Arc 719, Rebirth Cycle, 10th of Ashan
In a small town on the riverbank of Zynyx river
Two, three at most, trials was all Ajo'tey apparently needed to ruin his and many others' lives. At least that's the heavy emotional burden he was carrying right now, as he was packing his tent and essential tools to survive on the outside of the 'safe' town in the Stormlands. He left his pack mule, along with most of his other belongings, with Caroline. You could say it was a farewell gift, a sorry drop in the bucket filled with regrets. It didn't work, the traces of tears on her face were still fresh as she quietly walked with Ajo'tey, Thüll -her father- and a handful of guards out of town. Out of hearing range from anyone besides them, they halted. Thüll, currently not a father but mayor of a town in great danger, spoke first.
"I don't need to tell you this, but consider yourself lucky that Caroline came into your life. I don't ever want to see you around these parts again. Understood, Ajo'tey?"
"Understood."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..."
Ajo'tey didn't let her finish. As her tears started to well up again, he was already there, at her side, holding her until she let it all out and managed to stop sobbing. "Don't be sorry." One brief moment they forgot all about the misery they were in, kissing passionately until reality broke them apart. Thüll gave Ajo'tey a chance for survival as a last token of sympathy for the Sevir, a sheathed longsword. Ajo'tey accepted it gratefully before he left them for good.
Back to square one, Ajo'tey was absent mindedly trudging along the side of the Zynyx, away from the town. His mind wandered in all kinds of directions whilst his horse grudgingly guided its rider to whatever will come their way. But as much as his mind raced away, flashes of Caroline kept pulling him back. He had left the town before dawn had fully risen on the horizon, by now it was midday and he had created enough distance between them to make him feel more alone than he had felt in a long time.
His eyes weren't as sunken as they were when he first arrived in the Stormlands, but he could imagine they appeared more hollow than ever before. Everything he looked at, was simply there, he didn't really process any what he was looking at. Until he saw a silhouette standing a fair distance away, on the riverbed. Apparently staring over the river? Or? Ajo'tey couldn't really tell what the person was doing, all he could tell was that he was on his own as well. Figuring it couldn't hurt to share a meal, he sped up just a bit with his heels gently tapping in his horse's flanks.