Kaiden walks beside Loden down the narrow, cobblestone streets of the city. Kaiden’s expression is a mix of annoyance and discomfort at his earlier experience and their stroll. Kaiden grumbles inwardly as they walked through the city streets, the pair take in glances around as they pass through the city, the crowds of people barely sparing them a glance. Occasionally, a passerby would glance at Kaiden, but their gaze would quickly move on, seemingly unfazed by his distinctive look and hair color.

This was not what he had expected or wanted. He couldn't help but feel a sense of irritation and frustration.

The slight weight on his head and the feelings bubbling inside him making it difficult to focus. "Ugh, this feels weird," he complains, reaching up to touch his head. "This isn't exactly what I expected when you said you had an idea, Loden. My head feels so damn weird and I feel so dirty."

Loden chuckled at Kaiden's exaggerated reaction. "Oh come on, quit whining," he said, the corners of his mouth twitching with a smirk. "You're acting like I just dunked your head in a pile of dirt. All it is, is a little mud in your hair. It won't kill you, y'know."

Kaiden grunted in response, his hands still touching his hair. He felt a gritty sensation as his fingers ran through the dirt mixed with his usually smooth blonde locks.

Kaiden groans in annoyance as Loden chuckles and brushes off his complaints.

"A little dirt, my ass," he mutters sourly. "Now I look like I just rolled around in the muck."

Loden chuckled at Kaiden's sarcastic remark, his smirk widening. "Oh, stop complaining already," he teased, his light-hearted demeanor still intact. "It's not like anyone is going to notice, and it's serving its purpose, isn't it? You blend in perfectly and we can search the city hassle-free."

Kaiden grumbled in response, but he fell silent, reluctantly accepting Loden's words. He knew that they were drawing less attention than he had expected, regardless of the mess in his hair.

Kaiden grumbles under his breath as Loden lightly pushes his shoulder, his annoyance at the mess in his hair still evident.

"Yeah, sure, nobody's gonna notice the guy with mud in his hair," he mutters sarcastically. "Real inconspicuous, we blend in perfectly." Despite his protests, he continues to follow Loden as they search the city together.

Kaiden's thoughts drift back to an hour ago, his memory replaying the scene in his mind. He recalled watching Loden leave the room, returning a short time later with the same bowl filled with a dark, gritty substance this time. Loden had then filled a basin with water and mixed it with the mud, creating a thick, slimy mixture.

The recollection of him watching Loden prepare the mud and not knowing what he was about to do with it brought a sense of unease to Kaiden's gut.

Kaiden's attempts to escape and protest Loden's actions had been in vain, his resistance nothing more than a futile effort. Loden had easily overpowered him, grabbing him and placing the bowl full of mud onto his head. Kaiden had struggled, but Loden's firm grip and determination held him in place. With a smirk, Loden proceeded to massage and spread the mud throughout his hair, completely coating every strand with the gritty substance.

After Loden was satisfied with the mess he had created in Kaiden's hair, they quickly exited through the servant entrance, making their way out of the palace. Kaiden could feel the mud, now dried in a dark brown crust, caking his once blond hair, completely obscuring it from view.

They passed the guards, who did not question their departure, the darkened hair keeping Kaiden unrecognizable even to the palace staff.

Kaiden had felt a sense of disbelief as they passed the guards without being questioned. He surmised that it was likely due to Loden's presence, as the guards saluted them and then averted their gaze.

He couldn't help but feel a mix of surprise and relief that their departure had gone unchallenged, the mud-covered hair effectively concealing his identity from the guards.

“Kaiden.” Loden's voice snapped Kaiden out of his thoughts, bringing his attention back to the present. He shook his head, clearing his mind and focusing on Loden.

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"Sorry, what...?" he asked, realizing he had momentarily zoned out.

Loden sighed, clearly becoming impatient with Kaiden's lack of focus. He shook his head and repeated his question, stressing the importance of paying attention this time.

"I was asking which direction we should go," he said firmly. "The upper section of the city has multiple areas, but the map I saw looked like it marked a specific spot towards the very top. Should we check that area first?"

Kaiden nodded, silently chastising himself for zoning out earlier. He focused on Loden's words as the warrior suggested that they start their search in the upper section of the city.

"Sorry, yeah, that sounds like a good plan," Kaiden agreed, his mind now fully on the task at hand. "Starting there seems like a logical choice. Let's head to the top and work our way down from there."

Loden smiled at Kaiden's agreement and apology, sensing that he was regaining his composure. "No worries," he said. "Just remember to keep your mind present. We have a mission to focus on."

Kaiden nods, realizing that he had been distracted for a little while due to his complaining. "Yeah, right, focus on the task at hand," he mutters to himself, mentally noting not to zone out again.

Loden chuckled at Kaiden's words, a slight smile appearing but then vanishing as quickly.

"Good, I need you to focus," he teased, before turning his attention back to their task at hand. "Alright. Let's head to the upper section of the city."

Kaiden nodded, his mind sharper and focused, ready to move forward with the search. "Lead the way," he said, his gaze fixed on Loden, awaiting his direction.

As Kaiden followed Loden through the city's streets, he couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the different areas. Close to the palace, the atmosphere was bustling and vibrant, with a steady stream of people going about their day. However, as they moved further away from the palace towards the outskirts, the surroundings grew increasingly sparse and empty. The change was so drastic that it left Kaiden feeling surprised and a bit unsettled.

As they continued walking, Kaiden's eyes darted nervously around the area, a sense of disquiet growing inside him. The deserted surroundings seemed eerie and strange, the lack of activity and people around the Northern gate making him uneasy.

"Loden," he asked, his voice tinged with worry. "Isn't the Northern gate up ahead? Shouldn't there be more people around, just like there were near the gate we came in through?"

Loden turned his head towards Kaiden, a slight frown on his face. "Yes, the Northern gate is up ahead," he confirmed. "They closed the gate years ago to limit entry from the North and South."

He too glanced around, his eyes scanning their surroundings. Loden's expression mirrored Kaiden's growing uneasiness, his instincts telling him something was off.

Kaiden's question about the lack of people around the gate didn't go unnoticed, and Loden's expression turned thoughtful. "You're right, there should be more people moving throughout this area though," he said, his eyes also scanning the surroundings. "But it seems strangely deserted..."

Kaiden, feeling on edge, broke the silence, his voice filled with uncertainty. "Why would it be deserted?" he asked, glancing around at the strangely empty surroundings. The lack of activity and people was unsettling, making him feel vulnerable. "Where is everyone?"

Loden pondered Kaiden's question for a moment, his brow furrowing in thought. "I'm not sure," he admitted, his voice low and cautious. "It's strange how deserted it is around the gate. Perhaps something is scaring people away?"

Kaiden's hand instinctively moved to his sword, preparing himself for any potential danger. The thought of an attack or an unexpected encounter left him on edge, his senses heightened and alert to the surroundings. Loden noticed Kaiden's hand moving to rest on his sword, his own alertness increasing in response.

Kaiden quickly interrupts Loden, the concern in his voice evident. "What could be scaring people?" Kaiden wondered aloud, his gaze darting nervously around the deserted surroundings. "Maybe we should head back to the palace and have Wulfric come with us. It might not be safe here." He couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him, the emptiness of the area only adding to his anxiety.

Loden turned to Kaiden, his expression thoughtful. He understood Kaiden's concern but remained firm about continuing on

"I see your point," he said calmly. "But we're already here. Let's take a quick look before making any decisions. We'll be quick and careful. Plus you have me!”

Loden's determination to press forward was met with a mix of annoyance and admiration from Kaiden. Even though he found Loden's recklessness irritating at times, he couldn't deny the skill and ability the warrior possessed.

Kaiden's thoughts then turned to his own progress in swordsmanship. He admitted to himself that while he wasn't an expert, he had developed decent skills in both dodging and blocking with a sword. Still, when compared to Loden, he felt inadequate, his own abilities paling in contrast.

Kaiden forcibly pushed aside his doubts and self-comparisons, refocusing on the task at hand as they continued walking through the deserted streets. Buildings loomed on either side of them, their once grand structures now fading and crumbling. Some were in various stages of destruction, the evidence of decay and neglect evident in their crumbling facades. The atmosphere was eerie and dismal, the sense of abandonment only amplified by the empty streets around them. The area had undoubtedly seen better days, the once-thriving community now reduced to ruins. Kaiden felt a shiver run down his spine as he and Loden continued their way towards the Northern gate.