Rohaan expected some kind of roundabout answer, or maybe the answer he might have given at that age, which would have gone something like an insult and a suggestion to stick to one’s own business. He would have also expected a shy answer too, but what he got was something else entirely. He got a good look at the boy, a real good one, and noticed he was clenched tighter than a crusty old clam. He was sweating and Rohaan could just see the rate at which his chest was rising and falling. Did he have something to hide...? Maybe he’d had some bad water on the road and was feeling the consequences now, and his tension was just from trying to keep it together. Maybe he—

The lad actually spoke, more like spewed words out like they had a mind of their own. Cure the darkness? Asinine! Rohaan couldn’t help it, he thought it was a good joke so he laughed out loud, heartily. He nudged the boy’s shoulder with one hand playfully as he tried to catch his breath. “Good one lad! Maybe you’ll...” And then in realization, the smile melted off the man’s face. “Oh, stars above, you’re serious...” 

Rohaan shifted in his seat so that he could face the lad a little better. The man’s eyes were not visible, not so clearly in the shadows cast by the firelight, but it was clear he was looking the lad up and down. “Atr...atre..San....atrestia—blast, you’re looking for what now?” He attempted to speak the word; the attempt was slow, sticky and awkward as though he had never heard or spoken those syllables together in his life. But he seemed to have a familiarity with the practice of sounding out new words. He spoke two languages and had to painstakingly learn one of them.

“Pyre, eh? Can’t say I ever heard of it...” He took out his worn cloth map and squinted at it. “Ah! I see. Small place, innit? Huh.” He paused for a moment, obviously thinking, then added, “Well met, Xander. Rio Ja’aisen,” he said with a nod. “For starters, why don’t you keep drinkin’ that brew you got there? ‘Dras knows you need it, you’re wound up tighter than an old lord’s asshole!” He took another drink from his own mug, as if mentioning Xander’s made him thirsty. 

“So uh...lemme guess, you left home specifically for this quest of yours? To uh,” he tried not to choke, “cure the darkness? I mean...don’t get me wrong kid, I admire your spirit. But you got a plan? And what’s this other stuff for? This Abyssal Shade and this...” he waved a hand, “other thing? Astre—-A-tres-tri-a-na? Right?” Rohaan had a little bit of a beard starting and he scratched it thoughtfully.