29 Fyrva, 350BFD, 9 Ur 30
The Ascent of the Sun
Level One, Shevezz City
An Ur later, Kanda and Vazkyr exited the medical facility, having been told once more about the dangers of dehydration. The cold salt shower was a shock to his system, but he was glad to feel clean again. Even his robe felt fresher, and Kanda wondered who was responsible for cleaning the dirt, leaves, dust and, quite possibly, flecks of his own blood from his garments. He was exceedingly relieved to have had no questions about
that combination of stains.
"Vazkyr, you didn’t have to stay all night, you know," he pointed out, enjoying the comfort of his his robe and brand, "but I am grateful."
Vazkyr smiled gently, though felt slightly detached. She yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"I know, but I was exhausted. And I was grateful to hear you in good spirits for a portion of this morning."
The mage looked around him and realised that he was, once again, lost. Down on the first level of Shevezz there were only occasional
Crystal Lamps, designed to keep people from hitting the walls, but they did not help Kanda to work out how to get back to his research. He'd hoped Vazkyr would have directed him, but sensed that was not forthcoming. Instead, she followed him until he found a sign engraved with the words 'Ascent of the Sun'.
"A fancy name that means ‘how to reach the ground level'?" Kanda asked.
"Indeed," was all the response he received.
While it was an ascent of sorts, it was the slowest uphill slope he could remember, owing to the various doors and side-streets that came off that thoroughfare. But sunlight was already pouring in, and so he decided not to get distracted and reach the end of the tunnel as quickly as possible. At the top, the sudden brightness took him aback, and he had to shield his eyes for a few moments until they had adjusted.
"So, what's your plan now?" Vazkyr asked, looking at him through one half of her hair that had unseemingly fallen over her face.
"I need to get back to that 'Bizklo' library. At least, once I've purchased writing materials. I'd like to pick up my research that dehydration cruelly ripped me from yesterday," he explained, "and, having seen them in the medical wing, learning more about those 'manufactured water crystals' is enticing."
"Let me guess?" Vazkyr ventured, pushing her hair back over her ear with one hand and looking down at the ground, "the so-called 'crystal lamps' are interesting too?"
Kanda raised an eyebrow.
"Well, yes. Shevezz
is new to me, and this is a nation of inquiry, so I would love to learn more about aspects of your life as a people," he explained, then shrugged, "have I done something wrong?"
Vazkyr sighed, and realised her tiredness had given away how she was feeling.
"No, look, I should apologise for my tone," she said, scraping the floor with her foot, "yesterday was difficult before you fell unconscious and, well, I can’t speak about the reasons for that. About my lack of warmth today…your interest in crystals is unusual, even as a visitor and…"
"And so you thought that suspicious?," Kanda took a step back, feeling shocked, "I know the Queendom must protect its secrets, and you know that I can learn little from the public, visitor-only libraries. I barely have the right to walk around in here. My tree-branch bed isn't for show, you know?"
Feeling as though she had jumped ahead of the proverbial sand-cricket
ref, Vazkyr bit her lip.
"If I'd doubted that, I wouldn't have checked you in," she whimpered, unused to people standing against her but, even harder, unaccustomed to misjudging someone.
"Of course not, and you should have denied me if you thought I was lying," Kanda agreed, his voice rising with exasperation, "but, if this... whatever this suspicion is relates to my brand, I know you will have seen it. You carefully laid it on my robe."
"I couldn't help but take a look, but I didn't try to use..."
"If you had, it would have been futile," Kanda interjected, "and not because I know whether you could have or not, but because even I am currently unable to use it. It was part of the reason for my research yesterday."
There was an awkward silence, which neither knew how to break, though both wished it were not there.
"Magicks aren’t banned, you know?" she eventually said, her voice barely above a murmur, "we couldn't outlaw them without being hypocritical with our choice of allies. Using such abilities falls under the 'responsible use' laws. It's just not, you know, encouraged."
Kanda-Nor shook his head.
"I knew nothing of Shevezz until I met an apple trader outside the gate, and within a day I was under medical supervision. But I wouldn't intentionally do anything that disrupted balance unless there was some kind of emergency. And even then, I wouldn't act without permission, especially in a strange land where no one knows me," he sighed sadly, "journal day two, I've realised not being known is a greater issue than originally thought, and all I wanted was to research in peace and not upset anyone," he acted out recording that on an invisible book, before crossing his arms across his chest and gazing blankly at nothing in particular.
Vazkyr took a breath and finally allowed herself to look at the man, while she tried to process her own thoughts. But it felt like she was seeing him for the first time. Trying to be strong, but feeling weak; wanting to be alone yet craving company; searching for wisdom, but finding only knowledge; reaching out for connections, yet breaking them before they can form; wishing to be younger, but worry has permanently engraved the face.
It's like looking into an alternate version of myself, she realised,
but he needs to be reminded that trust goes both ways, too.
"Kandra..." she gently murmured, looking for any reaction from him.
She closed her eyes and realised he had gone into what the Shields called "locked-up mode", as an inn which permanently closes, so does any sign of what happened within. It was a warning they should look out for the mental well-being of fellow Shields.
"Kanda, I mean," she corrected herself, "if you want people to know
you and not just what you are interested in, or what you research, then you have to start with not hiding secrets about...major portions of your identity," she explained, "Vazkyr is my name, but only one of them. I am a clerk, I like to be among the first to try new, experimental technologies and I love meeting new people. I try to keep good records, but my handwriting is appalling and I get easily distracted. I have a second job that I'm not allowed to talk about, but that doesn't prevent people from knowing who I am.
"Magecraft is clearly part of
who you are, not merely what you do. You hid your brand in your robe in a way that meant you were ashamed of it, had you worn it openly, none would have questioned it."
Kanda shook his head.
"No, I am not ashamed, but I did not know about the Queendom's stance on such things. Scientific people back home treated my kind with suspicion, because, although what magicks can do is visible and evident, non-sensitives cannot test and prove it. Very few were able to pursue both sides at the same time. I simply did not wish to alienate myself further when I was already a stranger, living a weird life, in a new place."
"Alright. That's okay then. I'm sorry," she looked up at him, hoping she hadn't ruined the friendship that they had been developing during the last couple of hours in the medical wing, "I mean it. Look, I can take you to where the light crystals are replenished, if you want. It may help you."
Kanda took a deep breath and stretched.
"And I am sorry for raising my voice," he admitted, "help would be great, especially before it gets too hot to be outdoors again."
"Your water crystal will mitigate that for a couple of days, but if you're sensible, they can actually last nearly a week," she explained, "just keep it near your skin, or one layer from it at least."
Kanda nodded.
"Say, can we get a 'chill-caf' on the way? I don't know what they taste like, but Findat mentioned them and told me not to spill any on the books. I'd rather try a new drink where I'm not going to be on slave labour if I do drop some."
He closed his eyes and tried to gather other thoughts, realising that he would have to demonstrate some form of trust with her and others if he hoped to retain access to the city.
"And, not being weird or anything, could we actually stop for that drink? There is something else I want to talk about… about me, but not in the open."
Vazkyr smiled weakly, embarrassed that she'd made a big deal of something before asking first.
Nation of inquiry indeed, and all I did was jump to conclusions, she mentally berated herself,
whatever happened to 'follow the evidence'?
"
Chill-caf might be a good way to break the ice," she accepted, glancing down at his brand again, "or the heat-wave. I know a place, so let's go."
Feeling more alert following his breakfast and sudden, self-conscious anger flare-up, Kanda noted her glance and decided he would have two things to cover over their drink.
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