Forest of Foro

— The next day had come, and Nodo was going to the riverbank where Eva was staying.

— Nodo! It’s been a while! — A boy then interrupted him.

— Hmm? — Nodo turns back. — Ah, Eosaph! I haven't seen you since last week!

Eosaph and Nodo had known each other for a long time, Eosaph's family came from a distant kingdom from the Northeast called Dubhghall.

— So it is! I never saw you going in that direction, what are you going to do?

— I'm going to see a girl.

— How it is?

— A girl, I'm going to see her

— W—what do you mean? Do you have a girlfriend?

— Of course not! I'm just going so she doesn’t stay alone. — Nodo turns and walks again.

— Then I'll go with you.

— Why?

— I have nothing to do, and my mother went to the clothes fair with my brother, so I'm going with you.

— Okay then, let's go.

Nodo and Eosaph spent the rest of the way talking.

— Hey, Eosaph.

— Yea?

— Did your father come home?

— Hmm, not yet, he doesn't leave that tavern for nothing

…

— Does your brother know that?

— Hm? Oh, Gill somehow doesn't realize that my dad and mom are having a hard time, it's like he refuses to believe it, and my mom knows I know that, but she acts like she doesn't.

— Is that it? — Nodo thinks of a way to change the subject — Hey, Eosaph, have you ever been to Lord Amiedo's temple?

— Hmmm, I remember going once when Dad's business was going well, but it's been a few years, why?

— Yesterday me, my brother and my mother went there to thank my mother for the restaurant and for my brother to have been accepted into the garrison of the city.

— Serious? How nice, I wonder when my family will get the chance to go there again.

— I hope it's soon.

— Oh, I almost forgot, you got his name wrong. — Eosaph says to Nodo.

— What?

— It’s "Amieo", not "Amiedo".

— Whaat? I’m pretty sure I've said Amieo, not Amiedo.

— No, you didn’t.

A few minutes later, when they finally arrived at the riverbank, it was already possible to see Eva sitting there, as expected.

— Eva! — Nodo shouts, waving a hand.

Eva then takes her attention off the river to look at Nodo, but quickly turns back to the river.

— Is it that girl?

— Yes, she was the one I found yesterday, in that same place.

Nodo and Eosaph go to where Eva is, and sit beside her. Eva then whispers something softly to Nodo, who doesn't hear.

— There is? What did you say?

— He — She says pointing to Eosaph

— What is it?

— Who is it?

— It's Eosaph.

— Isaac?

— Eosaph! My name is Eosaph! — Eosaph interrupts the two.

— And why did he come with you? — Eva asks, looking annoyed.

— Because he had nothing else to do! — Nodo responds lively.

— Yes! — Eosaph agrees.

Eva looks at the river:

— Okay.

…

A long silence is broken by a speech from the least expected person, Eva:

— I didn't think you would come anyway.

— Well, I said I would come, I couldn't not comply.

— Nodo, when are you going to say you like her? — Eosaph “tries” to whisper, but speaks as if he's screaming.

— How is it? — Nodo screams confused.

— So that was it? Sorry, I'm not ready, let alone interested.

Eva extends her hands towards Nodo, making an "X" sign.

— Is not it! I just wanted to be your friend! I found it strange that you were alone here in front of the river, I don't like to see people alone or sad—

— Who said I'm sad? — Eva interrupts Nodo.

— What?

— Who says I'm sad? What could stop me from enjoying being here?

— Nothing, it's just your expression, it was sad.

— It's just… oh, forget it.

Eva gets up, and starts to walk away.

— Nodo, let's go after her. — Eosaph suggests.

— Okay.

The two get up and walk after Eva, who soon notices.

— What's it? — She turns around irritated.

— Come with us!

— To whe—

Nodo grabs Eva's hand, and runs off after Eosaph.

— We'll take you to the most beautiful place in the city!

— I— I don't want to, I have to go home.

— But you said that your father is busy, right? — Nodo laughs.

— But…

After running for a few minutes, the three stopped side by side, their eyes shining with the beauty they saw.

— What is it? — Eva asked, pretending not to be cheerful.

— It's the Forest of Foro, the city's first Marquis planted the first seed in it two centuries ago, there's no more beautiful place in the city than this one — Eosaph replies with a smile at Eva.

The landscape was really impressive, a forest dense with fruit trees, with vivid green leaves and healthy, very brown trunks, the pleasant smell of dew on the leaves was so intense that it was impossible not to want to be around.

Nodo and Eosaph then looked at Eva, and noticed the big smile plastered on her face.

— If a place like this is the most beautiful just here in the city, imagine what's out there! When I grow up, I'm going to go out and live in a different place! — Nodo sparks Eva's imagination.

— Really, there must be beautiful things out there — Eosaph completes

— Yeah, maybe there is. — Eva responds happily. — Is that all you have to show me?

— Hey, what do you mean, just this? Eosaph asked, annoyed.

— No, that's not what I meant, it's just that… this place is so beautiful, and you took the trouble to come here to show me, and I haven't met you for a day… and I didn't treat you guys well enough to deserve it. — She crosses her arms embarrassed.

— Oh, don't worry about it, anyone bothers with someone nosy. — Nodo responds, shrugging his shoulders.

— Yeah, yeah, Nodo himself is very noisy. — Eosaph provokes, receiving a weak punch on the left arm from Nodo.

— You're pretty confident to call yourself noisy, right?

The three laugh together.

— Well, I have to go now, you can go to the river again tomorrow, bye.

— Oh, okay, bye. — Nodo says

— Bye! — Eosaph waves.

Eva heads to her house, while Nodo and Eosaph make their way to the town square.

— Why did you never show me that grove, Eosaph?

— Oh you know, it's a very romantic place for one man to take another!

— We are ten years old. — Nodo Said. — But you were very smart thinking of taking Eva there at the last second, she almost left!

— I think I have this blessing, being smart. Anyway, it's okay for today I think, right? I'm going home, my mother and brother must have already arrived.

— Okay, I'll go home too then.