"Do you think it might be possible?" Alessia asked out of nowhere, they were now at the end of the third day of the trip.
"What?" the professor was confused, they hadn't exchanged a single word in half a day and he had trouble remembering what they might have been talking about four hours earlier.
"That the site could reveal ruins of the Great Floods era?" Alessia had swapped her usual pigtails for two braids, her yellow ribbons were now tied at the end of them.
"Well I am no professional in the geology of the zone but according to previous records they are no evidence of such site at this particular area. So to speak of a thousand years old era...It does seem crazy." Joan scratched his chin, perplexed by the girl's question. He always felt that it was quite odd to think that they would find such remnant in a place like this, half out of luck, yet, Tesla assured him that it was not a fantasy.
"I have been studying these maps for a long time now, they do feel real...Yet, we can't completely trust old maps, a lot has changed since they were first drawn, especially in the way we do draw them now...I couldn't possibly go and say these are irrefutable proofs of the region having been under water during the Great floods, with the evidence at hand I can only say that they was water at some point. But, it could have been a river."
"We will see when we arrive, they say they have found something, I trust that they have. We will have to wait and see what it is." Joan opened a folder on his knees, as to signify that he wanted to finish this discussion, Alessia sighed.
"Aren't you dying to know? I know I am!" Exasperated, Joan turned to her.
"So am I, but we won't get there faster by complaining about wanting to know." He stopped for a while feeling slightly bad about his outburst, he added "I'd rather worry about what I can control now than muse over things that will only happen in a week, you should do so as well, you'll find that it brings some sense of peace." At this moment the voice of the carriage driver echoed in the warm air of the tranquille afternoon.
"If you look ahead you'll see that we are almost at San Timo!"
"How much longer until we arrive?"
"I'd say...A little less than an hour, professor." Immediately the atmosphere inside changed. Joan exasperation escaped on the breeze while Alessa straightened on her seta. She was planning on sleeping in an inn tonight and treat everyone to a drink. To give them, her included, courage for the rest of the trip. Especially her. Actually.
Although Alessia was used to travelling the different roads of Suloo, she had come to Margen expecting to rest her feet. In the Institute of Natural science she would always be off in the countryside to look at some rocks or cliffside, or even worse, climbing said cliffside. She thought that history or geopolitics would be less of a hassle yet the good Tesla had found a way to send her on yet another adventure? Maybe she should have chosen language. She entertained the thought for a second before quietly laughing to herself. 'And end like professor Archebus? No thank you!' In any case she was now excited to arrive at their first and only stop until Andora.
The region of Andorra seemed so close and yet still so far. They were only at the end of the first half of the trip afterall. Alessia sighed again and started tidying her stuff. A lady must have her luggage in an orderly manner. Yet all self respect would soon be thrown out of the window.
Upon arriving in the city Alessia could not stay in place. It was quite lively in the evening, but obviously much less than Margen. They stopped in front of an inn called Luckystar, and got out of the carriage. Their rooms had been reserved reserved and paid in full in advance by the University, even for the driver. Alexis was really thankful, he made a mental note of thanking Tesla in person. He had been dreading another night on the rather stiff driver's seat. They took all of their luggage to their room because no one would be around to keep an eye on them if they had left them with the carriage. They each had a room. Joan was relieved to learn that he didn't have to share with someone else.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Each room had a bed, a window and a little desk with a large jug of water and a bowl to wash themselves. Joan found it quite minimal but did not complain, he found a little mirror and a clean towel in the drawer of the desk. 'Good, I can finally get a clean shave!'. Alessia found another use for the water and the mirror has she washed her face and heir.
An hour later the three travelling companion regrouped downstairs. As Alessa was passing their order at the desk, Alexis gave Joan the plan for the next day.
"Whatever the hour you wish to wake up at tomorrow I'll let you know that I planed on leaving before noon so we can get a nice distance covered, we are already behind schedule due to Miss Voder alarm clock accident." Joan couldn't help but snicker at the mention of the incident of Tuesday morning."If you need to buy supplies I advise you wake up at eight or nine and regroup with me at the same gate we arrived through."
"I shouldn't need to buy anything but I will probably wake up early, I shall take care of bringing our luggage to the carriage, I should not idle away any precious time I get."
"Ah, but sir Archebus, I couldn't possibly let you do so! No, I will take care of the luggage while you take a stroll around the city. You'll find that it's quite different from Margen, you might enjoy 'idling away'!" Alexis had a hearty laugh that simply merged happily with the ambiant noise. Soon after Alessia came back with three pint of ale. Alexis repeated the schedule, Alessia agreed happily and took a sip of her drink.
"So hum...mister..." began Joan.
"Please, call me Alexis!" the man cheerfully replied.
"So Alexis, have you been to San Timo often?" the professor retried, hiding his face behind his drink as soon as he finished talking.
"Why, yes! Aren't you from San Timo Alexis?" replied Alessia.
"Exactly, a few folks here might recognize me, but I moved to Margen with my family after I retired from racing." Joan took a big sip of the rather bitter ale and almost chocked.
"So you know where my walk should take me tomorrow?" he asked courageously.
"I have recommendations, some might even collide with the one I gave Miss Voder earlier."
"Please Alexis you can call me Alessia!"
Joan listened to what Alexis had to say in silence. 'So she is popular!' Joan thought, how good must it feel to know that wherever you go people are going to welcome you! He couldn't relate. The historian concentrated on his drink instead of pondering on his social issues, momentarily forgetting that he was in fact a lightweight and that he was probably regretted drinking this pint. He only participated to the following discussion when directly addressed to. Alessia and Alexis didn't mind, they could both talk enough to fill the silence left by the other man scarce words. Plus they understood that he wasn't a people person. Yet Alessia was a bit disappointed, she would have loved learning more about the rather taciturne professor. But Joan wouldn't let her.
The food was quite good, much better than what the young woman would cook for herself at home, but somehow, the meals prepared at the campfire were still strong contenders to the best food she had eaten so far this year.
Once again Joan was the first to tap out. He had managed to finish his drink, but he was now regretting that prowess. He struggled to get to the stairs but to the outside observer he was still sober enough, his tipsiness was not really noticeable. To him, however, the world was swaying like a boat in a storm, he also felt a bit sick. He closed his eyes for a second, before walking up the stairs to his room, trying to banish the memories. He felt light, his feet would take him in a direction and his body would follow, completely out of his will, as if he was dancing a bit too fast, his vision blurred. Once he had closed the door behind him and turned the key to lock it, he felt that the sensation of lightness wasn't so bad, in fact, had the sickness not been there, he would have liked it a lot. He got rid of his shoes and trousers, feeling a bit hot he unbuttoned a couple of button from his shirt. He fell on his bed, and dazed, fell asleep in his shirt, he was fast asleep.
*****
"Joan, I can call you Joan right?" Alessia did not wait for an answer. "I'm starting to think that nothing is waiting for us in Andora."
"Hum...what do you mean?" The professor was idly tending to the horses, they had found a suitable place to stop for the night.
"We might find the campsite in shambles, or worse, that there had never been a camp. These people can't be targeting us for no reasons, there has to be something, they must have an objective!"
"There is no way for us to discover that objective for now, they never leave anything behind." Joan scratched his chin absentmindedly, his beard had quite grown, it was bothering him. So much had changed in such a short time. "In any case Alessia, try to get some sleep, I'll take the first watch again." He tied his hair in a lose bun.
"Next time I'll take it" She said before laying down on her bedroll, they were quite high in the mountain range now but thankfully they air stayed below freezing at night.