Chapter 3: Trails of Times Past

“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 village began to come back to life minutes after the Trial ended, people carried on their duties with a semblance of normality as the guests prepared to leave. The Lords from the five other clans and their mounted escort steadily left the town heading south toward their own domains; there was simply no reason to stay any longer after the new Lord of Clan Irfis was chosen.

Nina sat on the wooden fence by herself again, watching them depart; Verkan went to speak with the Elders and Nero, the new clan Lord, concerning several affairs of diverse importance, including the findings of this morning, among other things. She opted to remain on the sidelines this time when offered the chance to go with him. Talking with strangers wasn’t something she was used to, preferring to escape into her books if she could. Even though it was something she would need to do sooner or later as part of her duties, she tried to push it back to the latter part of the scale as much as she could. She knew it was a childish and selfish decision but she barely understood the highland people, if at all.

She was still trying to digest what transpired in the trial anyway. It was the first time she saw someone die, and it disturbed the hell out of her. The cool, windy morning air along the dark grey cloudy sky of the otherwise ordinary morning suddenly felt oddly appropriate. Although she didn’t even know those who died their deaths still hit her hard. She understood they were warriors and that fighting was their duty, but perhaps they didn’t have to die.

No wonder why Nana was so upset! Well, maybe it was for the best, they would be a thorn in the new Lord’s side; so it was for the sake of the Clan and for the greater good, right? But Knights would never do that! she rationalized. But her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of steps approaching; she turned expecting to see her mentor Verkan.

-“Sitting on your own again” her friend Verkan commented.

-“Sorry Verkan” she replied disheartened.

-“Are you alright?” he asked, he was quick to notice her grief, caring deeply for her wellbeing.

-“I'll be fine, I'm just... need a minute” Nina replied.

-“First time, isn’t it? That you witness someone die,” the old man asked again.

Nina closed her eyes nodding affirmatively and shedding a single tear; Verkan then took a step closer and put a hand over her shoulder to which she responded by placing her own hand over his. He utterly hated seeing her like this and tried his best 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”

-“Dying... it’s only natural, some die of old age, others by some illness… and others by the sword. These people don't see death as something horrible but as a fact of life. For them, it's how you live that's important. Those warriors had an honorable death” he explained.

-“If you say so” the girl replied still sad.

It was usually at times like this when Verkan shared most of his wisdom, and she always took his lectures at good heart. She saw him as a fatherly figure; he could be obnoxious at times, going too far with that apparently unending repertoire of jokes of his, a far cry from her stupidly serious family. But 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.

-“What is it?” Nina asked turning towards him, still feeling down but with a spark of curiosity.

-“The Lord has requested your presence” he replied smiling.

-“ME?! Why me?!” she replied noticeably startled, her eyes widened in shock with a frightened expression, her face turning dead 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…?” she was about to ask when the sudden realization hit her, making her feel both awfully enraged and embarrassed in the same amount.

-“HE REALIZES I'M A PRIESTESS, RIGHT?!” Nina furiously lashed out, blushing wildly and flustered by her very thoughts.

-“I’ve heard the Lord is still a bachelor” Verkan replied sporting the straightest face he could make before bursting out in laughs.

-“VERKAN!” she yelled back, visibly infuriated.

-“I’m just joking! You’re so much fun to pick on!” he replied swiftly composing himself back to a more formal condition.

-“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.

-“Fine! Just give me a minute” Nina replied still a bit exasperated.

-“Just come and let's get this over with, I’m starving!” he replied.

The pair walked across the village’s deserted square, heading towards the largest building, Nina slightly accommodated the leather cap on her head before crossing the door. Inside the building were the Elders, sitting in a circle around the new Lord in the middle of the hall. They briefed Nero about the Clan’s most urgent matters when they noticed the pair of priests. Her heart skipped a beat, and her breathing became agitated in the presence of such important people, and most especially, of such a fearsome and intimidating man. She could feel cold sweat forming on her face, and a lump in her throat impeded her from speaking. Then again, she felt her mentor’s gentle hand over her shoulders which helped her calm down a bit.

Lord Nero saluted in reverence, still stripped from his armor and with his body still covered in blood; he invited them to get closer with a motion of his hand. One of the Elders whispered something in his ear, but the Lord replied only with a gesture of his head, quietly dismissing the Elders outside, he then offered the priests a pair of small chairs motioning only with his hand without speaking a word. Nina took both chairs and handed one to Verkan, they then sat in front of him, sitting after them.

The trio sat quietly in the middle of the hall, a long and awkward silence took over the room, and Nina couldn’t help but feel immensely uncomfortable. The Lord stared at her squarely in the eyes, just like the night before, and she tried to combat the urge of looking away as much as she could, lest disrespect him. She felt supremely stupid after recalling that it was her who was supposed to speak first.

-“My Lord...” Nina spoke timidly.

-“My Lady, you honor me with your presence” Lord Nero replied with a soft yet firm tone.

-“Congratulations on your victory my Lord, I am glad that you were not hurt” she continued, slowly feeling more relaxed.

-“Why thank you, my Lady, I appreciate your concern” the Lord replied in a formal tone.

-“The way you fought… I have never seen anything like it! You must have to be the greatest warrior I've ever seen”

-“You are good at flattery My Lady, but that would be the legendary Mage Slayer, not me” Lord Nero replied, smiling softly for the compliment.

-“The Mage Slayer?” she asked intrigued.

-“Anyone who saw him fight would be sure he is probably the best warrior in the world. 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” Lord Nero recalled.

-“My family is not very fond of war stories My Lord, and my father never mentioned it” Nina replied.

-“You are the daughter of the Mage Slayer, and yet he never mentioned it?” the Lord asked, leaning closer and smiling broadly in disbelief, dropping the air of formality previously surrounding them.

-“Your father is most certainly a humble man!”

What?

Nina was speechless. She turned at Verkan for answers while he could only smile and nod in return. She felt cheated, confused, and intensely hurt. If this was true, how could my family hide something that important from me?! Why did my father never tell me about it?

-“I told the Priest that I'm looking forward to a fruitful relationship with the Church, I hope we can help each other in the times to come” the Lord continued interrupting her thoughts.

-“I would be most pleased to be of help, my Lord” Nina replied, on the verge of tears though she tried her hardest to conceal it.

-“I am most pleased to hear, you are welcome to stay as much as you like” Lord Nero offered, he stood suddenly, taking her by surprise with his towering presence, preparing himself to meet with the Elders again outside the village.

-“We appreciate your hospitality, Lord Nero, but sadly, we must depart shortly” Verkan interrupted. They also had a long trip ahead and they were already out of schedule, though to be fair, their original plan didn’t foresee the Clan Lord’s passing.

-“I understand, both of you are welcome to return any time you like. I have been Lord for less than an hour and I'm already overwhelmed by problems of all kinds. Lord Burgan left so much undone, please excuse me, I must attend to my duties” Lord Nero replied and walked outside.

Nina turned to Verkan again and looked him in the eyes. She tried her damn hardest to keep a straight face but it was painfully obvious that she was fighting back tears. She didn’t speak a word but her eyes implored for answers.

-“You understand now why I took you from your family’s domains, don’t you?” Verkan asked leaning closer and smiling at her.

She didn’t reply, but nodded back, holding her eyes shut, crying down a single tear, forcing an obviously sad smile at him. Verkan then again placed a hand over her shoulder, which made her finally break down in tears. Although she wasn’t used to being touched, Verkan’s gentle hand seemed to have some sort of comforting effect on her.

-“Verkan, why do they lie to me?” she asked between sobs.

-“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 in your islands. You are smart, curious, and talented! If you dare, you can achieve great things!” her friend encouraged, unlike other times when he would joyfully tease her, this time, however, he was completely serious.

Nina immediately felt better after hearing Verkan’s words. The old man always knew what and when to say to make her feel better; he gave her a pat on the back before standing, and walking out of the hall they were currently in. She jumped from her chair with renewed spirits and went after him after wiping her tears, determined to do her utter best and don’t let him down. She walked outside and saw him walking away, he turned to look back at her, making a gesture with his fingers and mouth that she interpreted as “I’ll get something to eat”.

This left her with the grim task of disposing of the bodies of the fallen wardens. She thought about just waiting for Verkan to do it, but his previous words of encouragement gave her a small confidence boost so she decided to take the initiative. She was trying to make him proud after all. It is just a burial prayer, no big deal girl! Nina timidly approached a group of four warriors sitting under a tree, resting in its shadow. They all stood up in attention in the blink of an eye when they saw her walking toward them, this startled her a bit, she wasn’t used to being 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.

She took a deep breath to calm down and regain her composure, asking them as nicely as she could to help move the warden’s bodies to their final resting place. The leader of the warriors, 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!

Nina kept her eyes closed until the warriors marched away, using her sleeve to wipe the small tears in the corner of her eyes. She then watched them pick up the bodies which were wrapped tightly in white sheets with crimson stains of blood from their wounds. Even though she only looked for a brief instant, she saw clearly through the white sheet’s fabric, the beheaded body behind it, and the fallen warrior’s head obviously detached from the body. It was only a glimpse of it but it was enough to make her stomach twist.

A small crowd gathered around the bodies, with her, the warriors, and a handful of workers that weren’t allowed at the Trial, she counted at least two dozen. They walked in a small procession just a few yards outside the village. Verkan watched among the crowd with a handful full of bread slices, he witnessed the warriors gently lay down the pair of bodies next to each other in a common gravesite that has been prepared before the Trial, next to the gravestone where the ashes of the late Lord Burgan were buried. This way, whoever perished in the Trial would be buried next to him.

“Merciful Father, creator of all,

Please, open your arms and receive these souls,

Forgive all 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 rituals, allowing the crowd finally leave the gravesite area and continue with their duties. The leader of the warriors stood firmly for one final salute before leaving and that was all. There was no family mourning and no widow’s wail; the wardens gave up everything to dedicate fully to protecting their Lord.

Such was the way of the Clans.

Verkan then approached her after everyone has left, offering her a handful of bread but she declined. She ate a bit too last night and has been already looking for a place to relieve herself before their trip. The old priest took more bread slices, wrapped them in a clean cloth, and saved them in a small leather bag that he hung by his shoulder. There was a lot of leftover bread from last night that he didn’t want to let waste. Unlike the everyday bread the clans used to cook, which was hard, and made to last for several days, Nana’s recipe was soft, spongy, and deliciously spiced. Of course, it wouldn’t last for long until it mildewed but since it was cooked just hours before the dinner, it wasn’t a concern.

He teased her by softly squishing a chunk of bread on her face, which Nina finally accepted. She took a small bite and it tasted just as good as last night. Their next destination was just some miles away; the trip would take just a few hours of walking, if they left the village at noon, they should arrive before sunset. Since the dinner’s leftovers were plentiful, the villagers decided not to cook for the day. Both she and Verkan were served meat and beans that they happily accepted. They had a brief lunch with the villagers, and once they finished, they filled their water skins full, put on their signature Field Priest leather caps, grabbed their wooden staffs, and waved the villagers farewell, leaving the town just a little past noon.

The weather was perfect for a nice walk. Normally, the highland’s weather was unforgiving; with almost perpetual rains battering the landscape, strong winds blowing their way across green fields, and a thick, ethereal white mist that could come down from the mountain range unexpectedly at any moment. It was a blessing that the weather mellowed considerably just in time for the late Clan Lord’s funeral and the subsequent trials. And for a nice stroll of course! The dark grey clouds threatened to drop their rain on several occasions over the past couple of days, but the Gods showed their mercy and decided against it, apparently. Today the clouds dispersed just enough to allow some sun rays to pass through.

She delighted herself with the beautiful landscape. Although she thought the endless dark blue sea, imposing white rock cliffs, and clear skies full of seagulls from the Southern Islands she called home more appealing, the hilly green fields and forests covered with a thin white mist, and the perpetually cloudy sky stained with the alternating soft and dark grey that barely let any light pass certainly had its charm.

She spotted unending herds of different kinds of cattle peacefully feeding on the grasslands in the distance, a number of woolly bisons among them. Even a pair of gigantic behemoths! Nina remembered reading about them before; they were gently beasts with magnificent fur that fed on grass, that despite their colossal size were mostly inoffensive, save from the occasional frightened one that could level entire villages in its path. They used to be preyed upon by dragons in times past, the only other beast mighty enough to actually kill them, but since most species of dragons in the continent became extinct, their population proliferated through the years.

Speaking about dragons, the books described several species, among them the once-ubiquitous highland raptor, a small but deadly predator. It became extinct thousands of years ago when the last one was killed by the first clan hunters when they settled in the highlands. Such an animal 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 would suggest a larger one. How big then? She wasn’t interested in playing the investigator right now, she looked at Verkan walking next to her, already eating the slices of bread he brought with him, taking his time to finish the mouthful of bread before speaking; making a gesture with his fingers in a way that suggested the deliciousness of the slice he just ate.

-“I've been wondering if I have chosen the right path” the old man commented.

-“You mean your path in life?” she asked curiously.

-“No, I mean this trail we are walking on right now, there was another one if I recall” Verkan replied.

-“Oh, sorry” she apologized a bit embarrassed.

-“You always look for the deep philosophical meanings on the simplest things!” he complained in a lighthearted way.

-“I thought you were talking about something else” Nina replied.

-“But now that you mention it, we can talk about all the choices we make in life” he replied with a mischievous smile.

-“For the thousand time, Verkan, I'm sure to be Priestess, really! I wouldn't be here if I wasn't” she replied exasperated.

-“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! I would like to continue my studies at an Imperial University and become a teacher one day, just like you” she explained.

-“I'm no teacher Nina; I need a degree for that” he corrected her.

-“Yet you are the best teacher I’ve ever had” Nina admitted.

-“I just share a little of what I've learned through the years” the old priest replied modestly.

-“I would love to one day teach in an Imperial University, in a class full of students!” she replied excitedly.

-“That's a wonderful career choice Nina but you don't need to be a Priestess for that” he clarified.

-“I know, but you know my family Verkan, they wouldn't have let me otherwise” she replied.

-“I know, but you are one stubborn girl, just like your mother was!” he replied.

-“Sorry” Nina replied, suddenly feeling down.

-“Don't be! I meant that as a compliment” Verkan quickly corrected himself.

-“Verkan... do you mind... if I ask you about my mother?” Nina asked timidly.

-“Of course not, feel free to” was his response.

-“I’ve always heard how she was from other people, but my family refuses to give me a straight answer whenever I ask them about her” she commented, eager to hear his response.

-“I can understand your family, your mother was... controversial, to say the least, even for me” Verkan replied, reminiscing about the time when Nina’s mother was his traveling companion.

-“How is that?” she asked.

-“Elia had some pretty radical beliefs, I didn’t agree with her for the most part but I’ve always respected her for it. She was a strong and passionate woman with a brilliant mind and giving heart. Incredibly smart, resourceful, talented, and also incredibly beautiful” Verkan continued smiling fondly at the memory, showing no small amount of admiration towards his late friend.

-“No wonder why dad fell in love with her, mom was your student too, wasn't she?” Nina asked again, now feeling excited to hear the rest of the story.

-“Indeed she was, many years ago, until she earned the rank of High Priestess, of course, then I became her apprentice” Verkan replied with enthusiasm.

-“Why did you never earn a higher rank? You could have earned it if you tried,” she asked again.

-“And end my days locked up in a monastery? Ha! No thanks, I do love this job. I love helping these people Nina, I belong to them, and I'll probably keep doing it until the day I die” he replied sincerely.

-“Come on Verkan, you still have a decade or two ahead until you freed us of your stubbornness” Nina replied smiling mischievously, mirroring his own response in the conversation he had with Nana last night.

-“If you say so” Verkan replied with a knowing smile on his face.

-“Anyway, I thought you hailed from the Empire” she commented, changing the subject.

-“Do I look like an Imperial?” he 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?” Verkan asked back with a naughty smile.

Her heart stopped. How does he know about THAT?! Her eyes widened in absolute horror, her face turning dead white at first then into a darker shade of red after hearing his response. Verkan exploded in a burst of energetic laughter at her reaction. How much exactly did he know?

-“No-not in detail” she managed to reply, awkwardly looking away to avoid his gaze, and using her cap to cover her face.

-“So that you know, I've been everywhere, child, even up north! I'm a Highlander, my heart belongs here. There is something magical about this place, you can't describe it, but you can't also deny its power” he commented, returning to the previous subject but with a more serious tone.

-“No wonder why they respect you so much, you understand these people so well” she replied.

-“Oh, they respect me, but your mother? They adored her” the old priest replied, raising a finger in the air.

-“Really?! I've never heard about that!” Nina replied excitedly, now eager to hear all about it.

-“Well, 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 for victory, the Empire would have won if it wasn't for her” Verkan commented, much to her awe.

-“Really?! I always thought it was thanks to my father that the Empire was beaten” she replied surprised.

-“Well, your father did most of the fighting after all, but it was your mother who advised him with crucial tactical advice. Elia recognized the need to have a strong military leader to rally around, so she let your father have all the glory, remaining at his side and quietly counseling him. The Clans like to think that they defeated the Empire with blood and steel alone, but it was your mother’s brilliant mind, and her knowledge of Imperial strategies that actually won the war” he explained.

-“You fought in the war too, Verkan?” Nina asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

-“We all did in one way or another, Lord Nero was just a boy back then, he could barely hold his sword! And even Nana cooked for the warriors! I was badly wounded in one of the early battles, while tending the wounded, ironically. It was your mother who saved my life, you know; she found me in the middle of the battlefield and dragged me to safety. The Imperial armies got the advantage during the early stages and managed to win several decisive 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!” she replied excitedly.

-“Indeed he was, no doubt about that, but he made several fatal misjudgments” Verkan replied.

-“Really?! How is that?” she asked again.

-“You’ll see, Ingram fought the same way any other Clan warrior would, like fighting in a Trial, of course. He thought they could face the imperials honorably. But the Empire has soldiers not warriors, and that's the problem, they took advantage of Ingram's sense of honor to lure him and his army into a trap. 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 succeeded him after he was killed in battle”

-“I've heard that story many times! He had to endure several Trials!” Nina 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 priest commented.

-“Tell me of your part in the war!” she pleaded, eager 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 uncomfortably.

-“Maybe the Gods had other plans for you”

-“Perhaps, like keeping you from tangling with your tongue” he replied jokingly.

-“T-tha-that was just one time!” she replied turning red.

Verkan couldn’t help but burst into violent laughter, making her feel deeply insulted. What is wrong with him! Nina clenched her hands into tiny fists, looking away pouting; only making him laugh even harder.

-“VERKAN!!”

-“Sorry! I couldn't help but make a bit of fun out of you! Your face is priceless!” he replied wiping away small tears with his sleeves.

-“I bet you didn't make fun of mom when she was your apprentice” the girl complained.

-“Quite the contrary! We loved to make fun of each other! She was so much fun to be with!” he replied, still laughing wildly.

-“I bet dad loved that too” Nina commented.

-“But seriously, your father never told you he was the Mage Slayer?” Verkan asked incredulously.

-“He told me about the war, he told me about the trials and even about mom but he never told me about that particular duel or the Red Mage for that matter”

-“I can understand why, anyone who wasn't there would probably believe it’s only a legend. Even today is still hard to believe, even for us who witnessed it” he explained.

-“Why?” she asked curiously.

-“You wouldn’t believe it! It was something out of a myth, the Red Mage was an incredibly powerful wizard; he alone decimated entire armies with his magick!”

-“Really?! Such magick exists?” Nina asked awestruck. Impossible!

-“It's real I tell you! I've got a nasty burn from a fireball that still hurts me to this day” Verkan replied with a pained expression.

-“A fireball?! Really?! Where?!” she asked in quick succession.

-“Behind, but I can't show you” Verkan replied smiling playfully.

-“Uhhg!” Nina replied with a disgusted expression, while Verkan was trying hard not to laugh.

-“Anyway... When the Clan’s combined forces faced the Imperial armies at the Plains of Discord, your father challenged the Red Mage to a duel that would decide the fate of both armies. All hope was lost and no one believed that your father could defeat a foe of such power! The Red Mage launched fire and brimstone! Thunder and lightning he cast! But your father remained undeterred!” he paused, motioning his hands in the air as if telling an epic tale.

-“What few people know is that your father wasn't unprepared. He received an enchanted suit of armor just before the battle and wielded a great axe made of Sky Steel, which is said to be able to repel magick. But 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 hands, the whole Imperial army routed in terror to never return!”

-“You surely know how to tell tales Verkan” Nina commented, this time with a genuine smile.

-“What can I say? I've had enough time to practice” Verkan replied humbly.

-“I was nice to hear about mom and dad, thank you”

-“Don't mention it”

-“It's strange that my family never told me of that story, yet I've heard of other great warriors. I bet I know more legendary heroes than you”

-“Do you know Onur the Mighty?” she asked.

-“Oh, a great hero of old! I didn’t know him because he died hundreds of years ago but I’ve heard of him” Verkan replied.

-“Right, Um… Krauss the Undying?” Nina asked again.

-“Not so undying though, heh, killed in his sleep by a scorned woman” he replied chuckling.

-“Correct, Fasir the Giant Bane?” she asked yet again.

-“Many people believe he was actually a woman. That would explain his peculiar... interest in men” Verkan replied.

-“Yeah, but I've heard that's not frowned upon in the Empire” she explained.

-“So I’ve heard”

-“You may have heard of him because he was from your time. Rudo the Vanquisher?” Nina asked yet again.

-“He is only a legend, and that’s for certain!” he replied instantly.

-“Really? But he’s so well known! How can you be so sure?” she asked curiously.

-“If he was real, where he was when the Empire invaded?” Verkan asked in return.

-“I don’t know, maybe dead?”

-“Only the Gods know” was his answer.

-“The God Slayer?” Nina dared to ask.

-“That is from the realm of myths, and forbidden literature young lady!” Verkan replied with a slightly more severe tone, raising a finger in the air.

-“Yeah… sorry” she lowered her head and apologized. She wasn’t supposed to even read those books, even though Verkan has been extremely forgiving about it, she felt it was better not to push her luck.

-“Valder the Mage Slayer… Why did you never mention it either?” Nina asked.

-“You never asked” he replied smiling, his response was so sincere and simple that she felt dumb just for asking.

-“I'm going to yell at dad for hiding that one from me when he comes back!”

-“That would be a sight to behold! The greatest hero of this land being reprimanded by a little girl!” Verkan replied laughing.

-“Hey! I'm not so little anymore! I'm thirteen!” she protested, hitting him in the arm.

The rest of the trip went mostly uneventful; they kept talking about less important subjects while enjoying each other company, and at the same time, the wonderful visuals the highland’s landscape provided. It was odd, to say the least, how such a somber, colorless landscape could be so breathtaking. Even though she 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 near the mountains.

She could already relax. It’s been a long trip.