Emili looks around and sighs.
"Ugh, just where are Dan and Jek?? I told them they had to come over today to say goodbye!! Those boys..."
"It's okay, Emili! They must be busy."
"That's right. Those two seemed to be very busy these past few days. But they did leave a letter for you as a goodbye gift," Ken says as he hands Kora the two envelopes.
"Make sure to read them later."
"Okay, I will. Thank you! Oh, and please thank them for me when you see them again."
Emili sighs again. "They could've at least shown up for a few minutes...This is the last time we'll be seeing Kora for who knows how long."
"Emili, it's okay! It's good enough to see you two before I leave. I don't want Dan and Jek ditching their work to see me, anyway..."
"But..."
Ken pats Emili's head.
"If Kora herself is okay with it, you don't have to be too concerned."
"Fine...at least they wrote you letters, I guess."
Kora carries her two bags that Ken and Emili prepared for her and gets ready to head out.
"Well then, I think I should get going now."
Emili and Kora hug one last time before walking away. Emili waves her hand high up while wishing her a safe departure.
Kora looks back and shouts, "Goodbye! I'll miss you two!"
Kora takes out the map and examines it.
"Hmm...I think I should go to a city with large buildings. My house is surrounded by large and tall buildings so maybe my home is within those cities with large buildings?"
Kora wanders around the area while following the map. After thirty minutes, Kora gets tired of walking and looks around.
"Ugh, I feel like I haven't moved very far at all. How long will it take for me to reach the next city...?"
"It would be great if there was some sort of transportation so I could get to places faster."
After walking for another twenty minutes, Kora looks for a place to sit and rest. She takes a seat and looks down at her feet. She takes off one of her shoes and notices how red they have gotten from walking.
This is not going to work...It's been so long since I've started walking but I feel like I barely made any progress. My feet are also starting to feel sore. I need to find an easier way for me to get to the next city...
Kora looks up and sees a carriage moving in her direction. She quickly puts her shoe back on and runs toward the carriage.
"Excuse me!! Excuse me, sir. Could you please stop for a moment?"
The man riding the carriage stops the horse.
"Got any business?"
"S-sorry, but I need a ride to the next city. I was wondering if I could get a ride? I'll pay for the ride too."
Kora looks through one of her bags for mofs.
The man on the horse rolls his eyes and murmurs, "Of course, you have to pay."
"There's someone already in the carriage who is going to the next city too. Let me ask him if he's fine with another person sitting with him first."
After a short discussion, the person in the carriage takes a peek to see who is trying to get on. He says it is fine and then the man riding the horse tells Kora that it is fifteen bronze mofs for a ride.
Kora looks up surprised. "I-isn't that a bit expensive...?"
"Young lady, I am the only coachman you can find right now. Since the Defus attacked three months ago, not many people are willing to leave Daintaline. If you don't have the money, then you can wait for another carriage that is willing to take a cheaper price. Well, that is, if you can find one."
"I-I'm sorry. I'll pay!"
Kora quickly takes out 15 bronze mofs and hands them to the coachman.
The coachman counts the mofs and tells her to get into the carriage.
Kora opens the door and inside, she sees a boy sitting beside the window.
He has blue sapphire eyes and Navy blue hair. The boy smiles at Kora and says, "Hey, come in."
"H-hey," Kora says awkwardly as she goes inside the carriage.
Kora sits across from him and looks down.
Argh...This is so awkward...should I start up a conversation?
Kora looks at him and then looks back down. Then, she looks at him again and tries to start a conversation.
"U-um, hello..."
"Hello."
"..."
Ugh!! There's nothing to say! Why did I do that...ugh so embarrassing and awkward!!
Kora looks down again, trying to hide her embarassment.
"My name is Dakium."
Kora looks up, startled.
"Huh?"
"Dakium Samptom. What's your name?"
"Oh, um...Kora. Kora Yorps."
"I see."
Dakium smiles. "Let's get along while we're on this boring ride, Kora."