Welcome to Gaia! ::

The main city in the center of the continent, where the dark king rules. The streets are dark, guards in black patrol the town, bringing fear into the hearts of everyone. The sky always seems to be grey. The houses are in horrid condition, and the majority of people are stricken with poverty. The taxes sucking the money of the people away. Theivery is commonplace in the city.

Wandering through the streets at this gloomy hour was a tall, tanned man only a few years older than twenty. He held a melancholy gaze, just like every other person in this town, in his misty bluish-gray eyes. The only things bright on this man was a shining ruby in the pommel of his sword, which hung from his ebony belt, intimidating despite its sheathed state. The other things were a golden band around his left ring finger and a silver ankh choker around his neck. An oak bow and quiver was strapped to his back, ready to use at a moment's notice.

A red shirt covered his strong torso and arms loosely and black pants clung to his muscular legs like a second skin. Dark brown boots sheltered his feet comfortably as he walked, somehow noiselessly, upon the cobblestone street. This man had shoulder-length hair the color of a raven's feathers. This morning was the first morning of his semi-freedom. He had lived out his service in the King's Guard, finally, after five long, hellish years. Still, he considered just living in Aroshia a surrendering of freedoms.

What to do now, where to go? He had no family whatsoever to return to. He wanted to leave this place, but where would he go? To his hometown, Fallenshine? He didn't want to go there just yet.

For the time being, he'd bide his time within the city, until he found somewhere to move on to. Right now, he walked past vendors selling their wares to the various townspeople. He spotted a short person in hooded clothing in front of him, it seemed to be a girl, stealing an apple from one of the stands. The man selling the apples didn't notice, but he did. Should he say something?

"Hey!" he called out to the girl in a loud voice. He ran forward a couple of steps and grabbed at the back of the girl's shoulder, trying to get a firm grip on her.

Vieno took his hand back slowly. It was apparent that he had scared this girl badly. He held a remorseful look in his eyes as he looked at the trembling girl. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." he apologized, "forgetting" about the stolen fruit. It was just one apple, it wasn't worth terrifying someone over.

Vieno stood there for a moment, blinking a few times as he watched the girl run away. He was the sort that didn't want to be misunderstood, as he knew he was then. He dashed after her, sword bouncing against his thigh with each stride he took. His powerful legs pushed him along quickly, causing him to catch up with her. He took hold of the girl's forearm this time, being much more gentle, and turned her around. "Hey, I said I was sorry..." he said.

Hurt her? The thought never so much as crossed Vieno's mind. This girl appeared to be innocent, why would he go against everything he stood for and cause her harm? Then again, this girl didn't know Vieno at all. He had weapons on him, for all she knew he could be one of those brutally cruel guards.

He shook his head. "I'm not going to hurt you..." he said softly, remembering a past experience. He was out on patrol with another guard, a violent man with a short temper. A young boy had attempted to pick the guard's pocket, a stupid move on the boy's part, but how the guard reacted was just heartless. He knocked the boy to the ground with a strong blow to the head with his fist.

Still conscious, the boy begged for mercy, crying "Please don't hurt me." If it weren't for Vieno being able to convince the man that the boy wasn't worth it, the guard probably would've seriously injured or maybe even killed the boy. In this time and place, this girl was acting exactly like that little boy. He shook his head again.

"Not anymore... never again, either." Vieno retorted, his voice bitter. He wanted to try to forget that time of his life. When she asked him to let her go, he nodded and released her arm. "I'm sorry." he apologized again.

Vieno stared back into her eyes, not looking away. His eyes still held that eternally sad look. "I'm Vieno. And you are...?" he asked.

Vieno nodded, a little slowly, and shrugged his shoulders. "Sure, ask me anything." he replied. He didn't say it, but there were some things he just wouldn't answer, so he felt he was lying a little. Or was he just withholding a little information? He didn't really know.