Elonore poked her head out of the carriage. Instead of looking at the road, she reached out and touched the trunk of a tree by the roadside.
"This tree has a relatively high water content." She jumped down from the carriage, walked to the opposite side, and touched another tree. "This one's even higher."
Su Li watched her move from one tree to the next, like a bird foraging through the woods.
"The water source is northeast." She returned and pointed in a direction. "The roots of trees with higher water content all grow that way. There has to be a path beside the stream."
Su Li untied the reins and led the horse in the direction she had indicated.
Three days later, they emerged from the northeastern corner of Mist Forest. The sunlight was sharp enough to make them squint. Looking back at that vast white wall of mist, it resembled a city wall made of cotton.
"How did you know which way the roots were growing?" Su Li tied the horse to a wooden post by the roadside.
"Common elf knowledge." Elonore's tone was mild. "They teach it in school."
Su Li fell silent for two seconds.
He dug the map out of the toolbox and handed it to her.
"You're in charge of the route."
Elonore accepted the map.
"Why?"
"Your judgment's more accurate than mine." Su Li shrugged. "All I can do is force my way through with perception. You only need to look at the trees."
Elonore unfolded the map, folded it a few times, and tucked it into her bag.
"Alright."
From that day onward, the markings on the route map changed.
Beside every route they traveled, Elonore used her old pen to write down the date, weather, food, and lodging. Her handwriting was