Kaori shook his head at the very thought of passing his artwork along, there was no point giving his artwork to the person unless they paid for it themselves, he firmly believed that. Seeing Raina fall down face first he decided to hold that comment in. He looked over at Larel who was staring at the boar with wide eyes while Alari put his hand on Rin's shoulder. The moment he did Rin's body dissipated and the energy that remained flowed back into Alari's body, his eyes twitched for a moment but he let out a relieved sigh before a talisman appeared where she once stood. Alari grabbed it and dropped it in the fire before watching the flames destroy the paper, he didn't intend on using that method again so it'd be for the best to just get rid of the talisman. Larel tried not to smile seeing Raina taken down by Mera but at the mention of the woods he reached up and gripped his head with both hands, he had completely forgotten he was in them with everything going on. His shoulders drooped and he hung his head as the reminder stuck at the front of his mind.
Larel and Alari looked over at Mera when she went over to Mary as they discussed their direction, when Hotaru got up to go wash her hands Larel raised one of his own before speaking.
"Be careful it wouldn't be surprising if Youkai were still around," Larel said.
"You could go with her if you're worried," Alari said.
"Yeah and leave you alone with Mera-sama you'd want that wouldn't you? Hotaru can handle herself while I keep my eye on you."
"We wouldn't be alone," Alari said shaking his head.
"No...but they don't understand the extent of evil oozing from you, those honeyed words of yours won't work on me."
Alari sighed before looking at Eryn hearing him speak, he smiled glad he was willing to change the conversation before he stood up and pulled out his book, Alari brought his hand to his chin his eyes narrowing a little. Larel noticed the sudden shift in Alari's aura as he focused his attention on the book flipping the pages with one hand.
Kaori looked at Jin who just hopped on his lap and got comfortable, Kaori shrugged his shoulders before speaking.
"I don't know my way around here sadly, I'm just drifting along with Oji-san," Kaori said.
"I know of a few villages but I don't recognize the area so I don't know if they're around here," Larel said. "Zenmaru's the same."
"If this is the right area on the map which I think it is I see a few villages around here," Alari said turning another page."There's a fishing village to the north that's pretty close, its serves as a port as well."
"You mean the places near water where ships are right?" Kaori said. "I've been to one of those before."
"Yeah and judging by the stream there's probably a river nearby which they use towards their livelihood. They normally have other shops there and places to sleep for travelers so that's good. There seem to be villages around it as well, only bad side is unless we wanted to take the long way around going further north would mean going on boat. It looks like the closest place by only about an hour or so less if we don't walk. With a bit of effort we could even make it seem like we headed towards the village to the east since it's about a day's walk. It seems like-"
Alari stopped talking and for a moment his expression darkened as he stared at the book, Larel arched a brow before Alari turned the page again.
"Actually never mind the fishing village there's a village to the west though it looks like it's about half a day's walk, oh there's one that's northeast that's just a little further than the northern village. I'd recommend that one. There could be others but I don't have them written down."
"...why not just the northern one?" Larel asked.
"The villages around it are a long distance away from each other, and there's no need to ride a boat further north," Alari said turning another page.
"Oji-san..." Kaori said. "Um...that's not a very good reason."
Alari closed the book and put it back in his sleeve, what happy mood he had seemed to fade at the possibility but he closed his eyes and smiled again regaining his composure with a quickness that made Larel slightly uncomfortable.
"Well those are the villages I know about," Alari said sitting back down. "I'll accompany whichever direction we go."
"Well I'm following Mera-sama so whichever direction she chooses works for me," Larel said.
"I'm following you," Alari said adjusting his glasses.
"I'm following Oji-san," Kaori said.
"Stalkers," Larel mumbled turning his attention back to the boar.