719 Arc, 10 Trial of Zi'da
Location: Border of Central Idalos
The afternoon sky was clear for the most part. Allowing the sun to bless Idalos with its warmth and light. Lathan's travel from Yaralon was uneventful as the sun rises, Lathan rides until the sun goes down. Then repeats with nothing in between. Occasionally the young mercenary would have to make a stop for his horse to drink and eat. He wasn't really in a hurry, but Zi'da's breath is enough to tear through the thick layers Lathan has on. To his horse, nights are bad since there's hardly anything to keep his mount warm save for a campfire.On this trial it started like the other trials of traveling. Performing the daily routine of rebuilding a small campfire to heat up some water, eat breakfast on some cheese, dried meat, and a roll of bread. After tending to his horse, Lathan stomped out the fire and packed up his things in little time. The rest of the time up until now was uneventful. With the cold breeze frequently reminding Lathan of the temperature.
Eventually, the young man spies a figure for along the road with a thick fur cloak and seems to be using a walking stick. All Lathan could see was the back of the figure and the repeated motion of the stick. Noting how the figure leans on the walking stick. The slightly sway motion of riding has become the normal, but the sound of hooves on the dirt road is oddly satisfying to hear. As Lathan and his horse approached the figure. The person is actually an elderly man, human from the looks of it. The man has a trimmed grey beard and short grey hair. Despite his weathered face, the man's eyes spoke of fire still burning bright with life.
"Well now, it's not everytrial that I meet another traveler along the road young man. Has your travels gone well so far?" The old man inquired as he turned around to face Lathan. Of course the mercenary slowed to a stop so that they can chat freely. The horse snorts as Lathan pats his mount's mane with a warm smile on his face.
"Aye it has. To be honest, the weather is lovely, but unfortunately my friend here favors the Hot Cycle." Lathan paused as his sea-green eyes looks at the traveler now that they were closer. The elder was certainly garbed in the necessary gear and clothing for travel.
"A mount would make your travels a lot faster and smoother. If you're planning to travel from region to region, of course. Just seems to be a bit more convenient to me." Lathan suggested as it made more sense to him. A chuckle flows from the old man's lips before slightly shaking his head.
"Normally yes, but some of the locations I have been to makes it difficult for a horse to travel. Although, totrial is my last of my expedition." He started to say as he reaches in his cloak to pull out a leather bound book with parchment paper for sheets. The man holds up for Lathan to take it as he continues.
"If you wish to travel to these locations yourself then by all means. This book contains every map I've been to and recorded." Lathan reluctantly takes the book from the old man, but he can't help except to feel a little humble. A brow raised on Lathan as he requested the elder's confirmation.
"And you're sure that you want a random stranger to have something you've worked hard on?" Of course the traveler gestured with one hand held up.
"Aye, none of my sons or daughters fancied on traveling outside of the cities. I rather have it being used than just collecting dust on a shelf." With that being said, Lathan took a moment to flip through the pages. His eyes skimming over at the various maps on this book as some held geography that Lathan was unfamiliar with. Then by some chance, a particular loose map fell out of the book and landed on the ground. Lathan dismounted to pick it up, but the old man was frowning as his eyes were fixed on this map.
"I didn't know that was in there. What is it?" The fact that there was a map even the man who wrote on it didn't know about. It was a bit concerning for either the man has bad memory or someone planted this in here. Either way Lathan takes a look at the map, and then scans his surroundings. Looking back at the map, Lathan's expression grew grim.
"According to this map, it is here in this area. There's even an X on the map." Lathan pointed out at some distance off to the northwest from the main road is an X. Whatever this mark was, Lathan can't find any indication on what it is. Even the old man didn't know when that led as there was nothing except fields and some patches of forest.
"That's odd, I truly don't remember drawing this map and I didn't think anything worthy of note will be located over there." The elder admitted to Lathan, and the mercenary doesn't detect deception from the man. After a moment of silence, Lathan stashes the map back into the book and stows it away into the saddlebag.
"I'll go check it out then. If it is nothing then I'll mark it as such. No harm ever comes from investigating a random map right?" Lathan meant for that to be a jest, but the traveler wasn't in the mood for humor. They bid farewell, and Lathan hops back onto his horse to begin traveling off the road. The sooner he gets to the bottom of this mysterious X, the better.