And how this day goes, could be the make or break of becoming Lieutenant.

To my duties, then.

This Northern Fortress, composed of the fortress itself, built on a hill, overlooks the town below it. From the fortress to the town-and the inverse also applies-everyone uses the switchback trail. There is another way of getting up and down the hill, but that's a story for another time.

The fortress was currently deep into the wintry season, and keeping warm was the priority. Whoever wasn't working as a merchant, guard, farmer or craftsman, they carried an axe of their own; whoever didn't have an axe of their own, they borrowed an axe for the day and saved funds for an axe of their own; those axmen and axewomen were outside cutting logs and timber to keep the town warm. But that newly fallen wood would be set aside to dry for the next winter; we already prepared this winter's wood last winter.

This is but one of the many regimens put in place for the Northern Fortress, and it's thanks to the hard work that Advisor Iago, Captain and Gunter put into here when they were stationed here to take care of me. It also took the time and trust of everyone else, allowing that to transform the Northern Fortress from its prison-like atmosphere, to one of order in both letter and in spirit.

However, it is not without its burdens.

The scribes and our officials have reported that our population has almost doubled from that of the last two winters, forcing the wood and lumber production to increase. This will have the workers operating further from the fortress, beyond what the people are used to doing. The Advisor has also been looking out for overseers from Windmire in the hopes to expand the town, but none have offered to assist, despite the "near-ideal conditions in this mountainous area" and being able to support well above our capacity.

But, even with the near-ideal conditions, trade with the major cities of Nohr has been rough, since they're experiencing similar, if not, even worse conditions that come with supporting more than ten times the people here. In the last meeting with the officials here, we considered having our merchants deal trade with our closest neighboring country, Hoshido, to reduce the costs that come with the distance from our countries.

We were currently at war with them; goods from the enemy? Contraband.

Even though the threat of those needs looms overhead, it was good that we were talking about them now. I have to thank Iago for making lessons such as these interesting and knowledgeable, and for Captain Hans' abilities in dealing with the people I indirectly have rule over, which comes with being a member of royalty. It's made the people here hard-working, happy, and strong.

The city was with activity, but not enough for my efforts to be noticed. To the walls.

…

"Officer, attention!"

The North Wall. Most of the guards here were partnered-experienced and newcomers-to help the latter with perception training to see whatever was going on outside of the walls. We call them Books, since they keep a track of what they see in little books.

"Rabbit! One-hundred paces!"

The new Book would call out their finds and point to it.

"Spotted."

The partner of the Book, an experienced Book, would confirm that find and point to it as well, and the finder would tally and mark the finding.

"Bird! Airborne, 20 meters!"

"Spotted."

"There's a cat! Erm…thirty paces!"

"Spotted. Well done."

Ah-there was an animal that no one managed to get. "Snow fox! Fifty paces!" I pointed to it and followed it.

The experienced Books looked in my pointed direction. "Spotted." "Spotted." "Spotted."

The new Books were surprised.

One of the experienced Books that spotted them, she called the nearby new Books together. "You see? Always make sure to keep an eye on your surroundings both far and near the walls."

"""Yes, ma'am!""" And they continued looking out.

She then thanked me for the opportune lesson, and reported that the new Books were doing well. Some of them should be ready to assist the other Walls, once all their pages were filled with what they found.

They take care of themselves.

…

"Sergeant Weiss!"

I was saluted. I saluted back. "Good morning."

The East Wall. Gunter's Wall. An experienced guard would be over this side, to the point of saluting higher officers out of rank and proximity. They would be minding the fields a few hours later as both them and the farmers checked on winter crops. Last I heard, it would be a week before we could see any harvests. I went over to one of the guards. "Guardsman?"

"Sergeant Weiss." He saluted. "Top of the hour, and all is well here."

This guardsman's other profession was a farmer, a second position that most of the guardsmen over the Northern Fortress have. "Have the seeds arrived from our last shipment?"

"Yes, ma'am. The grounds have been getting tougher to till as the winter continues, but the cabbages and potatoes are doing exceptionally well this year."

He was an archer as well. That reminds me, "Did you participate in that hunt a few moons ago?"

"Aye."

"How was that?"

"A very good event. The archers-in-training got in a few good shots. We'll be eating well for the following fortnights."

Ooh, Advisor Iago was hankering for some salted pork. This will be good news.

"That's all for now. Carry on."

"Yes, Sergeant." He saluted, and he was off.

I wonder, if Captain finds me worthy of being Lieutenant, and Gunter passes the role on me, what happens to Gunter after he retires? I'll find that out, sooner or later.

…

The South Wall. Captain's Wall.

Our forces were the strongest at the South and East Walls, since most of the axe men and workers were here felling trees and transporting logs. We have this group as a mixture of newcomers and experienced people, just like the North Wall. Our archers were stationed on the walls, while the rest were stationed at the base of the wall.

Nothing much to say. All was well.

…

The West Wall. The wall I was given command over.

This wall is the first to spot merchants and travelers coming up the only road to the Northern Fortress. My duties were to have two guards ride out to meet and accompany them. Once the party arrived, the accompanying guards would advise on how to handle the goods being brought in.

Between the South and West Walls, Captain likes the in-between the most, since the only road leading here can also be viewed from the South Wall. The road served another purpose, since it was the only road leading to Windmire, Capitol of Nohr. There also lies the Nohrian King Garon, my father. He stationed me here in the Northern Fortress to ensure that I would be trained and well-versed in Nohrian culture. I can't say too much about him, since I've only seen him once, about fifteen years ago, when he stationed me here. Him, along with Advisor Iago, Captain Hans and Lieutenant Gunter have all said that I come from royalty, but I feel that I would be better with just the people here, minding them, keeping them warm-I'm effectively running my Father's job in possibly a less-desired area, and doing a great job. Speaking of which, the road here could be improved, for the sake of the merchants and horses. I wonder if I could request-

SNOOORE*

Even the guard next to me heard that. He started waking his friend up.

"Wh-what? What!?"

"Guard!"

He rose to attention. "Y-yes, Sir! S-S-Sergeant!"

"All is well?"

He looked at me. "Yes, ma'am-all is well."

I looked at him carefully. I smiled. "I know you. You do mess duty."

"Yes, ma'am. I was asked to mind the walls for the morning."

He was still leaning on his lance. Maybe he was up earlier? "I'll take over this area. Head to the mess hall and help the chefs with preparing food for the workers."

"Yes ma'am. Thank you." And he was off.

He was seasoned, but he needed to get used to the hours. Guessing that he was trying to make a small name for himself. That, or support family members a little further than what we're already giving him.

Where that guardsman once stood, this was my position five years ago, even with my status as royalty. I got bored of being "locked away in a tower" for so long, that even Father doesn't know I'm doing this-well, at least to the extent that Captain, Gunter, Iago, and my brothers and sisters report to him. I think he'd be proud to know that I did that, and now this.

kon kon kon kon kon kon*

A warning bell, from the South Wall.

I turned to the other guardsmen. "Have someone take my place. Be ready."

"Yes, ma'am." And he was off.

…

The South Gate.

The loggers were running through the gate. I stopped one of the loggers. "What happened?"

"Monsters! From the forest!"

I patted him on the shoulder and he continued running. I joined with the guards and drew my sword out. Gunter was riding in with Hans. "Sergeant! What's the situation?"

"A logger said it was monsters coming from the woods."

"Monsters? One of our scouts told us it was a Hoshidan raiding party."

"Captain Hans!" One of the loggers went over to Captain. "This was thrown at me while I was running. I grabbed it to show to you."

I saw what the logger showed to Captain. A Hoshidan throwing star.

"Looks like it's Hoshidans. Steel yourselves, men! Keep to the wall! Sergeant, take a small force and see if you can work their numbers."

"Yes, sir!" I pointed to a priest, an axman, two spear carriers and a sword bearer. "You're all with me!"