Exploring a new Home (Ingvar Dalanos)

[Chembalo]

Timestamp: 15th of Summer 513 AV, afternoon

A fresh breeze was carrying the scent of the sea over into the city of Zeltiva. It was afternoon of a pleasant day early in summer. The mountains and forests surrounding the city created an astonishing view.

Chembalo stood in the middle of a road, taking it all in. He closed his eyes and breathed in through through his nose. Amazing. He had entered Zeltiva mere three days ago and was already confident that he would love the city. At least compared with Syliras.
Even though he was not actively aware of it at the time, because he knew nothing else, he now realised that he had hated his old home. It was too crowded. There were so many busy people there, he could not even have left his room in his true form without fear of getting trampled. And it smelled. Badly. Very much so.

Compared with that Zeltiva seemed like the perfect place to Chembalo. Since his arrival he had not gotten much done. The long and dangerous journey by Caravan had exhausted him, and he had used his time mostly to recover and to get to know the immediate surroundings of his student apartment at the university.
But now, while he was waiting for his class-applications to be processed, he was determined to explore the city.
So he had started to take a walk off the campus grounds. He saw fisherman, traders, merchants, sailors and buildings that looked much more friendly to him than the cold, hard stone of the Stormhold Citadel.
Not realising that it would be a good idea to remember where he was going, he soon had absolutely no idea where he was. Each time particularly good smell waved by, he stopped and lost track of himself.

That last breeze reminded him of the sea and he looked around. Stunned, he noticed he couldn't see it anymore. And it finally kicked in: he was lost.

[Ingvar Dalanos]

And why not have a day off? Not that there's much to do at the University - Professor Destmortus' busy with something, and I can't access the rings yet. Good day for a nice nap - Summer might be hot and all, but this sea breeze makes it bearable.

Ingvar was relaxing on a wooden chair he had set up next to his small cottage half a bell away from the hustle and bustle of Zeltiva, facing the Matthews Bay, watching the ships move in and out. Taking a drink of water from a mug, Ingvar was about to set the mug down by his side and start his nap before he heard the crunch of soil being stepped on.

Curious to see who it was, as not many people would pass by his cottage, Ingvar turned around, seeing a man appearing to be lost.

Red hair? Inarta? Might be. Anyway, I'd best help him. Not that I have anything else to do...

"Hello there, stranger! Need any help?"

[Chembalo]

Chembalo turned around to see who had called out to him. It was a man sitting on a chair next to one of the cottages that filled the area. He had long auburn hair and a gentle face. Chembalo didn't question his intentions. Even though the Kelvic looked like any other adult, he had not gotten around enough in his three years to know that not every gentle faced stranger is trustworthy. That was the price for the sort of sheltered childhood that could get even a Kelvic an education.

"Hello. Yes, I do. I have no idea where I am. I mean, this is still Zeltiva, right?"

He was not expecting to have gotten actually that far away from the city. But he didn't want to seem like an utter fool either, who had no idea where in all of Mizahar he was.

[Ingvar Dalanos]

"You're closer to the Zastoska Mountains than Zeltiva, mate. But it's only a short walk to the Denali quarter. Do you need me to take you there?"

He must be new to Zeltiva. You don't see much people over here, but I still don't see any Zeltivan worth his salt forgetting where he is in this area.

"Name's Ingvar, by the way. Nice to meet you."

[Chembalo]

"It is a pleasure to meet you Ingvar. I am Chembalo," he said while walking over to the man’s cottage and presenting his hand for a shake.
"I am new in Zeltiva, my caravan arrived here just three days ago. Today I decided to take a closer look at my new home, so I started walking. I seem to have lost track of myself somewhere along the way. The landscape is amazing, don't you think?"
He cast a look at the mountains again, but quickly noticed what he was doing and turned to Ingvar again. "I would be really grateful if you could show me the way back to Zeltiva."

Speaking to Ingvar, his look fell upon his cottage. Typical for someone new in Zeltiva it caught Chembalos attention how diverse the architecture around there was. That is, he had noticed how different the buildings looked. First the classical structures at the library, then the modern buildings at the harbor and now the common cottages. He did not know why or exactly how they were different, but he was vaguely aware that it was unlike Syliras, where all had looked mostly the same to him.

Now he wondered what else he would see on his way back with Ingvar, when he would be trying not to get distracted all the time.