Hailey gets ready as well, and soon enough they both step outside. 

"Still two days to Cordova," she comments as she packs up the house.

"Oh no. I will just have to enjoy your wonderful company on the walk for another two days. What a horrible fate." 

Hibiscus's gaze sweeps the landscape, carefully watching for anything hostile. 

"Let's keep an eye out. There were supposed to be bandits locally, so I don't want us to blithely wander into an ambush."

Hailey nods, sharply, as she leads the way away from their brief campsite, head on a swivel. Bandits? Monsters? Anything?

No, nothing to jump out at them this time. It's a peaceful walk for now.

Well, then Hailey will spend much of the afternoon idly chatting and pointing out various natural features. Also, she'll brainstorm places they can find invading Pags.

Maybe they should discuss the vision, actually?

Hibiscus blinks. "The vision! Yes, I should absolutely write down what I remember of it before I forget - wait, I've got my notes program - let me just pull the audio log -" 

"I saw..." 

"A needle-pierced flower. The breaking of bonds. Pain. All... trailing back, as if through threads, to the imperial seal of Pagutum." 

There's a heavy exhale in the recording. "I was in the vision too. Seen from far away. In front of a mirror. In my reflection I was stronger. Clearer. More... able to see."

"And I remember a sense of togetherness. I don't know if it was meant between you and I, or between me and whoever sent the vision, but..." 

Hibiscus frowns. 

"There was more," she says, "in the vision, but I've forgotten most of the details. There were... ink bottles in front of the mirror... and something else... I don't recall. But I think the general idea comes through - I need to get stronger so I can see more, and Pagutum is doing something to break bonds and cause pain, maybe some kind of infiltration..." 

She hums. "Getting closer to whoever sent that — a god, an SAI, etc — is hard, but arguably they were involved with matchmaking us, so mebbe that's a vote in favor of the closeness being about us. Infiltration is worrying. Ink bottles are Sable's vibe on a deep level. Definitely suggests we need to build a better meditation and dig for more."

"Yeah. Let's keep an eye out and do our best."

Hyacinth sighs softly, and keeps on going.

Maya shifts in over the course of the afternoon, walking contentedly alongside Hyacinth. Nothing interrupts them, either monster or bandit, until late in the afternoon a message comes in.

Evening, you two&. How's your day going? I've just settled in from a long day's questing - putting down corrupted creatures, mostly - and I've got some time to kill.

Doing alright. Mostly it's been a nice hike today, if a bit of a tiring one. 

She nudges Maya. "Did you get Amaranthine's message just now?"

"Oh! Yes, we did. Just a moment."

Indeed. We are having a relatively peaceful trip so far. Interesting to see the corrupted animals have spread all the way to you, however. That suggests concerning things about whoever or whatever is behind them. Another day and a half to Cordova.

Glad to hear things are going alright for you all. I've been traveling too, though perhaps a bit slower than you since I'm questing along the way. Hope to see you soon. 

Looking forward to it.

"Well. It sounds like they are having an interesting time on the trip. The corrupted animals are concerning."

"Yeah. I wonder what's causing them over such a wide area..."