-wildlife gets more active at night."

-expression.

"Oh thank god... Mehrak, you're okay..." He patted the suitcase gently, noting the repairs he'd need to make later. Nothing too intense. Good.

He glanced back to Lyney, head tilted to the side as he observed.

"Thank you for helping us. We should keep moving now... The desert's-

-uneasy feeling settling into him the more his keen eyes observed.

"Ah, sure. I'll ride at the front... I'd rather not cause any unnecessary hassle..."

As they headed away from the scene, his ears perked up at a distressed beeping, a mechanical suitcase drifting over to them with an upset-

Kaveh nodded slowly. He wasn't that stubborn and he could feel himself getting tired, not that he'd admit to it.

He let the young man help him, trying to keep his gaze away from all the fallen guys. It was probably better to not question it right now, he knew that much, even if there was an-

-surroundings.

"If I can get to Aaru Village, I can send word to the city to inform the Mahamatra..."

Everything ached like hell and he was sure his ribs were cracked if not heavily bruised, but he was able to move enough.

Man, he was going to need a decent nap when he was out of danger...

"We should get going soon. I doubt the entire group was here..." He looked around, ruby gaze noting his-

Kaveh was tense until he was freed, landing on his feet as he stood, shaking himself off and rubbing his wrists.

"I'm no feeble scholar. I can walk just fine... Just don't expect me to do any grand feats of agility, ahaha..." He murmured, testing how his legs could hold his weight.

+

-light hit his eyes. But the stubborn architect refused to be scared. He couldn't see who it was who'd opened the door to his cell.

"I don't know what you're expecting of me. I won't talk..."

-interrogated by shadowy strangers, Kaveh refused to say a word, only snarling at his captors.

He was knocked out again after being too aggressive

Coming to, he groaned softly, trying to move his arms only to hear the clinking of iron chains.

The door was creaking open, making him wince as the-

@guardedsmile.bsky.social

Kaveh had underestimated his mission. He'd been in the desert's outskirts to investigate some ruins when the ambush happened.

Although he fought back fiercely, he'd been overpowered and dragged away despite fighting fiercely.

Even after being beaten and-

Kaveh released a pleased huff, before smiling warmly.

"I'm glad you like it. You're a lot more amenable than the others I've tried to make up."

"Let me fetch a mirror..." He went off for a moment before returning with a small mirror.

"Here," He handed over the mirror.

"I learnt this from my classmates," He explained casually, adding the finishing touches. "I do my own makeup too."