Nathaniel dropped a pile of clothes on Andrew as he woke up, "Go get changed and burn the clothes you're wearing."
Andrew frowned, picking up the sleek clothes, "...Why?"
"Because the people of Vesia don't wear Earth clothes. Even if they did, your clothes are too big and you have too many layers."
"Too big?"
Vesia's populace lives around water a lot. Baggy clothes slow them down in the water."
"So they wear swimsuits."
"...In a way, I suppose. Sometimes they wear nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nudity isn't a rare occurrence. They don't find the human body shameful."
"...Ah."
"They're just bodies, Andrew. Everyone has one." Nathaniel kept walking around camp, dropping clothes in people's laps, "You can go change behind a tree or something. Whatever makes you comfortable."
Crynn groaned, throwing the clothes back at Nathaniel, who just threw them back. He spoke sweetly, "Crynn, I don't care how much you hate mornings, if you don't get up, I will drag you out of that sleeping bag by your hair."
Crynn grumbled, but she eventually got up and stalked into the trees.
At the same time, Knox walked out of the trees, his hair sticking to his face.
Nathaniel sighed, "Why are you wet, Knox?"
"I tried to catch a fish." Knox walked past him and plopped down in front of the fire.
"Why were you trying to catch a fish?"
"It was pretty."
Nathaniel inhaled slowly. "Gods help me."
"What?"
"You're a grown man, Knox, I should not have to babysit you."
Knox shrugged, "Hey, at least I changed." Nox pat a pair of slim brown pants. "It's like I'm wearing the bottom half of a scuba suit." He brightened, "Can I get a tattoo this time?!"
Nathaniel rubbed his temple, "Sure. Once we get settled down and nothing is going on, you can get a tattoo."
Knox whooped, throwing his fists in the air.
Nathaniel pinched his nose, muttering under his breath as Andrew walked into the trees.
When Nathaniel said the people in Vesia lived by the water, Andrew had pictured huts on a beach or houses built over the water. He didn't expect them to live in the massive trees that grew out of the water. Bridges of wood and vines stretched across branches and homes were either built between branches like nests or built into the thick trunks. Crystal clear water stretched out as far as the eye could see, glittering in the sunlight that managed to make its way through the trees. People were traveling along the bridges or in the water. Small groups floated around in the water around the roots of the trees.
The proxies traveled through the city in a large canoe. Two large men stood on each end of the boat, steering it forward. Everyone in the city paused to watch them pass before eventually continuing. Some children ran along the bridges to keep up with the boat.
Andrew frowned, looking at Zaizon and Jarek who were beside him, "Why are they staring at us?"
Zaizon looked at him, "They aren't staring at us. They're staring at Lucina."
"...Why?"
"Vesians worship a moon deity. Albinos are considered sacred messengers and prophets of Eirlys."
Andrew was quiet for a moment before whispering, "Is Eirlys real?"
Zaizon glanced back at the man rowing two rows behind them and the other man in front of them. He eventually shook his head minimally. "They believe she is. And its probably best to keep it that way."
Andrew nodded, watching a young child jump off a low hanging bridge into the water. They resurfaced moments later, giggling and waving to their friends on the bridge.
"They look happy here."
Zaizon nodded.
"If we're meant to help the people who are suffering, why did we come here? They all seem to be doing quite well."
Zaizon smiled minimally, "Look around. Do you see anyone old here?"
Andrew paused, looking around. Everyone he could see looked young. The oldest ones looked only to be middle aged.
"With constant flooding and no proper medicine they drop like flies."
"So what can we do to help them?"
Zaizon pursed his lips, "I'm not sure how to help them all as a whole. If it were one or two people it would be simple. But an entire population... Celaena knows what to do. We must follow her direction." Zaizon sighed, "I just pray we aren't too late."
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