The three of them set out from Sharia for the Sword Sanctum in the Far North.
Three days had passed since their departure.
Sharia was already far behind them, and they were gradually approaching the border of the Ranoa Kingdom.
The Northern Continent's climate was bitterly cold almost everywhere, and grew colder the farther north they went. The weather had been fairly normal when they first set out, but snow soon blanketed the land.
Snowflakes swirled through the air, settling on their cloaks and their horses' backs until a thin layer had accumulated.
Hilde pulled her hood tighter, her white breath quickly dispersing in the cold wind.
Mounted on her horse, she scanned the white woods on either side.
The trees were sparse, their branches bare and bent beneath the snow, looking utterly lifeless.
Snow covered the Northern Continent for three quarters of the year. Long-distance travel was impractical during that time, and even many merchant caravans avoided operating then. Only a few short months each year were suitable for trade, which was also why the Northern Continent's economy had always struggled to develop.
Of course, that difficulty in getting around only applied to ordinary people.
"No matter how many times I come here, I never get used to it. The Northern Continent's climate is just too different from the Asura Kingdom's."
Isolte sighed.
As someone born and raised in Asura, she had the hardest time adjusting.
"It's always like this on the Northern Continent this time of year. It'll get even colder as we head farther north," Nina remarked casually.
Hilde said nothing.
She took the Locator disguised as a staff from inside her cloak. The light at the tip of its magic stone still pointed steadily northwest.
They were traveling in a straight line in the direction indicated