Just as he got down the steps a younger blonde came up the steps with an apron on, half done hair and more stains on his clothes than kids after a fight with paint brushes. He almost collided with Nidian as he failed to watch in front of his hurried feet.

  "Woah! So sorry sir, I'm running late and I really do not want Torrel flogging me for missing work- I'm sorry, manners, gah. I'm Malles. Wait are you Nidian? The city boy? I-"

  Nidian was almost dazed by the barrage of words and held a hand out., "Yeah that's me." He interrupted, trying to keep a polite tone.

  The teenager smiled and shook Nidian's hand weakly but with a haste none could match. "Happy to meet you! Torrel said I needed to show you around and help with your errand."

  "Oh, he did? I'm sure I can handle it no problem. He thinks I'm going to run off doesn't he?" Nidian asked with firm brows.

  The boy shook his leg in place, a level of energy that forced him to stay in motion one way or another. Nidian could tell the conversation was going to drag on if he kept entertaining it.

  "Yeah, just a bit, but if it means anything to you I don't think that! You're from Hoharo right? Those folks are always so nice and honest I bet-"

  "Hey I don't want to be late, how about we get going?" Nidian interjected, trying to save his ears from falling off.

  "Oh shoot yeah! I don't want to cause trouble for you, right this way!"

  Malles started down the road, keeping Nidian in tow as they strolled down the main road toward the temple's steps.

  Nidian found himself keeping close to the hyper fellow, there was a multitude of stares from some of the village folk. Nothing malicious, but intruige rather. "So Hoharo, that's cool, I was from Delenar. It's cool to see someone from another city!" Malles broke the silence between them as they walked down the cobbled street.

  Nidian could see the tall stained glass tower of the temple in the distance. A small conversation couldn't hurt. "Yeah, likewise. Torrel said you got..uh-"

  "Banished? Exiled? Kicked out? Yeah. I took a big interest in cooking and baking. It's an art. The city wasn't super supportive in my passion though. I ended up learning a lot from Maverick folks in secret. I ended up trying to share some of their amazing culinary feats with the elders. Safe to assume how that went."

  Nidian had to confirm what he heard, "You got cast out because you learned to cook something Maverick's do?"

  Malles nodded rapidly and laughed, "Yeah, turns out they really, really hate them. After the lot I met I couldn't believe how poorly the Kordhan speak of them. Even more so now. Torrel and Ae took me in and my talents are more than appreciated here. Life isn't really much different if not just better out here. Sure it's more dangerous, harder to survive. But I actually feel loved, and like I'm wanted for my passions."

  Nidian had to silently mull over his words. Hearing a Maverick tell him the Kordhan was full of lies and how much nicer it was out here was one thing. But a former Kordish citizen concurring was a lot harder to be skeptical of. It raised a lot of questions. But before he could ask Malles' input they arrived at the massive wooden doors to the building.

  "Well here's your stop! Good luck, I'll see you tonight!" Malles departed quickly, Nidian left standing alone at the front of the temple.

  He hesitantly pressed on the large door as it scratched along the stone floor. The thing weighed at least eight times what he did, He forced it back shut behind him and dropped his jaw at the beauty of the inside. They had obsidian floors with blue, silk carpet leading up to the altar with what was undeniably a statue of Naviirah, their goddess of the Northern Gale. He slowly approached it as the satchel slid off his shoulder down into his hand. The bright wood trusses holding up the massive arching stained glass panes let a symphony of colored light through. Each ray dazzling a different portion of the silver statue. No one knew what the goddess truly looked like, so an effigy containing a feather with flower petals sprouting from it sitting upon a vague seed shape was in her place. The seed had almost the vague appearance of an eye, roots below that holding it to its stone pedestal. Offerings of gold, Amerui, and plants adorned it's base. He slowly knelt at it and pulled the journal from the pocket of his trousers, the one thing that survived Hoharo along with him. He opened it and flipped to a page with drawings and notes, some legible to him, others masked by a language unknown.

  "Why us your gentleness? Why has the city of unity been forsaken and left to burn at the hands of demons. What wrong was done to deserve this. Help me make sense of it all." He whispered.

  "Can I help you young man?" A voice called from ahead. Nidian was quick to attend to the addressing of his name. "Oh, um yes, well no..I..." He stuttered as he stumbled to his feet. "I have a delivery from Torrel." He skipped introduction and hoped to just jump to business. Hoping his prayers weren't being observed from the start.

  "Ah, it must be the herbs we need so desperately, Navi bless our souls. I can tell just by your observation you are confused as to why there is a statue of our goddess within our town hm?" The elderly man humorously poked. His shaky body slowly walked up to Nidian taking the satchel from him as he gazed back up at the statue. The man was nearly bald save for a braid or two near the back of his head, The silver hair tucked behind his large deep blue robe, a golden button with Navi's insignia weaved into the seam of the sleeve. "I saw a prayer as well if my eyes haven't gone awry on me yet. Are you in need of council young man?"

  Nidian with a gaping jaw let the bag go without a fuss and slowly looked between the effigy and the curiously waiting eyes of the monk, his greyed out irises studying his every move. He shuffled and rubbed his hands along his pants nervously. "I'm honestly just at a loss for words..everything the Kordhan warned me about is turned on its head. I grew up hearing horror stories about how evil and scary it is out here."

  Nidian gripped his arm as the guilt of his assumptions weighed in. "But since I got here I've been shown nothing but compassion."

  The man stared with the most smug grin as his head shook slightly from a loss of motor control. His eyes widening as he looked downward a bit to avoid eye contact "Ah, a city boy."

  Nidian's mouth cinched shut with a disgruntled wrinkle. "Why does everyone keep calling me out on that?"

  A bony finger with pronounced veins was pointed toward Nidian's chest, "Because it's painfully obvious and it hurts more to watch you attempt to hide it young man, I already can tell Torrel knew the moment you shook his hand. You need to work on your grip, it's weak." The man slowly enunciated slowly with a taunting twist.

  Nidian fumbled his fingers and just kept quiet, everyone in this town so far was all on the same page, it was like they all were subconsciously linked almost. The man inhaled deeply and sat down on a wooden pew before patting the space next to him.

  Nidian sat down, still a good foot taller than the hunching man. "So...why are we taught that you are a bunch of savages with no respect for Naviirah, that you all are merciless thugs. Why would they slander you all for such things? Why would you have been cast out in the first place?"

  "Because they are afraid. The Cross of Kordhan was founded on a strict set of principles. Peace through unity. But it came at the cost of everyone fitting a mold. While many swear their unwavering loyalty, many during their pilgrimages are not satisfied with the calling they are given. You look young, I presume you haven't taken yours?"

  Nidian shook his head, saddened. The Pilgrimage was a rite of passage for a Kordish civilian. A spiritual trek into the wilds with nothing but faith, Navi helping you find your calling in society. It was important and Nidian was eager for his, but this man made it seem terrible.

  "I haven't no, but I was preparing for it. I'll be eighteen next year around the first wind. Why would I not accept my calling? It's an honor to be blessed with one."

  The old priest chuckled, "Well? What's the most invigorating, self fulfilling thing you can think of that you'd excel in?"

  Nidian didn't need to think on it at all, he knew, and outside the city walls for the first time he could say it without being arrested.

  "History Scholar. Study and understand the history of our world. See the ruins our ancestors left behind, uncover their greatest triumphs in their time."

  "Well that's great. But~ I think you'd make a much better farm hand, or stable boy." The man smiled, leaning toward him.

  "What? Why?" Nidian asked. He may have been one already but he couldn't help but feel insulted.

  The man teetered his head side to side, 'Well because I said so. Doesn't matter why."

  Nidian caught on rather fast, "I see what you're doing. But, why would they be so worried about someone wanting to do something else? Especially if it doesn't break any laws."

  "Orlentius Kordhan united these lands together long ago, We once were a multitude of warring tribes and he unified us. Free spirits can cause discord so he said. As such they protect their interests for the greater good in their eyes. So we are separated from individuality. We do our part by doing as asked. Those of us who don't are removed from their society. Which is why I must ask young man what are you doing praying out here if you are from a city?"

  Nidian looked down a moment and twiddled his fingers. "Hoharo is gone. I alone survived for all I know. If you think me liar you can ask Torrel."

  The man was baffled. "I...I don't know how to answer that. I don't think of you as a liar. I've heard many a couriers and passersby mention it, and ask for blessings."

  Nidian scrunched his shoulders and stood up.

  "My boy, how did Hoharo fall? I've only heard rumors." The cleric looked up, the doom was already in his eyes. Something in him knew it couldn't be by ordinary means..

  Nidian clenched his fist as he stopped halfway down the isle, the monk had looked over his shoulder in wait for the boy's response.

  "Dragons burned the entire city to the ground." He said with conviction. He didn't really care what the man thought and he didn't stop to think if sharing the news was the best idea. "Thank you for your time but I need to get back to Torrel's." Nidian left in a hurry and the monk pondered the horrific answer.

  He looked to the side and noticed the worn cover. Despite his opposition to breaching privacy he opened the journal left on the statue. His eyes slowly became alarmed as he read over the notes. Strange languages, runes, forbidden texts of all sorts. Something dark was on the horizon of Daemora.