She wasn’t the first person he’d offered this help to and it likely wouldn’t be the last if people like herself kept passing through the lands so unprepared. He didn’t blame her, the wilderness was not fair as it had taken him some time to adjust and he was no master survivalist. He had a mind for mapping his surroundings and strong sense of direction even in the most dire of situations. Be her struggles in traversing the rough terrain or lack of direction, he was confident he could Aelia back on track.
The warden was glad he could catch up with her with no trouble as she progressively slowed down before the two had met. Whilst he was familiar with the landscape, Ingo was far from the fittest man in Hisui despite how long he had been out here. Yet no matter how exhausted he grew, he always had the option of his noble to fall back on whether he asked for the aid or not. If Lady Sneasler deemed him too unfit to go on she would scoop her warden up and cart him in her basket for the remainder of the journey.
Poor Aelia did not have such an option if she were to grow tired on her travels and he could not have that happening to her.
‘ Do not fret, it is of no bother, ’ he assured, shaking his head. ‘ Learning these mountains is no easy feat. Many still use guides to lead them when travelling across Hisui. It’s certainly not uncommon for people to hire guards or scouts to ensure their safety across their trip when they venture further into the wild. There is no shame in asking for help.’
Yes... perhaps it truly was foolish to assume that she would not require some form of aid, or guide... or goodness, a guard like Ingo had mentioned. What would have happened if she had blissfully trekked up there like it were just like any other area she frequented? The Heartwood, the Fieldlands... no, none of those places were anything like a giant, freezing, grueling mountain.
She let her mouth hang open ever so slightly, her pink lips glistening with the snow around them as she mulled all of this over... as if she'd made a life-changing discovery.
"I... I wouldn't want to be a burden to you, Uncle Ingo..." She spoke softly. "I know this is kind of your job, but..."
Yes, Uncle Ingo frequented this part of Hisui for a reason--several reasons--but would it not be adding to an already brimming plate to make him accompany her on her hike upwards?
"I usually just... wander places when I forage. I never really thought of asking anyone for help, or to guide me, or anything... m-mostly because I can do it myself! But, um... m-maybe not this time...?"
Her golden eyes would once again wander upwards towards the mountains, or, at least, what she could see of them. Was she truly still thinking of going up there alone solely to prevent inconveniencing Ingo? ...Perhaps.
"I'd love to see what's up there, though..." She muses. "Maybe there's a secret ingredient up there that nobody knows about! Or a new kind of tea leaf! Or something that makes dirt taste good! Mm, maybe not that last one, but..."
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