”I didn’t expect you to have a cart, Baudric. How far is the town?” Florian asked while inspecting the cart. It was plain with four wheels and looked just as weathered as Baudric himself. The back seemed to be filled with barrels, a coffer, and some bits and bobs. Without further hesitation, Florian jumped up into the open seat next to the drivers'.

“It shouldn’t be too far, a couple of hours at most,” Baudric answered. He then put the bow he’d used to kill the Ghoul in the cart and climbed up in the driver’s seat. The scruffy man took the reins, and with a sharp whistle, the cart slowly began moving forward.

Florian noticed there had been a serious expression on Baudrics’ face ever since Florian told him about his lost memories. “Why’s he so sullen about it? I’m the one who’s lost my memories,” he thought.

Florian looked at Baudric, realizing that it wasn’t until now he had a chance to get a good look at the man. He looked like he was in his 40’s or maybe even nearing his 50’s, with a scruffy beard matching his messy dark brown hair. His face proof that he’s been through a lot with clear traces of the wind from the road biting into his skin over the years. There was also a defined tan, likely from too much exposure to the sun. Unlike his weathered, rough appearance, the man’s gray eyes were lively and friendly while seemingly holding a depth you would not expect from a man who’s by all accounts, plying his trade on the road.

“By the way, how did you find me in the field? The others seemed to have been dead for quite a while. What were you doing there?” After speaking, Florian looked at Baudric to see how he’d respond to the probing question.

Baudric, who’d been looking at the road, turned his head and stared intensely at Florian. “I should be asking you the same question. That skirmish ended several days ago and you’re saying you woke up just now? That makes absolutely no sense.” Baudric paused a bit before continuing. “As an answer to your question, I heard someone screaming and I thought I’d help,” Baudric said and shrugged.

Florian sat in silence, trying to piece his thoughts together. What was he doing there? By all accounts, he must have been part of the battle but… for whom and why? This time, it was Florian who was lost in thought and he could feel Baudric observing him. “I agree that it makes no sense, but it’s the truth,” Florian spoke with a sincere tone. “I woke up in the middle of the field with this,” Florian pointed at the gaping hole in his jerkin. “but I somehow seem to be perfectly fine, and the way I was able to defeat those ghouls felt... odd.” Florian paused and looked at the road in front. “Logically, I must have been part of the fight but I can’t remember for who, where this is, or even where I come from.” Florian sighed and gave away a look of uneasiness.

“Spartalia,” Baudric said firmly. “That jerkin bears the symbol of Spartalia - which is odd as you claim to own a Hansan name.” The firm tone now carried a hint of curiosity. Florian looked down at his jerkin and it indeed bore a symbol on his chest. The symbol depicted a clenched fist with a gladius in front of it, both pointing upwards. “How does a Hansan end up in the Spartalian army, I wonder?” Baudric pondered. However, as it didn’t seem like the man expected an answer, Florian didn’t respond and let the man continue. “As for where we are, I can tell you that we are quite close to the northern coast of Dutnovia.” Baudric paused and took a sip from his waterskin that Florian realized, as he now sat close, gave off a strong smell of wine. “That means you’re deep in enemy territory, lad. I have a spare shirt in the back - you should get changed before we reach town unless you want a spear in your throat.”

Florian didn’t say anything. He removed his jerkin without further thought and threw it on the wayside before climbing into the back of the open cart. “In the coffer,” Baudric said before Florian could ask. Florian quickly found the coffer, opened it, and grabbed the white linen shirt laying there. While the shirt was on the larger side and a bit rough to the touch, as linen can be, it looked comfortable and should fit him decently. Florian put the shirt on and moved back to his seat.

“If I’m deep in enemy territory, why are you helping me?” Florian could have avoided the topic but, after a brief moment of contemplation, he concluded that the smartest course of action would be to directly ask the stranger about his intentions. Depending on the man's answer, he could either choose to fight or leave - at least it would be better than getting stabbed in the back after entering the town.

The man suddenly let out a hearty laugh and smiled at Florian. “Good question, lad. I was born in Dutnovia, a few days' ride from here to be honest. However, I gave up on this country and its crooked rulers a long time ago. ” Florian didn’t quite understand what was funny about what the man had just said, but he smiled back and let him continue. “I used to be a soldier like you, then I took an arrow in the knee…” The mans’ words trailed off slightly and for a brief moment, there was a crestfallen look in his eyes. “Now I travel between Hansa and Dutnovia selling honey wine. It’s as good as life as any but I do miss the excitement of throwing myself headfirst into battle.” Baudric spoke warmly and the once crestfallen look now replaced by sincerity.

“Hansa and Dutnovia... You’ve been mentioning those names a couple of times now and I’m guessing they are countries, but what else can you tell me?” Florian had been trying to deduce what the names meant ever since they were first mentioned by Baudric, but Florian lost patience in the end and knew he might as well just ask the man instead. Baudric did look a bit surprised by the question that for him and any man on the continent would have an obvious answer, but he didn’t make much of a fuss and ended up giving Florian a thorough explanation of the continent.

Baudric began by telling Florian that the names he’d mentioned are all countries part of a massive continent named Gaia.

Hansa, or The Hansa Federation to be precise, is a small but prosperous country in the north, placed neatly in between the two massive nations of Dutnovia to the west and Spartalia to the east. Further north of Hansa you can find the island nations of the Jinchuu Shogunate and Ymrlands. The Hansa Federation, known for its trade, is run by a conglomerate of traders and seen as a neutral, or even free, country where allegiance doesn’t matter as long as you don’t break its laws.

The Republic of Dutnovia, the territory they were currently in, is a massive country in the west and one of the powerhouses on the continent. Most Dutnovians like to enjoy the finer things in life like food and drink, and they usually pride themselves on the level of sophistication in their country. The ruling system is called democracy, led by several rulers Baudric referred to with clear distaste as politicians. Florian made a mental note to ask Baudric more about this later. The rulers never officially stated it as such but nobles were apparently prominent throughout the country with the people heavily divided into different classes based on their wealth. It was not uncommon for the Republic of Dutnovia to paint itself as the future savior of the continent which in turn led to a strong sense to the people building up a strong sense of patriotism.

The Spartalian Empire, the side Florian supposedly had fought for, is a technologically advanced, military powerhouse led by a supreme ruler titled Caesar. Under the Caesar are countless local warlords, each with their own territory and armies supplied by their ruler as boons after prominent performances during military victories. In Spartalia, strength solely determines how you fare in life and while the local warlords own land, the same laws apply to all. Every being, warlord or not, answers equally to the Caesar in the end.

Florian could feel a sense of admiration coming from Baudric as the man spoke about Spartalia with great enthusiasm. Florian thought it to be a bit strange as the countries had apparently been in a long-standing conflict for more than a century and Baudric claimed to be Dutnovian. Thus, Florian made another mental note to discuss this with the man at a later time.

In the far south, there is the Free Territory of Alza-Ales. The free territory, just as the name suggests, is a free country consisting mostly, but not exclusively, of non- and half-humans. The sandy steppe nation welcomes all beings no matter if they are convicted felons, refugees, or immigrants from other nations. Unlike the other nations, tribes govern their own separate territories with one Supreme Matriarch to watch over them all from their holy capital of Karash.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

As for the island nations in the north, the Jinchuu Shogunate is one shrouded in mystery - but stories tell of powerful warriors, armed with blades that can cut through steel as if it was paper, that roam the continent.

The Ymrlands on the other hand is known to be an alliance of seafaring nations filled with savage warriors. Coastal villages in the northeast tell stories of ruthless men and women raiding villages for riches while capturing, torturing, and raping the ones unable to fend for themselves- or simply unlucky enough not to escape. Wherever they go, smoke and destruction follow.

Lastly, in the absolute center of the continent bordering the four mainland nations is the lawless territory branded The Wilds - an uncivilized and dangerous area filled with terrifying beasts, goblins, and other nasty creatures.

Lured by stories of treasures and ruins of an ancient civilization, brave adventurers venture from all over the continent into the massive territory. Many never return.

Listening to Baudric talk for hours about the continent and its ins and outs somehow felt soothing for Florian. The carriage had been moving slowly, and despite Florian being interested in what Baudric had to say, he’d only listened with one ear at the end as he was taken aback by the scene in front of him.

The road had been undulating for a while and when the cart reached the top of a hill, the setting sun was showcasing the land was laying before him in all its glory with golden rays of light. It was truly beautiful. Looking north, Florian could see the outline of massive mountains casting long shadows to the east. Lush, green trees had surrounded them for most of the trip which meant that the sudden change of scenery with wild grass and golden fields of wheat for as long as his eyes could see, was absolutely stunning.

Florian spotted the town Baudric had mentioned at the foot of the hill and after a closer look, he decided that calling it a town made it a disservice. Calling it a bustling city would be far more appropriate. Just like the endless fields of wild grass and wheat, the city - surrounded by massive walls - stretched far and wide. In the middle, as if the city had been built solely around it, he could see a massive tower reaching towards the heavens with flying contraptions around it. At the peak, it looked as if the air was distorted, slowly swirling around while changing colors in a mesmerizing fashion. It was an amazing sight and Florian wished he could see it up close.

Baudric had been right. They were going to reach the city by nightfall and while Florian didn’t know what to expect when they arrived, he felt a longing for a warm bed and a hearty meal.

When they’d almost arrived at the massive city gate, Baudric who’d been talking non-stop during the ride about more lighthearted matters, suddenly turned to Florian and changed the subject. “When we arrive at the gate you’ll let me do the talking. While they have no reason to suspect you, Dutnovia is still at war with Spartalia,” Baudric had a stern look in his eyes.

“It’s fine to use your regular name as they won’t be suspicious about a Hansan. When they ask about your business in the city, I’ll say that you’re a merchant apprentice of mine. Play along and we’ll be fine.” Florian nodded in confirmation. He tried his best to hide the fact a feeling of anxiety was building up within, but he wasn’t sure if he actually succeeded. Even if it showed it didn’t bother Baudric who simply nodded back without a word, then he turned to look at the road.

After Baudric’s warning, Florian expected trouble at the gate. He was after all, according to the man next to him, deep behind enemy lines. As they got closer to the gate, however, Baudric removed a yellowed piece of paper. Despite sitting right next to him it was difficult to read what the paper said in detail, but Florian could at least make out the words “City Pass” written with black ink.

Then they were in and Florian could barely believe it. The disinterested city guards had barely asked any questions and he even got the sense that there was some kind of connection between them and Baudric, but he certainly wasn’t going to complain.

It didn’t really make Florian wary of Baudric but he felt there was definitely more to the older man than what meets the eye. The thought that he wasn’t yet sure if he was sitting next to a potentially powerful friend or foe did cross his mind, but he decided that it wasn’t something he needed to make a decision on at the time. “For now, I’ll just go with the flow and see where I end up. He’s hasn’t given me any reason not to trust him so far,” Florian concluded after weighing his options. After they’d passed the city gates they were met with a large wooden sign with the words: “Welcome to Cleowen, the Jewel of the North”

Before entering the city, Florian had taken the opportunity to go through what actual belongings he had with him. Apart from the massive sword he’d found on the battlefield, there wasn’t much to his person at the moment. However, he did find a small coin purse with a few coins hidden in his undergarments that, according to Baudric, would be enough for a couple of nights’ lodging with meals at a decent tavern. While he initially questioned how he’d come up with the brilliant idea of stashing his savings in his undergarments, he didn’t put much further thought into it and was simply happy by the fact that he at least wouldn’t starve.

Florian and Baudric had agreed on visiting a tavern as their first order of business when they arrived and as they entered the city, they wouldn’t have to look for long. They’d barely passed the sign welcoming them to Ceowlen before the bustling city began to show its true colors. The cobblestone road in front of them was filled with noisy taverns on both sides for at least a couple of hundred paces. In the streets, people were laughing and toasting to good times as if they didn’t have a care in the world. In the distance, he could hear a bard sing about epic tales of adventure. Florian then noticed how brightly the streets were lit. The sun had completely set before they entered the city but as they drove onto the bar street, Florian couldn’t help but feel dazzled by the warm light the lanterns gave away. He thought it was interesting that they didn’t seem to be lit by flame, but hunger had taken over his mind and that was currently the only thing occupying his mind.

“I know a great place I always visit when I come here,” Baudric spoke excitedly. They found an empty spot to park the cart and as they came to a halt, the man swiftly jumped off. “They serve some of the best roast pig I’ve ever had. Help me untie the horse and we’ll get going.”

Florian couldn’t help it but immediately after Baudric’s comment about the roasted pig, his mouth began to water profusely. Not the least bit strange, considering he couldn’t remember the last time he ate anything at all. At one point, he even thought that it might not be out of the question for him to eat a whole pig by himself.

While he knew he wouldn’t be able to, he chuckled a bit and answered his traveling companion. “You don’t have to tell me twice. Let’s go.”

Once again, Baudric had been right. The food was incredible. He felt an indescribable feeling of happiness as he munched on a piece of perfectly cooked pork. Not only was it juicy and tender, but it also had a hint of sweetness and wonderful smokiness to it. Florian didn’t know if it truly was the best thing he had ever tasted, but it sure felt like it as he devoured the food on his plate. To wash it down, he took a large swig of mead before leaning back into the chair and giving out a sigh of contentment.

“So, what are you going to do now?” Baudric was the first one to speak. He had looked in amusement at Florian from the moment the food had arrived at the table as the young man voraciously dug into his food. Jokingly Baudric had contemplated on reminding Florian to breathe at times, but the youngster had been fine in the end.

“What do you mean?” Florian looked quizzingly at Baudric while taking another swig of the mead in his hand. Baudric signaled to the barman for a refill on his wine before turning to Florian with a look of amusement on his face. “Well, as no one probably thinks you’re alive you don’t have to be in the military anymore. Unless you want to, of course. That means you can do whatever you want,” Baudric spoke while making a large circular motion with his arms. “You have no memory so why not try to see the world while you can?” Baudric then pointed at his knee.

“I suppose that’s the one he took an arrow to,” Florian thought and couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for Baudric who obviously wanted to spend his days doing something other than driving a cart. It was obvious how much the man wanted to be an adventurer and as he’s unable to due to his knee, he seemingly wants to push Florian into becoming one instead. Florian leaned his head back and looked at the ceiling while deliberating on what he should do.

“I understand that it’s a tough question. Take your time,” Baudric reassuringly told the youngster before quietly leaning back to enjoy his wine in silence.

After debating potential risks and rewards with himself for a few minutes, Florian finally felt confident enough in an answer. “The most logical course of action would probably be to go back to Spartalia. For all I know, I could have family waiting for me there that will be worried sick, or even worse, they might think I’m really dead. If I go there straight away, I doubt I’ll receive any punishment.

However, from what you’ve told me, it’s not unlikely that I’ll be immediately thrown into the army again which means I won’t be able to see them anyway. There’s also the possibility of me not having any family there at all which would definitely make it all for naught.

I’m basically damned if I do, and damned if I don’t.

In contrast to the most logical option of going back, the smartest course of action is probably to make the most out of the opportunity I’ve been given. Is traveling around the continent the right one? It might be, but I honestly don’t know... ” As his words trailed off after his long monologue, Florian did his best to stifle a yawn.

“I’ll have to sleep on it.”.