20 Summer 518; 17th Bell
As Syna began to depart from the skies, descending towards the western horizon, the fog blanketing Lhavit took on a surreal hue of pink and orange, casting the grand buildings in a similar light. Velindor had finished his duties at the Catholicon for the day, and was determined to do some actual exploration of the city. He had heard, from various patients and passerby, of the magnificence of the Bharani Library, conveniently located upon the same peak as Velindor’s place of employment. Garbed in his traditional silk clothing, the Symenestra made his way through the fog in search of the grand structure. While lesser beings’ eyes had difficulty penetrating the cloudy blanket, Velindor’s vision was designed to penetrate even the murkiest depths of Kalinor. While the fog was noticeable to him, it was not quite thick enough to truly impede his navigation.
During the Dusk Rest, the streets of Lhavit were beginning to fill as the daytime workers left their posts, ceding their work to the evening shift. As such, Velindor quickly found himself awash in a river of bodies that pressed closer even than the omnipresent gloom of the fog. With a grimace, the Symenestra made use of his height and slender figure to weave through the crowd. The library should be around here, he thought, scanning the surrounding edifices for his destination. After several chimes of fruitless searching, Velindor made the decision to swallow his pride and simply ask for directions. Putting on his best fake smile, he tried to garner the attention of various passerby. But each, in turn, regarded him with either fear or suspicion, most often a mix of both. Then, following that cursory glance without fail, came the silent dismissal as the native Lhavitians went about their business.
Of course, Velindor thought with a sour taste upon his tongue, who could ever be bothered to give directions to a Symenestra? Honestly, you’d think these simpletons expect me to bite them at any moment! To be fair, he was rather famished, his stomach grumbling in protest against the strict diet Alessia had foisted upon him. Fruit or soups only. No meats, certainly not freshly killed. And, worst of all, he was allowed to eat only every third day so as to maintain the potency of his venom for Alessia’s mysterious research into the deadliest trait of any pure Symenestra. Petching woman, he thought in disgust as he rounded yet another corner, no closer whatsoever to the library.
Allowing himself a sigh of exasperation, Velindor sought out the next stranger, though the one he found appeared rather distinctive. A human with a long mane of red hair, shot through in one place with white. The man was shorter than Velindor, though this was hardly unusual, especially in Lhavit, and he carried himself with an air of confidence and composure. If Velindor didn’t know better, he would guess this human to be one of proper education and upbringing, though he supposed looks could be deceiving. Plastering the smile across his face once more, Velindor reached out to tap the man on the shoulder. “Excuse me, good sir,” he began, his voice pleasant but with the raspy undertone common to his species, “could you perhaps be so kind as to point me towards the...Bharani? Yes, the Bharani library? I seem to have taken a wrong turn or six.” At his quip, Velindor let out a small but genuine chuckle, hoping that a display of good humor would at least win him the good graces of this stranger and secure his help.
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