Preparing to Explore

JP with Omni and Lorem

Voah lowered her pack to the ground.

“Perhaps we should find a place to stash our belongings…”

She turned to look at Gonyaul whose eyes were once again drinking in the wonder of the new environment around him.

“Temporarily while we have a look around, nnn? It simply won’t do us any favors carrying this gear around all over the city.”

She let out a sigh of relief and longing as she gazed around and her eyes rested on the domed building.

“Ah, I must admit… that structure calls to me… must be their temple.”

Gonyaul may have looked the local with his full coverage desert attire; however, his current excited behavior screamed tourist. Everything around them was new and interesting, even though in actuality it was old and in some cases worn away. The people though were not ancient ruins, but lively and colorful. He could have spent the rest of the day people watching in place and been perfectly content.

Gonyaul nodded in agreement to finding a place for their things. At first he was concerned this was going to be a monumental task, since they had little means for securing lodging. In the wilderness this wasn’t an issue, but he learned from his early days in Helias that civilized society usually frowned upon camping inside the city. There were so many places pocketed away in disrepair and abandoned that his original concern was instantly met with a plausible solution.

“Look like some structures are empty. Perhaps camp inside one and hide valuables? Then go talk to tower calling you, nnn?” He proposed.

Ocean eyes widened at the prospect of the adventure exploring the city.

“I can manage our valuables, we haven’t much. But the camping gear we can hide and leave behind for now. Unless… maybe we can set it up on the outskirts of the city?” She pondered aloud.

Of course he would help carry the valuables too.

“I think more notice a small tent outside city than hidden in city. I used to hide in plain sight many years in Helias.”

Gonyaul picked up the gear he had taken a short break from and beckoned Voah to follow.

“Come, I know how hide.” Technically he had successfully hidden in Helias and Ostarium for years without anyone finding out about him. Gonyaul had experience being invisible around others when he wanted to be.

He moved through the streets as if he knew where he was going. He of course did not; however, one major rule about blending in was to act like you were meant to be there. Adopt the ways of those around you too, so his eyes were scoping out the mannerism and body language of the people they could see. He was proving to be a convincing actor as he mimicked them.

Eventually he found an abandoned ruin, that may have been a room in a house or maybe a cellar, off the beaten path. He entered and scoped out the interior. It showed now signs of anyone currently utilizing it. This could be a suitable place for a temporary hiding spot.

He quietly lowered all his gear. And set about grabbing a red rock to start digging a hole. The rock crumbled upon exerting force loads on it. He tried another. It wasn’t until the seventh rock, one that was less red, that he was able to execute a hole sizable enough to place their camping materials.

Once everything was in he would cover it with the sand and dirt, smooth it out, and cover it with rumble in such a way to make it look natural. Meanwhile he left organizing the valuables for taking with them to Voah.

The ex-Arbiter usually walked with a sense of purpose, confidence and natural belonging, but she was very good at blending in and discussing herself when she needed to and provided she had the right materials. However, her pale white skin, now mostly healed from Vastad’s radiant sunburn, and her long blonde hair were a dead giveaway here in the Holy City. She kept herself mostly covered but her skin wasn’t wholly concealable and it would not be sustainable. For today she would manage.

While her betrothed hid their camping gear, Voah consolidated the other goods into a smaller, more manageable bundle which she slung across her back. The last pearl she kept tucked close to her person.

Together, the two headed closer to the domed building, all the while discreetly people watching and keeping an eye out for anything they might find useful to their situation.