[IRP] The First of Many

[Lavi]

It had been several days since Neil managed to slip back into Lycia after his stunt at the Lycia-Sacae border. Fortunately, none of the guards managed to see his face, but they had a glimpse of his Sacaean clothing. There was nothing that Neil could substitute to hide his ancestry, so he continued on with the hope that displaying the cloth would ward off the suspicion that he was the illegal immigrant.

Ahead, Neil spotted a caravan headed east. Even at a distance, he could tell that many of them were not happy about the situation, though it was too early to tell whether it's because of the Lycians or because of some other event that the Sacaean is not aware of.

"Hey, where are you guys headed?" he called ahead, nudging his horse into a full gallop.

Several of the men of the caravan watched him wearily as he approached, but their suspicion was somewhat averted by Neil's clothing and looks. Neil hoped that these men did not think of Sacaeans as savages.

"Pherae," one of them answered. He offered no explanation. Back in the day, Neil remembered that Lycian caravans wouldn't think twice about sharing the reasons for their travels. Banditry was rare then, but the war changed everything.

"Please allow me to accompany you then," Neil said. "It's along the route that I'm taking."

"Just don't cause trouble," the man said.

That was the extent of the exchange Neil had with anyone of the caravan the rest of the way. Even so, there were women and children along with them: perhaps entire families traveling east. Although Neil considered returning to the Kutolah tribe, he also refused to allow the political climate get in the way of his aspirations in the study of magic. He wouldn't be surprised if a Etrurian government-in-exile becomes established in Bern, considering the latter's stance in the matter, though that may also cause a state of total war between Lycia and Bern.

Once they reached Pherae, Neil immediately went to check in a room at a local inn. The price seemed to be more expensive than he last remembered, granted it was in a Lycian town to the far west, though he wouldn't be surprised if an exodus of Etrurians traveling east had anything to do with the cost of room and board. Fortunately, he was wealthy enough to easily afford the expense, since his route through the Sacae plains saw little of civilization. However, that wasn't to say he had an endless supply of gold: he would have to find a job in Bern as soon as possible.

Leaving his horse Mina at the stables, Neil took to the streets to pass the time, keeping his knapsack at hand. He noticed the minor commotion of a soldier-looking bumping into a civilian. The man's heavy armor is easy enough to tell, though the colors and design reminded him of an Ostian knight.

The Sacaean looked away, turning at the next intersection to get out of sight as casually as he could. He hand a hand to his heart, taking deep breathes to calm its furious pacing.

I'm not in trouble yet. Stop fretting. he reminded himself.

Although the initial shock had passed, Neil couldn't stop thinking about the consequences of him getting found out to be a mage. Bern is only days away: it would be a shame to be captured now.