Riu paused to think for a moment. The capital city Neravas was his destination, but at the moment he had no means to get there. No money for travel; no pass for the gate between here and there, and no way to legally obtain one for himself. The Calleran Islands were in the opposite direction as his destination, which wasn't good.<br/><br/>On the other hand, staying in one place for very long might be worse. Somebody might figure something out eventually. This scholar claimed his mission was very important. Was it too much to hope that he would report his results in the Neravas upon completion? It would be a very round about trip, and it would use up valuable time, but this might be his only option at the moment.<br/><br/>The boy gave the scholar a masterful boy and introduced himself. "Good sir, my name is Riu. In order for both of us not to be inconvenienced, I will accompany you on your journey. However, I also have an important mission. In order for my business in Nevaras to be accomplished, I will help you in finishing your own tasks quickly. Therefore, please take me there when you're able."<br/><br/>He anticipated being turned down, then. He was only a child, but he was volunteering for a journey across the ocean. It might even look like he was a runaway, but he would not yield here. So he posed his case in advance. "I won't allow you to refuse. I've lost all my possessions and family: there's nothing to hold me here and no one who'll miss me. Even if I  don't go with you now, I would meet bandits on my own trip later, and I don't so much mind visible threats. If I go with you, you'll have another person to help monitor your knight, so you yourself can rest easy. Also, I can read and write. I know a good deal of history, and math, and I'm well able to learn other things in order to assist you in your tasks. In return, my only condition is that you take me to the capital before two years have passed. What do you have to lose in this situation?"<br/><br/>If he refused even with all this, the boy would likely be forced to give up his slave. He would have to find some other way to get to Neravas, and that would be difficult alone. If this failed... He would probably cry. ...Wait. If he did that now, would it increase his odds? Better wait for his response first...