. What is it like, there?”

[Savio]

Savio took the box from Kallos, and almost dropped it. It was heavier than he had expected but not too much so that he couldn’t carry it. The man was much stronger than Savio had previously assumed as well, since it took both of his arms to carry the man’s possessions.

Kallos when went on to explain where he had come from. Isur. The word was instantly familiar to him thanks to his mother’s stories. He was a long way from home for sure, and Savio was instantly curious of what he had seen and experienced. The one thing he loved more than training was hearing stories of far off places. And the man was right about Sultros Blades, but Savio had never really paid attention to the place. His time in Syliras was always spent running around with his friends or working on his father’s farm, and he explained that to his new found companion.

It also made Savio rather happy to know that there was going to be another student to train with at the school since Sayren was currently out of commission for a short while. Even though it was his fault…

Anyhow…

“It’s not too bad, really. The teachers are great and the school is rather comfortable. There was three teachers: Ximal, Bones, and Revy but Ximal is currently… Well… He is missing right now.” Savio couldn’t help the worry and sorrow that crept into his voice. As powerful as Ximal was, there was no way he could have lasted in the Aperture this long. Savio shook his head to clear the depressing thoughts before continuing on with his explanation of the Iron Fist.

“The currently head master is Revy Hiroe, and she teaches Long Sword. She is really strict and I think she hates men so I would avoid her for the most part if I was you. Then you have Bones; he teaches the art of the Gladius and some Unarmed Combat. To get into the school, you have to be tested first. I think Bones is responsible for that, but I am not sure. If you pass the test, you get to pick out your room and then work out your tuition with one of the teachers. “

[Kallos]

When Savio took the chest from Kallos’s hand, Kallos gave a worried look at his new friend, but didn’t comment. Perhaps, he thought, he should have refused. Shifting the chest under his right arm to carry it with both his hands, he listened to the man’s words.

Hearing that one of the teachers was missing didn’t bode well, but the way Savio said it made it seem as though that was a topic better left for another date. Besides, there was a much more pressing issue in Kallos’s immediate future.

“It does not sound as though I’ll have much trouble avoiding her, then. What I want most, is training for my fists. Mostly to supplement my other talents, and in case I’m caught off guard. Besides, an Isur only needs his arm, after he’s figured out how to use it.” His lips twitched into a small smile that wasn’t out of courtesy, but pride. Misplaced as it was, as he had trouble with the most important part of that sentence.

“You say there is a test? That might be a bit... troublesome. I’ve never even used my fist once, in all sixty years of my life. Its why I’m staying here, instead of moving to the next city with the caravan. I suppose I can only hope to to be of standard.”

[Savio]

Savio wobbled alongside his new acquaintance listening to the man’s musings. Kallos looked like he could throw a good punch as it was, especially with that arm of his. For a man who was so short, he looked hard and mature, unlike Seryk who looked like a youngster even with his beard. When he told Savio of his age, it strangely fit. By the Gods! What did the man have in the chest?

“The test isn’t really too difficult.” Savio managed to grit out, being too stubborn to admit that the chest was heavy. “The teacher just wants to see if you have the determination for be a part of the school. Feel lucky that you don’t have to be tested by Ximal. The man gave me a concussion and stitches.”