It's a long road to Luvia, but they make it in the end.
Luvia was a major port town at the southern edge of the known world.
It's a moderately sized town, had all the essentials one might expect of a flourishing settlement. There were a number of wooden houses for its settlers, there was a market for their shopping, there was a hospital for their sick and more. There were aptonoth dragging carts along the smoothed dirt roads and people walking beside them. There were cultivated fields for herbs and plants.
In truth it was no different from many of the other well established cities scattered across the world.
Gram on the other hand, was more inclined to stare down anything that seemed to get too close to his partner. Gales simply patted his head, grateful for how protective the Palamute. "You really don't like strangers, do you?" Gram seemed to look at him. "Well to be fair everyone outside of the Keep is a stranger to all of us." He realized as the palamute made a noise. "I'm sure you'll get used to them soon." Gales stated they continued walking through the village, before a squeal was heard.
"Puppy!" The duo heard a child call out as they tugged on their mother's hand and pointed with the other. "Mama, mama look at the big puppy!
Gram got a look on his face as Gales openly started to laugh.
He was not a puppy.
Gram was anything but a puppy.
"Let it go Gram, she doesn't mean any harm." Gales told him as they continued looking to the docks.
"First rule of business, see if we can get a boat." Gales stated. "If we can't we'll just have to stick around town until there's one ready to head out." He admitted, looking to Garm. "You cool with that?" Garm made a noise, something like a bark but not all the way there as Gales smiled. "Yeah I figured."
On his way to the docks Gales couldn't help checking out the vendors. Never been to port town, so he was curious to see what they had to offer.
There were plenty of small trinkets and souvenirs for those looking for something.
And people were calling out to try and get him to take a look at their wares.
"Maybe I should grab something before I head out to sea." Thinking about it for a moment, Gales eventually shook his head as he decided against it, his teeth latching onto a stick of fried squid before he bit a piece off. "Noah, not right now." He muttered. "Maybe I can grab something when I get to Scry." He thought to himself as Garm looked his way. "It's nothing." He told his canyne. "Just thinking aloud." He told his canyne as he made his way to port before jumping slightly as he heard something.
A scream.
Not just a scream, dozens of them.
Reaching for his greatsword on impulse Gales turned around, half expecting a wyvern of some kind to come falling from the sky. Instead he saw a horde of women running up to him.
Though from the looks of it, they weren't really looking at him.
"What's going o-"
"IT'S LADY ALEXANDRIA!"
"Who - oh shit!" Garm bit down on his flauds and pulled as hard as he could, bringing the Hunter to the side of the street before their Hunter was trampled by the stampede of women. Stumbling, Galesmanaged to catch himself before he collided with anything. A moment later he looked at his partner and gave an awkward smile. "Thanks…" Garm's tail just wagged as Gales found himself looking forward trying to look at the mass of young women that were crowding someone. "What just happened anyway?" He didn't get an answer as he peered over the crowd. It seemed that there were two people at the center of the crowd, an admittingly pretty young lady maybe around Gale's age. "Who's she?"
"That's the songstress Alexandria." A voice called out as Gales looked to the side, his attention turning to see an older fellow leaning against a wall with a cup of what smelled like coca in their hand. "
"A songstress?" Gales repeated the word, feeling strangely out of place as he did.
"Aye, she's kind of a celebrity around these parts, they say her voice can soothe the heart of a enraged wyvern." The man states as he looks over the crowd to see the girl smile as her escorts made efforts to keep everyone off of her. "I'm surprised you didn't recognize her. After all, she's quite the celebrity in these parts."
"Oh well~" Gales began. "I'm new to town." He admitted. "Just got in town today, and i'll probably be leaving in a few."
"Oh~" The old man made a noise, looking the Hunter over. "Well, that explains why I don't recognize your face." They paused, drinkingfrom their brew. "But to be fair, we've had a lot of new faces coming to town lately.'
"Really?"
"Aye." Was all the man said at first. "But it's no surprise, after all, it's a good time to try heading out." He states. Gales tilts his head curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"Ah~ you know; calm seas and even calmer skies." The man states. "Can't really take a voyage across the sea when they're not cooperating."
"Mh~" Gales nodded, quickly understanding what the old man was talking about. "I think Hunter Rowen told me something about that once." He admitted looking off in the distance.
"So anyway, where you headed boy?" Gales was pulled out of his thoughts as he looked back at the old man.
"Oh, I'm headed to Scry."
"Scry, eh? Then you're taking that ship." The man stated as he gestured to a boat resting at port. "I'd hurry though, that ship's probably gonna start boarding soon." Its right when he says that that a horn goes. "Yeah, I'd hurry if i were you."
"Right, thanks!" Gales shouted as he took off down the street and headed for his apparent boat."Let's hurry, Garm!" He shouted before looking back and waving at the old man. "Thanks again!" The man just smiled as he waved back and watched the Hunter disappear down the street.
"Sail safe and strong, young hunter; and may the Sapphire Star light your way."