Spring 10th 508AV
Adnaj's clinc was nearly ready to open. He had decided where to build, he targeted the niche population whom he would be best fit to serve and he had already begun to gather the necessary materials.
At this point, the only thing that he truly lacked was the money to sufficiently invest in all of the tools that he would need to host a responsible and safe health clinic. The fact that he was so close was killing him. Sure, he could bide his time and wait another five or so years but hadn't he waited long enough? Adnaj felt like a runner in the final stretch of a footrace. It was time to sprint these last few yards and begin to reap his rewards.
To this end, Adnaj had allowed himself to be drawn far away from his future clinic site. In fact, he was far away from Zeltiva. Truth be told, he was quite far from Syliria itself. Today, Adnaj found himself gazing upon the Gaping Maw. The city entrance was still a great deal away but it was visible. It had been a long trip and he didn't realize that his hosts had needed to pay a pod of Svefra to ensure safe crossing over the Suvan Sea. He was trying to make money and yet the trip had already cost him more Miza's than he had planned. This was the most frightening thing of all. He would have to bargain for more money upon his safe return to Zeltiva. Otherwise, this trip would actually cost him money!
Adnaj started to wonder about this promise which was strong enough to lure him to an entirely different region of Mizahar. A few months prior, Adnaj had been keeping his ear to the ground for different methods of earning some extra income. He didn't care whether the job required great bravery or incredible humility. If the job was reasonably safe, Adnaj was interested. Sometimes his sources led him to temporary, but backbreaking ,work by the docks. Today, however, he was fortunate enough to chase down a much larger job which had taken him across Mizahar.
Today was one of those more ambitious jobs. A wealthy Zeltivan socialite had sent an envoy to a powerful house in Alvadas. Travel in Mizahar was tough, this was nothing extraordinary but the gift never got there. The idea was simple. Adnaj had, simply to take some rich man's bribe to another powerful figure in a different city. He had remained vigilant throughout all of his trip but didn't feel particularly worried. Again, traveling in Mizahar was dangerous. Everyone knew this. Adnaj simply chalked it up to bad luck on the part of his predecessor.
As he approached the very distant Gaping Maw, however, he came across a sight that he did not expect to see. It was a man, his clothes were torn and he looked ragged and tired. He appeared to be traveling with a horse but the horse did not appear to be in much better shape. Whatever this man had been through, it had certainly fatigued him. He needed to get back to Alvadas sooner than later.
"What happened?" Adnaj tried to ask, his voice seemingly sucked dry of any emotion or excitement. He immediately reached for his supplies, wanting to have his tools close by, just in case.