After a night in the open lowlands, the caravan moved.
The wagon forts were returned to their paces and they slowly moved again.
The travel was slow and the only thing to do was watch the rocky formations. The grasses coloring the side of the plains and the trees that were separately growing.
There were old ruins from former buildings.
Most of them were made of cobble and stone.
I noticed that there were streams that were flowing eastward.
It was probably the Varvas River spilling over.
The Jakian Empire has four rivers.
The Varvas River was one of the four that was spilling.
We crossed the stream and helped the wagons crossed on the small stream.
It was impossible to find a good straight path.
Most of the path was hills and rocky beds that were impossible and tiring to cross.
Those who have great stamina or mounts could choose to cross this path.
But travel was difficult because of many factors.
The weather and environment.
There were many hidden dangers that they wouldn't waste their strength.
After we crossed a stream the caravan followed a dirt part with signs of travel.
Bren and Meris looked at the area with disinterest.
I was much more interested in the new scenery before me.
I haven't got out that much.
I was limited only to the Capital and the Archduchy
It was a shame that only through this second chance that I could see this.
Animals roamed the lowlands. These four-legged creatures were thin and lean. They had beady black eyes, tree-like horns, and have spotted features that made them look fragile compared to the monsters we had faced. The creatures travel in packs and they were probably headed to the streams. Most of the travelers ignored the creatures, focusing their eyes on the small forest.
The small forest had scattered branches and leaves covering the dirt path. All eyes were on the trees as we had ourselves guarded. Thankfully, there was nothing inside the forest other than the overlapping branches and mossy rocks.
We came out of that forest and entered another field. We kept on following the dirt path until it became afternoon. I pulled the reins of my horse and observed the rocky hills with stone structures that had fallen ill-repair on the side. The ruins are buried in small muddy bodies of water.
The caravan continued moving until we reached a small burg. Thatched houses, mud houses that seem to be newly built. On the front of this burg was a trading outpost where mercenaries gathered on the campfire. The first thing that we did when entered the burg was find a place to drink. Unfortunately, there was no pub and we had to settle again on the patch of grasses. There were no crops in this burg and I noticed that there were no children or housewives roaming around either.
Looks like they haven't moved yet. There was a pile of lumber and materials for making thatched houses on the side of the burg guarded by a few armed men carrying spears who are eyeing the mercenaries.
We gathered on the camp again. I was watching the two mountain peaks and I held no interest in roaming. I stretched my arms and legs before leaning on the sleeping bag. Meris called out to me so I pulled the fallen tree and sat on it.
I usually travel on my airship even back then. I didn't know the pleasure of travel so it came to me as a surprise how it was rather troublesome to travel by land. I haven't taken a bath. I was not sweating so I didn't have to worry about it. The temperature was cool enough, but in the evening there were bugs and crawlers that are trying to get inside my boots.
If I didn't have a horse I would have been massaging my foot as well. Horses were expensive, and most of the horses were rough and toned. They do not have the agility of the cavalry horses used by the military, but they were strong enough to cross these terrains. Most of the terrain is flat or rolling. There are parts where it was filled with beds of rocks and there are areas that are wet because of the spillage of the river.
"From Herran, then more miles to cover," Meris said. "Tomlonor should be two days away, then we go around the plateau and the forests until we reach Zalaga."
"Are you going to visit the Capital?"
"I am not planning to. Are you?"
"No, I have no good memories of the Capital."
I ate my ration for the day while chatting with Meris and Bren. It came to me that most of the time I was listening to their stories. When Meris has time she would discuss with me how to control my prana. I had my own breathing technique and method to control my prana.
When night came I was attracted to the black canvas that dotted the stars above. Not far from us the cant-chant folks sang songs of travel. The few who had energy decided to entertain others while playing with the instruments they brought alongside them.
"Wow, you haven't brought anything on you?" Bren said.
"No, I only brought my necessities."
"Either you aren't used to this or you really underestimate how tiresome the road is."
I smiled. He was right that I wasn't used to this kind of travel. I used to look down and try my best to take a glance at the land when I was riding an airship. I don't have to consider many things such as the weather or my surroundings.
Bren might be tired of the constant travel. They have been roaming around the world so they might have gotten used to this and are looking for ways to entertain themselves while traveling the world. To me, this was an experience that I had not gotten. It was all new that I was bathing myself in these new feelings.
I began to like the sound of fire crackling and a gentle wind blowing my ears.
#
The next day we started to move again.
I mounted my horse. I followed the caravan while yawning.
There was no trouble for the past two hours. A monster appeared but it was defeated by the travelers ganging upon it.
The caravan traveled through narrow passes and densely vegetated paths.
We cleared the path with wind slicers and earth chants. We were losing time and staying in the narrow passes was a bad idea so we decided to construct an earth bridge on that path was cut off.
My control over my own prana was inferior. But I was at least could make a bridge of rock by following the chant.
After the chant was done we continued moving through the side of the cliff passage while watching our steps. Below us was a bed of sharp rocks that made everyone tense on their steps. I stayed away from the edge and watched the top for any attacks. The size of the caravan and the ready-chant spells that would be thrown at the enemy would have slaughtered any monster before they could get near.
No accident happened. I saw however one of those earth-made creatures. It was what they call a rock golem that towered over a tree walking around aimlessly as if it was confused on why it was alive. Our caravan did not provoke the rock golem and quietly passed.
I'd noticed that even though there were voices that said that the price of a golem's heart was high. The danger and risk were not enough for them. Not to mention that they were on top of a cliff and the drop would be the death of them.
Meris told me that not only the stone golems are impervious to normal steel. You would need a blunt weapon or a weapon that could shatter their defense. The other method to bring down a golem was to deprive the heart of the golem with a heavy dose of silence and disturb magic. We didn't mess with the golem and left it alone. Eventually, some brazen adventurer would try to take it down when there is a request for it.
We got out of the narrow pass after making careful steps.
The caravan traveled nonstop until we reached the borders of Narospers. Eleklos Region should be down that path and southeast of Eleklos was the land bridge connecting the Empire to the Principality of Sanfun that was allied to the Jakian Empire. The caravan was reduced by a lot when we arrived at the borders. Half of the people that came with us separated and are probably headed to Zirseske to board a boat to their destination. By the time we settled down our tents and horses. Night had come again and as usual, I got to enjoy the warmth of the campfire.
Meris and Bren meditated to recuperate their prana while I watched over them.
When the two were done they returned to doing their own business. Meris usually engages in small conversation with Bren and me but she was busy studying the book she was reading. From the looks of it, she was on a part of the book that piqued her interest. Bred was not a slacker either. He was controlling the refining method of his prana. He told me to watch him do it so I could learn.
According to Bren, the control of prana decides your aptitude with the spells. Words of power were guides that allow the spells to work as they intended to be. He showed me what prana control was by forming shapes using the flame that was manifested on his palm.
As a treat, he demonstrated his prowess and truncated the words of power. The effect was the same and he summoned a waterball and a fire arrow that dispersed the moment it hit something. He said to me that the dispersing effect was nothing more than an effect that allows him to not worry about the fire spreading.
"It's a parlor trick really," he told me. "It cannot be used unless you have an absolute focus on refining your control. I can do it by muscle and mental memory but it is useless to those who are practical. Why learn this when you can just spend the time learning it to master another spell?"
It was fascinating nonetheless. Bren advised me sincerely that even though my prana reservoir was only at the advanced level of power. I could still cast most of the spells that are useful in the field. That was my whole reason for attending the Academy after all. To learn control and educate me further since I was severely lacking.
Bren told me to take it easy. I accepted his advice but I cannot think to rest when I am not tired. Bren and Meris are long-lived so they can gaze at the skies without a care if they could. Even though I have a healthy mind and body at the moment. I always have to remind myself that without the sacred sword, the wraith, and ritual that I would be nothing. I am nothing without the fortuitous experiences that saved my soul and my life.
I cannot take it easy knowing that life was volatile. That it could suddenly take a wrong turn. If death couldn't even teach me to learn, then I would be the biggest fool there is in the world.
The six guillotine chops dropping on my neck made me unable to take a rest.
That was why after Bren gave up on lecturing me. I started practicing my prana control with a single-minded drive. Bren looked at me as if I was helpless and decided to sit cross-legged while watching our backs. With Bren watching us, I focus all of my attention on refining my control. I know I am lacking in the use of my prana. That was why I could only practice in order to not shame myself when I come to the Academy.