"""He's still not awake, you told him to fight." Kuti said with a worried tone.
"It's fine, and it also shows his abilities to his people." Iris replied.
Currently, their group had already departed from the border fortress. The guard troops from Naurs sent some of their soldiers to escort their group. The representative from Naurs apologized for the rebel attack last night. They also promised to increase their border security.
Iris looked out the window and saw the view of the dense forest along this route. Feeling the situation was awkward, Romanova took out a chess set, "Anyone want to play?"
"Come play with me," Kuti said.
Romanova arranged the chess set on their train table. Iris helped them arrange it and quietly watched their game. "Oh, are you sure you want to play chess? Soon, when we get out of this forest, we'll pass through a slightly uphill road."
"It's safe," Romanova replied.
They started their chess game. Romanova showed a serious expression while playing chess. Kuti, who was initially playing for fun, became annoyed because he kept losing to Romanova.
"Ah, you're really good." Kuti said.
"Hehe," Romanova smiled.
In the midst of their engrossing game, Racobians knocked on their train window. Romanova opened their train window.
"What's wrong?" Kuti and Iris asked simultaneously.
"Bad news, the scout just returned and the upper road is affected by a landslide. If we want to stay on schedule, we have to take the lower route through Phormana Valley and end up at Lyksandre Meadow." Racobians replied.
"Camping while waiting for the rockslide to be cleared will take a long time because the technical officers from Naurs haven't arrived to clear it." Racobians added.
"Taking the lower route is fine." Iris replied.
"Alright." Racobians replied.
Now they headed down a winding road. Occasionally, they met groups of merchants and passing citizens. Kuti opened the window and looked out, "Wow, the view is so beautiful. What river is that?"
"Garans River," Iris said. "Across that river is the Kogurs area. The river is very deep and the only bridge is near Maulius and Perselius City Forts."
"It's a shame Thomas is still asleep and can't enjoy this view." Iris added.
"Whose fault do you think it is?" Kuti replied while stroking Thomas's hair.
Their train stopped, and then a group of evacuating citizens passed by. Iris and Romanova got out of the train and observed the situation. From up here, Perselius City appeared to be engulfed in a massive fire. The Naurs soldiers in their group asked the citizens what had happened.
"Rebels! The garrison from Perselius rebelled along with their nobles!" one citizen reported. "We were lucky to escape!"
"Well, well." Iris said. "Is there a bad luck magnet in our group?"
Racobians ordered the group to pull over to the bank of the Garans River and set up their makeshift tents while discussing how to proceed. As they set up their camp, envoys from Perselius City arrived. They were envoys from the rebellious nobles.
"Our lord invites your group to come to our city." the envoy said when he met Racobians. "We will open the way for Majagada and Ilm, but not for the Naurs troops."
"Ah, Princess Iris is here." The envoy bowed and knelt in respect when Iris came out of her tent to meet the envoy.
"Miss La Rossa sends her greetings to you." The envoy added.
"So there really is a rebellion in that city?" Iris asked.
"As a form of our protest because our taxes increased 8x. And we were never protected by Naurs troops when attacked by other rebels." The envoy replied.
"Then let Racobians decide." Iris said.
"Alright. We will accept it." Racobians replied.""""We must cross this river and reach the grassland today before nightfall."
The Naurs troops who heard this were upset and dispersed. But some of them still wanted to come along. They defected and sided with the City of Perselius.
"Wow, the Naurs' situation is very complicated like this. You could be accused of supporting rebels, you know." Kuti said.
"Never. The Prince of Naurs would never dare to accuse me like that." Iris said. "If they dared, they would lose against the rebels. Because Majagada is Naurs' biggest partner in trading food supplies."
Their group moved towards Perselius. The city gates opened as soon as they saw their group. The citizens and soldiers of the city allowed them to pass through to the bridge toll from their side.
"But if you want to pass, it's a bit difficult. The bridge from the Malius side is full of citizens who fled, not wanting to be involved in our rebellion." said the bridge guard.
"I suggest you spend the night here." A familiar voice sounded in Iris's ears.
"La Rossa!" Iris exclaimed as she saw a woman dismount from her horse. The two embraced.
"Just spend the night here, okay?" La Rossa pleaded.
Racobians interrupted them, "Is there another way to cross this river?"
"I can provide a boat. But you have to spend the night here." La Rossa replied.
"Alright." Racobians left the two of them and coordinated his group. La Rossa asked the Ilm troops to rest at the inn and the city fortress. Meanwhile, she would offer Iris and her friends to rest at her residence outside the city.
La Rossa allowed the guards from Majagada to camp near her residence. Their horse-drawn carriage moved out of the city towards La Rossa's residence. Slowly, they entered La Rossa's plantation and rice field area.
"It's been a long time since you visited here." La Rossa said while riding beside the carriage Iris was in.
"Only 6 months ago." Iris replied.
"So, your husband, the divine messenger, is asleep?" La Rossa asked.
"Yes, and these two women are his concubines." Iris replied jokingly.
"Hey!" Kuti and Romanova snapped together.
They slowly entered the front yard of a two-story residence made of white stone. La Rossa dismounted from her horse, and a man approached her. "Have you returned from picking up our special guest?"
"Yes," La Rossa replied.
"Allow me to introduce, this is Romanova, this is Kuti, and the one still sleeping from exhaustion is my husband, Thomas." Iris introduced their group.
"Nice to meet you, I am Dux Andros, the person in charge of this area. This area is very honored to receive a visit from the Divine Messenger."
"Nice to meet you," Kuti said. "We also need medical personnel for the sleeping divine messenger."
"Don't worry, my husband is a skilled doctor. Whether it requires magic or not, he can handle everything." La Rossa said. "Let's go inside."
Aided by Andros, Kuti carried Thomas to their room. Then he asked Kuti to leave while he examined Thomas.