C32 - Triumphant Return

The following morning, we set out once again by carriage, this time heading towards the bustling port. The carriage creaked and swayed with the uneven cobblestones beneath, the rhythmic clatter a constant reminder of our progress. Upon arrival, the sight of the Stormbreaker filled our view, its majestic sails already unfurled and ready to catch the morning breeze. It was the same ship that had ferried us to the island before, but this time, instead of the captain's cabin, we were assigned to the lower decks. As the only noble among Fazio, Selahe, Mona, and myself, it seemed they assumed, being a baby, I wouldn't care much about accommodations. Not that it bothered me—after all, my previous life aboard the cramped ships of the space navy had conditioned me to appreciate even the simplest comforts.

The voyage across the ocean stretched on, each wave rocking the ship into a lull of monotony. The air was thick with the scent of salt and seaweed, the occasional caw of a gull overhead reminding us of the vastness around us. Our conversations during this long journey meandered, often circling back to the events at the capital, as if the city's grandeur still lingered in our minds.

Mona, her voice thoughtful, asked, "Sir, why did we need to use magic to travel to the capital? Couldn't we have just ridden there by carriage?"

Selahe, always patient in his explanations, nodded slightly. "We could have, but it would have taken nearly the entire season. Gravden is almost 1400 kilometers north of our duchy."

Fazio, curious as ever, looked up at Selahe with wide eyes. "Selahe, my mother and I haven't traveled much. Could you explain how long a kilometer is?"

With a chuckle, Selahe responded, "You're forgiven. I'll fetch a map from the captain; it'll be easier to explain that way." The goatman rose from his seat and made his way to the deck, leaving the rest of us in quiet anticipation. The prospect of seeing a map was intriguing; I'd heard so much about different places but lacked any real understanding of where they were. Fazio and Mona seemed just as eager, their curiosity almost palpable.

Fazio, his voice filled with wonder, said, "I've never seen a map before!"

Mona, nodding, replied, "They're very expensive. The one Selahe is bringing probably costs more than our yearly salaries combined." Fazio's astonished whistle broke the silence, and I couldn't help but agree with Mona's assessment. The painstaking work involved in creating such detailed representations by hand made them rare treasures.

After a few minutes, Selahe returned, a rolled parchment in hand. He unfurled it on the table before us, revealing a map of the continent—and specifically, our kingdom, Oyaluria—its borders marked with intricate lines and symbols.

(AN: Check comments for an image of what the characters are looking at.)

The parchment map was well-worn, its edges frayed from use, and part of it was cut off, but it still showed most of the continent on which the kingdom lay.

Selahe pointed to the mass on the western edge of the continent and began, "This is us, Oyaluria and our neighbors: the Loresians and the Strennians. The Calo Duchy is a large province, our duchy is second in both size and population. The largest is the Vidian Duchy and the most populous is the Antanan Duchy."

He traced a finger along a red line that ran along the western edge of the country. "This is the Great Western Road. It was constructed after the five duchies were conquered many hundreds of years ago."

Fazio and Mona were completely engrossed in Selahe's geography and history lesson, hanging onto every word. I shared their enthusiasm, silently wishing I'd had this map earlier when people discussed my grandfather's concerns about the Strennians in Nestad County. The Strennians' movements were a constant worry for him, and now, seeing the map, I understood why—their empire bordered his province.

Selahe then directed our attention to the small island just off the coast. "This is Sampagnanoli, the island where we're headed. Though it's only 110 kilometers from Calo City, the ship takes almost seven bells to reach it."

Fazio, still processing this new information, asked, "If it takes a whole day to go 110 kilometers, wouldn't it only take a few days to travel north?"

Selahe shook his head, a knowing smile on his face. "This ship travels in a straight line directly from Calo City to Sampagnanoli. The Great Western Road, on the other hand, is full of twists and turns. Moreover, traveling by ship allows us to move even at night, something that's not advisable with a carriage."

Mona seemed satisfied with the explanation, nodding in agreement. I, however, was completely captivated by the map. My eyes traced the lines and markings, each one revealing a new understanding of the world I now inhabited. The Loresians' neutrality between Oyaluria and Strennia became clear, their borders too vast and undefended to risk conflict.

The mountains to the northeast of the Antano Duchy explained their lack of concern over Strennia. They had the least to lose in a conflict, with the mountainous Wastes acting as a natural barrier.

As I delved deeper into the implications of these geographic features, Selahe rolled up the map to return it to the captain. I longed to study the sections that had been cut off, but that would have to wait.

Before Selahe could leave, Fazio asked one more question, "I've heard talk about a Great Tunnel. Was that on the map?"

Selahe nodded. "It was there, though hard to spot on a sea captain's map. The Great Tunnel stretches beneath the Wastes, connecting southern Loresia with the western part of Malidia. Loresia, Malidia, and the Waster folk jointly manage the underground cities, including Pase, one of the most notable."

As night fell, the ship finally arrived at Sampagnanoli. The oppressive smell of sewer-fish hit us as we passed through the town, making our way up the winding road towards our island villa. Selahe explained to Fazio and Mona that this house would be our home for the next eleven years, until I was old enough to attend the academy.

I felt the familiar tingle of the villa's barrier as we crossed into its protective bounds, a wave of energy sweeping over us. My mind buzzed with questions about the magical barriers and high-tier spells like the gate. If matter could be summoned at will, what did that mean for currency? In my previous life, gold was the standard, but if it could be conjured, wouldn't that devalue it?

Exhausted from the long voyage, I was relieved to find my crib already set up in the room I shared with Fazio. We skipped our usual dagger play session, both too tired to muster the energy. As I lay in my crib, the excitement for the future filled my thoughts. With more freedom, I could train harder, level up, and rank up my skills even further. Sleep claimed me quickly, pulling me into a deep, peaceful slumber, filled with dreams of the adventures yet to come.