John looks back at the wall of Lmemore. A mighty wall that stood about 5 meters tall housing the building that was even taller than it. It was built by the Lememore empire when it was still just a kingdom. Now it has expanded into the capital of an empire.
Surrounding it was an outer city, which housed most of the commoners. However, the majority of the land surrounding Lmemore is used for farming, primarily for wheat and corn production. With winter approaching, the majority of them have already been burned or fed to animals.
Many carriages and carts could be seen flowing in and out of the city. Carrying goods from all over the empire.
"Um' master where are we going?"
"Brother" John reminds her of their identities.
"B...brother" She felt awkward saying it because she only has a sister in her house "Where are we going?"
"Tumidus, a port city."
They were sitting inside a cart that was meant to transport things. The wooden cart produces a sound every time it's bumped into the stone road.
"Why are we going there?"
"Doing some business"
"OK"
The girl returns back to her quiet state. She hasn't talked much since John took her with him. He assumes that it's because of her nature, being a little timid and avoiding contact. The only moment when John could see her confidence was when she was in combat.
A lot of the time John is just walking around and she is just following him. For the past few days, they have always been like that. John could see that she was also hesitant when she was about to speak something.
"Why did not not speak"
"Well,... m.. Brother said not to speak if not spoken to"
"You could speak freely now."
"OK..." The girl looked around and pointed at a book "Why is brother reading Eyrish for kids?"
"...."
John puts the book down.
"How was your sister?"
"She... is kind and courageous, brave and won't back down from trouble." A warm smile escaped from her and it turned into sades "I couldn't even do half of what she did"
"I'm sure you could do it too"
Theia looks at John with confused eyes but doesn't say anything.
Their journey continues for the whole day and they arrive at a village. John took note of what they sold and went to bed.
They continue to travel for 3 days and the last village between Tumidus is a day trip. They set up a camp in the middle road and set up their tent. They set up a campfire in a forest and have a
Along the way, John also learns that this road is rather busy.
Because when the sky has gone dark there was the company. In the form of a trading cart. As far as he could see there is only one. Three people were going on a trip similar to theirs. coachman, 1 swordsman, and one archer. They seem to be just a start-up business.
"Hello, could we camp here tonight?" The coachman yelled.
"Sure!"
John answered back not worrying about the group. The three of them seem happy and set up the camp across John. After they were done the coachman came to sit on the opposite side of the camperfire.
"It's cold out here eh?"
The coachman opens the conversation, his attire consists of a plain linen cloth a study pair of paints, and big brown boots. A standard look for a traveling merchant, John encounters many of these people during the travel.
"Yeah especially when winter is approaching. What are you selling?"
"A good pair of boots that I'm wearing." The coachman spoke with enthusiasm and pointed at his boots "It could take you anywhere and pretty study. I import them from Guragua. Hoping it would sell well on Tumidus By the way what's your name? I'm Lola and that is my two guards for the journey Homis and Robin"
Lola the coachman also follows John in the introduction. The knight and hunter wave at them from afar. It looks like they just want to sleep from the long trip. The knight is already moving to his tent.
"Please to meet you, I'm Penu and that is my sister Peru. and my maid Franca. We are traveling to Tumidus for a new venture." John points at Theia and Hlda and introduces them.
"Must be hard right? starting your business at your age?"
"There's some road bump here and there."
"Noble life sure is tough" Lola looked up in the sky. "At your age, I was still helping my dad chop wood while my sister watched from the window. Good times. What are you planning to sell?"
"I only have a rough plan, A new way to transport food. If this works out I think I could earn some money."
"I hope it works out for you" Lola tuck his head down and let out a huge sigh. "You might have heard this already but beware of thieves and untrustworthy merchants ok?"
"Like you?"
"HAHAHA"
Lola let out a lighthearted laugh "But seriously, traveling with only your maid and sister is quite dangerous. They said that in these woods, lies a green trolls that like to eat human meat and come out at night."
"I...Isn't that just a rumor?"
Theia speaks up, her voice is shaking from a monster in her imagination. They heard this a while ago at the last village tavern. Lola turned to her with a playful smile.
"Maybe? Maybe not. But I also heard something weird lately. People had been circling this story about a painting that could make people believe in god."
"What?" Theia listen closely, and she is very interested in this type of stuff. A painting that made people believe in god is most likely in the realm of mysticism.
"Yeah, and it also seems to choose people too. Some see just a dark picture with nothing in it and some say that they see an old man smiling at them ear to ear. They called it a portrait of god."