The boy raised an eyebrow at the princess, as she told her story about the tea leaves. He didn't really know much about the history of tea or it's magical water transforming properties, but he was certain that she was actually just making this up. Though, with how their adventure had been shaping up thus far, he wouldn't have been entirely surprised if they ran into such a tree and river along the way. Alois then seemed to pause for a moment as the princess made her comment on him visiting her home. Specifically about her father. He wasn't sure why something about meeting Penelope's father, more so then any other title he might possess, made him feel so uneasy but he couldn't deny it was there. At least inwardly. Outwardly he could deny all he pleased.
Clearing his throat Alois simply looked towards the girl saying, "well, doesn't matter who he is or how royal he might be. If he's got something to make fun of you better believe I'll take my opportunity." Looking back, he saw his mother present everyone else with some of her homemade sesame seed bars. Taking one for himself, a small look of joy could be seen on the boy's face as he started eating it. It was certainly one of the very limited things he could say that he missed about home, and he would have to remember to take some with him when they left. The boy then heard his mother's comment about the wine. Scoffing at the mention of the mayor's recipe the boy said, "yeah, he sure likes to keep things close to the chest. That's for sure." The boy silently took another bite of his bar, ruminating about his village as he did.
Tsetseg continued to smile and nod and laugh as Phaidra continued to give all of her descriptions of the people they passed by as well as others in the village. Though she didn't really internalize anything that was being told to her, she couldn't help but feel a small sense of nostalgia cross over her. She thought back to the people in the patrol and how different yet fun they all were. And then she thought back to her own home, wondering how everyone back there was fairing. As she thought more on her tribe her train of thought was eventually interrupted as the duo came across the pond. "Whoa, that's a good name!" Tsetseg nodded as Phai explained the origin of the name "Fish Pond." Tsetseg then watched the fishing genius get to work as she explained everything about the fishing rod that she would be using.
Tsetseg herself had never held such a rod before, but her expression seemed to be awed at the wooden marvel. As Phai then gave her a worm, Tsetseg grabbed it for a moment and stared. She had used bait for traps before, but hadn't ever actually used worms before. She didn't even know that fish liked worms to begin with, which just showed to her how much of a fishing genius Phai really was. As she attached the bait to the hook as instructed, Tsetseg briefly thought about the idea of attaching carrots to her arrows when hunting rabbits and wondered if that would make the rabbits more likely to simply run into the arrows themselves.
Her self questioning and introspection didn't get very far however as they instead moved to fishing proper. Stepping a good 10 feet away from Phai as per her instructions, the girl reeled back her line and cast it into the pond. From there, she stood still and waited. Waited. Watching. Looking. Patiently. Until she saw a shimmer move under the water. Seeing the form of a fish moving through the clear watered pond, the girl was able to clearly see its movements. And as it approached her hook, seeming tempted by her bait, the girl snapped it back. Tossing her line out of the see, the girl smiled as she looked and saw...there was nothing on the line. Her smile turning into a frown, she cast her line once more. And once again, she saw another fish approach. The moment it got close enough to the line, seemingly ready to take the bait, the girl snapped her line out again. "Fishing sure is hard." The girl mumbled before casting her line out yet again.