The protagonist of this mildly short tale is one orphaned boy in Ragash. Not really a shocking, or unique beginning to be honest, but not all can come from nobility or a happy family. His father died in a duel supposedly, and his mother was rather swift to follow after her late husband. He's been told it was sickness that took her, but he never really had the time to figure if that was true or not. After all, pondering what truly showed the mortality of your dead mother for some reason does not put food in your stomach or keep you warm at night.

Instead, he'd make his way down to the bizarre and offer his services. Moving supplies for merchants, or attempting to gain the attention of potential customers. It mattered little what he did, what mattered is that it paid mildly well for a single kid trying to survive. Also helped to build a relationship of sorts with the merchants. They were a little more lenient and didn't question the small amounts of fruits or bread that disappeared, so long as he didn't slack and didn't take anything expensive. This would also be where his desire to explore would come into play.

Talking to various merchants, hearing about a great world that was out there just waiting for him to explore was... Absolutely amazing. Tales of heroes, or wars and peace. Every once in a while, even insight on different religions and Gods besides the Annuki. The best, in his opinion, was some Orc who was telling him a little bit of what they believed in, before chasing him off because he was a butcher, not a storyteller for a bored teen. Nevertheless, it filled him with a desire to head out, to see these great lands and to experience life out in foreign lands.

So, he began saving up his meager earnings, eating just barely enough to keep going so that he could attain a few things for his well-planned trip. Like his staff and baton, or the robes and scarf. Not to mention some food and a flask or two. Most important, though, was persuading a few merchants who happened to scavenge a bit out in the deserts to teach him the basics and give him some tips on survival.

When the city gathered its army for some battle or other. He didn't really care what it was. Perhaps it was just some big group of bandits challenging the city again. He didn't care, Masao just figured it was finally time to go. In all of the hustle and bustle of a city preparing for a battle, he'd snag food and supplies for his trip out into the desert, simply following dusty trails as far east as he could. After all, he figured there was going to be either much celebration, or much change coming to Ragash, so the merchants surely won't be too beat up over some missing product.

For the most part, his travel would be rather... Inconsequential. Banal chatter with travelling merchants, a few fellow wanderers. Every once in a while stopping in a small village, or barely avoiding losing his head to a band of bandits through quick talking or just giving his supplies up depending on how close he was to another town.

The only real notable time he'd really remark on was the one time he wound up finding a small group of people still worshipping the Gods of Celestialism. Truly a fascinating night. This particular group was particularly devoted to Drakon, the Draconic God of Nature. They had welcomed him with open arms, and allowed him to stay as long as he wished. Given the similarities of sorts, in a way, to what the Orc had told him about long ago... Masao decided to stay a while. Helping out when asked to, Masao took his longest break of travel for about a year. Learning of different rituals of worship, and even beginning to learn a few runes from a particularly old guy who thought them to be the most natural of magic due to their age and simplicity.

Finally though, Masao couldn't ignore the call of travel, and with newfound respect for nature, and a mildly heavy heart, he bid farewell to this group and began his travels anew, continuing eastward. He held no particular destination in mind, just made his way from oasis to oasis, city to city as he walked through nature. Every once in a while, he'd hook up with a merchant's caravan just for some company on the road. Occasionally, he ponders just joining up with one more permanently, but for now? For now he's content just to travel and take in the world at his own pace, worrying little for money. If he really needs coin, he could tell tales, both true and fictional, of his adventure thus far...