Mizan winced, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, yeah," he admitted. "It crossed my mind. You showed up out of nowhere, seemed a bit too skilled for someone wandering aimlessly, and didn't know anything about the Brightmoon Empire. It was suspicious."
Ark raised an eyebrow. "What about The Ashcore Empire?"
Mizan said grimly. "The Ashcore Empire is our sworn enemy. The western borders of the Brightmoon Empire are practically at war all the time. Skirmishes, full-blown battles, even outright wars—our empires have been fighting for generations. It's been going on so long that the western region has become more of a military outpost than anything else."
He sighed, drawing a smaller box within the territory of The Brightmoon empire inside the rectangle. "The western region's economy is a mess. The nobles don't invest in it because of how unstable it is. The military handles almost everything there—governing, guarding, even maintaining order. Over time, it turned into one massive barracks for the empire's army."
Ark crossed his arms, his expression contemplative. "Why so much dispute?"
Mizan hesitated before answering. "The Ashcore Empire is strong. Militaristic, aggressive, and relentless. Their territory spans vast deserts and volcanic lands to the west, so they've always been a bit tougher than us. The way I see it, they've been conditioned by their environment to fight for what they want—and they want a lot."
Ark's eyes narrowed slightly as he absorbed this information without saying anything.
Mizan continued pointing to the bottom of the rectangle, drawing additional marks to expand his explanation. "Further to the south beyond the southern lands of the two great empires, there's the Kingdom Alliance. Four kingdoms joined forces to resist any external threats. Alone, they're weak, but together they've managed to hold their ground. Their biggest concern isn't the Brightmoon Empire—it's Ashcore. Unlike Brightmoon, which is relatively peaceful, Ashcore thrives on conflict. They're violent, aggressive, and always looking for reasons to expand their territory."
Ark nodded thoughtfully, processing the information. "So the alliance is a survival tactic," he mused.
"Exactly," Mizan confirmed. "If they weren't united, they'd have been conquered by Ashcore long ago."
Mizan then shifted his attention to the bottom right corner of his drawing, just outside the rectangle. He added a cluster of dots and circled them. "Southeast of Alvorn lies the Goldtide Archipelago. The Islands of Wealth and Prosperity." He smirked slightly, clearly impressed by the reputation of the place. "It's a trading hub—home to some of the richest and most powerful merchant groups and trading unions. They've built their own fleets and even hired warriors and mages to form private armies."
Ark's interest piqued. "Hoh, Private armies you say?"
Mizan nodded. "As they say, wealth attracts danger. Bandits, pirates, rival merchants—competition is fierce. The merchants of the Goldtide Archipelago aren't just traders; they're powerhouses. Their influence stretches far beyond these islands. Their fleets connect trading routes with the southern and southwestern continents, making them essential to the entire region."
He tapped the drawing again, specifically pointing to the Brightmoon Empire's coastline. "The Goldtide Archipelago is part of the reason the Brightmoon Empire is more prosperous than Ashcore. Our coastline is closer to the islands, so trade flows faster and more efficiently to us than to them. The Golden Divine Merchants Group, one of the wealthiest trading syndicates active in the eastern region, hails from the archipelago. Their goods, connections, and resources have bolstered our economy for many years."
Ark remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the drawing as if committing it to memory. His expression gave nothing away, but Mizan could tell he was contemplating something.
Finally, Ark straightened, brushing dirt off his knees. "You've painted quite the picture, Mizan. This world… it's intriguing. I have a slightly clearer idea of how to plan our journey now."
Mizan stood as well, hesitating before asking in a careful tone, "S-Senior Ark, is there something specific you're seeking?"
Ark chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "For now? I'm seeking to eat some griffin meat."
Mizan nearly stumbled, his face a mix of disbelief and alarm. "Eat?!" He let out an awkward laugh. "Senior Ark, your jokes are... something else." Then, as if needing reassurance that such absurdity was indeed a jest, he cautiously added, "You're joking, right?"
Ark's chuckle deepened, but his gaze softened. "Mizan, don't trouble yourself with unnecessary thoughts. Focus instead on your purpose—train your body, strengthen your resolve." His voice grew solemn, his words carrying an undeniable weight. "If you truly wish to grow strong, you must abandon your fear of appearances, of the legends and tales others shape to impose limits on themselves. Remember this: true strength is forged in the heart."
He paused, his eyes locking with Mizan's, his voice firm yet encouraging. "You could wield the deadliest weapon or harness the mightiest power, but if fear binds your heart, you will never truly command it. The strength you seek begins and ends within you."
Mizan listened in silence, his chest tightening as Ark's words struck a chord deep within him. The wisdom of the man in front of him didn't just echo in his ears; it carved its way into his soul.
Ark glanced at the sky, noting the sun dipping lower on the horizon. "If you've rested enough, we should keep moving. We'll need to find something to eat before nightfall."
Mizan groaned, his legs still aching from their earlier trek. Ark smirked, ignoring the boy's difficulties, already turning to lead the way deeper into the forest. Mizan sighed, hauling his leather backpack over one shoulder and trudging after him.
"Let's hope dinner doesn't try to eat us first," Mizan muttered, his eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement. The Everdusk Forest, though quiet for now, was known for its unpredictable dangers. Yet, as they ventured further, the weight of their journey and the knowledge they shared seemed to settle into an unspoken understanding between the two. There was much more to discover—both about the world and about each other.