☀️ Arselia and Akonia

***
“So, here are your options,” the scout says to the others, marking three routes to point “A” on the map. “We’ll take the first route. The faster we go, the fewer problems we’ll have. Any questions?”
“The tournament…” Klin mumbled for the first time since they met.
“You have a tournament with an abomination, buddy. Get some rest before it, by the way, you have bruises under your eyes.”

Turning to the others, Mr. Problemsolver adds:
“Finish your business in Saria and be at the rendezvous point by ten o’clock. Talk to the parrots there, write in your diaries. Yulizushka, you’ll take care of the broken equipment.”
“Oh, come on!”
“Keep in mind that none of you should appear in Barsin again. Southerners only love two things: baths and revenge. And bath season is already over.”

“Let’s call this… Operation ‘Z’,” Kiven says, snapping the lid of a cigar box.
“Why ‘Z’ right away?”
“Because the previous letters have already failed.”