When the time had finally come to leave the home he'd always known with his adoptive parents, Laurel set off for the Vahrian capital in search of a job in which he hoped to put his medicinal experience to good use.

Once settled in, Laurel found relative success in the vibrant desert city working for several years as an apothecary. He dispensed herbs, salves and medicine, as well as offered medical advice and other needed services to those in need. Though his patients were overwhelmingly lower class Abreterans, Laurel was surprised to find one day that an oddly noble-looking Vahrian had somehow stumbled upon his clinic; And so, Laurel treated the man's wounds like any other. Having been touched by Laurel's act of kindness, the Vahrian returned several times more to visit, and it wasn't long after that the two had begun to fall hard for one another that he revealed himself to be Prince Da'zaovi, second-born son to the Vahrian King as well as the heir's successor.

The two stayed together as a couple without incident for some years until tragically the life of crown prince Vae'saer was cut short by his own vassal, an Abreteran. The sudden and unforseen act of regicide shook the Vahrian people, and the King declared this an act of war. All Abreterans were given the order to vacate the capital, forcing many to surrender their homes and possessions.

Although Laurel's lover pleaded, he was unable to quell his father's rage, and more importantly he was unable to use his new position of heir as leverage to convince his father to have mercy. Refusing to lose another person dear to him while emotions were high, Da'zaovi announced he had no wishes to stay in the capital without Laurel, and was subsequently stripped of his title before the pair left, seeking a life together somewhere new.

The pair had thrived happily for nearly two decades, building a house and new life together, until Laurel suffered a fall and injury to his leg that he tragically did not recover from.