The warmth of the early sun beamed across Lumen's back. He was on his knees in a crop field, wiping dirt across his torn pants, as he huffed and tossed another handful of potatoes into a basket beside him.
Lumen stood, his basket in tow, continuing his quest for potatoes. Eventually he finished his work in the field, making his way to a coop full of chickens. He could hear their constant squawking as he slowly approached a Hen who had been sitting ruffled atop her eggs.

"Hey now.. don't you worry i'm not taking anything you'll miss"

Lumen spoke softly, mostly reassuring himself as he gently slid his hand beside the Hen, slowly pushing her feathered, plump body to the side. She stumbled a bit and stared at him before trying to hobble back into place on her eggs. Lumen quickly plucked them, and placed them gently in a fabric-lined basket. He repeated this a few more times with multiple Hens until there were no more eggs to collect.

He huffed as he wiped his forehead, the sun unforgiving and relentless on his pale skin.
Lumen had been working on this farm for several years now, off and on a couple of times a week he would come and help out, receiving a modest payment of silver from the family who owned it. Lately he had been working here more often in an attempt to save enough coin for his travels.

Lumen finished up his work, speaking with the owners briefly; they thanked him for the extra hand, and sent him off with a few eggs for himself.

After returning home, Lumen placed his eggs in cold storage. He needed to head back outside to a neighboring village about an hour away. They had a better selection of medicinal herbs. Lumen wanted to grab a couple of things for potential injuries; besides that surely he would have an episode of his sickness while he traveled.

He tangled his long pale fingers through the bright, blonde roots of his hair, pulling his fingers through until they reached the deep cobalt ends; he sighed. His body was sore from working at the farm in the morning. Lumen really only wanted to soak away the heat and grime in the nearby pond. But his sickness had made him afraid to do many things, and going to a lake by himself was one of them. What if he collapsed, alone in the forest? What if he had an episode in the middle of the city? He couldn't stand the thought of it.

Lumen removed his soiled, dirt-ridden clothes, quickly wiping the sweat from his brow with an old damp rag, before slipping into his usual attire. Lumen pulled his deep blue leggings up and stepped into his knee-high dark brown boots, lacing them carefully. He slipped his shirt on, pushing his arms through the sleeves and straightening the fabric with his hand.

Movement caught Lumen's eye as he left the safety of his cabin. Biyo was lounging in the sun, his lazy body sprawled out, catching as much heat as possible. Lumen couldn't help but smile.

He sighed and began to head out, grabbing his well-used bag and slinging it over his shoulder, slowly melding with the shadows cast down on the dry earth beneath him.

He felt as though he had been walking much longer than an hour; maybe it was his fatigue or maybe he was just nervous; he had only come this way once or twice. His mind was beginning to swirl as he questioned his memory and sense of direction. Maybe he had gotten it wrong?
Lumen shook his head, reassuring himself quietly.

"Alright.. okay just relax Lumen." He spoke to comfort himself, pulling his compass from the faded green pouch that rest upon his hip, held firm by the strap across his chest.

"North..So this has to be the correct direction then.."

He sighed, feeling slightly relieved; maybe it was just further than he remembered.

Lumen felt his pulse throb painfully in his hands, thumping in time with his heart. The sudden burning in his veins spread to his toes, it circulated through his body like venom. A cold sweat broke out under his clothes and he inhaled the air around him as if he had been drowning, he was gasping for breath as his fist closed around his shirt. A sudden pulse of pain coursed through his shaking body. He was overcome with sudden, intense fear.

"No..Gods no, not here"

Lumen pleaded with his body, begging himself to continue on. He felt molten pain spread through his stomach, his chest, his very bones. His lungs caught fire and his world began to spin. In a panic he felt his feet suddenly move forward; quickly, he began to run. His lungs burning and his joints pleading with him to stop, he was certain he was going to vomit at any second. As if trying to escape his torture, he ran. He stumbled, nearly falling. But it didn't stop his pain-addled body.

Lumens breath caught in his throat and his eyes squeezed shut as if he could no longer keep them open. He felt his body drop. Yet, the impact of the forest floor never came. He could feel a pulse within his arm, warm and inviting. He felt it beating in time with his entire body, slow like dripping honey it spread through him. The steady thumping from the grip on his arm felt as though it invaded his veins, and was melding with his own heart. Each rhythmic hum against his body lapped away the agony within him. He felt a strange comfort wash over his pain, languid, creeping up his spine, quieting the hurricane within.

Something smelled nice, some kind of spice. His hazy thoughts could only compare it to cinnamon. It filled Lumen's nostrils pleasantly, and he felt as though he could be washed away as the potent smell encompassed his being. Suddenly his arm jerked, just a bit; he felt it only now being tugged upwards. He heard a deep rumble from above him; unable to make out the sound; his eyes slowly opened, blurry from his previous tears, he could see the shadow of someone above him.

"Oi"

Again, the voice struck him. Suddenly Lumen's eyes shot open, realizing he was being held up by someone. A sudden pang of fear and embarrassment swarmed his mind. His eyes quickly landed on the golden, intricate belt in front of him; his bright mossy eyes hastily traveled upwards, seeing a black cloak, only fastened by a single golden button at the neck. It was draped across a large frame, his shirt snug against the mans torso, sleeveless with a zipper starting at the neck. The man's skin was richly tanned, various twisting black lines could be seen across what was visible of his chest.

Lumen thought maybe it was ink.

Lumen felt a pang of fear wash over his body as his confused, wandering gaze met with stern, golden eyes above him. Potent in color, they burned with unmatched intensity, he could sense the fire that crackled behind them. Lumen couldn't help but stare for a moment, despite the intimidating glare that speared him.

"Get up"

The low deep voice broke through his thoughts, and suddenly Lumen could barely feel his hands as he realized his situation. A crashing wave of shock numbed his limbs as he began to shuffle his body, realizing the familiarity of those eyes. The golden belt buckle, the cloak.

Lumen quickly hurried to his feet, ignoring the soreness of his body; he gasped for breath as he stumbled a few feet back. The man looked at him. Lumen wasn't sure of the expression, but it may have been one of annoyance.

There was no doubt this was the man from the other day. The one who inadvertently saved him. Lumen wasn't even sure he could think that, for all he knew, this man could and would hurt him as well.

Lumen quickly gathered the few things he had dropped, avoiding the intense, burning gaze of the other man's bright eyes. Even beneath the other's hood he could see them boring into him.

"S-Sorry, Sorry I was just trying to find a village, I didn't mean to cause trouble.." He trailed off, feeling his words leaving his throat. He could barely finish as the stranger punctured holes into his being with his gaze. The man said nothing, only offering a quirk of his brow.

"If you don't mind I'll be on my way, I'm sorry" Lumen apologized profoundly, hoping he hadn't angered him, causing issues for someone like this was not part of his plan.

Lumens body froze as a deep, dominating voice filled his ears.

"Which village?

A question? Lumen was taken aback by the sudden inquiry, he wasn't sure if he should say where he was going, this man could follow him and-
Lumen cut off his thoughts. Realizing he was acting ridiculous, he answered quickly.

"Iku'bo"

The man before him shifted his stance, pointing west of their direction. Lumen had tried to avoid looking at him as much as possible. The stranger's hood was still up, but he could see his eyes, and the outline of his features well enough from the streams of light breaking through the trees. He looked masculine, jagged. His hands had deep-colored streaks across them, slightly different from the texture of his skin; Lumen could make out that they must be scars.

"It's about a twenty minute walk that way."

Lumen swallowed, he must have gotten turned at some point, likely when he was having his episode. Come to think of it, he hadn't ever had such a short one. It was a relief that it had ended so quickly.
Lumen timidly opened his mouth to speak. He wanted to keep going as soon as possible, to escape the situation of being near the stranger in front of him.

"Ah.. I see, well thank you.." Lumen trailed off as he began to turn, casting his eyes downwards so as to not make eye contact with the larger man in front of him.
Without a word the man continued walking forward, passing Lumen without care. Lumen's breathing stopped as he passed him, feeling something akin to dread until the man continued beyond him, seemingly unconcerned for his being.

Lumen exhaled, feeling strange after the encounter. He was certain that was the man from the city the other day.
He couldn't fully remember what had happened just now, but he knew the stranger had his arm, holding him up. Lumen wasn't missing any belongings, nor was he injured in any way. Just.. Shaken.

Still, he was relieved. But somehow his feet wouldn't move. Lumen couldn't believe he had interacted with someone that dangerous. His grip felt firm, and he knew he was strong when he watched him toss around the red-headed man with ease. There's no way he could mistake the glint in his eyes. That was definitely him. Lumen felt distressed to his core, he had never imagined he would see that figure again; maybe he hadn't even recognized Lumen? 

He struggled to wipe his brain of the image of that man. The scars painted across his hand, his overbearing golden eyes cut through him like knives. Lumen could only stand in silence as he processed what had happened.