[Flashback] A Chance Meeting (Vizyous)

[Veldrys]

Autumn 20, 502 AV He needed to get away. Kalinor had become to small for the young Symenestra. He was tired of being stuck in his Web’s house all the time, tired of being confined to the city. While his sister was fairly content with her life and saw no need to leave her comfortable home, he wanted to see the world. He wanted to explore. He wanted to find out what the world beyond the underground city looked like. His parents‘ constant conversations about how they wanted to go on a Harvest and find a surrogate for their third child were getting on his nerves. Besides, the stories that the traders that visited his father occasionally told, were so very tempting. He snuck out while they were away, going to the market to buy food and a new dress for his sister. He didn’t take a lot with him, just a few fruit and the book on magic he’d received from a surface dweller a few months prior. He wouldn’t be gone for long, not this time, but he intended to spend the remainder of the day outside, under the sky. This time at least he would be back before they all went to bed so that they wouldn’t have to worry too much. He moved through the city quickly, across the cords of silk that formed the streets of Kalinor. Today he had decided not to use the woven gate, worried that the guards might wonder why a boy his age travelled alone, but use an alternate exit. Instead he chose one of the exits that only a Symenestra could use. Rather than taking the shortest way through the underground, the young Symenestra jumped from rock to rock though, extending a multitude of microscopic hooks from his skin so that he would not fall. Soon the initial purpose of his little trip – the desire to see what was above Kalinor – was almost forgotten. He found he enjoyed this, almost too much. He laughed in joy, and then, worried that he might be noticed, he aburptly fell silent again and simply continued his journey. A wall that was almost completely straight was in front of him now, and there was a tiny plateau high above him. He took a deep breath, and then he started to climb, slowly, carefully, until he had reached the top.

[Vizyous Aconitum]

His back was turned to the gaping entrance of Kalinor but his ears were alert, awaiting for the sound of another climbing. Vizyous sat dressed in what he considered his best clothes, a dark brown silk blouse and black trousers, hair gathered into a small braid. His amethyst eyes were the most striking though, lit bright with happiness and anticipation when they turned towards the entrance, or exit, of Kalinor. Only a Symenestra could be coming, and Vizyous knew, just knew, that it had to be her. As strict as his mother was when it came to him acting appropriate, her tongue was only harsh when it came to them being together in public. What he did in private she didn't seem to care, only complaining when it was brought to her ears by another adult, so Vizyous made sure that this definitely wouldn't be seen by another and made their meeting place an area scarcely visited during midday. When hair the wrong shade of color popped into view though, Vizyous swiftly ducked to the side, panic striking through him. If someone spotted him out here and later found out Nisea came here also, it would be a very ugly experience to go back home; his Web, his mother in particular, discouraged him talking with any girl before he sired a child from a surrogate. She was extremely against the Symenestra's own women bearing children, and tried to stop Vizyous from getting close to any girls lest he get any funny ideas. No, it was best to try and keep out of sight, but that was hard to do when so close to the cave entrance. His efforts landed him conspicuously plastered partially off the ground and against the rock beside the hole the strange climbed out of, pale hair blending in with the rough stone as well as fire blended with the forest. Vizyous remained quiet, though, nervous to move any further lest he make a noise.

[Veldrys]

Veldrys had no idea that somebody else was out here, somebody that had just as strong a desire to keep his activities a secret as he did, albeit for a different reason. Women and everything associated with them were still far from the boy’s mind. He just lived for the excitement and suffered from an insatiable thirst for adventure. He was dozens of metres above the ground now, so high that any who walked below would just look like small dots. He stood completely still – or rather hung half there – and dared to look down at the wall he had already climbed. The sight was enough to even make the head of a Symenestra who was used to such things spin a little. But still, he continued to look, in a desire to overcome his own fears, to prove that he could. Maybe he would travel into the opposite direction the next time he left Kalinor, he decided. He had once asked his father what was on the ground, below Kalinor, but his father had claimed that there wasn’t anything of interest, that people just dumped their garbage there. He didn’t believe this. He had to see the bottom of the cave for himself and find out if it was really only covered with garbage or if strange creatures lived there. But for now he climbed higher and higher until he reached the hole. Here he hesitated again, and then he climbed out and took a look around. He didn’t see the stranger right away. His mind was still too occupied with the climb and with what he would find on the other side of the hole. But when he did, he froze. He stared at the boy that was besides the rock that was next to the hole. Not a single word left the young Symenestra’s mouth. He hadn’t expected anybody to be there. And then, finally, he asked, "Who are you? And what are you doing here?" From the look on Veldrys‘ face Vizyous could tell that the other boy was just as nervous as he was. In fact Veldrys looked as if he was about to just climb back into the hole for a moment.

[Vizyous Aconitum]

The sudden attention focused on himself wasn't a surprise, yet it still sent a jolt of panic throughout Vizyous' body, making his sensitive claws clench against the stone. With an inward wince, the boy unconsciously flattened himself further against he wall, as if trying to sink into it and become hidden.

"M-my name--!" His voice seemed to leak of discomfort, both from craning his neck to look at the boy and at the situation, "It doesn't matter what my name is, j-just--" The boy lowered his voice suddenly, remembering that others weren't supposed to know he was outside of Kalinor, "... wait..."

With slow movement and reluctance written plainly across Vizyous' faces, he retreated from the small height of the wall back to the ground, keeping suspicious eyes on the boy that looked as nervous as himself. "I'm not supposed to be here," Vizyous caught himself, "t-that is, it's not a big deal! It's doesn't matter what my mother thinks of this, I mean, she wouldn't be mad! S-so..." The Symenestra's face was brightened red in embarrassment, "...so, she doesn't need to be told, or anything like that, okay?"

[Veldrys]

As Vizyous began to stammer, Veldrys tilted his head a little to the side and looked at him as if he were confused, as if he didn’t know at all what to make of him. He seemed more than just nervous. He seemed to be almost mortally afraid, and Veldrys had no idea why that was the case. What could possibly have warranted such a reaction? Had he stolen something? Was he doing something illegal? „Not supposed to be here?“ Veldrys asked. „I’m not supposed to be here either. At least I don’t think so.“ He furrowed his brow a little, pretending to think about it. Unlike Vizyous Veldrys had regained his composure relatively quickly. As far as he concerned, feigning confidence was best in such a situation. It was best to let Vizyous think that he wasn’t particularly worried about anything, even if the opposite was the case. „What should your mother think about this?“ he wanted to know. „You are just climbing around a bit outside the city, aren’t you?“ He looked at Vizyous for confirmation, although he wasn’t sure if the other boy was capable of answering such a question at the moment. „Sure“, he agreed as Vizyous informed him that his mother didn’t have to be told. „I don’t know who you are anyway, so I can’t tell her because I don’t know her name either.“

[Vizyous Aconitum]

The boys questions weren't very accusatory, but curious, so by the time that he had finished speaking Vizyous had regained some composure. Well, enough to properly speak anyways, but his body still had a cold sweat on it from being frightened.

"Vizyous," he introduced himself, descending from the short distance he'd climbed up the wall, "of the Aconitum Web." It sounded important, but the boy had little interest in greetings and small talk. He began walking further away from the entrance their home, expecting the other boy to follow.

Although, and maybe he should have thought of this before walking away, would Nisea be able to find him? He gnawed on his lip in confusion over what to do, but in the end he continued moving further away, hoping that she would be able to. His new company seemed interesting enough, and even though Vizyous didn't want to admit it, life was sort of lonely in Kalinor.

A new friend wasn't such a distasteful thought.

"Come on!" He yelled back, voice a mix of excitement and concern, "We don't want to get caught, right?" And what easier way to get caught than to linger around the entrance of a nest of grown-ups?

[Veldrys]

The other boy seemed to calm down a little bit which was something that Veldrys definitely approved of. If Vizyous hadn’t regained his composure, he’d have been forced to question his sanity or wonder if he had done something illegal. He hadn’t expected Vizyous to actually introduce himself though. He’d been so worried about people finding out before! That he did, brought a smile small to Veldrys‘ face. "Veldrys, of the Vervain Web", the future healer replied. Since Vizyous had introduced himself, Veldrys saw no reason to withhold his name. He wanted to say more, but then Vizyous had already moved away from the cave entrance. He didn’t seem to be particularly talkative. Veldrys stood there for a moment, wondering what he was supposed to do now, and then he shrugged his shoulders and decided to follow. He still didn’t know what Vizyous had been doing here, and that was something that he definitely wanted to find out! "Caught?" he repated and made a face. "No, definitely not! Let’s go!" He’d jus been about to run away and spend the whole day on the surface, but maybe it was better that he didn’t and spent some time with Vizyous instead. He quickened his pace so that he could catch up with Vizyous. "Where are we going though?" he wanted to know.