Preparations.

Preparations.

Havillah walked away with the intention of packing herself a few things and essentials that she would take along with her on her journey. She did not know how long it would last or how far she would need to go. For all she knew, her companion intended for her to trasverse the entire world. If that was the case then, that would mean that it would take her forever and having no currency to trade, life would prove somewhat difficult in her journey across the globe.

There was no trade on Triberias. Everything including food was communal with divisions being made according to family sizes and ranks. There were hardly any poor on Triberias as the lowest ranking, those with just one Virtue like her would normally be banished hence bringing about some sort of balance where everyone was mostly on the same par. Everyone but the elders, but even they too had only two Virtues which also meant that they were stuck in the same level unable to ascend to the upper glories and would always remain with their stagnant purple robes unless something happened to make them descend.

With that in mind, Havillah put aside her red Triban robes and a few changes of clothes that she found stowed away in some of the closets. There were dresses and shoes, even pants like the ones Calla wore and it made Havillah wonder if the previous occupants of this house were all women.

"Or maybe the women had so many clothes that they had to.leavr some behind." The voice told her but Havillah ignored it, still angered as she continued to pack up her essentials. A few bars of soap that she had made the way her mother had showed her. She could still use Virtue but a good old fashioned bath could also be welcome. After a few thoughts, she put away the bars and took a few bottles of oil, clear and scentless. The by product of her soap making process. Convinced that she had all that she needed in the way of toiletries, she wrapped them in a sheet before moving down to the floor below to pack up some food.

In the kitchen, she packed several loaves that she had baked from grounded wheat grains. Picked some  fruit that were mostly apples and pears from courtyard garden and carried several bottles, all stashed in a  large knapsack that she had found  stashed on one of the pantry shelves next to the kitchen. The bag was not very big, but was enough to carry all her things in including her clothes. However, she had to discard the extra pairs of shoes and with just her one robe which was really more than enough due to its special properties. The bag was light despite all it was carrying and seemingly made of a light cottonlike material whose interior was silky and fashioned with hope crystals which Havillah assumed had the role of preserving whatever goods that she had stored there. However, there was really no telling. Maybe they were what made the bag unusually light or maybe they were meant to do something else entirely different. Either way, she would activate them and find out later hoping that that was their true purpose.

"What else?" She looked around for anything else that she may have missed, also patting her pockets for anything noteworthy. Normally she would have had a bottle emollient or something of the sort on her person. Maybe even a scroll or two inorder to catch up with the work that her mentor usually gave her, but there was nothing like that here and like the owner of that voice had so graciously shown her, she could still work wonders in healing even without the emollient that she was so used to. Sure, it made the process much easier, but that was only because her first Virtue was so weak that a conduit was necessary to channel her power.

"You really need to stop with all that self depreciation. Has not anyone told you that it is not good for you or any of your Ah Virtues?"

"They have, but it is really hard to take anyone seriously when you know what they are really thinking is the same thing as you are."

"And you would know this how? I do not ever recall mind reading being one of the many powers that a Virtue bestows."

"Maybe it is because of the pity that I see in their eyes when they say it. You know, the kind that you feel when you are sorry for someone but at the same time are glad that you are not in the same shoes?"

"Including your friends?"

"Mmm... No. Anyway. How are you even able to read my thoughts?" She asked even as she thought of Cjaira and Moriella her two closest friends. Cjaira who was so passionate in her support for her while the other, Moriella was forever rational and had always been quick to point out the obvious and then some more, concerning the outcome of matters that had been plaguing her. Moriella had always been insightful on how things would affect Havillah and she even pushed her to better herself even though it had failed to work out in the end. Moriella, so mature, so focused that it was hard to imagine that the two were actually agemates. The girl was an old soul at heart and more often than not she had to play the role of a mother or bigger sister to the other two and especially the much younger and more whimsical Cjaira who needed to be kept on a tight leash in order to keep her on a straight and narrow path. Havillah missed her friends quite alot and especially the little blonde girl who had always defended her so fearlessly. Cjaira's spirit and her stamina was a thing to behold and Havillah believed that the girl could move heaven and earth for the things she truly believed and cared about.

"I really hope they are fine, not that you can tell me now, can you?" She imagined the voice shrugging before moving on to clean up after her messes. It would take time without the help of her Virtue, the first one that is, but she would take her chances. It was better than ruining everything seeing how things had turned out the last time she had tried. This time though time was not on her side to correct any potential mess if Havillah intended to leave by sun down. She wanted to leave the place clean and tidy. For who knew how things would turn out even though she was not sure if she would ever come back to that place.

After what seemed like eternity, Havillah managed to restore the house to it original state or at least close enough to how she found it. The sun was almost setting and with it came the opportune moment for her to depart. That is, if she wanted to leave the place still undetected. The darkness would cover her and even if the Hub would be able to sense her presence through their infrared heat sensors, Havillah was sure that if she willed it the soldiers would not be able to catch her. She would miss Killion too, but somethings were inevitable and her departure would bring some much needed peace to the life of the man who had been so kind to her.