Nidian arrived around noon to the heart of Hoharo, a city he had called home since birth. The air filled with noises of life and commerce, many talented groups of bards freely played beautifully upbeat melodies to keep everyone smiling and enjoying the day, and maybe earn a coin or two. He smiled and hummed to the strummed beat of the flutes and lutes that graced his ears with such inspiring music. He politely pushed through crowds of fellow civilians, exploring the lovely day, trying to get to a produce stall. Normally people would have to go through multiple conversations with friends and kin in the market they came across before completing their tasks. Nidian to his relief was glad he wasn't personally known by many. Everyone always smiled and treated him with a stranger's kindness and that was all he desired.

  After a few more crowds and a push past the central pond in the middle of the district he found a large stall with a brilliantly; yellow colored, cloth roofed, wooden stall. Under the shade of the awning extending from the stall he looked at multiple woven baskets of grain and fruit. He picked a few up and examined their condition, however just as always the city of Delenar had excellent imports, always fresh harvests. He scanned for just a single imperfection to stop his astonishment with the produce; a pure, smooth, ruby red surface on the round, stemmed Jib fruit. Suddenly from behind a sturdy and loud voice shouted in his ear,

  "Nidian my boy, how have you been these past two moons! I haven't seen you in so long I almost thought one of the Korlar made a snack out of you!"

  Nidian yelped and dropped the fruit on the ground as he leapt in the air, he flipped around just as he landed on his feet, his empty rough sack hitting the side of his head as it swung around with him. He stared wide eyed at the old man. The grandpa shorter than him by a foot and still so much louder.

  "Saudafi you cannot keep catching me off guard like that." Nidian sighed holding his hand to his chest, gripping his shirt firmly.

  "Whatever do you mean boy? I simply greeted you, though I must say you're more jumpy than usual. Something the matter?" Saudafi replied wityh volume, an eye brow raised with suspicion. This guy knew Nidian like the back of his hand. It was no easy feat to keep secrets from him.

  "No, not particularly. Just a rough start to the morning." Nidian muttered inaudibly under his breath. "But I know you know why I'm here, like every other week."

  The stoutly built geezer laughed in a deep tone. "Well I assume it is to do business Nidian, your parents have always supplied the finest steeds on Daemora, but by Navi do you lot spoil them. I've never seen Korlar go through so much feed."

  He cackled as he prodded Nidian's chest firmly to the rhythm of his words whilst staring up into his eyes; Nidian's head reared back in slight discomfort as he felt the thick, callous finger through his thin clothing.

  "Yup that's why I'm here. Dunno how you guessed, perhaps the fact I'm in the market district with a grain bag?" Nidian replied with a stifled breath. Saudafi had always been part of Nidian's life, however sometimes he just couldn't stand the old guy.

  "You know I've known your family a long time and I miss the old times when we all gathered together for festivals and plenty of other occasions. I know I'm a crazy old guy now but I was a bit more sane in my prime. I watched you grow from the baby you began as to the wonderful man you are now, you had amazing parents and I miss them dearly."

  Saudafi said with a nostalgic tone, slowly descending into one of sorrow. He smiled regretfully as he looked Nidian in the eye.

  Nidian looked down a moment and shuffled his right foot a bit, "Yeah...I miss my parents too Saudafi. I would do anything to get them back."

  "They blessed you with wonderful Cardinal feathers." Saudafi complimented, his rough hands gently touching the bright orange and neon green feathers on Nidian's neck.

  Nidian chuckled with a hint of despair, the gentle touch making him look into his family friend's eyes. "Yeah, I guess they did.

  "Well we needn't sob about that now my boy, they are in the grace of Naviirah, our dearest goddess of life now and after. Their spirits smile upon this day as we breathe. Now how about we fill that empty sack with some Millweed." Saudafi quickly said as he closed his sentence with a firm clap of his hands. He grabbed a large wooden scoop from a barrel of grain and scooped it out by the pound and held his hand out for Nidian's bag.

  Nidian smiled silently and took the bag off his back and handed it to Saudafi gently. The old man took it firmly by one edge and let it drape open and poured the scoop's contents into the burlap sack. He filled it halfway full and set the scoop down before tying the twine seal at the top of the bag. He picked it up with relative ease and handed it to Nidian. He grabbed the bag and as he took it he lost his balance momentarily.

  "Woah this is a bit more than normal. How much is this gonna cost?" Nidian looked at the grinning old man with a nervous look.

  Saudafi's grin only got bigger as he put his hands behind his back. "Free of charge this time around kiddo, you endure my babbling far more than anyone else and it is appreciated, and we are kinda family in a way, gotta take care of each other."

  Nidian sprouted a soft smile on his lips and his eyes tightened with joy, "you don't need to do that for me Saudafi, it's fine rea-"

  Saudafi stuffed a Jib fruit in Nidian's mouth and put a finger against it, "Hush child, take my gift, no one is too humble to take gifts, you sure cut it close though Nidian." he chuckled and happily hopped back behind his stall's shelves, "Now take care boy, fatten up those Korlar!"

  Nidian took the fruit from his mouth and turned away to walk out from the stall, unsure how to respond to what just happened. Right before turning the corner he turned around subtly to face the old man organizing things, "Thanks Saudafi, you mean a lot to me."

  Saudafi just looked up and smiled as he kept working as Nidian went on his way to get a few more things around town. Now walking through the even busier than before streets; tried to navigate towards the smith, various stable tools were in desperate need of repair. The sun was now reaching around its peak, the heat beating down on the town. Many people began to depart towards the irrigation district to cool off near the large bodies of water. As the crowd thinned out he took a sigh of relief, he was not fond of crowds. He shuffled along the stone pathways of the city; a beautiful collage of brick, stone, gravel, and various minerals.

  He caught his reflection in one of the numerous decorative ponds, he stared at himself, seeing the edges of the feathers Saudafi had complimented. It was strange, boys his age seldom had such developed sizes and colors. Cardinal feathers typically came in full at a far older age. Perhaps he grew up too fast like too many folks had said.

  Without the time to properly react Nidian was tossed to the side as a three Korlar barreled by. Their rough pelts brushing into him, knocking him off his feet. He hit the brick with a thud drawing a sharp breath to capture some of the wind that had been knocked from his lungs. The heavy yet hollow pain of the blunt trauma aggravating his spine. He caught only a glimpse of who was riding atop them. One gazed back at him, a dark metal mask resembling the silhouette of starstalker's face. Eyes in odd asymmetrical places throughout the long sharp shape of their face. It was unnerving. What intent or face laid behind it was unknown. The person being pursued however was not. It was Neiraan.

  A woman wearing a bright blue dress rushed Nidian's side, helping him to his feet. 'My goodness are you alright dear? Those men nearly killed you!" She beamed at him with a mother's concern.

  "Y-yeah, I'm ok, just a tad dazed. And sore.." He replied dismissing the severe pinching pain in his neck. He wanted to throw up from how bad it hurt, his stomach twisting in knots.

  "They had no business racing through here.. They certainly didn't seem like Kordish soldiers either.." She whispered to herself.

  Others followed, closing in on the scene murmuring and questioning what had happened. Gasps and sounds of awe as worries about Maverick infiltration or a robbery spread. Nidian held his head and slowly walked away from the woman, the whispers flooding into his mind, echoing off the walls within. Neiraan's rantings began to grow far more concerning. It made him rethink how he had handled the situation. If he had helped maybe he wouldn'tm have just been chased out of town by who knows who.. Nidian stirred, trying to think of what to do. The guards wouldn't provide any assistance to a Maverick in trouble.. He needed that journal.

  Looking ahead to navigate out of the clamor he laid eyes on the smith he went to quite frequently for repairs and replacements on his stable's tools. The smith was outside the door, those steely eyes beaming at him, nodding him over. Nidian looked side to side, looking to see who else he was likely calling to. Nobody else was present to acknowledge him. All too busy with their theories and worries of the event. Nidian shrunk his shoulders inward and made his way over as the smith slipped back inside.

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