Three-way Crossroad

Ichiro's powerful hooves trampled the mud, continuing to advance along the road. Large puddles were scattered here and there and repeated about every hundred meters, hindering the path. 

Unconcerned about this detail and aware of the fact that as he moved away from Goldhaven he would encounter more and more different biomes, Yoichi rode his horse forward, hoping to find the crossroad marked on the map.

In just two hours, Yoichi was far enough away from the capital that he could no longer make out the typical trees and vegetation he was used to seeing. In that semi-flat area, the vegetation was thick and lush, but darker, lower plants prevailed, with broad leaves and roots poking through the muddy soil. 

His gaze was drawn to the lights of several villages scattered throughout the territory. They were not marked on Ryutaro's map and had probably only recently been built.