Once Empty Streets

JP with Lorem and Omni

Daylight was waning and the couple reached the part of town in which the widow had directed them.

The bad taste this city had left in Voah’s mouth since arriving was starting to fade in spite of herself as her senses were teased with the nightlife of Gra’akast. She lived for exploration of new places, new experiences, and if it wasn’t for being located in Arcadia and all that came with that she would have already fallen in love with the place.

The once empty cobbled streets of this newly reclaimed neighborhood were now bursting to life with people engaged in all manner of activities.

New signs crafted of cloth or woven plant material were painted and adorned with words and images. They were hung along the arcades lining a row of shops that were abandoned not more than a week ago. Men and women stood along the street or sat at tables dining, drinking, and smoking; many still behind their scarves and deep in conversation. Others walked along carrying recent purchases.

The warm scents of spices, meats, and baked goods filled their nostrils. It wasn’t long before they came upon the very thing they were seeking.

As Voah and Gonyaul passed an alleyway they heard jaunty music piping from a reed instrument played by a woman perched on the stairs in an alcove. In front of her squatted a group of four other men enthralled by some event taking place on the ground in the stone circle they surrounded.

While Gonyaul was known to be able to perform intensively impressive durations of meditative focus, when he wasn’t meditating Voah had discovered he was easily led astray by his imagination and curiosity. The multitude and variety of sights, sounds and smells was a buffet of sensory delights that tickled his daydreaming tendencies into writhing about. His eyes were wide and captivated, trying to soak it all in.

Unlike Voah, he had somehow reframed his thinking to have no pressing concerns or anxiety at present. He was carefree and living in the moment; specifically exercising enjoyment. The idea that they technically were fugitives from where they came, as well as where they currently were, was lost on him. True, it was more so Voah than him; however, he could easily be caught up in the consequences due to his association and assistance.

He had been walking, as two lovers might, holding hands with Voah. Initially his pace was in step with hers; however, upon his attention getting pulled in several different directions, he started falling behind. A pull from her hand to speed him up or to help him avoid a collision as he walked while looking elsewhere was becoming more frequent. When they reached their desired destination, Voah was focused on the task at hand and Gonyaul was staring off into space watching how the woman’s mouth and hands drew music from the reed instrument.