The morning was crisp and cool as it broke over the still quiet of Divinity’s Reach. The city had yet to be warmed by the sun just now pulling its fiery head over the horizon. Gold of morning and silver of night mingle over the mist as it steadily sought it’s way to the villages below.
Captain Jesse Ironwood was not terribly fond of the still and the quiet, but he found this time of morning ideal for departure. Those of a nocturnal nature were slinking back into their shadows while more common folk had yet to start their day. It meant few questions, and far less talk.
This morning however, he was met with a fairly sizable hitch in his plans. And that was the absence of a very important piece of tagalong luggage.
This morning, when he rose before the sun, he found his Sylvari partner was no longer occupying their shared bed. Perhaps the most obvious clue was the fact the Norn had ample room to spread his long limbs. For a creature so small, the sapling had a knack for taking up three times the space. The next was a quick survey of the cramped rented room that found from his boots, to the leaves of his coat, Genjl was gone.
He never heard the Sylvari leave. Though this occurrence was nothing unusual, down to the absolute stealth, whether intentional or unintentional, it always proved to be horribly inconvenient. No doubt he’d wandered off on another one of those whims that seeded themselves in Genjl’s mind, and gotten himself lost.
Alright, so it was mildly concerning. And it was this mild but nagging concern that urged the Captain out of bed to venture out onto the promenade to greet the chilly morning air.
However, it would seem that Jesse was not alone as he had hoped. Heavy footsteps resounded off the stone walls and arch ways, approaching at an alarming rate. Jesse stiffened, and braced himself for whatever trouble was barrelling right for him.
And trouble it was indeed, as the source appeared to be none other than the wayward Sylvari himself.
“What the hell are you doin’, sprout?” Jesse couldn’t help but bark incredulously.
“I have… to run!… Thirty laps around the city!” came Genjl’s reply, every other beat punctuated by a heaving, labored breath.
“Huh,” the Captain replied, as if this alone explained everything. Truthfully, he remained unconvinced. “Who told you that?”
“Pikko says a good exercise regi- regimen includes aerobic and annannerobic activity!” Genjl wheezed as he blazed past the Norn. He stumbled a few paces, but was back to his weary yet determined pace in no time.
Jesse stared after him. “And how many o’ those you got left?”
“Twenty!” The winded reply.
“Around the palace?”
“The whole city!”
The Captain stood there for what must have been the better part of a solid minute trying to process the information the Sylvari had presented to him. Thirty laps. Around the entirety of Divinity’s Reach. And of course the damn weed had taken the Asura’s comment at face value. Now he’d completed a third of the task without stopping. Nor would he stop until he’d run his little roots into the ground. Six feet under, even.
“Gods damnit,” Jesse cursed before scrambling and skidding after the Sylvari in an manner that was practically comical. “GENJL! NO!”
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