"Please help yourselves, young master." Stated Sanbu as a tray of sugary snacks and ice cold drinks were laid out for them to enjoy.
This is yummy! Hoot! -
Owly chewed and hooted happily as Sanbu gave him a special jar of sweets only found in the Republic. Alongside it were other treats like chocolate coated dates and small round donuts covered in a sweet glaze.
Naell watched his friend comfortably munch next to him as they listened to Sanbu calmly explain the process for making each snack.
Soon, he too felt at ease—mostly because of the astonishingly soft couch. He may not have felt sore from their travels, but their long awaited break from unstable footing in the sand was much appreciated.
Adding to the comfort was how his three new acquaintances now seemed less formal with him than they previously were. Nonetheless, soon the conversation Naell had been expecting from the start finally sparked.
"I'm sorry for how sudden the invitation must have been, Naell." Enitma said with a hint of dismay..
"You are an esteemed guest in the Republic, which means you will be under scrutiny like the prince, and any other public figure that visits the country." Arawa explained.
The prince then sighed and rubbed the side of his temple.
"I'm sure you understand. The last thing I want is someone to twist our words out there."
You say something small and you're toast, HOOT! -
"Yes..." Naell nervously said.
He actually did understand Enitma's troubles as he himself had an unsavory past in feeling judged, but he had never experienced it at the scale of a prince at risk of being utterly hated by his own people.
Regardless, Naell felt his sympathy overridden by his nerves. There was no reason for the prince to insist on his stay there if he had nothing confidential to speak about.
He felt as if a bombshell was about to be dropped on him any minute as he knew not what exactly he would be involved in regarding the Republic.
"What is it you wish to discuss in secrecy though?" Naell asked.
"I appreciate the bluntness. But for now, you've both traveled many distances to get here. The desert heat isn't merciful to the mind so please be settled first."
With a nod, Sanbu happily interjected and guided Naell and Owly to their quarters.
.
.
.
"We hope the room is to your liking, young master."
Upon thanking Sanbu and being left alone, Naell and Owly admired their new quarters.
A spacious interior with lavish thin sheets and a large soft bed greeted Naell. It was warm and comforting and consisted of many pillows.
The temperature was the right amount of coolness circulating the walls. The oddly cool temperature appeared to be from the tiles and heat resistant fabrics lining the exterior and interior of the home. Truly Naell was slowly realizing the levels of adaptation the country had taken to be called the country of the future.
'Structures that withstand intense heat and sandstorms, while infused in magic resistance huh.' Naell thought to himself, slightly irked that the country so developed in magic resistance was deemed the future. He wondered what it would mean for the real future of Mundo.
'That's not important right now.' He then ceased his thoughts, grasping how irrelevant the distant future was compared to the close matter at hand.
The guardians were still unfound, and although that was only their first day in the Republic of Summer, already he wondered how much time it would take until they left and arrived in the distant west.
'We need proper transportation and a way to pass to Nonau'. Naell thought as he gazed through the window and saw nothing but the plants and yellow tinted pavement.
He then plopped on the bed, the constant whir of sand lulling him to sleep like white noise. Although the country seemed quiet from inside their room, Arawa's words remained in Naell's mind as he napped.
You will be under scrutiny like the prince, and any public figure.
'How bad could it be?'
.
.
.
"For starters, I'm certain you're aware the Republic hadn't decided on a stance in the war, leading to our neutrality. But I and the loyal friends of the Royal Family have been secretly lending our support and it would ruin us if word got out."
"…"
At that moment, Naell sat on the couch fully awake from his previous nap. Yet he regretted his alert state as every word that Enitma spoke rang in his head like a siren warning him of political involvement.
Enitma then explained how they had provided resources to the adventurer's guilds for intensive travel including stretch tents that were resistant to weather— an innovation from the Continent of Summer, as well as food and weaponry.
Owly HOOTed, impressed with their ability to hide their contributions from the public.
Yet none of that was as impressive as it should have been to Naell as he focused on mustering up the courage to ask further,
"But why is it that you told me all that, Enitma."
"Well, I require your help and thus wanted to show you my trust.
"Help with what?"
"I want to win my people over by showing that I am a friend of an uprising star."
"..."
How honest, HOOT! -