Journey of Phantasia: The Dream-Weaver

Part 1: The Morning Before

The three children, the horse and the grumpy old wizard found themselves on a broad sand road, running through a wide field. They had just departed from a meeting with the Kings of the Fauns in the Forest of Stone, and were babbling about where to go next.

"We should go to the dwarves again." Ayan said. He was getting thirsty and the thought of a cold glass of mead made him smack his lips and pat his stomach.
"Too cold. Too high up." Vuraria grumbled. She walked hand-in-hand with Ayan and was in her usual unhappy mood. "We could go to the steppes instead. Then we could all ride some horses."

 
"That close to the capital?" Lousine responded to Vuraria's complaints. She turned her head around, as she was the one riding on Bayo's back at the front. "Do remind yourself that all of us are currently deemed criminals and that Ayan is considered Public Enemy Number One, Vuraria." 

"Pfah." Vuraria spat on the ground. Some smoke rose from where it splotched. "All because of your dumb mother deciding that she doesn't like him." - "It's more complicated than that, Vuraria." Lousine interrupted. "We did commit crimes. All of us. If I'd talk to her now she'd lock me up once more, and then what will we do?"

Ayan grinned, slightly, but also felt quite uneasy. "I'd have to agree with her here... I really wouldn't like to get flogged again." His back itched when he thought of it. Bayo walked slower, sensing something was wrong, and despite Lousine's attempt to set the horse back on the path, Bayo rubbed his head against Ayan's and let out a huff.
Vuraria sighed, and raised her shoulders. "I know, I-... I know, alright? But then where do we go?"

"We could go to the swamps." Grumbled Albedo behind them. He'd said nothing to them since their departure from the Forest of Stone, but now he spoke. "It's nearby, it's close to the borders for an easy escape, and it's just hidden enough for the royal guard to never find us there."

"A... Swamp?" Lousine replied, once Bayo finally continued walking on the road. "Are we- Are we well-equipped for that?"
"He could turn you into a frog, 'Your Majesty'. You'd fit right at home." Vuraria joked. She seemed to enjoy her own joke quite a lot, leaning forward to catch her breath. Lousine did not seem to enjoy the joke as much, and only frowned, letting out a formal "Ha-ha." before turning her head back to the road. Albedo snickered behind them. "Only in emergencies."

"Be nice, you." Ayan chuckled before giving Vuraria a tap on her behind. This caused Vuraria to tense up and jump a little. Ayan then looked over his shoulder to Albedo, who was rummaging through his bag.

"What way do we go, then? To the swamp, I mean?" As much as he wanted a cold drink, he felt as if there was something exciting waiting for them in the swamps. Albedo smiled. They came to a crossroads where one road on the left led to a bridge over a lazy river, and the other to the right seemed to head more into the hillside.

The old wizard rubbed his bearded chin in thought. Lousine took in the view, Vuraria looked around for potential dangers and Ayan was just patiently waiting for Albedo's answer. Bayo had taken this opportunity to stop and eat some grass.

"The left." He pointed towards the bridge with his old long finger.
Ayan looked at it, and pulled a face. Then he turned back to Albedo. "Iiiiii don't think so. It doesn't look like that's the right way."
Albedo looked the boy straight into the eyes, his hands at his sides. "Ayan, I am three-hundred-and-eighty-eight years old, and I assure you that in those three-hundred-and-eighty-eight years I had always taken the left."
"I'm still not sure. I think it's the right. I have a feeling it is." Ayan defiantly shook his head, crossing his arms at his old friend's tirade. Albedo was starting to get mad. "I know my way around here since before your parent's parents were even born." - "Apparently not, because we're still going nowhere." Vuraria sighed, her back turned to them. She could hear Lousine chuckle from the back of the horse and blinked at it a little. Oh. She found it funny?