The Open Road

"Well...or not, I guess..."

Roy was somewhat disappointed when Grey ignored the chocolate. What kind of person ignored chocolate? He unwrapped the bar and bit into it himself with a soft crunch. It was rich and sweet, just like all of Uncle Renalt's products. Poor old Mr. Grey didn't know what he was missing. Roy decided that the old man had almost definitely lost his sense of taste in his old age. It was the only possible explanation. He walked along side Grey, a few feet away. He didn't like horses. They made him nervous, ever since an unfortunate incident at a fairground when he'd been bucked off a pony into a pie stand.

"So, Mr. Grey...where are you from?"

After leavening the labyrinth of trees that was the forest Xin would find himself stumbling across a long and winding road which snaked across the land, weaving across hills and valley endlessly. Tall grass grew to either side and the trees eventually thinned out giving way to fields. The sky turning a reddish orange as the sun slowly began to rise. The boy had set off a few hours before daybreak and it had taken that long to escape its grasp. And despite his newfound companion, Sione, the boy walked in relative silence only speaking occasionally as the situation called for it—pointing out a few tracks here and there, a few broken twigs, though in reality he had only been practicing what he had been taught. Though to little use as they were met with little resistance on their trek. He stepped out onto the dirt path, first looking left then right, content that the trail appeared empty for now. “Perhaps we should have asked for directions, back a the castle.” though the opportunity to converse with their host had never really presented itself. The fabric of his cloak splayed outward; arms sweeping outward stitching slightly, the warmth of the autumn sun felt nice against his skin and was a welcomed contrast to the chill of the night. Slowly he turned waiting to see if his friend had been following him

There was really only two options left or right, he listened as the other spoke it seemed that Sione was quite the useful companion slowly he shook his head before looking down the length of the road watching as it disappeared around a bend. “I don’t really have a specific destination in mind, but I figured we should make our way to the nearest town. Maybe look for an inn?” He shrugged slightly, it really did not mind where they ended up- but he was not really sure where else to go and a town usually held some opportunities whether that be a place to stay for the night or adventure. ”I wonder if Lizardman will come to play again, his last game was kind of boring.“ he spoke to himself though his gaze lifted to Sione to note her reaction, had she known the creature that he had traveled with before meeting her? He would then began to head down h the direction toward the right, unless she had offered another suggestion.

Xin spun upon his heel at her direction as she mentioned going down towards the left, he peered down the road though both directions almost seemed to mirror one another or rather the land almost seemed to carry on endlessly, unchanging. “Ayee~” He called out in a bright and cheerful tone as he slowly began down the road, bared feet carried him across the hard packed earth where it was evident that the road had been well traveled . Though roads could prove almost as dangerous as the forest if not more so, where as one had the environment itself to contest with as well as the various creatures that lurked within the darkness- roads were often a target of bandits and the like though it did certainly seem that the pair had nothing of value on them at least anything that could be seem, the child’s cloak unfurled slightly as a gentle morning breeze swept across them, rippling through the tall grass which bent as if waves upon the shore. The h boy continued down the road the distant call of birds filling the air. He offered Sione a slight nod as she mentioned the Lizardman. “I wouldn’t worry about him, he’s harmless. Mostly” The last word had been spoken under his breath, perhaps they would be running into him sooner than either expected.

Slowly made his way down the road at her direction, following along the twists and bends, the shallow ruts where carts had traveled before them a long and lonesome road or so it seemed. A light hum had touched his lips and he moved about with a carefree demeanor. Having set talks of his former companion aside and where Sione might have seen potential threats he only saw might satisfy his curiosity. The faint buzzing of the cicada filled the air as if in tune to his hum though he broke off as he looked back up at the girl perhaps checking if she was still there. “What’s the town that we’re headed to like?” he asked her, deciding to prepare himself before they had arrived—a rather vague question though he hoped to get a general idea incase there was anything he should know.

Xin was silent long enough for her to describe the town the image of a small homely town forming in his mind; as he walked alongside her before turning to face down the road which seemed to carry on endlessly at least an occasional tree provided them some shade from the sun though the morning was not entirely hot and a subtle breeze swept over them which stirred the tall grass towards either side. For now there was not much for them to do except for walk- and so he continued on without complaint as one might expect of a child [even if he were the one setting the pace] until something of interest caught his eye or until he finally decided to stop for a small break. It was mid-day then when he spotted ha lone tree near the edge road. Weeping Willow, blotted with tears of green that dropped towards the ground. ”We can rest here.” it was obvious that he was in no great hurry to reach their destination though they had been walking for the greater part of the day. So he stepped off the road and approached the tree, finally settling down beneath its branches as he come to rest against the trunk slinging his pack to rest on the ground in front of him.

Now alone, the boy slung his pack from his shoulder to rest upon the moist ground between his legs the contents clattering softly as they shifted about. Slowly pulling on the strings he opened it before removing the water-skin. Helping himself to some of the water that he had collected before their departure. Running the back of his sleeve across his mouth before lowering his mask once more to cover his face. A soft sigh slipped past his lips as he pressed his head back against the trunk, looking up at the sky between the gaps within the branches which allowed the light to reach the grounds, broken and scattered as if shattered glass. The limbs of the willow drooped low nearly touching the ground and it felt as if the boy had been curtained off from the rest of the world. A wooden cage which he was free to come and go at his leisure. The day had certainly became increasingly warmer as the sun stretched high overhead only a few clouds occasionally offering them shade so the tree came as a welcome respite to their current travels and he allowed himself to rest for a moment while Sione was off.. doing whatever it was She was doing.—however when she returned the boy slowly got to his feet, pushing off the base of the tree as she informed him of the town’s locations. Just a few more hours. He noted the position of the sun as he crouched over to sling his pack over his shoulder, once again the bag disappearing beneath the over-sized cloak which flowed across the ground behind him.

“We should reach there by dark then, maybe we’ll get to sleep on a bed tonight, or a farmer might lets us make use of their barn..” He had some coinage, not much though and he was not in a big hurry to part with it. Sleeping under the trees and on the cold hard earth served him just as well, and so he began to make his way back towards the road and in the direction of the town unless she had any protests .

Hands cupped as Sione presented him with the pouch allowing her to drop it within his grasp even without opening it the boy knew what it was. The weight of it, the sound of it. Chin fell towards the side and he looked up at her curiously with that seemingly large orb before he slowly tied the pouch at his waist. The weight of it tugging at his side, carrying was always a heavy thing even if the pouch did not weigh that much in actuality he would have to be wary of any who would try and snatch if from him though it seemed to disappear beneath the folds of his cloak, he would have to sort through it later— he mused though that could wait until after they had found the Inn. “Thank you, Sione.” Unsure of what else to say. His companion had given him everything he owned so he was a bit unused to receiving gifts from others. Though with the gift in hand he decided that they would be staying at the Inn after all. “Would you like your own room?” Remembering how boys and girls weren’t supposed to share rooms. He glanced up at her as he began down the road once more.

Slowly shook his head as she mentioned staying in the mirror while he slept. ”I don’t mind. You can stay in the room unless the mirror is more comfortable for you." It seemed an odd statement though he had recently pulled her from the water and figured that it was the same concept. He was not to concerned with other people say either, still though the two made quite the unusual pair, maybe someone would mistake them for relatives it was often easier to travel that way then. A more simple explanation of how they came to be traveling. Or maybe they did not care, he looked up at her briefly before heading down the road once more. Following along the ruts and grooved which had been left there by traveler's before them. ”It’s nice traveling with someone, walking through the forest on my own was a little dull.”