The two left the city without stopping to sleep. All they wanted were the supplies, and that was it. It was not like the Snowheart family was that far from the city, so it was better to leave as early as possible, and sleep there and not inside a random tavern.

"Do you know the way?" Damian asked.

He had a map with the location marked on, and could see the general path to go there, but maybe Lucas knew a better one?

"Nah, I never went there, only when I was a kid. We also did not walk through this part," Lucas said as he stepped on the snow, his feet sinking in it.

Damian wasn't happy to go that way, and he could not use his flying ability near Lucas.

'This will take forever.'

The more they walked, the colder it got, with a harsh wind and snow falling from the sky. It was a good thing they had their fur cloaks, warming their bodies, but that was not enough if one stayed too much time outside.

Lucas even stopped for a moment, losing all of his stamina trying to walk through the deep snow, which was hindering his movements. Damian knew stopping there would only make things worse, so he grabbed Lucas, tossed him on his shoulder, and kept moving!

"I-I am sorry for this," Lucas said.

He was truly sorry about that. Lucas believed that if he was a little stronger, then Damian would not have to carry him along like a kid. It was a shame for someone who trained to become a knight.

"Don't worry about it. I think we are close to the castle, no?"

"Yes, we will arrive there in a few minutes!"

It almost felt like a dream to finally reach the castle after having to walk on that deep snow, and survive the cold environment. Only crazy people would walk outside for such a long period. A warm fire was needed, but Damian did not want to lose time, stopping to build campfires along the way.

Then, after walking a few more minutes — Damian still had Lucas on his shoulder — they saw it, a massive stone castle with high walls and towers.

There was a bridge to access it, and a frozen lake around the castle, like a pit. Two guards were standing on the front gate, and were surprised to see Damian and Lucas there.

One of the guards who was a little older stared at the blond youth, thinking for a few seconds.

"Lucas? Is that you?"

"Phill!"

"Hahaha, I remember when you were this size," Phill said, using his hand to mark the area around his knees, "Come, let's get inside. It is cold here."

Just like Damian expected, it would be way easier to enter the castle with Lucas by his side, but the guards still wanted to know who he was.

"This man traveled with me. He's called Damian, and he wants to become a guard here. I told him you needed a few."

"If you are Lucas' friend, then you are welcomed here! Come, let's get you two something to eat."

The guards led Damian and Lucas into the castle, where they were greeted by a warm fire and a delicious meal. A soup to be more precise, which was the best option in their situation.

As they ate, Damian looked around the castle in awe. It was even more impressive than he had imagined. The walls were thick and tall, and the towers were like giants reaching up to the sky. The castle was made of stone, and it was decorated with intricate carvings.historical

The snow covering some parts of it gave the place a different charm, especially with the moonlight shining on the roofs, making the place look magical!

Phill, the guard who knew Lucas, came to speak with them again.

"It is late so the Snowheart family is asleep, but you can speak with them tomorrow morning," Phill said, pointing at their empty bowls of soup, "Did you finish eating? If yes, then come with me."

They walked through the castle's corridors. It had many paintings, furniture, and fur carpets on the ground. Many fireplaces were scattered throughout the castle too!

What caught Damian's attention were the big windows, making it easy to see the starry sky and the snowflakes.

'This place is beautiful, and quiet as well. I would love to have a house in a similar place.' Damian thought.

"These are your rooms. The two are the same so it does not matter which one you choose. Don't worry about getting up early. You two must be tired after the trip. But remember to go to the main hall after waking up!" Phill said, leaving right afterward.

Lucas chose one room, and Damian the other, opening its door, and seeing how it was inside.

The room was small but cozy. The walls were made of stone, and the floor was covered in a thick fur rug. There was a single bed in the center of the room, and a small table next to it. A fireplace was built into one wall, and a fire was burning brightly, casting a warm glow over the room. There was a window on the opposite wall, and Damian could see the snow falling outside.

The room was sparsely furnished, but it was clean and tidy. Damian could tell that it had been recently cleaned, and the smell of fresh pine needles filled the air. Damian felt a sense of peace and tranquility as he looked around the room. He knew that he would be comfortable here.

Damian took off his cloak and hung it on a hook by the door. He then sat down on the bed and took a deep breath. He was tired, but he was also excited about the mission.

'I hope everything goes well with this. I need the money..'

Damian closed his eyes and fell asleep, recovering his energies for the guard test the following day.