[Chapter Size: 3800 Words.]
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Third Person POV
Arctic, 297 AC.
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"Do you know how Artica was built?" the professor asked everyone after things had settled down, as the students focused on the lesson again.
"I do, professor!" Lilka immediately raised her hand, eager to answer the question.
"Of course, you may answer," he said in a tone that was both calm and authoritative at the same time.
"Artica began through the journey of King Jon, who left the south and came directly to the north of the wall almost ten years ago. He arrived with a small group and started conquering many tribes with his ideas and promises of a land where everyone could live. However, many did not believe in him and dismissed his ideas. Even so, King Jon managed to grow his group into thousands after months of wandering north of the wall until he found the land we stand on today." She paused for a moment as everyone listened attentively.
"Thus, King Jon developed it from a small tribe into the great tribe of Artica, which later became the Kingdom of Artica. He began constructing the kingdom when the Grand Weirwood was about 15 or 20 meters tall," she said.
"Very well, that was the foundation of our nation," the professor said, still holding the book in his hands. As he proceeded to ask about some details, Lilka was able to answer calmly, being someone who had accumulated a great deal of knowledge.
"How does she know all this..." Dominique murmured beside Vlad.
"Everyone knows about this, you idiot," Vlad replied, mocking him.
"I know the story, but not these details. We learned about this at the beginning of university a few years ago, but I only remember the basic facts, not everything she's saying..." Dominique muttered.
After answering all the questions, the professor continued. "Now, can you tell us about the first resources that created this kingdom, as soon as King Jon I declared the great Kingdom of Artica?" he asked.
"The king used the blessing of the old gods to create a great farm that could feed the entire population. He strengthened the Grand Weirwood, allowing it to grow gradually. He created a forest to use its trees for building the first houses, ensuring food and shelter for the people first. Then he sought out the hidden peoples, such as dwarves and some giants, with the proposal of creating a home to protect them from the White Walkers and the hardships of the north. As more and more tribes arrived seeking refuge, the city began to take shape. That was the beginning. Should I continue, professor?" Lilka asked, with some pride in being the spokesperson.
"She knows everything," Dominique murmured beside her. Lilka just looked at him and stuck out her tongue.
"No need to continue; that is enough. What I wanted to highlight is how Artica developed internally, not just at the beginning, but how King Jon maintained this for six years," Professor Fyleu said.
"So, the king's journeys account for the first developments of Artica outwardly, don't they?" a student suddenly asked.
"You are correct, Svala. I know your father participated in the king's first expedition to the south. This marks the first step in the direction Artica is heading now," Fyleu said.
"I bet the professor wants to get to the part about the start of trade, which we are opening right now!" Vlad raised his hand, laughing.
"Exactly," the professor did not deny it.
"Are we talking about the reopening of the kingdom's monetary power?" Dominique couldn't help but ask, a bit tired, since this was all they had been discussing for months, trying to engrain it in everyone's mind.
"I'm not talking about monetary power, at least not directly, but rather that Artica is now using its resources to trade with outside kingdoms," the professor explained. "Today, we will discuss the current trade between kingdoms and what we are trading. After all, we need to instill in the young people of this kingdom the idea that they can become future merchants and start their own businesses. If a business idea is presented to the minister and the king, and they find it promising, they will provide support. That is why they want to cultivate promising young minds with ambition," he said, looking at all the students.
"But I plan to join the army!" Dominique complained.
"Even so, this is an introductory class. I am not asking you to specialize in this, only to explain it. Even if you take on another role in the kingdom, it is still important that everyone has this basic knowledge and a general understanding of the subject," the professor explained patiently.
"I would love to hear more about this!" Lilka said excitedly. The dream of traveling the world beyond the walls of Artica fascinated her. Maybe this lesson would give her an answer about what she could do after this year.
Vlad also found himself thinking about the subject. He was interested in seeing lands beyond Artica, but he still had no intention of becoming a merchant, as he felt that was not his true calling. Perhaps he would join the army along with Dominique and build a solid career—maybe even become a royal guard if a position became available. After all, everyone admired the royal guards, even more than the giants themselves. Despite the four-meter-tall men being stronger, the royal guards were highly respected and powerful.
However, the Royal Guard of Artica did not accept giants into their ranks, as the king required smaller soldiers capable of fulfilling more versatile roles—being able to follow him and his family closely and protect them. There was a group of royal guards being trained as "Wargs," elite warriors among them who could use animals to further enhance their strength in protecting the king. Vlad imagined himself being part of this, though he had never seriously considered the possibility—it was more of a desire.
The professor resumed the lesson and began explaining everything about the journey of the Artican king through Westeros and later in Essos, revealing surprising details, many of which were unknown to the students. He also spoke about the difficulties the king faced in establishing Artica.
"How dare they act that way toward Artica?!" some students exclaimed upon hearing about the events at the Citadel.
"Yes, the king had to make a decision and resolve the issue immediately. He had to go there and defeat all those who posed a threat to Artica, which created a diplomatic crisis with the Seven Kingdoms south of the Wall," the professor said firmly.
"Still, do those people from the Seven Kingdoms think they can fight against Artica?!" an outraged student commented. "They sent all those soldiers, and as far as we know, none of them survived!"
"Let's calm down," the professor intervened. "We will discuss conflicts at another time. Right now, we are only focusing on trade."
He then continued his explanation, moving on to Essos and beginning to talk about Yi-Ti.
"Incredible! So that's how Queen Hiyori became engaged to the king, after our King Jon saved her land?" a female voice spoke up, analyzing the events with a dreamy, romantic look.
The wedding of Queens Hiyori and Daenerys, the two new queens, had taken place a few moons ago and was a grand event for the entire kingdom. Since many still remembered the first queens' wedding, this one was a historic milestone for Artica.
Now, officially, Artica had one king, five queens, and four princes. Additionally, three of the queens were pregnant, with Hiyori, the princess of Yi-Ti, being the last to be declared carrying an heir. Her pregnancy was a surprise to everyone, as it had been discovered that she was sterile and could not bear children a few moons after the wedding.
Despite the woman's despair, King Jon had managed to cure her, and last moon, it was announced that she was also expecting a child. Even though the king had not made an official announcement, rumors spread quickly throughout the kingdom, which forced the royal guards to confirm the news and organize a formal statement.
"Well, let's continue," the professor said, returning to the lesson. He proceeded to discuss the War of Yi-Ti and the king's return to the kingdom.
"And when will the ships that sailed to the kingdom on the other side of the world return?" someone asked. After all, it had been several moons since a great fleet had departed, carrying an enormous amount of supplies for trade with Yi-Ti.
"I don't know exactly where they might be now," the professor replied. "But our last ships reported that they were on their way back. We received a message by eagle—since they can travel great distances across Essos—confirming that the mission to supply Queen Hiyori's homeland was a success and that they had already left their lands."
Half of the ships had departed on the first journey after the king's return to Yi-Ti. Meanwhile, the Minister of Trade was successfully forging trade agreements with the Summer Isles and other parts of Essos. The Minister of Economy, on the other hand, was representing the king in Braavos, negotiating new financial treaties and working alongside the other twelve keyholders.
Now, all that was left was to wait for the last shipment—more than two hundred ships returning from Yi-Ti. Meanwhile, Artica's ships continued to be sent out to resupply the cities that had trade contracts with the kingdom.
Trade was already happening, but rumors pointed to the creation of companies within Artica. That was why the professor was giving this lesson under direct orders from above, encouraging young people to consider this career path. After all, for the King of Artica, an entrepreneur was someone who found solutions for society and managed to offer their products or services to those willing to pay for them.
This was the mindset the king wanted to instill: to build a kingdom where people were free to create whatever they desired. He knew he could simply provide free food to the entire kingdom for the rest of his life, but that would not help the population develop. Furthermore, the future rulers of Artica would not have a prepared system to maintain stability if the people became entirely dependent on the king and his powers.
That was why the best course of action was to ensure that the people could stand on their own and not rely on the royal family's powers.
The lesson continued as the professor delved deeper into the topic. It didn't take long before midday finally arrived.
"Well, with that, we are done here. I hope to see you all tomorrow," Professor Fyleu said as the students began leaving the classroom. Many other classes were also emptying at that moment, as the bell for the lunch break had sounded.
"Ah, man, I was hoping the lesson wouldn't be so boring..." Dominique murmured as he sat in the university courtyard under a tree.
"Boring for who? I liked it!" Lilka joined her two friends, commenting as she fed her white owl something from her meal.
"You're against me too, my friend?" Dominique grumbled, looking at Vlad.
Vlad simply nodded, gently stroking Harpy's neck—his owl—while Dominique's dog lay at his owner's feet. Sitting on the grass, Dominique bit into a piece of bread, still complaining.
"It's nice to hear some things about the journeys," Vlad said.
"Tell me one soul who doesn't already know about that! Everyone has heard this story hundreds of times. The bards tell it all the time in every tavern in Artica!" Dominique complained.
"But we've never heard so many details before. For someone who enjoys this subject, it's interesting to learn these things," Lilka insisted. "And traveling the world, seeing new places—it's fascinating... It's a shame the professor couldn't tell us more about it," she murmured, her gaze dreamy.
"He was a student of the king. He could have gone on those journeys as well," Vlad commented.
After all, Professor Fyleu was one of the original scholars of the kingdom, having studied for years under King Jon I himself when he started his first class of masters and academics alongside Aemon.
"Well, anyway, are you two going to see the light show in the kingdom tonight?" Lilka changed the subject.
After all, that night there would be a grand event in Artica. Since morning, artisans had been installing crystals on posts throughout the city. It was said that these crystals would glow at night, absorbing solar energy during the day to keep the city permanently illuminated.
It was an impressive advancement. Artica would no longer depend solely on torches. The installation process was swift, as the dwarves, along with the humans, positioned the crystals throughout the morning. The inauguration was scheduled to take place near the "Hour of the Wolf," and the entire population of Artica had already organized themselves to gather in the main square. Everyone was eager to see the city shine like never before.
The king would not make an official announcement, as he reserved such addresses for events of greater importance, but a representative—possibly one of the ministers, or perhaps all of them—would explain how the crystals worked.
This announcement caught the attention of the three friends, as it had been made a week ago, and all their classmates would also be there with their families.
"Of course! But we should stick together. Maybe grab some honey bread and drink the dwarves' non-alcoholic mead?" Dominique suggested.
"Sounds good. We can meet there," Vlad nodded, agreeing with his friend.
"Deal, then! I'd also love to hear the bard Hodor. To me, he's the best in Artica!" Lilka said excitedly, and the others nodded in agreement with her.
At that moment, an adult approached them.
"Ah, so you're here, kids." A new voice emerged, and they all turned to the side, seeing Professor Maeron approaching. He had been responsible for teaching Geography of the Seven Kingdoms the previous year, as well as lessons on the Common Tongue and an introduction to trade and customs of other realms.
"Professor Maeron! It's good to see you again!" Dominique exclaimed enthusiastically.
Among the group, he was the one who liked the professor the most, as he loved hearing his stories about the time he spent in Dorne. After all, Professor Maeron was one of the scholars who had arrived in Artica during the king's first voyage nearly four years ago, helping with the literacy efforts of the kingdom's population. The professor also liked his students, which was why he had come over to greet them as soon as he saw them.
Professor Maeron came from the lands of House Vaith, located at the heart of the Dornish desert. Before coming to Artica, he had been seeking work as a scribe in Sunspear when he heard Prince Doran Martell's announcement and the proposal to follow other scholars to Artica.
"So, professor? Your contract will end in less than two years. Will you be returning to Dorne?" Dominique asked with a wide grin.
It was well known that the contracts of foreign professors in Artica lasted for five years. After that period, they could return to their homeland and receive generous compensation for their service. However, they were also offered Artican citizenship if they wished to remain in the kingdom, provided they did not break any laws and lived without causing trouble.
"My family lives in Dorne. I imagine they were quite shocked when they received my letter informing them that I was already on my way to the far north of the Seven Kingdoms by sea..." the professor commented with a thoughtful expression, recalling that time.
The opportunity to come to Artica had arisen very quickly, and he had not had time to notify his family before accepting it. He was part of the first fleet of fifty ships sent after King Jon's negotiations with Dorne.
Then he continued, "...And they were certainly even more saddened when they learned that I will not be returning to the kingdom." He admitted in the end, with a small smile.
Maeron had been astonished by the kingdom the moment he first saw it. He couldn't deny that he had felt a bit of fear before arriving, but the certainty that he would earn a great fortune from this opportunity had made him accept the offer to come to Artica.
Although he couldn't say with absolute certainty at the time, it had clearly been the best decision of his life. After all, he lived better than the lord of his family's lands himself. Here, he had quality food and drink, despite the intense cold. At first, it had been difficult to get used to it. Even though Artica maintained a relatively milder climate within its walls, it was still far colder than the desert he was accustomed to—but he adapted quickly.
On the harshest days, when not even the kingdom's natural defenses could hold back the extreme cold, there were methods to keep the population warm. Without realizing it, Maeron had formed a bond with Artica and its people, especially with the children he had taught over the years. The three young people before him were an example of that.
The law in Artica was firm and unbreakable. The kingdom did not tolerate spies or criminals. He had witnessed some of his colleagues being arrested in the early years after attempting to contact House Martell and pass on information about Artica. His closest colleague had been one of them.
At the time, Maeron had been afraid. But as the years passed, he realized he would never have any problems—he had never intended to be a spy for Dorne. Over time, he led a comfortable life and came to value even more the stability that Artica provided him. Now, he had no desire to give that up.
Even more so now that he was getting to know someone special. He had plans to start his own family in Artica and never return to the South. He knew that many other foreign professors shared this sentiment. After all, none of them would have the luxury and security they enjoyed here.
In Artica, there were no arrogant nobles demanding favors or absurd obligations. In the South, teachers were often forced to serve their lords and other nobles in tasks beyond their role. If they refused to obey, they often faced unpleasant fates.
Here, the law was fair to everyone. Any crime committed went through a legal process. Even criminals had the right to defend themselves in court. However, once their guilt was proven, the punishments were severe. No crime went unpunished, thanks to the kingdom's remarkable ability to uncover crimes and mysteries with the help of wargs. Animals were indispensable in noticing things that humans could not.
This magical ability had always made him somewhat uneasy at first. The idea of people controlling animals to spy on others seemed bizarre. But over time, it became just another one of Artica's many unique aspects.
"That's good, Professor Maeron! I'm sure this kingdom is better than any other in the South!" Dominique stated with conviction.
"You can be sure of that, boy. In any case, I must be going. And as for you... I believe your Arcane Knowledge class will begin soon."
The professor spoke formally, and the three understood the implicit meaning behind his words. It was a reminder that in the afternoon, they would have their arcane power or warg training—after all, Arcane Knowledge class, in other words, was Warg training.
As they finished eating the food provided free of charge by the university, they prepared for another joint lesson, this time with students from other classes. The other eight wargs from Vlad's class would also be there.
They then gathered sometime later in another classroom, where a teacher stood with a large eagle perched on a stand near the board. She began explaining some concepts about control and attunement with their animals, as they studied, asked her questions, and received exercises to practice.
"Professor, when will I get my second animal?" Dominique asked, almost demanding.
"I've told you before, Dominique," Professor Chylle responded patiently. "You still need to develop a little more. I know some of you were born with enough talent to bond with up to three animals at this age, but generally, until the age of twenty, wargs in Artica can only form a bond with their second animal. After that, it becomes easier. There are wargs in their thirties who already control twelve or more animals."
"But I saw that Princess Arya has an entire pack of giant wolves, and she's our age!" Dominique muttered, still dissatisfied.
"Yes, and she has the king's blood." The professor smirked slightly. "Sometimes, bloodlines make a difference. The king himself commands thousands of animals. You should know that he can control the entire kingdom through his powers."
The professor teased him lightly, and Dominique fell silent after that. The lesson continued with more teachings and practice.
No warg in Artica had King Jon's abilities. In addition to having thousands of bonds, he also did not lose awareness of his own body when using his gifts and could see in real time through all his animals. For any other warg, this would have been impossible, as such a massive amount of simultaneous information would have destroyed their mind. But the king was different.
As many claimed, he had been blessed by the old gods since his youth.
"That's it for today. You are dismissed. We'll return tomorrow. I hope you take good care of your bonds," the professor announced, concluding the class.
The students nodded, gathered their animals, and began leaving the room.
"Then we'll see each other tonight! I hope to see you at the square. Meet me near the honey bread stall!" Vlad said quickly, already starting to run.
The others nodded, confirming the meeting. This time, Vlad was not accompanied by Dominique, as he was not heading straight home. Instead, he was going to his father's workplace.
Raccoon Here: I didn't intend for this, but now that I see it, it does resemble Harry Potter a little. I just wanted to highlight some aspects of university education while also showing the city's development. I mainly did this because I plan to use Vlad in the future, during Loki's youth. After all, the eldest son will create a special squad of wargs within the royal guard for the kingdom.
I think now I'll switch perspectives. Let's talk about our blacksmith from the beginning of Jon's journey, since I haven't written about him since the early chapters or since the kingdom's foundation. After all, he will have his revenge in the southern war—for those who still remember him.
-------------Nexts Chapters ----------------
Chapter 233 - The She-Wolf of the North 03.
Chapter 238 - Destroying another Khalasar.
Chapter 248 - First contact.
Chapter 257 - The Blood Eagle.
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