5This is pretty much an entirely new chapter in terms of content. Niko's journey from Kakarra to the Lower Lands was a few paragraphs at most in the original version. Now comes a more detailed account of the people and places he discovered along the way.
Chapter 6: Wherever it Takes Him
By Nikovich
Despite never having left the desert, Niko was familiar enough with the heart of it to navigate with little issue. Even had he not spent his entire life in the sands of Kakkara, being a vulpine, fleet of foot, with keen ears and nose made him a creature well suited for exploration. His senses and instincts led him east a short ways, just enough to pass the larger inlets and bays, before he turned south, where he could follow the coastline out of the desert.
He would not be heading north to the village as he had done so with his father on some rare occasions; there was nothing there he had significant attachment to. The same could not be said about the star fields of the Moon Palace. Niko had spent many nights staring out into the void, creating his own stories for how it got here. Sitting amongst the glowing stars that littered the sands surrounding the black sea, he would pick out the empty spaces those stars used to occupy. He saw some of himself in those stars that were brave enough to leave where they had always called home to journey for new lands. He would have liked to bid farewell to Karon, the kind old demihuman who used to ferry worshippers over the emptiness to the Moon Palace; or his son who now performed the task. The vulpine might have considered making the extensive trek up north, but his new-found freedom demanded priority. There would be plenty of time for a visit back later, and so he continued southward.
There was a brief interlude when he hit the coast; Niko had seen the ocean once when he was very young but did not have the opportunity to enjoy it. The fox enjoyed several hours of swimming, watching the shining fish dart just out of his grasp, and wrestling with the waves before dislodging the water from his ears and moving on. The experience was pleasant indeed, but Niko wanted to make time for things he had never seen; things outside the vast reaches of the desert.
It was only another day's worth of traveling along the coast before the vulpine got his wish. Niko smelled a change long before the sand began to darken, but he knew it wasn't the scent of earth. He was so preoccupied with imagining all of the things this new scent could be, as Niko came to the top of the next hill, the source at first went unnoticed despite being in front of him. Slowly, the vulpine came to a stop as the sea of colors before him began to register. From the shore on his right, stretching beyond the reaches of his vision, stood the Great Forest of the Western continent.
If it had a more colorful name, it was lost to time. Niko had never seen such intense shades of green in his life, but as breathtaking as this experience was, it was not the focus of his amazement. The flow of seasons mattered little in the desert, but here, the onset of Fall had dotted the tree line with splashes of gold, orange, and red. The palm trees of the desert were sparsely adorned with foliage at best, and though they varied greatly in appearance, it was nothing relative to the sights before him. Was the rest of the world covered in trees like these? Why were some so different looking than others? If trees could be red and gold, what other colors could they be? What made them want to be those colors?
Amongst the wave of questions, one stood out so strongly, the vulpine could not help but vocalize it. "Why am I standing here thinking?"
With an abrupt laugh, Niko broke into a full sprint towards the tree line, shedding his loose packs in sheer exhilaration in the process. When the vulpine reached the edge of the forest, he greeted it like a long-lost brother; leaping into near-embrace with the closest tree. The trees of the desert were smooth, but this one was roughly textured, like soft rocks, and the skin of it crumbled away if pulled forcibly enough. Sometimes this produced a sticky substance underneath that matted his fur rather unpleasantly, but had a sweet scent. The taste reminded him faintly of some syrups his family had used as sweeteners for tea.
The focus of his attention however, remained the leaves. Many were too high to reach without climbing, but the ground below the trees was littered with endless amounts of variations in shape, size, and color. Kneeling down, Niko cupped his hands together, scooping up as large a pile of the fallen leaves as he could. After a quick shuffle to ensure he had collected a diverse enough assortment, the vulpine buried his muzzle in the foliage and inhaled deeply. The scent of earth was not unknown to him, but one this rich and varied was intoxicating; almost enough to make his head spin.
I wonder, Niko thought, if the plants in the desert can be eaten... maybe these can be too! Dropping the majority of the leaves in his hand, he retained one of each shade; only the most prominent examples of green, yellow, orange, red, and brown. A controlled test would be the best place to start; the plants of the desert were green, so he would start with the green of the forest.
Hmm... A bit chewier than desert leaves... and not as juicy either, with a stronger bitter taste. Perhaps the others would provide a more exotic taste. Maybe they got better as they turned darker, like ripening fruit! Scattering the other leaves in excitement, Niko stuffed the entire brown leaf into his mouth, closing his eyes in anticipation of the new flavor. The dry leaf crumbled into crunchy little specks that stuck to his tongue, each with the strong taste of burning dirt.
Though they offered just as powerful a taste, the padded leather palms of his old work gloves Niko's father had given him provided a better surface for scraping the bits of leaf off his tongue, if only by a small margin. After no small amount of sputtering later, Niko's maw was free from the foliage, leaving him with piece of mind enough to consider a thought: maybe that wasn't such a good idea.
The vulpine pressed on; it was going to take more than a sour taste to ruin his greatest adventure. Though he made sure not to stray far from the shore, he continued to take in all that was new to him. Though the sights were the most obvious, every sense was a different experience from that of the desert. The wind in the desert whipped and howled. Here, it whistled and splashed through the trees like a wave, bringing the recent image of crashing shoreline to Niko's memory. On its wing traveled the songs of countless birds and insects he had never heard the voices of before.
The air was lighter; easier to breathe, yet still denser with the scents of a range of flora and fauna far wider than that of the desert. Kakkara had its own unique gamut of fragrances, especially around the village, but this was a literal bouquet of aromas. Dozens of unfamiliar traces filled his nostrils, some so foreign, he couldn't tell if they were plant or animal. If the wilderness was this odorous, Niko could only imagine what awaited him near the bustling settlements. Sure, he was eager for even the most mundane new scents, but the thought of approaching a tavern or hut with a full cauldron on the fire was enough to make him salivate. His stomach rumbled in-turn, as if awakened by the idea alone. Scanning the immediate surroundings, he spied a smooth rock that looked to make a comfortable seat. Perhaps it was time for the vulpine to break out some of his food supply and unknowingly enjoy his first picnic.
With his belly full and the sun fading behind the tree line, Niko traveled another hour before deciding to end his exploration for the day. Settling in a small grove beneath a cluster of four trees, he gathered up the fallen leaves, discarding the brittle and wet foliage, until he had built a sizeable pile. Leaping in, Niko tussled and rolled until he was happily nestled into the natural bed. On his back, he watched the shifting clouds through the sparsely ornamented tree branches. The fox was quick to forgive the significant drop in comfort compared to his bed at home. With a deep breath, Niko drank in the culmination of his first night outside the desert.
He had only closed his eyes for what seemed like a moment before the crackling of flames roused Niko. Had he left the fire going? It would not have been particularly adventurous of him to burn down the first forest he had ever seen during his first night in it. Not to mention, his bed of dry leaves would not have granted him the best protection from the encroaching conflagration.
He was sure he had extinguished his campfire before preparing for sleep but sure enough, there it glowed in full blaze. With a concerned frown, the vulpine stood to smother the fire with a handful of wet dirt. Surprisingly, the fire sparked and flared as if he had just thrown on a bundle of well-oiled kindling. A second handful produced the same effect, and now the flames were higher than before. Niko backed up instinctively, but something about the calmness of the fire eased his tensions; almost as if the inferno seemed intelligently controlled.
Still unsure of how to proceed, Niko tapped his foot as he mused on a solution, but snapped back when he was sure he heard his name from deep within the woods.
"Hello?" The fox called back to whoever beckoned him. It had a male voice but did not sound like his father. Who could be looking for him that knew he would be here?
A second call, louder this time, though strangely, it sounded as if it were coming from the fire. Looking deep into the core of the burning wood pile, he saw no signs of how it could possibly be speaking to him, until...
"NIKO!" The burning branches popped and combusted, sending showers of sparks everywhere. The vulpine in question shielded his eyes... opening them to see the morning sky, pink from the rising sun. He turned to his right; the pit where the fire had burned during the night was covered and thoroughly snuffed out.
Dusting the leaves from his body, Niko stood up and stretched. Yawning, he expressed his thoughts aloud, "What a strange dream..."
Quickly putting the thought out of his mind, he gathered up the remaining loose items from his pack and secured it snugly. There was a lot more to see and Niko was feeling especially brisk this morning. A light run felt like a natural response to such a situation.
Despite all the aspirations of heroism, Niko never made it a point to pursue the skills associated with the average hero. Even the occasional running was more out of necessity or fun. When it came to martial ability, his only experience was tussling with friends in the sand. Though he came out on top a good portion of the time, a real hero probably needed a bit more applicable combat experience. If there was one positive about the grueling heat of the desert though, it was that it certainly made most other environments seem amicable by comparison. At the very least, he had stamina under his belt; perhaps that would count for something.
The vulpine slowed to a walk. Though his breathing was labored, it was not fatigue that stopped him. Peeking out from the clouds in the distance, the jagged north face of the Lofty Mountains climbed high above the distance forest canopy. The northern corners of the desert featured their own humble ranges; mere stones compared to what Niko was currently gazing upon. He couldn't imagine anything being so massive, and it was still only a tiny percentage of the entire range. The vulpine picked up the pace once again; he had to see more, and he had to see it up close.
The sun had passed its midpoint in the sky by the time the base of the mountains came into view. With the smallest stretch of shore dividing the two, it almost seemed as if the mountains rose straight out of the sea. Niko squinted as he scanned the mountain from base to peak, huffing from the run over. Laying down on his back, his chest heaved as his breath began to steady, but more importantly, he was able to comfortably observe the entirety of the mountain from this supine position. The sides jutted up at an exceptionally steep angle for much of the mountain's initial length. As intriguing as the idea was, there was no way the fox would be able to scale any stretch of this mountain without tools, especially as exhausted as he was at the moment. With a heavy sigh, Niko slowly rose to his feet, promising that one day in the future, he would stand at the top of those mountains. First, however, he would cool off.
While he drifted on his back off the shore, Niko began to ponder on what to have for lunch when it suddenly hit him. Or bit him, more appropriately. It seemed some manner of creature had grown rather attracted to the fox's tail and was clinging to it with some sizeable pinchers. After a considerable amount of thrashing, Niko now had in his possession... something that looked very unappetizing. The insectoid creature reminded him of the large scorpions native to the desert. He certainly didn't want to eat whatever this was, but it gave him an idea.
Though he had never been fishing before, the vulpine found that with the right amount of patience, smashed bits from the previous catch, and his newly discovered natural reel, a seafood dinner was looking more like a reality with each bite. The first few results were more off-putting sea-spiders, but he soon had smaller fish pooling around him, showing interest. Niko repeated this practice of catch and re-bait until he had two small fish, similar to the ones his parents would sometimes bring him from Kakkara village. A small hike through the woods, and he had procured some various berries and apples for dessert.
After a satisfying meal, the vulpine decided to satisfy his adventurous urges. He knew he was supposed to be following the southern coast, but with the mountains serving as a landmark, he could stray a considerable distance without fear of losing his guide. He began to veer northward on his eastbound expedition. On this deviation there seemed to be little more than what he had already seen. At least, that's what it seemed like at first.
After two hours or so, Niko began to sense a distinct change in the air. It grew heavier the deeper he ventured, almost making him light-headed. The foliage had shifted from a deep palette of greens to a collection of eerie blues. Despite his exceptionally curious nature, his natural instincts bombarded him with cautionary stimulus. More than something felt off about this patch of forest, but his progress was only slowed by this trepidation. Eventually, the trees seemed to grow so dense, it was as if they were weaved together, forming a natural boundary that stopped the young explorer from going any further. It stretched this way in both directions for as long as he could see. With this new realization, the choice to turn back now seemed to be made for the vulpine.
The sun was setting by the time Niko had returned to the mountain side. Though the ocean shore had been replaced by the cliff slopes, he had soon come upon the river dividing the Upper and Lower Lands. A quick test revealed fresh, flowing water and Niko took the opportunity to refill his waterskins. It was getting late but he continued on with the rolling river beside him; the vulpine was still feeling quite energized. He continued his hike, all the while admiring the reflection of the moonlight off the side of the mountains to his right, until he once again felt the need to rest. Settling down with some more apples to nibble on, Niko watched the surface of the water dance until sleep overtook him.
Another morning of travel, another breakfast consisting of the woods' natural bounties; Niko decided he would save his packed food for a later, possibly special occasion. Some of the forest's native inhabitants had grown bolder (or perhaps the vulpine simply had become more perceptive to their presence), and he was treated with the company of various birds and woodland critters he was unfamiliar with. They kept a safe distance, but seemed to congregate in this region where the river widened significantly. Niko had guessed that like the desert, a large supply of water attracted a large population of wildlife.
As the river began to narrow again, the Lofty Mountains started their decline, eventually giving way to more forest on the southern bank. This had to be the Lower Lands Niko had heard so much about; the very same where the heroes of legend first met. Crossing the river at this point however, seemed quite a task for a vulpine who had only been swimming for about a week now. Though if the river maintained its current course, it would most likely prove manageable further on.
Sure enough, this estimation paid off. The shores pinched together and as far down as the vulpine could see, this was as close as they would get, though it still seemed a daunting crossing for a new swimmer. He could continue traveling east to determine if they got even closer. Though this piqued Niko's already-inflated curiosity, what he could see across the shore seemed to discourage this. The land rose considerably some distance after the river's edge and continued eastward past his visible range. If it persisted, he'd have to travel this far west after crossing anyway to continue southward. The fox scratched his chin for a few moments before coming to a decision.
Though he had never been aboard one, and his knowledge of them were limited at best, one thing Niko knew about boats was that they were made of wood. There was certainly no shortage of fallen branches, and with the supplies he had with him (along with some painstaking effort), he managed to bind together a decent mass of them. Leaving his pack on the shore, the fox waded out into the river to test his creation. The currents were quite strong here, but if this makeshift raft worked, he'd have a precautionary flotation device should he tire halfway across. Almost certainly just as important, this would also provide him a means of keeping his provisions dry.
The vulpine found that only with great exertion was he capable of partially submerging the bundled timber, and he returned to the shore, satisfied with his testing. Niko secured his pack to the makeshift buoy and gave it a few tugs before embarking on his first ferry voyage. By the time his feet lost contact with the ground, the fox was already a good distance into the river. With his hands gripping the sides of the raft and his legs kicking behind him, he was soon passing the midpoint of the river. It was only a few more minutes before his footpads brushed mud and despite drifting a few dozen yards down the stream, Niko was quite proud of how smoothly it worked out. Upon trudging up the wet bank, he almost considered keeping the buoyant apparatus as an emblem of his ingenuity. The thought made him smile, but he quickly declined, leaning it up against a nearby tree. It was simply too cumbersome to carry, but perhaps here, it might aid another intrepid young adventurer long after Niko had made a name for himself.
A quick check on his pack for any water damage revealed his equipment had stayed dry. His clothes and fur however, were expectedly soaked. With a quick wringing of his clothes and a vigorous shake, the fox was as dry as he could manage. With the sun soaring overhead and the weather still quite warm, the rest of the moisture would evaporate soon enough. He was certainly comfortable enough to approach the steep slopes for inspection that he had observed from the other shore.
Once again, scaling these rocks seemed like an endeavor requiring specific tools and skills, neither of which the vulpine possessed. He followed the cliff upward, feeling a bit discouraged, when that emotion was quickly replaced. The sky seemed to blacken just over the summit, as if the raised landscape poisoned the air around it. Once again, his instincts cautioned him to be wary of this environment, even if he couldn't reach it from here. Still though, the very feeling caused his tail to swish behind him in excitement, as if he could sense the significance of his surroundings. He allowed the sensation to pass as he progressed southward.
After two more days of travel, the mountainside gave way to some promising looking trails. The worn paths and roads appeared calculated, as if they were the result of repeated traffic. The fox's pointed ears perked up, and he put his nose to the dirt. Tracks of all manner marked the dusty paths; this was surely the sign of nearby civilization! After weeks in the wilderness, Niko had almost grown accustomed to the solitude, but he was quickly reminded of his desire to meet new peoples. If he had come this far following natural landmarks and his senses, he could certainly follow these roads into the next town.
The roads had opened up significantly into large plains, but following the trails of commerce proved simple enough. He was so fixated on the wagon tracks, the vulpine hadn't noticed the colorful explosion of flowers that now adorned the roadside. Kakkara was not without its own floral arrangements, especially at some shops in the village, but he had never seen them in such abundance in the wild. His pursuit could halt for a moment while he explored this stunning vegetation up close. The vulpine bounded from patch to patch, burying his muzzle in each, for every one had notes of its own distinct signature.
Some of them stood almost as tall as he did and even grew straight out of the dirt, dead in the middle of the path... where not even grass sprouted? There must have been something special about this large pink blossom that made it so hardy, and it required closer inspection. With his nose inches from the closed bud, the petals fanned opened, revealing a beak-like center, which lunged directly for his face. Niko sprung backwards, nearly losing his footing as the plant's jaw snapped shut, shaving one of his whiskers. His attacker uprooted itself, giving him a moment to reset himself.
The carnivorous creature scuttled forward on its roots, the stem snaking forward to strike again, but Niko was ready this time. He recoiled and retaliated with a bite of his own, locking the stem between his jaws, just below the bulb. Seizing the initiative, the fox dove forward and tumbled along the ground, tying up the fronds the creature seemed to use as arms. He thrashed and flailed, casting petals in every direction, until he felt the stalk coming loose from his teeth. With a swift kick against the ground, the vulpine propelled himself away from his assailant, rolling back to his feet. Though visibly damaged, the bestial plant continued to drag itself towards him, almost vengefully. Niko took this opportunity to resume his original affair, dashing down the road, making sure to steer clear of any other giant flowers that grew where they didn't seem to belong.
With the adrenaline dying down, Niko felt an exhaustion greater than any length of running had ever caused. Doubled over, he gasped uncontrollably, incapable of focusing on anything until his lungs began to settle. When his thoughts returned to him, the vulpine quickly scanned over his exposed body. He found some scrapes and bruises from the scuffle, but nothing that appeared to be a wound. Slowly, the realization came to him. He had been in his first battle with a monster and emerged not only victorious, but virtually unscathed. Niko stood up straight, wiping the dust off his clothes and brushing the leaves from his tail.
"Maybe I'm not a hero yet... but I think that's a good first step," he announced to no one in particular before adopting a more leisurely pace and moving on.
Two rows of bound logs led the way inside. The sign at the entrance read "Kippo Village." A few townspeople milled about, busily tending to gardens, manning the large watermills that jutted out from the buildings, or simply monitoring fishing poles along the bridges that connected both halves of the village. The vulpine stopped at the cobblestone walkway, panning through the small hamlet, and he received quite a few curious glances back. Not unlike Kakkara village, the population seemed predominantly human, but much fairer skinned compared to the desert-folk.
The houses differed greatly from the huts of the desert as well, being squarish in shape with the mud construction being replaced by wood. It seemed availability dictated design in that regard. The building in front of him was prominently labeled "Inn," and further down the road to his right, a smaller, quaint little house decorated with a logo depicting some kind of large pot...? A cauldron maybe? Whatever it was, it eluded Niko's recollection.
He walked on towards the bridge in front him, smiling wildly at the old woman rocking gently in a chair beside the Inn door.
"Hi!" The fox announced gleefully, "I'm Niko!"
The elderly woman paused her knitting and smiled back from under her frilled cap. "Welcome to Kippo Village. You're new here, ain't ya?"
"I'm new everywhere! This is my first time away from Kakkara!" The vulpine gestured grandiosely, as if trying to depict the distance with his arms.
"Yer a long way from home, sonny. Here to do any kinda trading business? Use-ta be a purple one look like you that came by e'rry now and then with wares. Guess you fellas have same-y sounding names."
Niko furrowed his brow and shrugged, "No, just exploring. I'm an adventurer!"
The old woman laughed heartily, slapping her knee. "Haw haw, that's cute. Well if yer lookin' to buy supplies for adventurin', that shop there's the place," she pointed down the road across the bridge. "Otherwise, this here's the inn. Stop in if yer feelin' tired. Not much else to do around here, m'fraid."
Niko turned his head down the road to the aforementioned shop, then back to the woman. "Thanks miss, it was nice meeting you!"
"It's good to know there's still some civilized beast-men around here with manners; not just knockin' about the woods, scarin' e'rryone."
The vulpine walked on, not entirely sure of what that last statement referred to. Entering the shop, a young woman sitting at a nearby table addressed him, her eyes remaining on the book in front of her. "Welcome, someone will be right with you."
"Okay!"
Her eyes flashed up for a moment, and quickly returned when she realized who had responded. "Oh... here to do some trading, I suppose."
The fox frowned in confusion, "Someone else said that too... I think I want to try a regular Kippo dinner! Whatever you usually have around here."
"... Uh huh... Well, you won't really find prepared food here, save for some snacks. We sell groceries in bulk buuuuut, you'll want to go next door for dinner; the inn serves meals whether you stay or not." She motioned with her finger behind Niko.
The fox turned to find a heavily robed figure behind the counter; one he was sure he'd seen before, but couldn't place where. Even more familiar was the happy bobbing that accompanied his greeting, as if music was playing that only he could hear. With the attendant present, Niko turned his attention to the wares.
Leaving the shop, Niko placed the wrapped pastry in his pack for later. He crossed back over the bridge towards the inn, but took specific note of the tiny home behind the shop he now left behind. The windows were dark and it looked shut tight. The front of the house was adorned with flowery wreaths of countless types. Additional colorful vegetation dotted the sides of the patio while more was simply left on the steps. It almost seemed as if the house and the garden were merging into one entity. Shrugging it off, he entered the inn and sat at a table, where he was greeted by a middle-aged man in smart attire.
Niko made his intentions quite clear, "Hi! The nice lady next-door told me to come here for dinner instead of there!"
Shuffling some menus and papers around, the waiter responded. He spoke quickly, but in a manner that conveyed eagerness; not impatience. "Oh, Kim. Yeah, she expanded the selection with a few confectionaries and such when she inherited the store from her father, but if you want a meal, you've come to the right place! Dinner's 10 gold, but if you're staying the night, it's only 5."
Sleeping outside was fine, but Niko did like the sound of enjoying a soft bed again. "Oh, that sounds nice, maybe I will stay tonight!"
"Tell ya what, you stay tonight and I'll just take the difference off the cost of boarding." With that, Niko was left to peruse the small selection. One item in particular caught his eye.
The desert had a modest array of fish and fowl, but meat was limited to the small creatures roaming the sands. Rarely did they provide more than a mouthful or two, but the steak in front of him was more satisfying than any entrée Niko had consumed before. The fresh fruit and vegetable sides were fulfilling as well, but they were not attacked with the same ferocity.
Some more guests had sat down at neighboring tables during his meal, and by the time he was finishing up, the vulpine had attracted a few curious patrons. His unusual appearance and no doubt, outward dinner mannerisms had drawn their attention. He shared stories of his home in the desert, his family, and his voyage across the Upper Lands. The people seemed content simply to hear new tales, and Niko was finding he loved recounting them.
Niko had presumed the small crowd of listeners were much thirstier than they were hungry. They only seemed concerned with drinking, and were doing quite a lot of it. One young man even poured the vulpine a glass of his cider. It was sweet but it also burned and tingled down his throat. The more of it he drank, the more comfortable (and louder) he became, eventually exclaiming, "I even fought a monster just before getting here! A giant flower tried to eat me, but I chomped it instead!"
A scoff sounded from another table. An older patron who had kept to himself until now, suddenly spoke up. "Kff.. A lullabud, attacking people this close to town? Sounds like nonsense to me."
Geoff, who had shared his drink with the young storyteller, waved his hand dismissively. "Bah, pay no attention to Edwin. He spends his days in here remembering all the adventures he never had! He's got no imagination!"
The one they called Edwin snorted and turned back to his tankard. "Fine then, enjoy the varmint's stories."
"Aaaaaah, never mind that grouch. So where're you headed next?"
Niko scratched his chin; he had not planned much past reaching the Lower Lands. "I dunno! Where's the next town? I want to see all of them!"
Another young man who had introduced himself as William answered, "Well, Pandora Kingdom's not but a day's walk east of here. Just follow the cliff side and ye'll hit it."
Niko looked down thoughtfully, "Is it bigger than Kippo?"
"It's a kingdom, lad!" William chuckled. "It don't get much bigger than that!"
A soft thumping began to ring through the tavern as the vulpine's tail banged rhythmically against the back of his chair. There was always a kingdom in his favorite stories and inside, always a castle. He always imagined what one might look like, but never that he'd actually have the chance to see one. Anticipation filled his head; the throne room, the halls, the courtyard, the royal gardens...
Gardens... his thoughts wandered back to the house behind the shop, and began spilling out through his mouth. "I like the flower house behind the shop! Do people live there or just plants?"
A hush fell over the tavern, some of the regulars bowing their heads solemnly. Niko looked around patiently, awaiting a response.
Geoff finally broke the silence. "Ehh... A soldier from Pandora lived there with his parents. Unfortunately, like some soldiers... he didn't come home. His parents were old, had little reason to stick around after that. Been empty since... couple folks fancy it up every now and then, in his memory."
The silence persisted for a few more moments. It seemed that would be the extent of the answer anyone was comfortable giving.
"Oh well that's a shame." Niko chose to break the awkwardness with a return to the previous topic, "So tell me more about Pandora!"
William responded, happily accepting the change of subject, "Surely you've heard of it. Th' lass Primm made quite the name out've it, not that it needed it."
"Ooooh! Primm lives there! Would she still be there?"
"I don't see why she wouldn't if that's where she lives!"
Niko bolted up from his chair. For some reason, the thought had never occurred to him that the heroes he idolized were now actually realistically accessible.
"Then I have to get there right away!" The thought of a warm bed disappeared, as did any traces of fatigue. He quickly paid for his meal and bid his new friends farewell.
He'd certainly return to Kippo in the future, but now the call of another beckoned him, and it sounded to Niko like the one calling was destiny. That, or possibly the cider.
