29 Fyrva, 350BFD, 15 Ur
Outside "Bizklo" Library, Ground Level, City of Shevezz
The coin bags that the medics had given him contained, Kanda felt, more than he'd personally had at any point in his life. Back home, money earned was soon spent either on home repairs to keep out the cold, or new clothes and various food and drinks that could either warm the body or numb the pain. Being a Fire Mage in a land of ice and snow meant he could not risk using his Elemental incantations except when it was really needed. Not being near a centre of
Fyr, did not simply reduce the power of his spell-casting. Using more power than he could regenerate risked the development of Elemental Essence Degradation, a mage-specific illness that could, in its extreme, result in the physical dissipation of the body.
Though most would have thought a "bringer of flames" would have been treasured, Kanda-Nor, or Y'kàndrà as he was known there, was mostly an outcast. On one side of life, the average citizen in need of fire or warmth did not understand that over-exerting himself could be dangerous. On the other, his peers looked down on his relaxed teaching style, but also considered him Elementally weaker, simply because most of them only had to breathe in the local air to replenish any Elemental Energies utilised.
But here in Shevezz, he was beginning to feel hopeful and more alive. While he was not directly near a source of flame, he was geographically closer to several probable locations than ever before.
More…myself, he thought as he and Vazkyr slowly made their way back to the library so he could finish the task his bout of dehydration had interrupted.
They had not taken the direct route from the
Charging Fields, as Vazkyr had insisted that he purchased food, several wineskins of water and at least a cloth sack to hold his new-found treasures in. Kanda had, to her satisfaction, acquired a proper blank book for his research notes and several sticks of charcoal. She would have preferred he had bought something more durable, but restrained herself from affecting all of his financial decisions.
"Don't you need a change of clothing, too?" she had asked during their time browsing the markets.
She had seemed somewhat perplexed that he appeared to have not considered the option.
"Of course, but I can't spend all of this on day one, when I currently have no way of earning coin."
That was an issue he planned to resolve but only after he had gained enough knowledge from the libraries he was permitted access to. Vazkyr seemed to slow her pace the nearer they were to the Bizklo Library, but they eventually reached it. Kanda turned and smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Vazkyr," he bowed his head briefly in acknowledgement, "and again, I'm sorry it looked like I was holding secrets back, but you know everything now. Feel free to update whatever records are needed on me."
"They shouldn't need modifying," she shrugged, "anyway, I took today off work to, well, you know."
"And I really appreciate it, thank you," the mage replied.
For a moment, it looked as though neither could move from their spot on the scorching Shevezzi pavement, until Kanda finally broke the silence.
"I should really go read, before I have… two empty shells."
"Yes, and I…uhm, I don't actually know…what I'll…" she replied.
"You need to eat and replenish. You made me buy food, but didn't do anything for yourself," Kanda pointed out.
"No, I didn't, did I?" she said hazily, "I guess I should go…do…that, then."
Kanda scuffed the floor with a foot, willing his brain to find the right words.
"Are you at work tomorrow, or should I…could I…find you another way?"
Vazkyr looked up at him and she realised that she had long forgotten what the day was, along with a sense that she probably did not care. The last
twenty-three hours had been a blur of panic, teamwork, more panic and sudden rest at the medical wing. Kanda was naturally more rested after his treatment and confinement to the medical wing's bed. She yawned, stretched and rubbed her eyes.
"You know what? I'll take tomorrow off, too," she murmured, "I think I need sleep. Not in a chair this time."
Kanda chuckled.
"Well then the
logical and rational thing is to go and sleep, Vazkyr. Instead of me finding you, you know where I live, so you can visit if you like. The views are quite nice. Well, in two compass directions, anyway," he corrected himself.
Vazkyr frowned and arched her back, releasing tension with several satisfying pops. Stretching herself as near to upright as her fatigued frame would allow, she took on a stern voice and pointed at him.
"You get earning, Kanda-Nor," she instructed in mock judgement, "if you can prove you can earn thirty-to-fifty percent of the average cost of living in the city, the authorities will top up the rest. That top-up lasts three years and with each extra coin you earn, your grant reduces by the same amount. You will be assigned a Financial Guide to ensure that you earn the average cost of living, on a break-even basis or better, by the end of the three-year term."
"Is that so?" Kanda asked, stroking his very rough chin, "so, what you're saying is 'move into the city, you stupid man'?"
Vazkyr folded her arms across her chest and nodded, then allowed her face to relax once again.
"Yes, well, without the 'you stupid man' part," she chided, "you're quite clever, if you
actually remember to meet your own needs."
"Just 'quite' clever, eh?" Kanda laughed, "well I'll accept that advice if, and only if, you have met
your needs by tomorrow. Or more of them than right now."
Vazkyr stifled another yawn and shrugged.
"I don't know what you…mean. Oh, alright," she accepted begrudgingly, "I'll go and sleep."
Kanda glanced at the library entrance and back to her.
"I don't know the Shevezzi for 'good night', but you know the Foyiitùn for it," he replied with a smile that erred a little too close to snarky for Vazkyr's liking. Or was it closer to her liking?
"
Bern'itsaun," she nodded, "and, to answer your question: Byna Nactun."
"Byna Nactun, Vazkyr. And if you hear back about the Aevyormii, please let me know."
"I will," she confirmed, "now go and read more books before I reinstate the 'stupid man' thing," she smiled, shooing him away.
The mage nodded and made his way back through the now-familiar archway. As he disappeared, Vazkyr suddenly felt alone. She sighed and pulled her loose cloak tightly around her shoulders.
'Byna Nactun' indeed, she thought, shaking her head and smiling in mild disbelief,
his rough voice even makes him sound Shevezzi. Come on Vazkyr, let's sleep and clear your head.
It was a long walk back to her small apartment on the third level. The city did have a pulley-like system, but the citizens mostly preferred to remain on foot and use the ramps. Vazkyr often took the "Pulleys", despite feeling a bit like a sack of coal being lifted from the mines. Doing this, she avoided the crowds and their cross-purpose chatter. But at nearly sixteen Ur, she was at least three or four
Urs early for any of the workers to be heading back down.
The Pulleys would get me to sleep quicker, but I did tell Kanda I would look after my other needs too, she thought, wishing she could resent it,
why does everything have to be logical and rational?
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