Ryan's laboratory was in the south, aligned with his focus on fire magic. The warmer climate in the south naturally held a richer concentration of fire elements. While it wasn't impossible to study fire magic in the icy north, it would certainly be a less practical and somewhat masochistic choice.
Freyr made his decision quickly and acted promptly. Ryan was immediately released from the dungeon, and all his belongings were returned to him: his wizard's robe, equipment, bottles of powders, magic crystals, and parchment scrolls of spells. Of course, the wizard's robe was newly made.
The castle's old butler was initially astonished that the young master had managed to recruit a wizard as a subordinate. However, upon learning that Ryan was merely a level-one wizard, the butler was relieved—it all made sense.
Freyr expressed a desire to travel, a request the old butler couldn't refuse. In fact, he had suggested earlier that Freyr might benefit from visiting the family's various estates within their territory, a much more vivid experience than staying in the castle poring over dull account books.
Soon, everything was prepared: the carriage, horses, and luggage. Unlike the humble setup from their journey south from the capital, this time the arrangements were much grander, befitting the eldest son of the Russell family traveling within their own territory.
Focker continued to serve as Freyr's accompanying butler, now aided by ten castle servants assigned to attend to the young master. Two cavalry squads from the castle guard were dispatched to protect Freyr, led by the deputy commander of the castle guard, a skilled knight named Andrew. Andrew was a certified level-four knight, holding a badge from the Knight Association.
One of the cavalry squads was Andrew's direct unit, while the other consisted of the men who had accompanied Freyr from the capital. Andrew was a tall, imposing figure with broad shoulders and a muscular build, his square face suggesting a straightforward character. He showed great respect for Freyr, indicating his straightforward military nature. Freyr found him much more agreeable than the old butler.
In addition to these men, there was also a female knight in the entourage, Calista, Freyr's first direct subordinate.
As they traveled south from the castle, Andrew diligently fulfilled his duties, organizing advance scouts and ensuring security during stops. When Freyr whimsically suggested camping outside, Andrew silently nodded in agreement and meticulously arranged the night watch.
Freyr saw Andrew as a quintessential soldier, clearly having a military background. Many knights in the Russell family, known for their military achievements, had such experience.
Over seven days, the group traveled at a leisurely pace, finally reaching a town in the southernmost part of the Court Province. Any further south, and they would leave the Russell family's territory.
Overall, Freyr was very satisfied with the Russell family's lands. The Russell Plains, with their favorable geography, were covered in vast farmlands and prosperous farms. Even in the larger towns they passed, the people seemed to live well.
As their convoy traveled, farmers would often stand by the roadside, waving their hats in respect when they saw the knights bearing the Russell family banner. It was clear the Russell family was well-regarded here.
Andrew soon realized that the young master wasn't actually inspecting family properties but rather taking a leisurely tour. Given his age, Andrew didn't find it surprising. After all, what could a thirteen-year-old boy truly manage in terms of family estates? His only concern was to fulfill his duty and protect Freyr.
Upon reaching the southernmost town in the Russell territory, Freyr suddenly announced his intention to continue traveling south. Although Andrew found this request curious, he did not object.
Since it was essentially a pleasure trip, if the young master was interested in continuing south, they would follow his lead. Moreover, heading south from the Court Province would take them into the Imperial Province of Lir, where the governor was very friendly and respectful towards the Russell family. Freyr would certainly be well taken care of in Lir Province, so there was nothing to worry about.
Freyr quickly grew fond of this obedient knight. He also noticed that Andrew was quite popular among the cavalry. Often, during camp, young cavalrymen would seek his advice on martial arts.
To Freyr's eyes, Andrew's martial skills were exceptional. The knight could wield a massive broadsword with impressive strength, easily fending off seven or eight men at once during training. Even Calista's burly bodyguard, the warrior known as "The Bull," held Andrew in high regard after Andrew defeated him single-handedly in a sparring match.
A level-four knight indeed possessed considerable prowess.
Given these observations, Freyr felt a twinge of interest and requested some martial arts instruction from Andrew. Andrew was somewhat surprised by this request. Typically, a family leader's son like Freyr would learn martial arts from the top knights of the family, not from a lowly cavalry captain like himself.
Nevertheless, Andrew readily agreed. He practiced an internal power cultivation method taught in the imperial army, nothing particularly secretive. After a brief session, similar to the assessment given by the chief guard of Earl Edward in the past, Andrew had to tell Freyr that he truly had no talent for martial arts.
Freyr's current body was frail and had suffered a serious illness, leaving him with inherent weaknesses.
Freyr wasn't disheartened. He didn't expect to become a master but felt it necessary to strengthen his body a bit. Even if he couldn't become an expert, being healthier and stronger would still be beneficial.
Thus, under Andrew's guidance, Freyr began learning the most basic martial arts, focusing primarily on physical conditioning. This slowed their journey southward even further.
On the ninth day of their journey south, they arrived at a small city in the northeastern part of Lir Province... Half-Edge Town.
The name was peculiar, as the city lay beside a valley shaped like a half-edge.