[Viden Outskirts] of Huntsmen and Surgeons

[Sybil Malach]

6th of Cylus arc 719, Noon

The last few hours of actual daylight begins to eke behind the expected weather. The ubiquitous twilight of the season of Cylus had set in properly. Soon, with Viden's natural seasonal changes, it will be dark. And far too cold for anyone in their right minds to remain out of doors, or at least without a fire. The outskirts of the Citadel of Viden is home to almost nothing this season. Only the most desperate, or the few remaining outlanders remain, hawking their wares to bolster their chances of survival. The gates have long since remained closed, the Merchant's Guild seemingly not operating as heavily as it once was earlier in the seasons. The Citadel itself observing a longstanding celebration, bonfires lit brightly within the city, and even in this case, around. Though more likely for the increased chance of avoiding frostbite, for the outskirts.

Sibyl is here, strangely enough. Sent out during the festivities on an errand for some teacher or another, the Student wades through the building snow and ice of the outskirts. Pulling the flapping clothes closer to the body, Sibyl lets out a light breath, something that is plainly seen in the remaining joke of daylight. Meat and leathers were cheapest here, where townsmen and outlanders attempt to peddle their wares in times of need and want. But considering the lack of fresh meats due to the Rangers not going out to hunt yet... Cheap here, now, would be expensive any other time of year. But that's to be expected. Costs can go up, when the object is in high demand. Sibyl thinks that's how it works anyway.

The Student approaches one of the tents, dodging through the various men and women attempting to sell off musk glands, bones, and beads. Anything that could be rendered out of a kill, really. The cart at the front of the tent had tipped Sibyl off, about the nature of the peddler within. Hides and leathers, thick enough to insulate. Some even looked to be somewhat fresh. A hand is placed on the outer lip of the tent's entrance, as Sibyl clears throat, and speaks, "Are you open? I've come to barter." Comes the voice, against the buffeting cold. There's nothing to knock, and the cloak-clad Student has never had to go to an outlander or peddler outside of the city before. Unknowing of the culture of peddlers outside these walls, the Student simply has to guess how to continue.

[Wald Lowca]

After spending the beginning of his day cleaning the kills of his last hunt, and wishing he nabbed a deer in between towns Wald found himself outside of Viden. This time was that of a festival which was great for selling off meats from game, and since the hunts would slow the meat always sold fast when put out. Wald managed to get most of his meats off on a local butcher for a quick coin. It may not of been as much as he could have, but this let him leave town much sooner. The longer he stayed here the greener he felt like he got.

At midday Wald was making preparations for his next hunt and his current lunch. Since the butcher came buy and bought his popular meat the only flesh he had left was that of mink. This was never taken by the common folk due to its tough texture and taste too gamey to put down. Throwing the mink into a pot to boil he moved his animals inside to begin grooming them. Starting with the horse he slowly brushed him down clearing away any parasites that may have become attached to her. The next up was his donkey who pulled his cart she always had mud on her so Wald took extra care to clean her hooves.

In the middle of the donkey's cleaning session the tent flap opened right behind her. As the hunter heard the young voice's question he sighed softly and spoke with a genuine tone, "If you are here for meat only thing i have is mink anything else you may ask and I'll see" He knew most people would leave after hearing that part so he continued with cleaning the hooves so the next outing can start sooner and making sure he did not make eye contact with the person.

[Sybil Malach]

"One of the professors insisted on such meats." Comes the response from Sibyl. It seems the Student is not easily deterred, and simply sidesteps the animal, peering down the side of it, and towards Wald. A pause is given, before a satchet is pulled from Sibyl's bag, "I was told to get as much as this would afford me."

The sachet was approximately the size of a large man's fist. Smelling distinctly of mint among other herbs, the aromatic concoction hangs from Sibyl's fingertips by a hemp-woven rope. It appears larger, along such slender fingertips, not yet calloused over by hard trade. A shift of the cloak, however, before its held out, "Said it was to be burned at campfires to keep animals away. Something about the mint not smelling like food, and staining over scents."

Standing in the tent, the Student didn't seem too bothered by it all. Not even the smell. The presence of beasts of burden in such close quarters only given a sidelong glance, as Wald works at cleaning the hooves of his beast. A slow blink of the eyes as Sibyl considers the man and his behaviors. With a slow cant of the head, an idle glance is given over Wald's tent, seemingly just... Looking things over, as the man goes about his business. Shouldering back the cloak, Sybil simply takes the pin tacked onto the Student's uniform, and pins it up, allowing for better movement of the arms.

[Wald Lowca]

Looking over the student quickly passing their eyes over quickly and placing the donkeys hoof down. Wald noticed many strange details over the person in front of them and shifted to look away and going through a small storage box taking out a large pot. The pot had inside it a three mink bodies gutted and skinned placing it on the overturned bucket next to him he looked at the pouch in the other's hand.

"Judging by the smell the spices were dried as well, but I could burn it to mask the smell of food" Wald shrugged and shook his head back and forth. "That smell would also make prey weary if its on my person"

Thinking over everything about the person in front of him Wald stood up as his donkey backed out of the tent. "exactly what does your master what with the meat" picking up the pot and showing the customer. Smiling on the inside to find out what person would ever eat this freely. Wald then motion to move outside the tent near the fire where his pot of boiled mink should be nearly done. This person does not look like someone who works for a living. Definitely does not seem to be able to take a life either, but those actions speak of something else. How does someone so pampered looking not even flinch at the smells in my tent. Those eyes as well looked off as well. Wald put the pot down on the cart waiting to see if his questions will be answered.

[Sybil Malach]

Simply allowing Wald to speak his fill, grey-green eyes follow Wald as he shifts about the tent. A distinct silence falls over the tent as the beast of burden leaves the tent. Sibyl reaches out with a hand to close it, and insulate what can be insulated from within. Letting out a breath, the Student simply draws the flaps of hide that serves as the door of the tent to a close, and tying it off with whatever is nearby. Not at all in a rush, but in very little mood for being chilled nearly to death in an outlander's tent, it seems.

A slow blink of the eyes are given as the question is asked if Sibyl, "I don't know. I do as I'm told. And my professor told me to find any sort of meat these herbs can get me." A breath escapes Sibyl's lips, followed by a short shake of the head, "I wouldn't image cooking, so I must assume for either an alchemical experiment, or some demonstration. Elsewise he would have asked for something in particular." Comes the response. What would've been something that would've made shopkeepers more willing on the bargaining end, seems to have been brought up as more of a point of confusion on the part of the Student, far too ambiguous and vaguely annoyed to be something used to get the drop on a shopkeeper. Seems Sibyl quite dislikes being made the resident courier.

Simply put, Sibyl was not as cunning of a haggler as many from the Citadel are.

Holding out the sachet, Sibyl says, "Judge the quality of the herbs yourself, see if it meets your needs. ... So long as it's worth some meat, there should be no issue." A slow upnod in the direction of Wald, still putting the gods on offer, seemingly at least trying to get a little bit of anything out of this.

[Wald Lowca]

Wald takes the pouch out of Sibyl's hand and studies it without opening it. Putting his hand on his chin he began to think, This kid is adamant about this i guess ill humor the young one. He then reached behind him and grabbed a small warn pouch from his belt and poured the herbs from it into the other. Wald said with almost a laugh, "The herbs would get in the way of my work, but this pouch will do nicely as a replacement" as he tossed the old pouch now full of herbs back to the student.

After putting the new pouch on his belt he took his lunch off the fire. Grabbing a wooden plate he moved the mink from the pot to the plate in one motion. "You can have the mink in the pot, if you have no way to carry them then just bring to pot back." Stabbing the knife down to sever a leg from the boiled mink he let the much more foul smell of gamey food loft about as it was torn open.
"But i have to ask, why are you the one going through this for your master" Wald said smiling at his food keeping his gaze away from the young person. Kind of sad to see some meat go all things considered tho it would of went bad before he could finish them off might as well get them off my hands this way then waist the meat Thought Wald under his smile.

[Sybil Malach]

Catching the herbs with both hands, a blank blink is given. As a drip of mint leaves seep through one of the holes in the newly acquired sachet, a slow nod is given, "If you have no use for the herbs, then you can likely sell them to the apothecary." Comes the statement, tossing back the herby bag, with an underhand throw. Sibyl blinks, idly, as the Student considers the man, "If you help me with another errand, I can show you to someone who will buy that at quite the surplus. ... Another one of my professors have a task that is far too heavy for one person to handle alone." Comes the blank voice, as the Student offers a tilt of the head. Curiously, for a long moment, a considering gaze cast upon Wald, for a long moment. A breath is taken, as Sibyl's gaze begins to wander at the eyes.

"Simple. I was available." Comes the answer to Wald's question. A roll of the shoulders is given, as a breath escapes the lips, "There is very little choice when I am called do to something. If a Master of Viden makes a request of you, you are bound to obey. ... It is similar for students and apprentices to their teachers and trademasters respectively." The Student admits, as hands are reached down towards the prepared meat. As it is prepared, they are placed upon swathe of canvas, loose with twine near the edges. It seems that Sibyl keeps needed things tucked away beneath the cloak, at least there's a level of discretion there.

As the meat is finished being prepared, the canvas is brought in near the center and wrapped up, with due care. Sibyl's eyes glance up towards Wald, "If you wish to join me for this, there should be a few coins in it for you." Comes the words, as the twine is tied off, and the now-parcel of meat is placed within the Student's cloak, "The undertaker has a corpse in need of transport. I've the Academy sanctioned order for the cadaver."

[Wald Lowca]

Standing up Wald tossed the bag on the box and laughed out "So that's it" This kid unknowingly answered my question about those eyes of theirs. Grabbing his knife he stabbed his lunch to carry it and took a good sized bite out. This is interesting to say the least so this one deals with the dead he thought as he shuffled around the tent putting out the flame with a bucket of water and slush.

"I will go if you answer a question for me" Wald said pointing the knife at the young student. "Have you ever been around the person dying and was unable to stop it or killed them yourself?" He said finally looking him in the eyes with his cold stare ground sharp from many hunts unable to return to the gentle curves of a youthful child. This was a contrasting look from his voice which was never worn-down by smoke or the cold, there was no need to open your mouth in his line of work.

This last question and I will know more about this person then most of his masters would, Wald thought to himself. Biting into the leg he tore a bit off and kept his stare as a way to show the young one just who it was they just entered a tent with. Lets see if the student has enough nerve to continue most as inexperienced as this one will turn tail and retreat from me This sighed through Wald's head.

[Sybil Malach]

"Yes." Comes the response from Sybil. It's a blank statement, that's followed by a shake of the head, slowly. Letting out a puff of visible air. The Student's eyes return to Wald, as the pin is taken from the cloak, allowing the furs to return around Sibyl, trapping the heat within, "Frostbite has ensured the death of many of those that I've been in the charge of caring for. The Academy sees it fit to send me to places with very little hope." A slow cant of the head is given, to Wald, appraisingly, for just a moment more, "I'm sure you are well aware of the dangers the cold poses. And what occurs when one is so far taken by the ice burns. ... There is a limit to what even magic can fix. Without losing one's entire mind to such flights of fancy." A shake of the head, as a hip is leaned against the wall of the tent itself. The firm, sturdy leathers and furs of the tent holding strong over the negligible slip that is Sibyl. Head affixing properly with the spine's alignment, the Student's considering gaze shifts away from Wald.

"I've learned to keep the hacksaws sharp. And moreso, of the graces of waxen, or honeyed bandages." Waxing faux-poetics, with a satirical tone to the voice, Sibyl lets out a brief chuckle. Eyes returning to Wald, an upnod is given in his direction, as he eats. Seemingly remaining. While obviously not hostile, it's clear that motivation is nigh single minded in this Student.

As Wald eats, however, Sibyl simply allows the gaze to wander, further. Scanning at the design and make of the tent itself. While semi-obvious that the city dweller has no idea how to appraise the quality of something made for the field almost entirely in specific. Then again, the average Videnese never really cared for the aesthetics. Viden as a city was just unappealing to look at in general, made to ensure the survival of a culture, rather than the nourishing of a thriving cultural center outside of the Academy itself. Strange. thought Sibyl, Were we shaped by the Citadel, or was the Citadel shaped by us?

The thought stalls for a moment more before eyes rest upon Wald, "The corpse can wait for quite a while. But I will have to have it by the Academy by daybreak. ... Do you find my answer acceptable?" Though not outwardly shown upon the features, Sibyl's tone wavers into the margin of solemn, without ever dipping too far into it.

[Wald Lowca]

Wald watching as the young person's anguish floods over them can help but smile as he averts his gaze. "Yup, everything makes since about you now" ripping off a untouched back leg and passing it to Sybil. Afterward pointing to the eyes of the student exclaiming, "Your eyes did not match your body, Cold distant as your features speak of youth. That came from what you would say is lack of ability to save these people."

Wald started thinking Still a child only seems to have only brush with the death of those they are around not doing the act them self. Nature is a cruel thing and death is sometimes preferable to the alternative "After this corpse delivery would you mind going on a hunt with me. Someone of your... talent could learn something from such a trip."

Finishing off his meal and placing bones in the chest for now and taking out one extra layer of clothing from the chest. The torn shirt was a simple button up shirt and nothing about it was different from the rest of Wald's clothing. In fact it was apparent that he only was wearing a few then layers of clothing. The only unique thing he put on was a necklace over the top layer of clothing "I can bring one of my girls to carry the load if you want, she is use to carrying deer and the like a human body or two would be no issue for her."