IV

Without a word he walked down the street, lost in his thoughts. The world passed him by, thoughts slowly drifting, he didn't react. They were like shadows.

The smell of perfume was spreading everywhere around him, a smell he knew too well.

Shop after shop followed, disappeared and appeared again. Students, from the Academy, carried large piles of books. Priests doing their own thing.

He walked by them, quietly. Near him, a strange man passed, in a robotic suit of armor with buttons that shinned.

He looked at the man under his eye and continued onward. Now, everyone was on the streets, it was nothing strange, it was the change of seasons.

A puddle here, a puddle there - they filled the gaps in the road and made new ones.

The quality of repairs was more than clear, a man didn't need too many signs. Everything suggested the same - modern times.

Modern style of life and the lack resources - made one thing clear - a time of change is coming. Big change. Deep down everyone knew it to be true, but they didn't know why.

The tall tower touched the clouds. Compared to her, the moss-covered wall was small, but compared to a six and half feet tall man, he was large. John was half an inch taller than that comparison man. A few moths and he will be twenty-six years old. Now was the time to make a stand. The tower at the same time was the tallest tower in surrounding area.

Maybe father has finished with the agreement, he thought, it's best for me to wait a bit more.

He rested on a nearby bench. Time slowly passed, until his father appeared. A handsome man once, now, a man with constant worry on his face.

"If everything goes well," he started, "maybe, this year will be different."

"How?" John asked.

"You have heard of the Archipelago Sea?"

"I have."

"And do you know this, with the current situation they hold almost two-thirds of the production and distribution of spices, furs and leather."

"We are interested in spice part."

"No, as of today we are interested in everything. There is a large profit to be made. We don't want to lose it."

"I understand."

" I know you will, that's why I'm sending you to make the agreement with them." the father sounded more than serious.

"Me," John started, "but why?"

"Do you remember the first thing I told you to learn?"

"Yes. If you want to take over the family business…"

"...be prepared to do anything and be prepared for anything."

Silence.

"That's why I'm sending you. You can do it."

"I hope…"

"There are other way for us to succeed."

"What ways?"

"You are familiar with the most of them. But are you familiar with this one?"

His hand searched for something in one of the many pockets of his coat. After some time, he removed his hand, in it he held something that looked like parchment.

John didn't know what it could be.

The father's hand opened the parchment.

John's heart stopped. Now, he knew what it was. An arranged marriage signed by the duke himself, Lorenzo was his name and something after that- John couldn't read that.

"I heard you wanted to find your own wife, if you succeed you can, but if you fail, your signature will be here, right above the signature of Lady Henrietta Elena Yarwyck."

John was silent. Lady Elena was a prize to be sought after, everything would be perfect for him. She already loves him, but his heart belongs to someone else. To Hilda… Maybe after some time the spark of love for Hilda would fade out and a new one will shine bright. Deep down, he hoped to finally have a chance, if the rumors about Damon were true. He hoped that they were. More than anything else. More than anything.

This was his chance for success. He will give his all.

The Northern Roads are hard to travel. But, he didn't know that.

Nobody knew that.