Submission (#821) Approved

+4 shards (prompt)
+4 shards (452 words)
+1 eth shard (prompt)
+2 eth shards (Mastery character)

: +8 shards, +3 eth shards

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Being relatively new to Ur-bahn meant that most of the culture was striking to Alorus. The Mazri festival being in full swing helped with delighting him fully, and made him wonder why it was he'd never thought to venture out to this specific region. It was, in fact, while walking the many stalls, sampling food, that he'd even pondering trying to pick up a forger mastery; the idea of roasting your own food with the magics seemed appealing at the time.

Still, unlike the time when he'd participated in the races back home, here... he'd decided against taking part in the bareback or rodeos. Akiko, whom was native to the area being with him had helped ease him into the thick of things, but somehow, he didn't feel confident enough to truly participate. Even Akiko asking for reasons why he hadn't tried and urging him forward failed to achieve her desired effect. At the end of things, both friends had simply ended up watching the spectacle from a safe distance, watching participants ride on the Carazul, and some other wrestling full grown Ninyaks. No amount of prodding from his friends teasing could have gotten Alorus out on the arena though.

Without the use of shifting, which had at that point become essential to him, he didn't feel confident enough to really do most of the sport tasks required. The physicality and nature of the stunts needed to be performed seemed out of reach, though highly entertaining for them to watch.

"Why did you leave here, anyways?" it was the question that kept buzzing back to the forefront of his skull, and his friend blinked when she heard it. She seemed to pause, watching as a contestant was tossed clean off a particularly rowdy Carazul.

"No real reason, honestly..." she paused, watching the animal run rampant until it was chased down and reboxed, awaiting for the next contestant, "I just wanted more, you know? I wanted to see more. I love this city. I love it dearly, and deeply. It will always be home, but something inside me wanted... well, not more, not really. It's hard to put into words. I think I just wanted to grow as a person, if you can believe that, and it would have been difficult to do so from the safety of a known place."

Alorus nodded, "Did you feel like you did? Grow, I mean."

His friend offered him a silent smile, but did not respond, both left to watch on as more contestants tried their luck on the Carazul. He figured though, that she had. Just like he had. Though... it was also fair to say they both had growing left to do for sure.