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Frostland was one of the seven kingdoms of the empire. There, it wasE always winter in every season. This land was also known by many other names, such as “The Infernal Winter,” “The Coldest in the Empire,” “Land Without Sun” (though there was sun, the cold was so intense it seemedwAnonexistent), and finally, “The Eternal Winter.”

Kristofer Storm was a resident of this harsh region who had just turned 18. He was tall, blonde, pale as snow, with blue eyes and spiky hair that pointed forward. Kristofer had been raised by his godmother all his life; she had cared for him and he lived for her. When he was born, the boy lost his mother and his father had gone on an important mission, where he lost his life a few months later. However, his father had a legacy and left something for Kristofer, something his son would only receive on his 18th birthday. He had already heard stories about his father, as told by his godmother when he was younger. His father was a great merchant who traversed all seven kingdoms. The young man wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.

-“Today’s the day!” Kristofer exclaimed as he woke up. He got up, dressed in a blue pullover that covered his neck and black pants. He put on his fingerless gloves, which, despite leaving his hands colder, felt right to him. He slipped on his leather boots, grabbed his satchel, tied it to his waist, and left his room.

-Good morning, Kris! Happy birthday! - greeted Hulda, his godmother. — You seem excited!

-Of course I am! I have every reason to be!

-Very well, my boy. I know you’re eager, but the day has just begun. Breakfast is on the table.

Hulda had prepared one of Kris’s favorite breakfasts: chicken Smørbrød, a rye bread sandwich filled with chicken and salad. Kristofer devoured his first meal of the day, which was delicious.

-Thank you so much! Now, could you finally tell me what I’ve been waiting my whole life to know?

Alright, then. - Hulda said as she went to her room and returned with an envelope, handing it to him. — Your father wrote this letter in case he died, for you to read when you became a grown man. Go ahead, read it.

Arcane Port, March 23, 512

My dear son Kris,

I’m sorry for being absent throughout your life. I believe you’ve heard some stories about me, but there’s likely much you still don’t know. I don’t know what path you wish to take in life, but I’m leaving you 1,000 millénnis to start your journey, along with my old tools. If you choose to follow my path, know that you can buy a market stall with that money and invest in some goods. With these tools, you can also gather resources.

I wish I could be there with you. Take care of yourself!

Phillipp Storm

Kristofer was deeply moved by what he read — it was the first letter from his father he had ever seen. Phillipp Storm, the legendary merchant from Frostland who explored all the lands. A tear threatened to fall, unbidden, but he held it back. At the same time, he felt excited to begin his journey.

-Thank you so much, Godmother, for giving me this letter. And I want to thank my father too.

He knows. The ‘Flash’ never truly faded.

The Flash, one of his father’s nicknames, was something he never understood — perhaps it was because of the surname. But he didn’t know much about his father, having only heard superficial stories.

-Well, it’s only 8 a.m. I have a lot to get started on.

-Indeed, you’re no longer a little boy. May God bless you!

See you later!- Kristofer donned his coat and left.

Kristofer walked out of his house on Emill Sverre Street and went to his best friend Ethan Lumi’s home next door. Ethan was the same height as Kris, also blonde, though his hair was drier in tone, spiked upward, and tied in a ponytail. He had a blond goatee, wore dark blue glasses, and had green eyes. His outfit resembled Kris’s but with a lighter shirt. Ethan was like a brother to him, and along with Hulda, were the only two people who truly mattered in Kristofer’s life. Both had dreamed of becoming merchants for years.

While Frostland lacked schools, it had a library on their street. They had studied books on economics and the Eternal Winter, and Ethan had even managed to buy a book on Frostland’s resources. The book detailed the value and rarity of various resources and included a checklist to track discoveries. Both also kept notebooks for their plans. Kristofer headed there to begin planning their first day, as they needed to purchase a stall.

— Knock, knock. — The door creaked and was quickly opened by Ethan, who greeted his friend with a warm smile. — Ethan!

— Kris, happy birthday!

— Thank you. We have some unfinished business.

— Have they told you the secret? — Ethan asked, intrigued.

— Yes, yes, and it was a pleasant surprise.

— Well?

— Here, read this. — Kris handed a letter to Ethan, who read it and returned it.

— Well, now we can finally start our business.

— Really? That’s… incredible! Finally, we can begin our dream! I don’t have my tools yet, so I’ll stay at the stall handling sales. You, at least for now, can handle the resources. I think you’re better at chopping wood and gathering stones than I am. — Both burst into laughter.

Kris sat on the living room couch. Ethan lit the fireplace and fetched two cups of mead for them to savor while warming up and planning their venture.

— Well, we’ve gone over this plan many times, but let’s do it once more with clear heads and grounded feet. We’ll sell to the people of Frostland, not to foreigners. Maybe one day we’ll be lucky enough to secure a spot in the Snowy Bay or another kingdom, but for now, we’ll sell in the marketplace. That means we need resources that satisfy the local population. Frostland isn’t rich in crops. We have our small plots for food, but it’s not abundant. The barn and mill are also out of service. Sadly, the land of eternal winter faces struggles in that area. The king exports our crops and sends us the processed goods instead of letting us do it here. Frostland isn’t at its best right now. Thankfully, we’re not warriors destined for the walls; I’ve heard conditions there are dire.

— Maybe we won’t end up on the walls, but we might still need to fight. There are the mines! We could find valuable metals there. The problem is, most who’ve ventured there never returned. There are legends of infamous monsters lurking.

— That’s true, and I wouldn’t doubt those monsters exist. It could be profitable, but we should avoid it, at least for now. Agriculture might be weak, and the climate doesn’t help either, but on the other hand, we have excellent fishing grounds. Fishing could be very lucrative. You could talk to the fisherman about that later. And then there’s the lumber. We have plenty of pines and even a unique tree that only grows here. Its wood is tough but harder to harvest, the frostwood. You can also pick some amount of stones in the outside of the mountains or some berrys that are somewhere.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

— What would be the best option for now? — he asked after taking another sip of mead.

— For fishing, you’d need to talk to the fisherman, which would cost you much of the first day. I’d suggest starting with your garden or gathering wood. There’s a forest not too far away.

— Okay, good idea. — He finished his mead and jotted down a note to gather wood. — By the way, where did you get this drink?

— From my father. He has great taste in beverages. It’s only 8:10 a.m. Let’s get moving.

Ethan informed his father that he was leaving. The two young men walked to the marketplace, passing through the province of Mennesker and into the city. There, they met a middle-aged man.

— Good morning. I’d like to buy a stall here in the marketplace.

The man looked at Kris’s face and hair color and recognized him.

— You must be Philipp’s son, right?

— That’s correct.

— Ah, yes, he told me to keep a specific stall for you. I remember your father here in the marketplace. He was a good man and an even better merchant. He could find things no one else could. Well, as you wish, Mr. Storm, the price is 700 millennis.

— Here you go.

— Very well, could you sign here? — The two signed their names in their respective handwriting — not the prettiest in the world, but legible. — Alright, gentlemen, follow me.

The man led them to a specific stall.

— This is now yours. It was a pleasure doing business with you.

— Thank you. — Storm opened the stall, and Ethan took charge of it.

— Go gather the resources; I’ll stay here. Come back by noon.

— Alright.

Kristofer crossed to the other side of the marketplace, reaching Uller, the countryside. There, he arrived at Freya Forest, mostly consisting of pines and spruce trees but also housing some exotic trees, the so-called frostwoods. They were named frostwoods because their refined wood was as white as frost. It had never been seen without snow on its leaves and could not grow naturally in any other kingdom.

The frostwood’s timber was highly valued for its durability. It was used for various purposes, including houses, tools, decorative structures, and more. Its leaves were also capable of producing ropes stronger than others. It became a resource that symbolized class and status, rarely accessible to commoners.

Upon arriving in the forest, Kris took his father’s old axe, made of granite. These were likely tools from the early days of Sir Phillipp’s career. He held it cautiously and precisely, admiring the ancient artifact. Focusing his strength on the axe, he began chopping down a pine tree slowly. After several swings, the tree finally gave way and fell. Kris couldn’t determine the tree’s age, but judging by its remnants, it seemed old. The merchant broke the remaining parts into smaller pieces of log, loaded them onto a rack he had brought, and separated the pinecones. Using a double-edged granite knife also left by his father, he carefully gathered the leaves, which he planned to use later to make rope. He repeated the process with two more trees along his path. He then came across a fir tree, which wasn’t much different. After cutting this one, his rack was full, and he had to carry the weight back. He dreamed of having a cart or something to help him transport the load, but as a young merchant just starting, he had no such luxuries. With some difficulty, he hauled the weight back to the square, where he met Ethan.

-Kris? Looks like you’ve got a heavy load, and it’s only 9 a.m.. Ethan remarked.

-Cutting down these trees is hard work; I hope it pays off. The hardest part is bringing the firewood and fiber back here.

Well, for now, this is what we’ve got. Looks like you found some pine and fir trees, no frostwood?

I saw one a bit further away, but I was nearly full, and it was still some distance off. I’ll go for it when I return.

Alright, I’ll sort these log’s pieces and put them up for sale. A piece of logfrom either fir or pine seems to sell for around 2 millénnis… not much, I’d say, but we have to start somewhere. If you can get frostwood, each piece is worth 12 millénnis, a significant jump.

Well, alright, I’ll see if I can find some. — Kris replied, a little disappointed that all his effort had yielded so little. On the other hand, he felt accomplished for having done something. After eating three biscuits to recover a bit, he headed back to work. — I’ll see you in a bit.

When Kris returned to the forest, he ventured a little deeper. Before he could reach the prized frostwood tree, he spotted a bear trap nearby. Its presence signaled potential danger. His godmother had warned him about wild animals in the area, though he had yet to encounter any. Avoiding the tree, he cautiously scanned the surroundings. There didn’t seem to be any animals, but to be safe, he searched for another frostwood tree. Further south, he found one and began cutting it down with his axe. This tree was much harder than the others, requiring double the effort to bring down, split into log, and strip for fibers. Kris now understood why it was so valuable. It was the only frostwood tree he managed to harvest, taking about fifteen minutes to fell and process. The others were too well-protected by traps, indicating danger. Being young and unskilled, he had no combat training. If he encountered a wild animal like a bear or a large wolf, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

He collected a few more pines and firs and stumbled upon a bush of wild berries. He ate one or two and saved the rest for selling. By 10 a.m., he realized he needed to make at least one more trip. After delivering the materials to the square, he returned to Uller, collected more pines and firs, and then returned to the town. Upon arrival, he was a bit tired — not in peak condition but not entirely worn out. To his disappointment, nothing had been sold yet. Though tempted to comment, he kept his thoughts to himself. Patience was a skill he needed to master if he wanted to succeed in trading. He rested until noon, at which point he and Ethan closed and secured the stall to prevent theft before heading home.

When Kris arrived home, Hulda surprised him with a hearty meal: fish soup and fårikål — a lamb stew with cabbage and potatoes. For dessert, he had carrot cake. It was rare for him to have such a complete meal, but this was a special day, marking his transition from a boy to someone slightly more grown-up. The filling meal replenished the energy he had expended in the morning.

However, in the afternoon, Kris did not return to the forest. He stayed at the stall, helping Ethan and letting his body rest. When they arrived, they opened the stall and looked at their freshly acquired goods with a sense of pride, though they would have preferred if those goods had already turned into a few millénnis.

Kris tried to catch the attention of passersby. For hours, the only thing he noticed was a strange crow perched on a post with a lit torch, watching him intently. It caught his attention, but he figured it must be normal around there. Some time later, around 4 p.m., a tall man dressed in black wool and covered by a hood approached. His face was almost entirely shadowed and unrecognizable. He passed near the stall, glanced at Kris, and then turned to face him.

So it’s true. I heard you were here. — The man said.

Hello, it’s an honor to catch your attention. Would you be interested in our goods?

I’ll take the frostwood log, but that’s not the only reason I came, young man. — the stranger replied. Kris caught a glimpse of his shadowed face and noticed a graying beard, a missing eye covered by a patch, and brown hair. -You know, no one, or at least almost no one, knew your father as well as I did, young man. If you wish to learn more, you’ll need to prove your honor to me. I can’t stay here long; there are those who seek me. But I’ll leave you an envelope of great importance. Prepare for it, and a black bird will let me know.

Kris was astounded by what he had heard. A friend of his father? What could this envelope contain? It seemed true, judging by the small insignia on the man’s clothing, which resembled the emblem of his father’s guild. He then thought about the black bird — the crow — it could only be the same crow that had been watching him for hours. Kris decided to wait until he got home to open the large envelope. Its contents were a mystery, but he was eager to find out. Both he and Ethan were delighted by what had just happened.

-He actually bought it? We made our first sale?

-It looks like it! But more than that, this man has challenged me with the truth. I need to open this later and see what it holds. He hasn’t forgotten my father’s legacy.

Ethan, too, had noticed the symbol.

-Yes, and the emblem on his shirt suggests he might be telling the truth.

-So, how much did we earn? 120 millénnis? I think that’s not bad for our first day, though. — Kris noted.

-Not bad at all. I told you that tree would be worth it - Ethan replied.

Hours later, the stall closed due to the late hour. It was dark, but the sky was clear, allowing the stars to be seen in all their beauty. The two walked home happily. Kris had a more ordinary dinner — salmon with potatoes — but it was still delicious. After dinner, he picked up the envelope.

-What do you have there? — Hulda asked.

-I’m not sure. A mysterious man showed up and gave it to me. I don’t know what’s inside yet, but he said he knew my father,” Kris replied. Hulda smiled at him, as if she had some idea of what it might be. At the same time, she seemed a bit worried, though Kris couldn’t quite figure out why.

Kris opened the envelope and found three rusty, separated pieces. There was also a note containing just one sentence: “The first sword of the legendary Phillipp Storm.” It was his father’s sword, which had perhaps once been of great significance. Now, it was rusted and in pieces—only a skilled blacksmith could repair it, and it would likely cost a good sum.

-A sword? Godmother, could you tell me why my father used this? Was it for those cave monsters?

-I believe you’ll learn the answer soon enough. You just need to get it repaired. I wasn’t close to your father when he began his journey—only to your mother, whom he met much later. I’ve only heard a few stories about that weapon - Hulda replied.

-All right. I’ll get it fixed! - Kris said with determination.

Kris was thrilled with how the day had unfolded; things were improving, even as the day came to an end. He went to his room and carefully stored the sword. He tried to read a book to help him fall asleep faster, but he could hardly focus. His mind was filled with thoughts of what tomorrow might bring.