[center][h1]Saul[/h1][/center]

After the long and arduous journey across the sea, the journey across the desert landscape and finally making it into Zion proper, there was one thought that filled his mind for much of the trip. 

[color=gold][i]The ‘ell! Why’s it so hot?![/i][/color]

Tongue flicking upon dry lips for the umpteenth time, he reaches for his water skin on habit. Yet, as it was the last time, it was now bare of the precious water it once held. At that reminder, Saul makes it a top priority to refill the water skin as soon as possible. 

A rumbling coming from his gut brings him to realization that he hadn’t eaten in quite a while too. As if to answer his stomach’s call, a tantalizing aroma seeps into his nose through the crowded street. Readjusting the rope wrapped bundle that was his pack and armor on his back, Saul weaves around other travelers and citizens towards the source. 

Fortunately for him, it wasn’t long before he came upon a decent, moderately sized tavern. Saul quickly marched in, taking a seat at the nearest table he could get to, sighing as he finally got a chance to sit and rest his legs. Not a moment after finishing said sigh, he heard a clunk as a mug was sat down before him. 

[color=coral]“New to Zion I take it, hmm?”[/color] a playful and teasing voice spoke beside him. Turning towards it, he sees an older waitress giving him an easygoing smile as she looks at him. 

Saul finds himself blinking in surprise. [color=gold]“That I am… Though how did you guess?”[/color]

[color=coral]“Oh, when you’ve been here for as long as I have, one tends to pick up on such things. The most obvious in this case being…,”[/color] she stops as she gives the wrapped pack and armor a tap with her knuckles, [color=coral]“as you can see.”[/color]

A hearty laugh barked from Saul at that. [color=gold]“Indeed! I may as well have just shouted it out that I was new upon stepping beyond the gate!”[/color] Before he could continue, once again his gut roared in its desire of sustenance. His hand rose to behind his head, rubbing it in slight embarrassment. 

The waitress simply covers her mouth as she lets out a giggle at that. [color=coral]“Oh dear, I do believe we may want to handle that beast in there. I’ll have them whip something up for ya right quick hun,”[/color] turning to walk away as she says that to him. 

Needless to say that, once the food was brought before him, it was not long before only a few scant crumbs of the meal was left. His gut sated, he leans back in the chair and rubs his now full gut. Now, he could finally take the chance to simply rela-.

[color=gold]Or not, I guess…[/color] as a booming voice rang out across the city, calling new recruits such as himself towards the castle. Pushing himself up, he hooks the bundle back over his back, pulling out some coins and placing them on the table as payment. 

Back outside, his eyes quickly gaze at the castle in the distance. This was it. Soon it will be time for him to step into the Crusade himself. To fight alongside others to bring about a better world for those back home. Just like his father had done before him. He couldn’t help but feel a bit of nervousness build up inside of him as he walked towards the start of a very dangerous and, likely deadly, journey. But even so…

That ever present grin never left his face.