Adel was a man who lived his life with little worry.
He departed from home and family as soon as he was able and never looked back. He never made lasting connections with anyone - no close friends, no one to hold his heart. The life suited him just fine, and Adel often found himself happy at the end of every night so long as he had some spirits and the warm body of a lovely lass to keep him warm at night. Though his days weren't boring by any means, as the life of a hunter meant the life of adventure! Thrill! Danger! Not to mention a full wallet, most of the time. The perk of helping others was nice, of course, but even he couldn't fool himself into thinking he had such a bleeding heart that doing good was his main motivation in his very simple life.
Then the fool had the misfortune of finding himself in Rhydin. At least, misfortune is how he'd stubbornly put it...
Adel heard stories from so many people who claimed that their lives changed by being in the realm of Rhydin. The city of Rhydin. They were always stories he laughed off and ridiculed. Superstitions, just as the gods were. But there really was no denying the magnetism he felt that he had never felt before. Adel drifted and never mingled in one place for very long, but how long had he been in Rhydin now? It was nearing two years and the thought of leaving always put an unpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach.
He didn't care to admit it, but it wasn't the thought of leaving the city that illed him so. No.
It was the thought of leaving people he cared about. Theo, who idolized him so. Who warmed his heart. Who was bright beyond his years and had a rare kindness to him that softened even Adel. Soerl, who in spite of being of a race Adel never looked kindly on in the past, forged a bond with him that wasn't mere friendship. Soerl was more brother to him than even his own blood was.
And Nessa. Dear Nessa.
Nessa was the embodiment of what Adel never cared for in a woman. Demure, polite, and soft-spoken. No spice or zing. A believer of gods and fanciful nonsense! Yet it was her beatific smile and warm honey eyes he saw every night when he closed his eyes. It was the soft touch of her hand to his shoulder he yearned for more so than the feel of a wench's long legs around him. It was the simple taste of a meal prepared by her he preferred over the extravagance of steak. It was her laughter that made him happier than a full flagon or wallet. It was her anger that struck him down to cowardice more than the assault of a deadly beast. It was her tears that rended his heart to pieces more than... anything.
It was Nessa who finally delivered worry into Adel's life.
He departed from home and family as soon as he was able and never looked back. He never made lasting connections with anyone - no close friends, no one to hold his heart. The life suited him just fine, and Adel often found himself happy at the end of every night so long as he had some spirits and the warm body of a lovely lass to keep him warm at night. Though his days weren't boring by any means, as the life of a hunter meant the life of adventure! Thrill! Danger! Not to mention a full wallet, most of the time. The perk of helping others was nice, of course, but even he couldn't fool himself into thinking he had such a bleeding heart that doing good was his main motivation in his very simple life.
Then the fool had the misfortune of finding himself in Rhydin. At least, misfortune is how he'd stubbornly put it...
Adel heard stories from so many people who claimed that their lives changed by being in the realm of Rhydin. The city of Rhydin. They were always stories he laughed off and ridiculed. Superstitions, just as the gods were. But there really was no denying the magnetism he felt that he had never felt before. Adel drifted and never mingled in one place for very long, but how long had he been in Rhydin now? It was nearing two years and the thought of leaving always put an unpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach.
He didn't care to admit it, but it wasn't the thought of leaving the city that illed him so. No.
It was the thought of leaving people he cared about. Theo, who idolized him so. Who warmed his heart. Who was bright beyond his years and had a rare kindness to him that softened even Adel. Soerl, who in spite of being of a race Adel never looked kindly on in the past, forged a bond with him that wasn't mere friendship. Soerl was more brother to him than even his own blood was.
And Nessa. Dear Nessa.
Nessa was the embodiment of what Adel never cared for in a woman. Demure, polite, and soft-spoken. No spice or zing. A believer of gods and fanciful nonsense! Yet it was her beatific smile and warm honey eyes he saw every night when he closed his eyes. It was the soft touch of her hand to his shoulder he yearned for more so than the feel of a wench's long legs around him. It was the simple taste of a meal prepared by her he preferred over the extravagance of steak. It was her laughter that made him happier than a full flagon or wallet. It was her anger that struck him down to cowardice more than the assault of a deadly beast. It was her tears that rended his heart to pieces more than... anything.
It was Nessa who finally delivered worry into Adel's life.