The journey between Charchal and the Magical Academy would take at least several months.
During the first weeks, the caravan passed through several cities and villages, where those responsible for it bought food, changed the horses, and repaired the carriages several times. But as it continued, the number of settlements began to decrease, and the surroundings became wilder little by little.
After spending a week together in the same carriages, the candidates had formed a special bond. Fixed groups formed among them, and each of them was thrilled to learn who the people they could rely on were. They were also excited to find out who the people they should avoid were.
The Academy’s strict rule against bringing servants was one of the basic conditions for accepting nobles.
If every student brought servants, the Academy’s population would exceed several million, and that would disturb the experienced mages.
Charles was the son of a Golden Noble House under the authority of House Charlemagne. Thanks to the Wealth and power. his House possessed, he managed to gather several candidates into a temporary alliance.
Charles said loudly:
"Of course, we formed this alliance for that purpose!"
"We have already discussed the matter with the other groups. We will exchange positions with them so that the members of our alliance can occupy several nearby carriages. We have also received the approval of the leader of the escorts."
Charles continued:
"The male nobles will take turns guarding the carriages. Of course, we will only be assistants to the mage escorts. As for the beautiful ladies, the responsibilities for supplies and cleaning will be yours."
"There is no need to worry about defensive measures. We prepared in advance and even managed to obtain a low-level offensive magical artifact!"
The young members of the alliance began talking among themselves. After some discussion, most of them agreed to the plan.
"Fine, we agree!"
It was natural for Charles to lead the group. While everyone still agreed with his plan, despite the resentment of some nobles, Charles began assigning tasks to them.
The gathering continued after that, but it was clear that most of the enthusiasm that had filled the attendees had disappeared. Most of them were only accustomed to complaining and giving orders. Under Charlemagne’s authority, almost all the Houses operated in the same way.
People like Averitt and Robert were very rare exceptions.
Charles approached Noah while carrying a glass.
"So you are the son of the infamous Robert everyone is talking about. I wonder if you are interested in joining us," Charles asked with a smile that was neither bad nor good on his face.
Noah ignored Charles’s request before asking:
"Answer me first. Is it true that several candidates die every time a caravan crosses these Mountains ?"
"Of course, and not just a few of them. Sometimes the number exceeds half, and in the best cases, only one or two people die."
Charles shrugged.
"Otherwise, why would I spend all this money and effort and endure your complaints to create an alliance that will fall apart as soon as we reach the Academy?"
Noah smiled slightly.
"Hoo... Is the Academy not afraid of the anger of the Noble Houses after so many descendants die?"
Charles’s eyes shone.
"Hoo... Interesting. You are not a fool like the rest. I will simply ignore your question for now."
Charles sat on the chair facing the window beside Noah.
"Are you prepared to become my deputy? If I am not mistaken, you are from a Silver family. Although your father is a strong man who is difficult to provoke, his situation prevents him from intervening on your behalf. Would you like to become my assistant?"
Noah answered calmly:
"I am not interested."
"Fine, fine. Then let us at least help each other if we are attacked. According to my information, the escort group will not intervene. Although most members of the escort group are semi-official members of the Academy, they remain people of mixed blood and probably hold a hidden grudge toward the nobles of Charlemagne. If the Academy had not accepted them, they would have remained our dogs. Unless we face the danger of complete annihilation, they most likely will not intervene."
Noah calmly organized his thoughts before agreeing to Charles’s request.
Noah’s acceptance of Charles’s request was not a hasty decision. He made it after careful thought.
He did not know much about the dangers hidden inside the mountains, so cooperating with others was a suitable choice. But he did not consider himself one of them and was not interested in forming a friendship with Charles. To him, the alliance was merely another way to increase his chances of survival.
The cold wind rushed toward the caravan and struck their faces like knife blades. With every breath, Noah could smell the grass spread across the Mountains .
Fifteen days had passed since they entered the Mountains of Death.
Noah looked at the carriages behind him and saw the marks of damage remaining on their wooden frames.
One of the carriage boards was smashed inward, and deep cracks spread across it as if a massive hammer had struck it several times.
The marks had been left by a group of ogres that attacked the caravan shortly after it entered the Mountains .
An ogre was a low-grade magical beast. Although it was slightly weaker than most other magical beasts within the same grade, its physical strength surpassed that of knights. The guns of ordinary soldiers could not easily pierce its skin.
Although the mage escorts of mixed blood managed to repel the attack, the ogres nearly overturned some of the carriages and destroyed parts of them. No one died in that clash, but it left a deep impression on all the candidates.
Since then, none of them had dared to sleep outside the carriages.
But that did not prevent casualties.
Despite the presence of guards, the candidates sometimes had to leave the carriages to relieve themselves. In a place filled with dangers like the Mountains of Death, moving only a few steps away from the caravan was enough to be exposed to death.
One of the young men died after a snake bit him while he was relieving himself. The sight was horrifying.
The poison spread rapidly through his body and reached his brain before anyone could help him. Even the noble mages supervising the caravan could only watch him die, and they did not even care.
After witnessing those things, Noah realized that the life of a noble could sometimes be cheap in the eyes of another noble.