The road that leads to the capital

Climbing a tree and stretching his arm to pick a pear, Nodo seemed to be trying a little too hard for such a simple task.

— Just... a little more... — Stretching even more his arm, Nodo unbalanced and fell on the ground.

thud

— Ouch! Damn arm, it's just a pear! How can you not be able to grab a pear?! — He shouted to his own arm, making Eva and Eosaph giggle at him. — What are you laughing at? — Nodo asked.

— It was funny, seeing you irritated with your own arm, funny and weird. — Eva said while hiding her giggle with her hands on her mouth.

— She's right, Nodo, did you hit your head when you falled? — Eosaph questioned.

— Of course not, I just got a bit frustrated. — Nodo responded, while crossing his arms with annoyance, which only made Eva and Eosaph laugh at him even more. — Who do you think you are making fun of!? — Nodo got up and ran towards the two, who ran from him in opposite directions. — Come back here! Don't run! Well... which one of the two i go after first... — After thinking, Nodo ran in the direction Eosaph went.

— Gasp gasp — Eosaph was running through the forest, when he heard a sound that resembled someone running after him, and when he looked back. — Nodo?! I thought you were going after Eva! — He shouted.

— You're slower, an easy prey! — With enraged eyes, Nodo kept running after Eosaph.

— What will you do if you catch me? — Eosaph desperately asked.

— I will kick your butt!

— So I won't stop running!

After running around like cat and mouse for a while longer, they finally stopped when they tripped over a fallen tree branch and fell to the ground.

— Eosaph!? Are you okay? — Nodo approached him, worried.

— Uh, yes, I am, thanks. — He answered, a bit dizzy.

— Psst. — Someone called them.

— Did you hear that? — Nodo asked.

— Heard what? — Eosaph replied.

— Psst.

After searching for the place where the sound of the caller was coming from, Nodo finally found it. It was Eva, hiding in the middle of some bushes, beckoning with her hand for them to come to her. Nodo then helped Eosaph, who was still dizzy, walking to the place.

— What 's up, Eva?

— Shhh, look there. — She pointed to the other side of the bushes, it was a caravan of six people, carrying something that looked like a silver box, with the coat of arms of what seemed to be a highly important family, traveling through the woods.

— Who are these people? — Nodo quietly inquired.

— I think that coat of arms is from Safi's family. — Eva responded.

— They're following the road that leads to our city. — Eosaph added.

— What could be in that box? — Eva asked.

— Maybe a gift for the City's Marquis, or to Safi's father. — Eosaph said.

— Safi's father is the representative of the Annzi family in our province, probably it's a gift for him. — Nodo suggested.

— We should go back, if they find out we're spying on them, we'll certainly be scolded. — Eva said, while leaving back to the direction of their camping area.

— Sure, sure. — Nodo agreed, standing up along with Eosaph and following Eva.

...

— Hey, finally you three came back, what were you doing? — Gill greeted them.

— I was running after them for making fun of me. — Nodo quickly responded.

— That's right, he fell from a tree while trying to catch a pear. — Eosaph said, while chuckling.

— Really? I expected more of you, Nodo. — Gill giggled.

— You guys are so funny, huh?! — Nodo responded, irritated.

— I'm going to my tent, I am soooo tired. — Eva whispered softly, walking to her tent.

— So, where's Hese? — Nodo asked.

— Oh, just a few minutes before you arrived, a caravan at the service of the Annzi Family passed by, being from the garrison of the city, Hese offered to escort them to the village that is near the entrance of the city. — Gill responded to Nodo.

— We saw that caravan when we were running around earlier, they were carrying a silver chest, right? — Eosaph said.

— Huh? Silver chest? I don't think they were carrying something like that. — Gill replied.

— Seriously? That's weird, we're pretty sure we saw it. — Said Nodo.

— Maybe they're hiding it from Hese? — Eosaph questioned.

— Why would they do that? — Nodo responded.

— I don't know. — Eosaph said.

— Well, are you two hungry? I've cooked some pears and chicken here, you can eat them if you want.

— Gill then took his water canteen and ran to the road that led to Dhacar.

— Where are you going? — Eosaph shouted.

— I'm going to see if Hese is already coming back! Stay there! — Gill responded.

...

Nodo and Eosaph then sat near the campfire to eat the food Gill had prepared.

— Eva! Won't you eat something? — Nodo shouted to Eva.

— Maybe later! I'm resting now! — She responded.

— Okay then! — Nodo then went back to eating. — H-Hey Eo-aph. — Nodo, who had his mouth full with food, called Eosaph.

— Hm?

— That road, in that direction, — Nodo pointed west. — it leads to Dhacar, and in the other direction, — Nodo then points east. — where does it lead to?

— Well, it depends, after traveling for a while, the road splits into three minor roads.

— Is that so? Which roads?

— You can turn right, turn left, or go straight.

— If I go right, where will I stop?

— You will reach the hermit camp of Saalia, who is one of the most worshiped goddesses in our country.

— And if I go left?

— You will arrive in Bati, a port city. And if you go on straight, you will eventually arrive, after many days of rest in villages along the way, in the Capital of our Country, Eriim.

— Woah, that road is reaaaally long, huh? — Nodo asked cheerfully.

— Yes, and I bet one day we'll explore it completely! — Eosaph claimed.

— Be sure of it! — Nodo agreed.