Geography Lesson

Rika threw a bosu into the dirt.

"So to begin this is Jeif’he."

After Leon told Rika he was from another world, she had agreed to teach him about this one.

"It is the Capital of the Revia kingdom, ruled by the Revelry Family, Celestine parents. Around it..."

Rika used a different bosu to carve a line Northeast to Northwest of the Jeif'he bosu before bending the line southwards.

"...is the Partition Mountains...."

Then along the west side off the line she he started hatching the ground.

"...then the Primeval Forest....

She then poked a few holes around the city. Some along the mountains and forest. And then a couple more to the south and west of Jeif'he.

"..lastly a few towns and villages. Each controlled by their own respective nobles who are in allegiance to the Revelry family. Revia is a big exporter of ore and lumber."

So we got a few locations along the Forest and Mountains. Then I guess these ones south west are mostly agriculture?

"The biggest import for us here is food. These are the farm villages here, but as a northern nation, food gets sparse during the winters."

When I first met Rika she did say I look well fed. I figured it meant food was harder to get here since I'm pretty average. Guess this confirms it then.

"So with my whole farm boy thing, I guess I should say I'm from another one of these villages?"

"If someone asks, just don't tell them. I'd rather you didn't lie."

"Didn't you just say I should keep my old life a secret?"

"Yeah. That's why I said don't tell them. You owe nothing to no one but me!"

Oh that's a slip. I see how you put the 'but me' in there.

Rika continued, her cheeks slightly red.

"The forest ends at the Black Sea...but the mountain range continues southeast."

She drew an oval at a 45 degree angle. Creating an upside"Y" shape between the mountain range and the lake.

Leon recognized the geography. It was the intersection of 3 tectonic plates.

I wasn't the best at geography but I know that when tectonic plates are pushed together they make mountain ranges. When they separate they make seas if there's water.... Sea, land then mountain.

"Hey Rika, this little corner here. It's a swamp right?"

Rika's eyebrows rose for a moment.

"Yeah, how do you know that? It's also the fallen kingdom of Ainamor, Valeria's home. I guess she told you?"

"Nah, actually I just put it together from what I remembered about geography."

"You said you were a scholar, right? So you studied to be a cartographer then?"

"Well no. I studied a lot of different subjects."

"Why?"

"Hmmm... Yeah that's a hard one to explain... Let's focus on this right now. That's Valeria's Home."

Rika studied him for a second before letting it go.

"Yeah. Those swamp lands once were a human kingdom before the head mage at the time turned Lich. He was then slain by his own creations, the first Vampires."

"Yeah I should ask Valeria more about that later.... What about all this empty space in-between."

"Well I was getting to that but you keep going off on tangents."

Rika then drew a line from the mid point of the sea Eastwards

"That's the border with the Gryph Empire and..."

Rike then continued the line sharp upwards before curving it inland to create a bay that connected to the mountain range in the north.

"This is the western coast... Then Crescent Bay, which touches the Northern Mountain range, and completes the Federation's border."

"Federation?"

"Yeah I was getting to that. Because of Nykthos, the Revia kingdom is in alliance with 4 other kingdoms. There used to be a 5th but Veyra fell last year. It was technically 'Saved' by the Empire, but really just conquered when the Empire came during a fight against the demons and integrated a losing Veyra into themselves."

Rika continued the west coast line southwest past the Empire's border.

"This is the Demonic territories. It's where Nykthos first appeared about a hundred years ago. He conquered those lands, declared himself the God of Darkness and has been at war with the rest of the world."

I'm lucky death put me so far away from that. No way I have any chance against a fallen Overseers. I leave that to the actual heroes.

"You should also know that before Nykthos, there was no Empire or Federation. Just a bunch of independent warring nations. And there are still a few such nations."

West of the bay Rika precisely carved 7 islands. The level of detail showing how much more familiar she was with them.

"This is the archipelago of stars. Each island is almost its own faction. But they have been at war with each other since forever really. It's also my old homeland but I've left that place behind... More importantly we need to fill out the Federation still"

She drew those so nicely but we're just going to gloss over it?!...I told Valeria I wouldn't question her about her past. Why would I be unfair to Rika?

"Whenever you're ready you can tell me about your home, but for now let's get back to the Federation."

"Are you being stupid Farm boy? I'm not telling you because it's not important right now. What do I care if you know or not!"

Despite her lashing out, her red cheeks gave her away.

"Now back to the Federation! If you interrupt me again I won't teach you anymore."

She threw 4 bous into the ground. Two were along Crescent Bay; one slightly northwest of Jeif'he and the other southwest. Another landed in the centre of the Federation. The last one landed south of Jeif'he, bordering the Sea, the Forest and Empire.

“The Northern coast is the Greenmere Kingdom. South of that is Asuhei. In the center is Metra'ku and then south of Revia is the kingdom of Zaxera. Each kingdom is self run by their respective Kings but being part of the Federation gives free trade...."

Rika perked up.

"How'd they get so close? They're going to think I lost my edge because of you, Farm boy."

“Huh?! Wait what's going on? Are the others back?"

"And with company. Go make yourself presentable, Farm boy. The last thing you want to do is make a bad 1st impression in front of the Royal family.”