Just Looking Around

[Albert Wesker]

As much as he tried to focus on his new summoning, his efforts continued to elude him. That he had never seen a horse in person didn't help his efforts any. Trying to imagine one large enough to support someone of his own unnatural height didn't help any. "Ahhhh....." He let out a long sigh, shaking his head, just about ready to give up on trying to summon anything for now and relegate himself to walking just to simplify things and spare the headache, and was just bending down to retrieve the Omnilium and re-absorb it or whatever it was he could apparently do with it, when he was stopped by something he hadn't expected to hear.

Not yet, at least.

"Excuse me!"

The voice came from behind him, in the direction of the portal. Scooping up the Omnilium, Kuzan spun on one heel as he rose back up to stand, searching about for whoever it was that had called out. It didn't take long to spot the poor man. Sprawled on the ground, clearly having just come through the portal himself, he didn't seem to worse for the wear, but seemed out of breath and agitated by something.

Closing his hand about the Omnilium, the former Admiral slowly crushed and absorbed it back into himself, not really understanding how he knew to do it. "Can I help you...?" he asked after a moment.

"I....I hope so!" The man slowly pushed himself to his feet, brushing grass and dust from his clothes. On a closer look, he was barely an adult, and were it not for his voice and the faint hint of a beard he might have been mistaken as a much younger boy. "Ah...ah...." Taking several deep breaths to attempt and calm his breathing, the young man spoke up. "Are you a Prime, by any chance?" The way he asked the question almost made it seem like he already knew the answer, but Kuzan could only stare quizzically back.

"A...Prime?" The confusion in his voice made it clear.

"Ah...my apologies, you must be new here, is that right?" When Kuzan nodded in the affirmative, the young man went on, seeming just slightly disappointed, but only for a moment. "Well, anyone who is summoned here by Omni directly is called a Prime. Or...I think that's how it works. I'm pretty sure, anyway. But I can tell you more about that later, maybe; right now I could really use some help and I don't really have much time!" He looked back over his shoulder, toward the portal, and shook his head, taking another step away from it. "I'm not really much of a fighter or tht good at travelling open country like this." He gestured here at the general landscape about the portal. "Normally I could handle myself." He paused, looking away as if in embarressment. "Well.....well enough, anyway..." The last part was mumbled under his breath.

"But! I've got some very important items that I need to get back to Dalaran! It wouldn't normally be an issue, but I think there might be someone following me." The man sounded slightly paranoid, but it wasn't as if Kuzan couldn't appreciate being worried in such a situation. Even if you were only carrying a few small items, if they are as valuable as was apparent, then it would inhibit full combat capability, trying to keep them undamaged and safe. And that was only if you were even a skilled combatant. This young man apparently wasn't.

"I think I understand." Kuzan rested one hand on his chin in thought, the other lazily stuck in his pocket. "But why would you tell me about any of this...?"

"Well..." The young man faltered, clearly at a loss. He fidgeted for a moment, before he said all at once, "Usually Primes are powerful enough to handle a situation like this pretty easily and I was hoping you might be able to help me out!"

Letting out a light chuckle, Kuzan shook his head with one hand over his eyes. "Ah...is that it." He had suspected it might be something to that effect. He mulled the prospect over for a few moments, thinking about it. It wouldn't be such a bad idea to help out with something so small, and it wasn't like he had any idea where he was going in the first place. If nothing else, he'd get directions to a city or town of some sort out of this deal. As long as they didn't run into too much trouble along the way it wouldn't be a bad arrangement at all. "I guess...it wouldn't hurt to lend a hand."

The young man's relief was almost tangible. Apparently whatever he thought was following him must have been pretty bad. "Thank you! When we get to the city, I'll try and find some way to pay back the favor, if I can!"

Kuzan held up both of his hands with a dismissive gesture. "Oh, no, there's no need for that. Getting to the city itself should be enough. Maybe some information on the way."

"Ah, that's right! You're new here, after all! Well, I'll answer whatever I can along the way and when we get there!" He reached behind him and picked up a large pack that had until then been obscured by his frame, and slung it over one shoulder. With the way he was carrying it, it was no wonder he had fallen over the way he had when coming through the portal. "Well, uh, follow me, I guess!"

With a gesture to lead the way, Kuzan set off after the young man at a lazy strolling walk.