"Forgive me, Katrina, but I think I won't join you," Levris declined calmly, "I've spent a lot of time with you already, but I have other students too."
"I would go," Rumy stretched contentedly, "It's boring to sit in one place all the time."
"And YOU will tell us that?" everyone looked at the golem with skeptical eyes.
"Well, okay, okay, I once had acquaintances from the north. Maybe we'll meet up, have a little chat, and a drink or two."
"And when did you have these acquaintances from the north?" Hilda squinted suspiciously.
"Hmm, two-three-four centuries ago," Rumy bent a few fingers, "somewhere around four centuries ago."
"Then, of course, you won't find them!!!"
"It doesn't matter, but knowing the ways of the locals, I'll surely get into a couple of good fights," the girl shrugged, anticipating a distant journey.
"Well, as you wish, but it's a long way for us, and the weather in my country is not very friendly for tourists."
"It's a pity we can't go with you," Seleria sighed sadly, "I've never been to the north before. But now I have to go home and take on the burden of ruling the Red House."
"Well, in any case, in your outfit, it would be problematic," the Valkyrie cast a doubtful look at the short skirt and exposed shoulders of the fire mage.
"Alright, you can tell us all about it later."
"If we want to get there quickly, we should leave now. We'll pass through the Yukitori lands again, reach the border by evening, and stay there overnight. They will prepare new horses and clothes for our journey."
"Ahem, but why do that?" Vina asked with an important question, "It will require additional expenses, and the Academy's horses would be sufficient."
"Well, for starters, it's early March, and sunny days in Nordrune are rare until mid-summer. That's why we prefer to use a special breed of horses that can withstand such conditions. At the border posts, we'll be offered replacements for free; the royal family pays for all of this because without it, trade with Verania would be impossible. And the northern port cities are only open in the summer."
"Hmm, but it will be quite far to reach the capital," Vina looked at a large map hanging on the wall.
"Yes, we still have two days of travel ahead of us from the eastern pass, but on the way, there will be two more cities where we can rest."
"On the other hand, the road to Nartandar from the southern pass would be much shorter."
"If we go that way, we'll lose another half-day. I just suggested the fastest option."
"Yes, but we can cut the path, can't we, Katrina?" Vina smirked and pointed to a small flag next to the southern pass.
"Hmm, yes, if we manage to get straight to Nordrune, then it would be problematic to reach the capital through the icy expanses, but if we end up near the border, we can shorten the distance," Katrina unfolded a scroll in her hands, indicating secret passages, "A little above Koroldayne, there's a cave where one of the exits is located. We can head there right away and reach the border today."
"What are you talking about?" Hilda was the only one not understanding what was happening.
"That you are now officially a member of our guild. Congratulations!" Katrina handed a small scroll to Hilda. On the reverse side, in the same style, there was a drawing of a girl in armor, grinning and caressing her battleaxe. We all applauded, and Hilda awkwardly took the scroll from Katrina's hands.
"Thank you, but what is this?"
"We're leaving now, Levris, inform the Rector that we're on a new mission."
"Good luck to you, just come back as soon as possible."
After bidding farewell to our teacher and Seleria, we headed to the basement.
"And you're planning to leave from here?" Hilda was still puzzled.
"Yes," Katrina unfolded her scroll before the northern princess, "here we are located, and ten passages to the left, there will be an exit near Koroldayne."
"I don't understand."
"I'll show you," Katrina opened an ancient wooden door and stepped into the magical passage.
"Hmm," Hilda surveyed the unusual space, "What is this?"
To be honest, even we don't know everything about it. This passage was built in the time of the first summoner. It's called the "Wanderer's Path" and connects dozens of places across the continent. With the help of clues from Krito, I made a map of this place, and the exits from it are marked on the canvas in our guild hall.
"You're probably trying to trick me. Something like this cannot be built without incredible knowledge of magic."
"Well," Rumy shrugged and headed towards the exit, "I agree, it also required the summoner's power. This place helped penetrate enemy territory and gather information during the war. BUT, since then, it's hardly been used."
"Wow, that's worthy of respect."
"By the way, passages to royal castles were later added here, but after the war, all the kings locked the exits and prohibited any mention of them."
"Mmm, come to think of it, there was some old door in the castle's basement, but my father told me not to open it, and he didn't know where it leads."
"That must be the exit, but they are so securely locked that we won't be able to open it from here. So we'll have to go from the border."
We stepped through the necessary door and found ourselves on a mountain slope to the north of a dense forest. From here, we could see the free city we recently visited.
"Should we go in?" Algo modestly suggested visiting our friends.
"Unfortunately, we still have a few hours of walking to reach the border," Hilda finally understood the current situation, "If I understood correctly what this place is, we still need half an hour to climb the mountain, and then about an hour to walk to the border post."
We set off at a leisurely pace towards the checkpoint.
"Your country is situated quite high," I decided to inquire a bit about Nordrune from the princess along the way.
"Yes, our cold weather is not just because we are the northernmost country, but also because we are located in a high mountainous region," the girl enthusiastically described her homeland, "our country rises from the south to the north and is bordered by three mountain ranges that extend far into the sea. They are also called the Crown of the North because of their unusual shape. Between the three peaks, there's a decrease, and there you'll find marvelous green meadows and the two main port cities of the country. It's from there that our ships set sail to distant lands. The climate in the ports is relatively mild compared to the rest of the country, but the ships cannot pass through them all year round. The three harshest months of winter always freeze the bay exits between the mountain peaks with a thick layer of ice, and then all trade comes to a halt. In spring and autumn, the bays are also covered with ice, but it's thinner, allowing our flat-bottomed barges to move easily, though it's still impossible for foreign ships. But in the summer, that's when the peak of trade occurs. All the wealthiest warriors gather in those cities at this time to purchase jewelry, spices, silks, and exquisite weapons."
"It sounds like a festival."
"It is indeed a festival! For the rest of the year, only occasional trade caravans from Verania pass through the three southern passes, but during those three months, the southern cities bloom in all their splendor. Of course, we have plenty to sell as well."
"I've heard that your lands are rich in rare metals and precious gemstones."
"Absolutely! Almost all the adamantite on the continent is mined in our mines, and let me tell you - the best miners and blacksmiths live with us, as true nobles. Despite our strict class system, the daughters of the main blacksmith, Volrond, were proposed marriage even by the sons of great tans. Because here, a person's talents matter the most, not their lineage."
"Hilda, you mentioned a class system. What do you mean?"
For a moment, the girl fell silent and involuntarily shuddered.
"Since ancient times, all the residents of Nordrune are divided into classes," Hilda took a sheet of paper from Vina and began to draw a diagram, "just as in your country, you have landless knights, barons, counts, princes, and the king. So do we have classes that follow a strict hierarchy. Peasants, whether shepherds or farmers, anyone who works with the land and has no connection to the military. After that come the traders, all those who don't work with their hands. Craftsmen, but only those who don't produce weapons or armor. Miners and hunters, those who extract materials for making weapons and armor. Blacksmiths and weapon-makers, those who ensure the unmatched prowess of our warriors. And, of course, the warriors themselves!"
She arranged them one above the other and connected them with a small staircase.
"Why do I get the feeling that your entire system revolves around military matters?"
"Because that's exactly how it is!" Hilda sniffed importantly, "with us, the strongest person rules, whether they are a mage or a warrior. That's why any dispute can be resolved through combat. However, challenging someone from a lower class to a duel is only possible with their consent."
"That's quite practical."
"Well, of course, otherwise, after every drunken brawl, any warrior could easily kill any peasant who annoyed them. But the warriors adhere to the laws of honor and will never attack a craftsman or a trader first. That's why inter-class battles are quite rare."
After those words, it seemed to me that a deep sadness flickered in the princess's eyes.
"But never mind. That's not the whole classification. Warriors themselves are also divided into categories. Guardians, simple soldiers often recruited from strong peasants or craftsmen but very rarely from traders. They are the lowest class of warriors and are responsible for public order. The army consists of those who were taught the art of warfare from childhood and join the ruler's army. They deal with bandit gangs, wild beasts, and participate in civil wars."
"Do you still have wars going on?"
"Yes, well, between the domains of the tans, the borders are fuzzy, so once every ten or twenty years, they have skirmishes over advantageous plots of land. That's why in the tan council, all the neighboring landholders sit across from each other, because deep down they don't really like each other."
"Well, what a constructive policy."
"Hey! Don't be sarcastic about our traditions. These are harsh lands, and they are inhabited by tough people," Hilda returned to the scrap of paper, "all guardians want to become warriors, and all warriors want to become guards. So, they strive to participate in all possible battles to prove themselves. But, of course, one should not forget that the higher your rank, the better armor and weapons you are issued. A guardian will never see adamantite armor, and a guardsman will never walk around in light leather. However, you can always move from one rank to another if you defeat a warrior of a higher rank. Though it's undoubtedly challenging for a guardian with an iron sword to defeat a warrior in steel mail, but after all, nothing is impossible; skills are what matters. Above the warriors are the Guardsmen, the personal guard of the tans and jarls. You can spot them at all the gates of the lords' residences. Besides, they are the last rank that wears uniforms. All guardsmen are issued the best armor according to the army's standards and capes with the emblem of their ruler."