"The meeting between ignorance and knowledge, between brutality and culture… It begins in the dignity with which we treat our dead"
-Field Priest Verkan.
The small village began to come back to normality after the Trial was over and the attendants prepared to leave. The carriages with the Lords from the five other clans and their escorts of mounted warriors headed south toward their domains. There was no more reason to stay after the new Lord of Clan Irfis was elected.
Nina was seating alone on the fence, again, and watched them depart. Verkan went to speak with the Elders and the new Lord, concerning the findings of the tracks of this morning, but she preferred to sit alone on the sidelines when offered the chance to go with him.
Socializing was not something she was very fond of, preferring to escape into her books. Even though it was something she would have to do sooner or later as part of her duties, she tried to push them back to the later part of the scale as much as she could. She knew it was a selfish and childish decision but she barely understood the Highland people, if at all.
She was still trying to process what transpired in the Trial anyway. It was the first time she saw someone die and it disturbed the hell out of her. Even if she didn't know those people, she understood they were warriors and it was their duty, but perhaps they didn't have to die.
"No wonder why Nana was so upset, the girl recalled. Well, maybe it was for the best if they died" she rationalized. "They would be a thorn in the side of the new Lord so it was for the sake of the Clan and for the greater good, right? But Knights would never resort to that" she thought. But her thoughts were interrupted once again by the sounds of steps approaching. She turned expecting to see her friend Verkan.
-"Sitting on your own again" her friend Verkan commented.
-"Sorry Verkan" the girl replied a bit disheartened.
-"Are you alright?" the old priest was quick to notice her uneasiness almost immediately, and asked for her wellbeing.
-"I'll be fine, I'm just... need a minute" Nina replied.
-"First time you witness someone die?" the old priest asked.
The girl closed her eyes and nodded her head affirmatively. Verkan then took one step closer to her and put one hand over her shoulder. He hated seeing her this way and was always there to encourage his friend the best he could.
-"It hits hard the first time, it's only natural to be upset, but you get used to it with the years" the old man commented.
-"Dying... its only natural, some die of old age, others by some illness… and others by the sword" he continued.
-"These people don't see death as something horrible, but as a fact of life. For them… It's how you live what's important" he finished.
-"Those warriors had a good death" Verkan added at the end.
-"If you say so" the girl replied, still a little bit sad.
It was normally at times like this when he usually spilled the most of his wisdom. Nina always took his lectures at good heart, she saw the old man as a fatherly figure. He always meant well and by this point, he had spent more time with her than her actual father ever had.
-"Cheer up! I have some news that will get you in a better mood" Verkan changed the subject all of a sudden.
-"What is it?" the girl asked and turned towards him, still down but with a spark of curiosity.
-"The Lord has requested to see you" her old fried replied, smiling.
-"ME?! Why me?" Nina replied noticeably startled, her eyes widened with a frightened expression and her face turned white.
-"Relax! He is not going to hurt you, you know!" Verkan replied, trying his hardest not to laugh.
-"Then why has the Lord request…?" the young girl was about to ask when the sudden realization of the implications hit her, making her both enraged and embarrassed at the same time.
-"HE REALIZES I'M A PRIESTESS, RIGHT?!" Nina lashed out in indignation towards her mentor and friend. Flustered and irritated in the same amount by her very thoughts.
-"I've heard the Lord is still a bachelor…" the old man replied, with the straightest face he could make before bursting out in laughs.
-"VERKAN!" the girl yelled back, visibly infuriated.
-"I'm just joking! You're so much fun to pick on!" he replied, trying to compose himself back to a more serious state.
-"Seriously though, probably is just curiosity! You may have left a good impression last night" Verkan commented.
-"But I didn't even do anything" the girl complained.
-"Climbing on top of a table? In plain view of hundreds? And yet you ask?" the priest replied, pointing out her various deeds.
-"Fine! Just give me a minute" Nina replied, a little bit exasperated.
-"Just come and let's get this over with, I'm starving" the old man replied.
The pair walked across the central square and headed into one of the houses. The girl adjusted her cap before crossing the door.
Inside the house were the Elders, forming a circle around the new Lord, who was seated in the middle of the hall. They were briefing the new Lord into the most urgent matters of the clan when they noticed the pair of priests.
Nina felt her heart skip a beat and breathing suddenly became difficult in the presence of such important people and much more importantly, of such an intimidating and fearsome man. A lump on her throat impeded her speech. Then again, Nina felt the gentle hand of her mentor and friend over her shoulder that helped her calm a little bit.
The Lord stood in their presence, still with his face and hands covered in blood. He invited the pair to come closer with a waving motion of his hand. One of the Elders whispered something in his ear, but the Lord replied with an affirmative gesture with his head and sent all the Elders outside with just another motion of his hand.
He then offered two priests a pair of small chairs motioning his hand but without speaking a word. Nina took both chairs and handed one to Verkan. Both of them sat slowly in front of the Lord, who also took a seat after them.
The trio sat quietly in the middle of the room. There was a long awkward silence and Nina felt very uncomfortable. The Lord was looking at her squarely in the eyes and she tried to combat the urge of looking away as much as she could. She felt stupid when she recalled that it was her who was supposed to speak first.
-"My Lord..." the young girl spoke timidly.
-"My Lady, you honor me with your presence" Lord Nero replied, with a soft yet firm voice.
-"Congratulations for your victory my Lord, I am glad that you were not hurt" Nina continued, slowly feeling more relaxed.
-"Why thank you, my Lady, I appreciate your concern" replied the Lord, in a very formal tone.
-"The way you fought... I have never seen anything like it" the girl commented, referring to the Trial.
-"You must have to be the greatest warrior I've ever seen" she added.
-"You are good at flattery my lady, but that would be the legendary Mage Slayer, not me" the Lord replied, smiling softly at the compliment.
-"The Mage Slayer?" Nina asked intrigued.
-"Anyone who saw him fight would be sure he is probably the best warrior in the world" the Lord continued.
-"Have you not heard the stories?" he asked, leaning towards her.
-"Just vaguely my lord, I thought it was just a legend" the girl replied.
-"I saw him with my own eyes. I was about your age when he dueled against the Red Mage in the Plains of Discord" the Lord recalled.
-"My family is not very fond of war stories My Lord, and my father never mentioned it" the priestess replied.
-"You are the daughter of the Mage Slayer. And yet he never mentioned it?" the Lord asked again, leaning closer and smiling openly in disbelief.
-"Your father is most certainly a humble man!" he added, dropping the air of formality that previously surrounded them.
Nina was left speechless for a moment. She looked at Verkan in confusion, while the priest could only smile and nod his head affirmatively in return. She felt cheated, hurt and confused. If this was true, how could her family hide something that important from her? Why her father did never told her about it?
-"I told the Priest that I'm looking forward to a fruitful relationship with the Church" the Lord commented, interrupting her thoughts.
-"I hope we can help each other in the times to come" he added.
-"I would be most pleased to be of help, my Lord" Nina replied, feeling much more confident about their conversation than before.
-"I am most pleased to hear" replied the Lord.
-"You are welcome to stay as much as you like" Nero offered. He stood and prepared himself to meet with the Elders outside the village.
-"We appreciate your hospitality, Lord Nero, but sadly, we must depart shortly" it was now Verkan's turn to reply. The pair also had a long trip ahead.
-"I understand. Both of you are welcome to return any time you like" replied the Lord.
-"I have been the Lord for half an hour and I'm already overwhelmed by problems of all kind" Nero continued.
-"The old man left so much undone. Please, excuse me, I must attend my duties" the Lord finished and headed outside.
Nina turned towards Verkan and looked at him in the eyes. The poor girl tried her hardest to keep a straight face but it was obvious to her friend that she was fighting back tears. She didn't speak a word but her eyes begged for answers.
-"You realize now why I took you from your family's domains, don't you?" Verkan asked calmly, leaning closer and smiling at her.
The girl did not reply, but nodded her head in affirmation, crying down a single tear and forcing a smile to her mentor and friend. Verkan again placed one hand over her shoulder. She was not used to being touched but it seemed to have some sort of comforting effect on the young teenager.
-"Your family certainly meant no ill will, but you were living under a rock. Your mother and your aunt Edna went through the same. There is a great destiny waiting for you, but you'll never be able to see it locked on your islands. You are smart, curious, and talented! If you dare, you can achieve great things!" her friend encouraged her. Unlike other times where the old priest would joyfully tease her, this time, however, he was completely serious.
Nina immediately felt a little better after hearing Verkan's words of encouragement. The old man always knew when and what to say to make her feel better. He gave her a small pat in the back before standing up and walking out of the room they were currently in.
The girl jumped up from her chair with a renewed spirit and went after the priest. Determined to do her best effort and don't let him down. She went outside and watched Verkan walking away. He turned and looked back at her, making a signal with his fingers and his mouth in a gesture she interpreted as "I'll get something to eat".
This left her with the task of disposing of the bodies of the Wardens that perished in the Trial. She could just wait for Verkan to return but decided to take the initiative. She was trying to make him proud after all. "It is just a burial prayer, no big deal" she thought.
She timidly approached a group of four warriors that were sitting under a tree, resting in its shadow. They all stood up in attention in the blink of an eye when they saw her. This startled her a little, she was not used to be treated in such a way but it was evident that they all were highly disciplined warriors that recognized the authority that comes with her position, even if she was just a teenage girl.
Nina took a small breath to regain her composure, and asked the warriors as nice as she could, to help her move the bodies of the fallen wardens to their final resting place. The leader of the fourth, however, took this as a command and quickly mobilized his men yelling at the top of his lungs, scaring the heck out of her.
"Of course, they are warriors, no knights" she thought.
The poor girl kept her eyes closed until the warriors marched away, and used her sleeve to clean the small tears in the corner of her eyes. She then watched them pick up the bodies that were wrapped tightly in white sheets, with stains of blood from their wounds.
Despite that she only looked for a brief instant, Nina could still see through the fabric of one of the sheets, the beheaded body behind it, and the fallen warrior's head obviously detached from the body. It was only a glimpse but it was enough to make her feel sick of her stomach.
A small crowd of people gathered around the bodies. With herself, the four warriors, a handful of workers that weren't allowed at the Trial, and a few others, in total she counted at least a dozen. They walked just a few steps outside the small village.
Verkan was watching among the crowd with a handful full of small slices of bread. He witnessed the warriors lay down the two bodies next to each other in a common grave that has been prepared before the Trial, next to the gravestone where the ashes of the late Lord were buried. This way, whoever perished in the Trial could be buried next to him.
"Merciful Father, creator of all,
Please, open your arms and receive these souls,
Forgive the sins they might have committed in life,
And guide them back to the afterlife,
Where their ancestors wait for them,
And they shall rest on endless fields,
Until the day they are born again."
"Selah!"
Nina finished the funerary prayer for the fallen wardens. Everyone present then turned and left the gravesite area to continue their duties. The leader of the warriors gave her one final salute before leaving and that was all. There was no family mourning and no widow wail. The wardens gave up everything to dedicate fully to protect their Lord. Such was the way of the Clans.
Verkan then approached her after everyone was gone, offering her a handful of bread but she refused. The girl ate a bit too much during the dinner last night and has been looking for a place to do her natural needs before their trip.
The old priest took more slices of bread, wrapped them in a clean cloth, and stored them in a small leather bag that he hanged by his shoulder. There was a lot of leftover bread from last night that he didn't want to let it to waste.
Unlike the everyday bread, the clans used to cook that was hard and made to last for several days, Nana's recipe was soft, spongy, and deliciously spiced. Of course, it wouldn't last very long until it mildewed but since it was cooked just hours before the dinner, that wasn't a concern.
He teased his friend by softly squishing a chunk of bread in front of her, which the girl finally accepted. She took a small bite; it tasted just as good as last night she thought. Their next destination was just a few miles away; the trip would be just a few hours walking. If they left the village at noon, they should arrive before sunset.
Since the leftovers were plentiful, the villagers decided not to cook for the day. Nina and Verkan were offered some meat and beans from last night that they happily accepted. They had a brief lunch with the villagers. Once they finished, both of them filled their water skins full, put on their signature priest caps, grabbed their respective staffs, and waved farewell to the villagers, and left the town.
The weather was perfect for a nice walk. Usually, the highland weather was unforgiving, with almost constant rains, strong winds, and a thick mist coming down from the mountain range. It was a blessing that the weather mellowed considerably just in time for the late Lord's funeral and the subsequent trials.
And for a nice stroll of course. The clouds were low and threatened to drop their rain on a few occasions during the past days, but the Gods decided against it, apparently. Today they were dispersing enough to allow some sun rays to go through.
Nina delighted herself with the beautiful landscape. Although she thought the blue sea and white rock cliffs from her home island at the Southern Islands were more appealing, the green fields, hills, and mountains stained with the alternating soft and dark grey from the mist and clouds certainly had their charm.
She could see almost unending herds of different kinds of cattle feeding on the grasslands in the distance. She also spotted some woolly bisons among the cattle, and a pair of titanic behemoths on the horizon. Nina remembered reading about them before, they were gently beasts with magnificent fur that fed on grass, and that despite their colossal size, were mostly inoffensive. Save from the occasional scared one that could raze any building in its path.
They used to be preyed upon by dragons in times past. The only other beast mighty enough to kill them, but since all species of dragons became extinct in the continent, their population increased through the years.
Speaking of dragons, the books described several species, among them the Highland raptor, a small but deadly predator. It became extinct hundreds of years ago when the Clans settled in the highlands. One of them could very well be the culprit of the theft last night, small, lonely, and probably the last of its kind.
Although the size of the tracks they discovered would suggest a larger one. How big then? She didn't know. Nina was not interested in playing the investigator now. She looked at her mentor and friend walking next to her, already chewing the slices of bread he had brought with him.
Verkan waited patiently to finish the mouthful of bread before speaking. He moved his fingers in such a way that expressed the deliciousness of the chunk of bread he just finished.
-"I've been wondering if I have chosen the right path" the old man commented.
-"You mean your path in life?" Nina asked eagerly.
-"No, I mean this trail we are walking on right now, there was another one if I recall" Verkan replied.
-"Oh, sorry" Nina was quick to apologize, a little bit embarrassed.
-"You always look for the deep philosophical meanings on the simplest things" the old priest softly corrected her in a lighthearted way.
-"I thought you were talking about something else" the girl replied.
-"But now that you mention it, we can talk about all the choices we make in life" the old man replied with a mischievous smile.
-"For the thousand time Verkan, I'm sure to be Priestess, really" the young priestess replied, feeling a little exasperated.
-"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't" she added, shrugging.
-"I know, I know, it's just... you are awfully young" Verkan replied.
-"Being a priestess is just one step, I don't plan to keep doing this all my life you know" Nina commented.
-"I plan to continue my studies in the Imperial University, and become a teacher one day, just like you" she continued, smiling at her mentor.
-"I'm no teacher Nina; I need a degree for that" the priest humbly corrected his apprentice.
-"Yet you are the best teacher I've ever had" the young girl happily teased back.
-"I just share a little of what I've learned through the years" the old man modestly replied.
-"I would love to teach at the Imperial University, in front of a class full of students!" Nina told her friend of her dreamed career.
-"That's a nice career choice Nina, but you don't need to be a Priestess for that" her mentor and friend clarified.
-"I know, but you know my family Verkan, they wouldn't have let me otherwise" the young girl replied.
-"Yeah, but you are one stubborn girl, just like your mother was" the priest commented.
-"Sorry" Nina replied, feeling a little down.
-"Don't be! I meant that as a compliment" Verkan quickly corrected himself. He didn't mean to discourage his friend.
-"Verkan... do you mind... if I ask you about my mother?" the girl shyly asked him.
-"Of course not, feel free to" was her friend's response.
-"I always heard how she was from other people, but my family refuses to give me a straight answer whenever I ask them about her" Nina commented, feeling a bit more confident after hearing Verkan's response.
-"I can understand your family, your mother was... controversial, to say the least" the old man replied. Reminiscing the time when Nina's mother was his traveling companion.
-"How is that?" asked the young teenager.
-"Elia had some pretty radical views about her beliefs. I always respected her for that" the priest replied.
-"She was a strong and passionate woman. Incredibly smart and also incredibly beautiful" Verkan continued, showing no small amount of admiration towards the woman.
-"No wonder why dad fell in love with her, mom was your student too, wasn't she?" Nina asked. Now feeling excited to hear the story.
-"Yes she was, many years ago. Until she earned the rank of High Priestess of course, then I became her student" Verkan replied the young girl's question with enthusiasm.
-"Why you did never earned a higher rank? You could have earned it if you tried" the girl asked again.
-"And end my days locked up in a monastery? Ha! No thanks, I do love this job" the old man replied honestly.
-"I love helping these people Nina, I belong to them, and I'll probably keep doing it until the day I die" the priest continued.
-"Come on Verkan, you still have a decade or two ahead until you freed us from your stubbornness" the young priestess replied, smiling mischievously, mirroring the response the old priest gave in the conversation he had with Nana last night.
-"If you say so" replied the old priest, sporting a knowing smile on his face.
-"Anyway, I thought you hailed from the Empire" the young girl commented, changing the subject.
-"Do I look like an Imperial?" Verkan asked, pointing at himself.
-"How could I know? Do they look different?" Nina asked in return.
-"I thought you knew. Don't they describe them in those gallant knights' books you read?" the old man replied with yet another question, this time with a smug face and mischievous smile.
The young teenager was left speechless. Her eyes widened in utter horror and her face turned in a lighter shade of red after hearing her friend's response. Verkan exploded in a burst of energetic laughter at her reaction. "How much exactly did he know?" she thought.
-"No-not in detail" was all the girl could stutter in response. She looked away and used her cap to cover her face in embarrassment.
-"So that you know, I've been everywhere child, but my heart belongs here, I'm a Highlander" Verkan commented, returning to the previous subject they were talking about before the funny and extremely embarrassing one popped up.
-"There is something magical about this place, you can't describe it, but you can't also deny its power" he continued, this time with a much more serious tone.
-"No wonder why they respect you so much, you understand these people so well" Nina replied, still trying to recover from her previous flustered reaction.
-"Oh, they respect me, but your mother? They adored her" the old man replied, raising one finger in the air first and then pointing it at her.
-"Really? I've never heard about that" the girl replied excitedly.
-"It's not your fault; you lived in a bottle up until now" her mentor replied.
-"The Clans don't like to admit it but during the war, your mother was crucial to obtain victory. The Empire would have won if it wasn't for her" the old priest continued his explanation.
-"I always thought that it was thanks to my father that the war was won" Nina replied, surprised to hear about her mother.
-"The Clans gave the credit to your father; he did most of the fighting after all" the priest replied.
-"But it was your mother who gave him important tactical advice, Elia was an accomplished strategist. She recognized the need to have a strong military leader to rally around" he continued.
-"So she let your father have all the credit, remaining at his side and quietly counseling him. The warriors like to think that they defeated the Empire with blood and steel alone"
-"But it was your mother's own brilliant mind, and her knowledge of Imperial tactics, what actually won the war" Verkan finished.
-"You fought in the war too, Verkan?" Nina asked, full of curiosity.
-"We all did, in one way or another, even Nana cooked for the warriors" the old man replied.
-"I was wounded in one of the early battles, while tending the wounded, ironically. It was your mother who saved my life; she found me in the middle of the battlefield and dragged me to safety" he continued.
-"The Imperial armies got the advantage in the early stages and managed to win several impressive victories. The Clans were led by a Warlord named Ingram; you might have heard about him"
-"Yes I did! Ingram the Conqueror! I've read he was a great warrior!" the young girl exclaimed a bit excited.
-"Indeed he was, no doubt about that, but he made several horrible misjudgments" her mentor replied.
-"How is that?" she asked.
-"Well, he fought the war the same way any other clan warrior would, like fighting in a Trial" Verkan replied.
-"But the Empire has soldiers, not warriors, and that's the problem. The Imperials took advantage of Ingram's sense of honor and lured him and his army into a trap" he explained.
-"The Clans fought well, they make for excellent warriors. But they alone didn't stand a chance against the might of the Empire. Your father took over after Ingram was killed in battle"
-"I've heard that story many times! He had to pass several Trials!" the young girl interrupted.
-"Indeed, and after that, he unified what was left of the Clans and led them against the Empire. With a little help of your mother, of course" the old man commented.
-"Tell me of your part in the war!" the young girl was begging him to hear more.
-"I didn't do much other than tending the wounded and getting wounded myself; it's a miracle I wasn't killed back then" Verkan explained, a bit embarrassed.
-"Maybe the Gods had other plans for your future" she comforted the old priest.
-"Perhaps, they wanted me to keep you from tangling with your own tongue" her mentor retorted.
-"That was just one time!" Nina replied obfuscated.
The old priest bursted out laughing all of a sudden, making her feel a bit offended. Nina clenched her hands into tiny fists and looked away pouting, making her mentor laugh even harder.
-"Verkan!" the young priestess loudly demanded.
-"I'm sorry; I couldn't help but make a little fun out of you, the face you make is priceless!" the old man replied, wiping away some tears with his gloved fingers.
-"I bet you didn't make fun of mom when she was your student" the girl complained.
-"On the contrary! We loved to make fun of each other! She was so much fun to be with!" Verkan replied, still fighting back laughter.
-"I bet dad loved that too" Nina commented.
-"I'm sure he did" replied the old man.
-"But seriously, you never knew your father was the Mage Slayer?" Verkan asked incredulously.
-"He told me about the war, but he never told me about that particular duel or the Red Mage for that matter" the young girl replied.
-"I can understand, everyone who wasn't there would believe is only a legend. Even today is still hard to believe, even for us who witnessed it" the old man commented.
-"Why?" the girl asked curiously.
-"You wouldn't believe it, it was something out of a myth" the priest replied.
-"The Red Mage was a very powerful wizard; he alone decimated entire armies with his magick" he explained.
-"Such magick exist?" Nina asked awestruck.
-"It's real I tell you, I've got a nasty burn from a fireball that still hurts me to this day" the priest replied with a pained expression.
-"A fireball?! Really?! Where?!" the young priestess asked in quick succession.
-"Behind, but I can't show you" Verkan replied smiling and winking at her.
-"Uh!" the young girl could only make a disgusted expression at her friend's remark. The old man, however, was trying hard not to laugh.
-"Anyway... Verkan awkwardly returned to the previous subject.
-"When the Clans combined forces faced the Imperial army at the Plains of Discord. Your father challenged the Red Wizard to a duel. A duel that would decide the fate of both armies" the old priest continued with his tale.
-"All hope was lost, and no one believed that your father could defeat a foe of such power. The Red Mage threw at him fire and brimstone! Thunder and lightning he casted!" he continued.
-"But your father remained undeterred!" he exclaimed loudly.
-"What few people know is that he wasn't unprepared. He received a suit of enchanted armor just before the battle, and wielded a great axe made of Sky Steel, which is said to be able to repel magick" he explained.
-"Whether or not that's true is not important. He accomplished the impossible that day, and after watching their champion slain at your father's hand, the whole Imperial army routed in terror to never return!" the old man finished excitedly.
-"You surely know how to tell tales Verkan" Nina commented with a genuine smile at her friend.
-"What can I say? I've had enough time to practice" Verkan replied with humility.
-"I was nice to hear about mom and dad, thank you" the young girl sincerely felt grateful for hearing the tale.
-"Don't mention it" replied the priest.
-"It's strange that my family never told me of that story, yet I've heard of other great warriors" the young priestess commented.
-"Onur the Mighty?" she asked.
-"Oh, a great hero of old" the old man replied.
-"Kraus the Undying?" Nina asked again.
-"Not so undying, though" the old priest replied again, chuckling.
-"Fasir the Giant bane?" the girl asked for the third time.
-"Many people believe he was actually a woman. That would help explain his peculiar... interest in men" Verkan replied.
-"Yeah... But I've heard that's not frowned upon in the Empire" the young girl explained.
-"So I've heard" Verkan commented.
-"Rudo the Vanquisher?" Nina asked yet again.
-"He is only a legend, and that's for sure" the old man replied almost instantly.
-"How can you be so certain?" the young girl asked again, filled with curiosity.
-"If he was real, where was he when the Empire invaded?" the old priest asked in return.
-"Maybe dead?" the young priestess asked back.
-"Only the Gods know" was her mentor's answer.
-"The God Slayer?" Nina asked again.
-"That is from the realm of myths... and forbidden literature young lady" Verkan replied raising one finger and with a slightly more severe tone.
-"Yeah... sorry" the young girl lowered her head and apologized. She wasn't supposed to even read those books. Even though her mentor was extremely forgiving about it, she felt it was better not to push her luck.
-"Valder the Mage Slayer…" Nina mentioned her father's name and wondered for a few seconds before asking her mentor Verkan.
-"Why did you never mention it either?" she asked.
-"You never asked" the old man replied smiling. His response was so sincere and simple that the young girl felt a little dumb just for asking.
-"I'm going to yell at dad for hiding that one from me when he comes back" the young teenager commented.
-"That would be a sight to behold! The greatest hero from this lands being reprimanded by a little girl!" Verkan replied laughing and playfully hit her on her back.
-"Hey! I'm no so little anymore! I'm thirteen!" the girl protested and hit her mentor and friend back on his arm.
The rest of the trip went uneventful. They kept talking a bit more discussing less important topics while enjoying each other company and at the same time, the wonderful visuals the landscape of the highlands provided.
Although Nina could see the sun setting behind the mountains earlier than expected, there was enough daylight left to see their destination a few miles ahead over the hilly horizon, a small village at the edge of the forest.
She could already relax. It's been a long trip.