[Verus]

Most people who saw Verus’ face as delicate were usually drunk. But this human appeared to be quite sober, or at least he better be wondering around the wilderness in winter. Sure, the rhagrhnd was lean, and his face at one time might have been delicate looking. But that time had long passed, his lean and cleanshaven face was hard, unusual for one of his age. His face seemed to be carved of granite and not a flicker of emotion passed over it. His grey eyes told many stories, the saying goes that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and one could see in Verus’ eyes that he had seen, faced and dealt death. No, he might be a child in age but he had matured long ago.

His comment about the nice brightening brought the expected reply, and Verus could not help but be amused at it. But before he could further comment, a third voice entered the scene. Turning, Verus watched as a female vysstichi approached them. This brought back memories from the first of this very season; the darkening that Nexus Prime was attacked by vysstichi pirates. That darkening, Verus had gained more life experience then one could usually achieve in eras. He had fought for his life, as well as the lives of his friends and comrades. But above all that, he had fought for justice, an ideal that had been worn into him from the brightening of his birth. Turning aside the memories, Verus listened as the vysstichi asked them, her voice dripping with seduction, what they were doing out in the cold without a woman to warm them.

Not a moment later, Verus felt the large arm of the bear of a man beside him clasp him on the shoulder. Pushing the hand away, Verus simply said, ”I like this weather.” All her attempt at seduction was lost to the rhagrhnd, as if he never even noticed she was female. He had never bed with a woman and he had never had the urge to. When he became an adult in the eyes of his tribe then he would bed a woman, but there would be no love. The only point was to reproduce so that the tribe could continue on. But that was not the only reason that Verus seemed oblivious to the attractiveness of the female vysstichi, no. It was more custom that did that. Rhagrhnd’s did not breed with outlanders, it was simply not allowed. On the occasional chance that it did happen, any offspring that came from the event were killed.

Next came the man’s question. The rhagrhnd was the first to answer, ”I’m enjoying by brightening off.” Then he had a proposition for the man. He had nothing better to do with his time, so he figured he might as well offer his help to the man, ”I know the area around Nexus Prime quite well if you would like some company.”