The mountains near the Northern territory of the Argent kingdom are known for their deep forest stretching to the borders of the tundra of the North. The barren North is the definition of a complete wasteland which makes the exile equivalent to death. Nobody can leave the North easily except the ones- lumberjacks. They can easily go in and out of the territory to harvest lumbers for the repairs in the North. The North is the defense and offense wall of the Kingdom of Argent, the strategic place where enemies and neighboring kingdoms never dared to attack.
The North lumberjacks composed of craftsmen and soldiers and accompanied by the servants and soldiers of the dukedom of Marron gathered in one place. They already set to return to the North after their three months of work harvesting enough lumber to repair the next season.
While gathering in one place, accompanying women were checking the tools used. One ax was missing, and it never escaped from the strict inventory. The lumberjacks checked their posts as they searched for the missing ax, that the youngest lumberjack in fifteen remembered that he left in the stump. Upon remembering, he quickly trails the path to retrieve the ax he left yet he never expected he would retrieve a child as well. Aaroux found a girl covered in mud and on the brink of death. She was already cold while clinging to the ax he was looking for.
This is no good, Aaroux thought as he carried the girl on his back as he couldn't feel her breath. He will be damned for good if that child died. He just left his ax, he never done wrong he thought as he yelled to the women checking the tools.
"I...," he gasped as he slowly put the girl on the ground. " I think this child is dead."
Everyone looked at the girl with the strange clothes, no younger women accompanied them as they could remember. The clothes she wears indicate that she doesn't belong to the North. Her garments resembled those who serve in the temple the Chief servant concluded as she checked the child's pulse if she was still alive. A faint pulse was felt from the child.
"What now?" asked Aaroux who was anxiously waiting for the chief. He is afraid to be scolded for bringing her impulsively.
"It seems that the child belongs to the temple yet met an unfortunate accident on her path. We couldn't afford to send her to the Capital where she belongs. Her fate was already decided when she was left to die in this forest. "
"But the child is still alive. And leaving a servant her behind would be the heartless thing to do. We should bring her with us." It was one of the women remarked as they covered her with quilt.
Most of the women agreed as they took pity on the child. They even placed her near the campfire to keep her warm. The strong and big woman named Cielo hugged when the child convulsed. They give her a warm drink as she begins to regain her consciousness when placed in the hearth. The chief is known for her strict demeanor but she cannot ignore that the child is a servant of the temple. Servants of the temple like nuns and priests are taken care of since they put hope to the people in that desolate place. Even the old Duke would probably agree to take that child with them. The nunnery and the orphanage of the North would probably take custody of the child once they learned they brought her with them. Seeing the child regain her color, they were relieved.
" Then you should be in charge of that child our journey shouldn't be delayed." Cielo agreed and took the child with her. Everyone hastened their work as they needed to depart to the North that day. Deep sighs escaped from the women as they were relieved that they could bring with them a child of unknown origin yet they were certainly looking at the praying bead as well as the imprint in the child's arms she was truly a servant of the temple-like what their nuns and priests had.
After the preparations, they set off on the journey to the North with the lumbers they harvested, the herbs they collected as well as the ore they mined. The Forest of Argent borders the tundra of North and still belongs to the Dukedom of Marron. It was the prize of war to the recent wars they victor as they also maintained to defend the North as well. The law, prosperity, and growth in the Capital were because of the North who defended them for centuries. The royal of Argent never visited the North once nor did the descendants of Marron attend nor answered to the invitation of the royal family. Only the old aristocrats can remember when the Duke of Marron barged into the palace when they demanded the prize of protecting the whole kingdom. They demanded the deep forest of Argent near to their tundra plains. Threatening of corroboration with the neighboring Kingdoms, the Argent royals have given them what they demanded since the forest was of no greater value than the defense the Marron could offer. The peace was maintained and the Marron never demanded another after ensuring the whole forest to their territory.
The forest served as an exchange where yearly the North sent the lumberjacks of their repair. No mana or powers can thrive in the North. The whole territory was surrounded by a nullifying barrier that no powerful kingdoms dared to invade. The only way to the Argent Kingdom is passing through the northern borders ruled by the Marrons. The winter is endless and the summer never stays yet the North thrived very well even without mana. They are too distant with all the chaos of the Capital they don't even care who ruled or who did not. The Marron are untouchable and too indifferent that they don't support the ruling agenda for the throne. They never cared throughout generations anyway.
A journey to the North is quite perilous one which is accustomed by the lumberjacks. Upon entering the North where no single tree can be found were always attacked by the harsh winter against the refreshing summer in the forests. They traveled another month before they could reach Duke Marron's territory. They were just relieved that they collected enough food and supplies from the forest before they set to the North.
They camped once a week to check the supplies as well as to tend their carriages. Each of the accompanying women ensured that the men were filled and fed after exhausting travel. They also took turns checking the frail child as she was recovering. She refused to talk while caught in a dazed looking at the wide tundra plains. The healer they had with them reported that the child lost her memory as she refused to answer any inquiries about her origin. It took 2 weeks before she could finally speak to them.
The Mrs. Leonagen the chief servant of Duke household looked at Cara with scrunity as the women flocked around her. There is a unfathomable mystery to that child that her demeanor is of no common temple servant. As she observed her, she was quite timid to interact with others but she is sure of one thing. That child displays how a servant of a temple be. Her wandering eyes landed on that child. As they seen each other, that child quickly avert her gaze and continue to do her menial work.
Surely her sister will adore her and perhaps will get that grow that child in the orphanage, she thought.
The finally arrived at the high gates of Marron territory as it extended to the sky. No one could really escaped the walls of Marron nor no one can truly invade either. All of the crew cheer as they were about to enter the gates.
They gave her new identity as she deceive everyone that she lost her memory.
The North is known for its nullifying barrier that no one could activate their mana. She once visited the territory in her 2nd life but she couldn't get an audience of Duke Marron. They are firm to be of no involvement of the chaos happening to the Argent royals. They clearly loathe the royalty that they paid no attention of the dispute over power and the throne. Her journey to the North was indeed a waste but now she finally entered its gates. There is one thing that surprise her aside that there is a faint of invisible mana surges within her. What's more astonishing is that the greenery of the Marron territory greeted her. It is in contrast outside the gates which is surely a desserted land.
"Welcome home Ara." It was Cielo as she removed the winter coat off her as the acent of spring greeted her.