⚔ The Right Way ⚔

"Kallm ji, get comfortable, and I will return to give you a quick tour of the village."

Kallm nodded at his companion, Rineo, and fell back on the bed. The door clicked shut and Kallm rubbed his face with his calloused hands. Many people were surprised with how his chosen profession affected his hands but there was more to photography than simply clicking a button.

Yawning, Kallm got up and made his way to the small kitchenette, and flicked the switch for the jug. Ever since Vodia had come back, he had made a habit of drinking tea numerous times a day, a habit that had rubbed off on Kallm. Leaning against the cabinet, Kallm looked around his studio apartment, the gentle rumbling of his water acting as background noise.

The bed sat in the middle of the room leaving no room for couches and so he expected to be watching his shows from his bed. Smiling, Kallm knew he would have no problem with that. Off the entry was a door leading into a smaller room which Kallm assumed would be the bathroom, but there was more time to explore later. Right now, the mesmerising glow of the setting sun cast a beautiful shadow around his room and Kallm simply basked in its glow.

Making his tea, he moved to open the windows. As the area he was in wasn't the richest, his room did not have a balcony nor sliding doors. He would just have to make do the tiny amount of light his small windows let in and be content.

Sipping on his hot tea Kallm turned to open his camera bags first. He had to get set up. On his fathers insistence he had stayed back in Kairya until the day before the course was supposed to start and now he realised that it may not have been the best choice.

Opening the first bag he carefully cradled his camera. The different lens laid beside it in their rightful places and he smiled as he ran a finger over the engraving on it. He had been studying law when he had made the decision to pursue his hobby of photography.

He remembered the day that he had told his father, expecting him to kick him out or at the very least force him to finish his law degree. But his father did neither, and Kallm knew he should have never assumed with Ionido. Instead, he was pulled into a hug that he hadn't received since he was a child. One that let him know it was okay and that he would always have his father. The next day he had been surprised with a brand new camera and set of lenses. The camera had an engraving on it that Kallm knew would always keep him living his dream.

When you can't stand life, kneel. But keep moving forward.

Kallm smiled to himself, resisting the loneliness that threatened to engulf him with the thought of his father. He was stupid to assume his father would be any less proud of him.

Placing the camera a suitable lens in a pack, he downed the rest of the tea, seeing that over fifteen minutes had passed. Rineo would be back soon.

Heading back to the kitchenette, Kallm began washing his cup and heard the door open. Ofcourse he'd show up when Kallm was doing something.

"Kallm?" His voice sounded like he was in the bathroom and Kallm wondered why he would think to go there first.

"In the kitchen." He finished as he placed his cup in the drying rack and wiped his hands. He hurried to grab his pack and slung it over his shoulder as he turned to face a grinning Rineo.

"Ready to go?" He asked, and Kallm noticed that the sun had been steadily setting, the outside being blanketed in a cool grey as the evening became overcast. Looks like he'll be getting a good sleep tonight.

Kallm simply winked back at him and shot off through the door, flying down the three stories of stairs. He heard a grunt behind him and looked back, Rineo was trying to catch up, but in the four years Kallm had known him, never had he been able to beat him in a race.

Kallm pushed his tongue out before jumping over the railing of the final stair case and ran out the door laughing as he came to a stop just before he ran out on to the road.

His breathing came out heavy but he still had the energy to laugh at a bent over Rineo.

"You cheated!" Rineo finally managed to wheeze out.

"No. You just weren't ready." Kallm leant forward and slapped Rineo on the back as he laughed to himself. He enjoyed the freedom of being a photographer. Even while working, it felt like a hobby and that is what had pulled him to find the class and leave his law education.

"Whatever." Rineo replied, grumbling underneath his breath, but even Kallm could see he didn't mind.

"Well friend, lead the way. Show me how your Phaer could even remotely beat my beloved Kairya."

Rineo chuckled and shrugged Kallm's arm off his shoulder, using his arms to hail a cab.

"Oh, you'll see."

Getting into the back of the car, Kallm heard Rineo tell the driver to take them to the city centre. Settling in, Kallm took his camera out and set it up, putting the lead around his neck and putting his window down. The sights here were beautiful.

Driving along a coast, Kallm managed to shoot a few good shots before he reigned himself in and realised he didn't even know what his assignment was. Although that didn't stop him even when he had reached the city.

"This is the village I grew up in." Rineo announced but Kallm barely heard him, his artist mind already looking at the perfect angles and lighting, which, when coupled with the mountainous background he realised made the perfect shot. And so he took one. And another. And another.

Rineo shook his head at his friends apparent enthusiasm and knew that his beloved Phaer would take his closest friends breath away.

Strolling through the evening breeze Rineo began pointing out the places he'd played as a child, the stores he frequented and the previous establishments of now modern businesses.

"This is the centre fountain, though we mostly came here at night." Rineo nudged and winked at his friend, laughing at his expression when Kallm replied with wiggling his eyebrows.

"Everything is angled towards this fountain, it helps everyone get around easier and gives equal opportunity for each store. It keeps the peace." Rineo continued, his love for his little village shining through each and every word.

Kallm couldn't help but to take a picture of his friend, the pride in his eyes showing even through his digital screen.

"Not again." Rineo grumbled and turned away though Kallm could still see the smile on his face from being home.

A little feeling rumbled in Kallm's stomach and he attributed it to hunger, because if he let himself believe that he missed Kairya then he may very well turn around now and book a flight home. But he knew he couldn't.

How was he going to get through the remainder of his course? It had barely just begun.

"And this is the local supermarket. You'll be able to find most things here."

Kallm stopped and turned around to face the store that Rineo was pointing at. The final rays of the sun seemed to fight their way through the cloudy sky and the lights hit the windows at the perfect point so that it gave Kallm's reflection a titanium tinge and he did all he could. He pushed his finger down and captured what he'd later look back on as a moment of pure fate.

"Come on man, let's get something to eat, I'm starving."

As Kallm turned he thought he saw a flash of blonde hair, then stopped himself. They were in a city centre, of course there'd be people walking about, though he hadn't seen blonde hair in this village even though he had walked in right from the edge.

Ever since meeting his lavender he couldn't help his racing heartbeat or his sweaty palms every time he would see blonde, and the knowledge that perhaps his lavender was here, so close to him resulted in Kallm's feet taking involuntary steps forward. Forward to where he hoped would be the one girl he could not stop thinking about.

"Hey Kallm! Race you to the bakery" Rineo's footsteps became faster and Kallm turned around to find his best friend running away from him to further down and the grumbling of his stomach urged him to turn around and run after him.

"I'll still beat you!"

And besides, what would she be doing in a store in the city centre? He was sure he heard that she had been sent to live with her aunt and help her around her house.

⚔ The Right Way ⚔