There was a brief pause between the handshake and Aerex' response. Bidzil's words hung in the air without an answer, with Juliana shooting concerned glances at Aerex. 
[color=FFD117]"Follow me. We can sit down over here."[/color] Before turning around, he gestured at Juliana. [color=FFD117]"Close down for the day and go on home. I'll pay you for the full day."[/color]

[color=#D500AB]"But-"[/color] Before she could insist, he waved his hand and shook his head.
[color=FFD117]"Please?"[/color]
[color=#D500AB]"Sure."[/color] The woman gave Bidzil a small smile and a nod, before heading out of the shop. Silently, Aerex made his way through a set of decorative curtains toward the back of the shop.

Bidzil returned the smile and nodded to the girl as she departed. He picked up on a feeling like something was wrong from the short awkward silence and her look toward him, so he tried not to bring it up further. [color=F4A460]"Sorry if I'm interrupting anything..."[/color] he started as he walked through the store and then through the decorative curtains. [color=F4A460]"Wow, you have quite the set up out here. This shop is huge. I guess your work is popular her, huh?"[/color] he said with a slight grin, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

Behind the curtains was a large room, mostly filled with rolls of fabric, some of which hung on the walls. Others were sitting on tables as part of ongoing projects, while some were waiting to be picked up. Overall, Aerex' workplace was orderly and neatly organized. Each roll was placed on the walls or on baskets by color and type. Bidzil followed Aerex up a set of stone stairs at the end of the room. Aerex seemingly didn't listen to what Bidzil had asked or decided to ignore him. 

Going to the second floor, they arrived at what was Aerex' house. A single wall split the room in two. One side, the one both of them had arrived in was a small kitchen and living room, while the other side was a bedroom.

[color=FFD117]"It is. Keeps me busy too."[/color] Aerex replied finally, clearing a wooden table in the middle of the room of some clothes he had been working on earlier.[color=FFD117] "May I offer you something to drink? Tea?"[/color]

The store was admittedly bigger than what Bidzil remembered Aerex's father having, much finer works and cloths as well. Bidzil thanked him as he sat down at the table and Aerex asked about a drink. [color=F4A460]"Thanks, I'd appreciate it. Tea or water is fine, whichever is easier, I don't want to be a bother."[/color] He was quiet for a moment as he looked around the small home. It seemed comfortable enough, and it wasn't uncommon to see someone's home above their shop. Bidzil's face dropped a bit when he knew he had to tell Aerex about why he was here. [color=F4A460]"I don't know if you have or not, but have you heard any news of what happened in Trantis recently?"[/color]

[color=FFD117]"Not since I arrived."[/color] Bidzil heard Aerex approach, carrying two glasses of water. The Grusk sat down across him. [color=FFD117]"Did something happen?"[/color]

Bidzil thanked him for the water and took a sip before setting it down. He took a deep breath and held it before exhaling heavily from his nose. [color=F4A460]"I...I was over in Salna, running an errand of sorts, just a couple weeks ago. Millan wanted me to pick up a surprise package from him....By the time I arrived back to Trantis....everything was wiped out.....all the people were just....[i]gone[/i]. There was no struggle, people's clothes left behind where their bodies would be, still warm to the touch."[/color] Bidzil shook his head at the eerie sight of it all. [color=F4A460]"The whole lake was empty, void of any water. The buildings that resided on it all crashed to the lakebed. Something.....just.... destroyed it all. I don't even understand why![/color] Bidzil's voice rose as he thought more about it. [color=F4A460]"I don't know of any enemies we had currently, and yet.....everyone...."[/color] He was silent for a moment as he focused on the glass between his hands.

[color=F4A460]"I returned to Salna when I could. On the outer wall, written in the blood of a few guards that were slain hours before, was a message....it said 'A new king rises, the Grandis Empire has returned...."[/color]

Aerex stared blankly out the window in front of him. His eyes pierced through the curtains to the outside. Slowly, his head turned toward Bidzil, giving him that same blank stare. 
"There's no way. No."[/color] He muttered, in denial of Bidzil's story

[color=F4A460]"I can't rightly say what is a myth now. But I do know this. No mere bandit could destroy all of Trantis in an afternoon. Everyone was gone, yet with no sign of combat. Their clothes and belongings still where they left them. The entire lake was drained, the river leading into it dry as well."[/color] Bidzil looked up to Aerex. [color=F4A460]"It's already gone, Aerex. If I die chasing some fairy tale with what little hope I have left, so be it.... If I'm wrong, nothing has changed....but if I'm right, it will make all the difference."[/color]

[color=FFD117]"I..."[/color] Aerex looked away for a moment. [color=FFD117]"I'm sorry for snapping at you. I just... couldn't believe our home was... gone."[/color] He took a deep breath and returned to the stove. Taking two decorated porcelain cups from the cupboard he served up tea for the two of them, sitting down across the table from Bidzil he took a sip from his tea. 

[color=FFD117]"I'm not sure how much help I can be to you. I don't know how to fight and I have a shop to tend to. Either way, at least I know what happened..."[/color]

[color=F4A460]"I'm not asking you to join me. I didn't come here to recruit. I'm on my way to finding a treasure from these lands, part of the steps needed for finding the vanishing kingdom apparently. I can't ask you to throw away your livelihood for this."[/color]

[color=FFD117]"I wish we could have seen each other again under better circumstances."[/color] Remarked Aerex. [color=FFD117]"I'm glad nothing happened to you. Anyway..."[/color] He glanced down to his teacup. [color=FFD117]"...you can stay here if you like. I have space if you don't want to spend your gold at the local inn."[/color]

[color=F4A460]"I wouldn't want to impose, but if it's not a problem, I'd be very thankful,"[/color] he said before hearing a commotion outside. it was caused by a group of people in town following Valia and Allanon up to the temple. [color=F4A460]"Huh, wonder what's got everyone riled up?" Bidzil pondered as he sipped the tea. "Hmm, not bad."[/color] he commented on the tea.

[color=FFD117]"It's no problem at all. Maybe then we can have some time to catch up."[/color] Aerex briefly paused as he heard noise outside. But, like Bidzil also ignored it. [color=FFD117]"And, thank you. My mother used to make tea for us all the time. Taught me how to pick the best leaves at the market."[/color]

It didn't seem that Bidzil could completely put the crowd out of his mind as he would occasionally glance out to the growing crowd. He nodded his head at Aerex mentioning where he learned to make tea as he took a drink from it once more. [color=F4A460]"She did well. As for catching up, I'd be glad to. But I do need to go by the market before the pack it up for the day, so I may head that way here shortly, that is, if the people are even at their stalls. Seems like a good number of the people are in the square now."[/color]

Aerex also glanced out the window, spotting the crowd gathering in the square. [color=FFD117]"Come. I'll go with you. Let's see what's going on."[/color]

Bidzil nodded to Aerex and finished both his tea and water. [color=F4A460]"Alright, sounds like a plan,"[/color] he said with a smile as he stood up. He let Aerex lead the way back out of the house. When they arrived on the square, many people were milling about, some speaking in hushed tones while others were more vocal with their accusations.

"Who was that strange man with Madame Valia!?" shouted one. "She looked rather injured, who could have possibly done such a thing," another said, a bit more worried looking. A brutish man then turned to Aerex as he heard him and Bidzil walking up. While he recognized Aerex, he didn't recognize Bidzil. His eyes narrowed at him but he didn't voice his suspicions right off. "Tailor, Madame Valia does business with you plenty, surely you may have heard more of what has happened?" he asked. Valia did quite often come to Aerex's shop for new clothes, sashes or tapestries. She was always amazed by his works. "Some people that checked on her place found two dead men inside, the whole place trashed. And some strange man carried her into the temple just a moment ago, but they haven't come out yet."


[color=FFD117]"I have not seen her today."[/color] Aerex replied with a concerned tone. He glanced at the temple and back to the bystander. [color=FFD117]"I've been working on a personal piece all day. Don't know much else, I'm afraid."[/color]