11th Summer, 505AV
Shakune had visited Lhavit three years ago, but at the time she had only stayed on land for one day, and had followed her crew around without truly paying attention to the place. And so, now she was able to explore the city on her own, the city felt brand new to her, unknown and exciting.
Lhavit differed completely to the other cities she had so far experienced. It was much more beautiful than Sunberth, more open than Syliras and less intimidating than Ravok. Even she, a girl who considered herself to be a hardy sailor-in-training, had to appreciate the glasswork that networked throughout the city. Even the mountain themselves possessed an illustrious, exquisite thing about them. The whole city was strangely magical and unnatural, and yet Shakune was fascinated with the place. She was unsure of its history; Pa Salt had attempted to better educate her the last time she had visited, but the girl had quickly discarded his lessons shortly after their leave three years prior.
And yet Shakune felt that she was a poor fit to the city. She was not ethereal enough to truly blend in. The stares she received for her appearance did not help, either. Though for once, it was quite pleasant to be regarded as an interesting foreign spectacle rather than a potential slave.
But a fascinating appearance was not enough to make the girl feel comfortable in Lhavit. She would never find a home in the mountainside city, she instinctively knew. Her home was not a city, but instead a ship. The Lady Luck had docked at Lhavit the previous day, and as usual her captain had chosen to remain with the ship whilst the rest of her crew resided in the Shooting Star Inn. They were to stay in the city for an entire season - the longest time they had spent within a single place for the five years Shakune had been a member of the crew. She knew better than to ask for the reasons behind such an extended stay, but her interest was nevertheless piqued.
But there was a more immediate need that had to be fulfilled now. She needed to familiarise herself with the city that would become her home for the next season. Even more crucially, Shakune had to find what it was that Lhavit's citizens did for fun. Fishing, or swimming maybe? Boredom irritated her; it was a scratch that simply had to be itched.
With a sigh, she exited the Inn and lingered at its doorway. Common sense told the girl to stay close to the tavern until she was better at navigating her way around the city. But the inflated self-confidence of youth made the half-Chaktawe turn left outside the tavern, striding forwards to discover her temporary new home.
Lhavit differed completely to the other cities she had so far experienced. It was much more beautiful than Sunberth, more open than Syliras and less intimidating than Ravok. Even she, a girl who considered herself to be a hardy sailor-in-training, had to appreciate the glasswork that networked throughout the city. Even the mountain themselves possessed an illustrious, exquisite thing about them. The whole city was strangely magical and unnatural, and yet Shakune was fascinated with the place. She was unsure of its history; Pa Salt had attempted to better educate her the last time she had visited, but the girl had quickly discarded his lessons shortly after their leave three years prior.
And yet Shakune felt that she was a poor fit to the city. She was not ethereal enough to truly blend in. The stares she received for her appearance did not help, either. Though for once, it was quite pleasant to be regarded as an interesting foreign spectacle rather than a potential slave.
But a fascinating appearance was not enough to make the girl feel comfortable in Lhavit. She would never find a home in the mountainside city, she instinctively knew. Her home was not a city, but instead a ship. The Lady Luck had docked at Lhavit the previous day, and as usual her captain had chosen to remain with the ship whilst the rest of her crew resided in the Shooting Star Inn. They were to stay in the city for an entire season - the longest time they had spent within a single place for the five years Shakune had been a member of the crew. She knew better than to ask for the reasons behind such an extended stay, but her interest was nevertheless piqued.
But there was a more immediate need that had to be fulfilled now. She needed to familiarise herself with the city that would become her home for the next season. Even more crucially, Shakune had to find what it was that Lhavit's citizens did for fun. Fishing, or swimming maybe? Boredom irritated her; it was a scratch that simply had to be itched.
With a sigh, she exited the Inn and lingered at its doorway. Common sense told the girl to stay close to the tavern until she was better at navigating her way around the city. But the inflated self-confidence of youth made the half-Chaktawe turn left outside the tavern, striding forwards to discover her temporary new home.
