☀️ Arselia and Akonia

Having bid farewell to the slave owner, the mercenaries' paths diverge somewhere on the Barsin road. The scorching sun lazily rolls across the sky, and the sweltering day is only halfway through. "Out of all this, only one thing has become clear to me, friends," says Klin, wiping sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his cloak. "The more we risk, whether it's wading through sandy dunes or provoking giant spiders, the further we stray from our main goal. Our only chance lies in luck and the advice of the wise Karim. This land does not forgive 'heroism.' Therefore, let my soul be stained rather than betray the trust of Her Highness when we perish ingloriously in pursuit of risk and a great reward."

Sometime after Ugallu, Kenshiro calls his comrade for a man-to-man talk.
— Klin. With your hundred and my savings, we still don't have enough money. No money means no equipment, and we won't get anywhere.

"As always, you are right, my friend," the knight nods. "But still, it's better this way than ending up in the jaws of ten hyenas. Or, perhaps, do you have another suggestion?"