Cold, hunger, monsters, and cold-hearted people—the North had many threats to Almark. He nearly lost his life more than once, but each time, he survived with sword skills that belied his age, along with a great deal of luck.
Along the way he occasionally joined up with traveling mercenary groups or vagabond mages and warriors. Eight times out of ten, these people he relied on betrayed him. It was a bitter lesson that cut him deep, and yet it made him an excellent judge of character.
As he crossed the Menoba Strait separating the northern regions from the central plains, the first blooms of spring appeared. The difficult journey whetted Almark’s senses, and he developed many essential survival skills.
The central plains were bountiful now that the wars there were long since over. This was where Almark experienced true wonder for the first time in his life. People led mundane lives, never questioning the fact that nothing ever changed. Lives where they didn’t need to worry over what they’d eat tomorrow. Almark observed them, captivated. These people treated him nicely. Even in this world where children reached maturity early, it was unusual for a nine-year-old to travel alone from the North, and the plains inhabitants considered Almark superhuman for making the journey.
Passing through the central plains was what taught him the pleasures of travel and the kindness of others. He also got to experience the riches of countries without war.
Almark’s tenth spring turned to summer, and then autumn came. When he arrived in the South, his supplies ran out. Almark continued his journey nearly in rags. The season turned to winter, but after surviving Northern winters, the cold of the South didn’t bother him at all. He set up camp every day and practiced talking to himself as he gazed at the starry sky.
Soon enough, Almark entered his eleventh spring. Norkh Island was a stone’s throw, or rather a boat’s voyage away, and so he worked for a month at the docks to earn the fare. He eventually boarded a ship using the money he’d earned, and after a two-year delay, Almark fulfilled his promise to Eurog—he arrived at the Norkh Institute for Magic.