//------------------------------// // Knowledge and a chance // Story: The Kindom Beneath the Mountain // by Sawtoothetherium //------------------------------// Luna woke to the sound of a fire crackling and looked to see Shade cooking over a woodstove. He looked at her and smiled gently. “I just got back and you’re already awake.” He said. “I’m a light sleeper.” She said sitting up. “Don’t move too fast,” He said, “Those injuries were only patched up this morning.” Luna moved slowly but deliberately when she rose from the bed. She walked over to him on shaky legs and sat next to the fire. Shade looked at her and saw the confused expression on her face. “You have questions.” He said to her. “Yes.” She replied. “Well ask them.” “I wish to know of your culture, formalities, traditions, laws, and expectations.” “Why?” “Because it looks as though I will be here for a while and the more I know the less trouble I will get in. At least in this case.” “Reasonable. We are mostly miners, blacksmiths, armorers, bladesmiths and masons in the lower class. Which is where you find yourself. The middle class is mostly soldiers and warriors from lowest rank to the middle ones. The upper class are the higher military ranks, engineers, alchemists, mages, scientists and royals. I am a bladesmith and armorer so I have a small amount of combat training if ever I am called for duty. The lower class can be called for military service, and when the fifteen years of service are over they are allowed to retire, same case for those honorably discharged. The upper class is only half military, the engineers and architects aren’t sent off to war as they are important for the city itself. The alchemists and scientists are the same case. The mages however can be sent off to war, if they can cast combat spells they are put on the fifth line back, typically behind a phalanx with archers behind them. If they are better at healing magic then combat or illusion magic they are dispatched as field medics if they are good at patch jobs, the more specialized are in the camp and take care of the more critically injured.” “So your culture is more about hard work of the body than anything.” “Not quite, our scientists are pretty much the same thing as alchemists except they are less taboo. They search for logical reasoning and new cures for diseases while alchemists are more traditional and simply look in one of their books for the cure to the ailment. In other words, the scientists study the ailment while the alchemists actually do something about it.” “I see,” Luna said while making sure to remember all of this. “In the case of formalities there aren’t many, at least not where you will be. Just try not to be offensive to anyone, they dont take insults lightly and will likely try to do you harm. There may however be an exception to this as you are new here and they will likely understand. Now what to expect here, we may be far north and underground but you will find that it is very hot here. There are three entire levels dedicated to forges alone, there are vents to take the smoke out so you wont have to worry about choking on the air you breathe. Also, dont be surprised if you hear voices echoing across the city, we are a very musical people, it isn’t uncommon for three different levels to be joined in the same song, in fact there have been several occasions when all sixty eight of them were joined in song.” “S-sixty eight?” “Well, the sixty eight that are always occupied. We have nine more dedicated to storage.” Luna remained silent, to shocked to speak. Luna snapped back to reality, “I would like to pull my weight around here once I have recovered enough to work. I will be stuck here for a while and there is nothing I hate more than being idle and useless.” Shade thought for a moment, “I can teach you my craft, it will take a while to learn but it can be done.” “You would do that?” Luna asked hopefully. “Yes, I would. I would need to speak with the forgemaster but he is a nice enough pony, I have no doubt that he will agree with and support your education into the craft, he may just tutor you himself on some occasions. I will speak with him tomorrow and see what can be arranged.” “Thank you.” “Of course, I hope you’re up to it, it can be physically taxing.” “If it means I’m not dead weight then I will see it through to the end.” “That’s the spirit.” Shade then rose and got two bowls and filled them with red soup. He began eating with his spoon and Luna did the same. It tasted of beets and onions with several other herbs mixed in. She liked it. “What kind of soup is this?” Luna asked. “It’s called, borscht. It is a common dish here, and the taste is so great that even the royals enjoy it despite how cheap it is to make it.” “Hmm,” Luna said nodding before returning to her bowl of food. They ate in silence for a few more minutes. Then Shade decided to ask a few questions of his own. “Who are the griffins? I have heard of them but I have never seen a griffin before and there are none in our kingdom.” He asked. “The griffins are a violent and greedy race, they are half lion and half eagle giving them a natural edge in a fight. They tend to eat fish but they can eat tougher meats just as easily. They set their sights on equestria when their own homeland became too barren, they were in a severe drought and simply decided to invade as tensions between us and them were already strained.” “Alright, what are ye exactly. You have the horn of a unicorn and the wings of a pegasus, I have never heard of such a thing.” “I am what would be called an alicorn. There are only four of us in existence that I know of, myself included. But please keep it between us, I dont want to draw a lot of attention.” Luna said. “I will keep your wings a secret,” He said after some thought. “Thank you,” Luna said again, she didn’t know how many times she would say that to him during her stay.