The southern border, the city of mountain cherry blossoms.
Night has fallen, but this small town has not fallen into darkness. The orange lights have dispersed the night and are scattered on both sides of the street. Every household is colorful and hazy.
After a day's work, local residents will go out for a walk with their families after dinner. The cool breeze from the mountains blows in, bringing a comfortable touch.
Although war broke out within the empire, those things happened in a far away land. Now the southern border has been at peace for three years. The development of various industries and local construction have improved the lives of residents step by step. Everyone has gradually become accustomed to such peace and tranquility.
life.
Perhaps the only difference is that the city's workshops have received more orders recently, and the workers have also received a lot of bonus wages.
When the clock on the clock tower struck seven times, it meant that it was already seven o'clock in the evening, and the streets gradually became lively. Vendors were selling various products, and chambers of commerce were also doing promotions. Applause and cheers could be heard from time to time.
Walking out of the mansion where she usually works, Lorraine Hill also walked into the slightly lively market. Of course, she also made a small cover up, her hair color changed to black, her eyes turned to light red, and then used Tidais
The pendant given to her slightly blurs her face and makes it less conspicuous.
Only in this way can you go shopping with peace of mind and relaxation.
Since becoming a high-ranking committee member of the 'Fairy Wood', her image has gradually become known to everyone. If she didn't hide it, she would probably be surrounded by various people while walking.
Even though I am no longer as restrained as before, I still feel uncomfortable under such gaze.
She just wanted to relax occasionally and see what new changes were happening in the small town.
Tonight, Lorraine Hill is wearing a light red skirt. The skirt is superimposed with two layers of pure white pleats. The cuffs and collar also have white lace and lining, so that it does not look too thin.
.
In order to cover up her figure, the girl also put on a maroon loose coat, which made this combination look a little strange.
However, Lorraine Hill's beautiful appearance often makes people ignore such a strange combination, and they only feel that she is a somewhat cute and unconventional girl.
Crossing the grid on the ground with light steps, Lorraine Hill opened his palms and felt the night wind blowing through his fingertips.
After walking through an administrative area with fewer pedestrians, she turned two streets and gradually came to a more crowded area.
A sparse and noisy voice gradually became clear in the orange halo.
"Pine wood grilled mackerel~delicious and delicious~" the vendors shouted plainly, and the smell of barbecue came, which made people excited.
"Yingmu Tool Shop has all the daily necessities you need. Axes, saws, farm tools, and wooden ladders. Grab these and build your own small home."
"Oriental black tea, South China Sea coffee, Northern Juqingye, if you want to have a wonderful afternoon and night, come and drink some to relieve fatigue, calm the nerves and feel comfortable." The bearded businessman piled several bags on the street.
, the opening is opened, revealing the fragrant goods inside.
"Sanli honeycomb stove, spiral air cooler, double-layer frost box, hand-cranked repeating crossbow, and four-crystal wing alchemy workshop are here to provide you with services."
"Transparent mandrake potion, orange heart-breaking potion, if you are ready to embark on the extraordinary path, come here."
A wizard with a big black hat stood in a corner of the street. He held his hands down in front of his body, and the gorgeous magic light sand was flying in it. Such a performance or show off attracted countless passers-by to stop and watch. The magic light sand flickering and dancing in the dark night is mesmerizing.
Its faint halo illuminates the face, and the brilliance is reflected in the pupils, triggering the infinite reverie in the heart about the extraordinary world.
"Mom, I want it." In the crowd, a child held her mother's hand and pointed at the gorgeous light sand, her eyes full of hope.
Looking at the child's envious look, the mother touched his head and said: "Okay, but we have to wait until you are a few years older. Your body is not yet developed and it is not suitable yet."
The people around me listened, and some showed kind smiles. Some of them had already learned in the school of the 'Fairy Wood' organization that if you want to become a transcendent, knowledge and skills are essential, because building a transcendent core It is a delicate and complex process.
In addition, in the early stage, due to different personal physiques, some people can perceive Mana faster, while others will be very obscure and need the assistance of pharmaceuticals. Some extraordinary pharmaceuticals also have the effect of accelerating the initial transformation of Mana.
The two potions sold by this wizard are for beginners' auxiliary use and are relatively common in the southern region.
Mandrake can be found in the dark and humid forests of the Southern Realm where Mana is depressed, while Orange Scale Fruit is an extraordinary fruit that grows next to the red dragon's lair.
These two materials are mainly used, and other means are used to extract the essence, remove impurities, and finally add a neutralizing agent to dilute it, so that the medicinal effect becomes milder and the storage time is longer.
The translucent mandrake potion is used by ordinary people to sense mana, and the orange heart-breaking potion is used by beginners to convert mana into magic power. These two potions are two formulas that novice alchemists must learn, and they will also use them themselves. of.
Lorraine Hill stood in the crowd and watched this scene with some curiosity.
She only heard about this potion in the Southern Territory. When she was in school, everyone initially learned to refine the Blue Tempering Spirit Potion and the Cold Condensation Transformation Potion. These two potions have the same effects as those sold by wizards today. It's almost the same, except that most of its materials are produced in the Sighing Mountains, so it's more convenient.
Every place has its own characteristics. Lorraine Hill changed his mind, then slowly withdrew and continued to wander around the street.
Because he hadn't eaten yet, Lorraine Hill hesitated for two seconds and decided to buy a grilled fish to reward himself.
She walked up to the stall and looked at the smoke and aroma of grilled fish on the charcoal fire. She blinked and picked out a slightly larger one that was grilled just right.
She raised her sleeves and pointed her finger at the one she had chosen.
"How much does this cost?"
The vendor looked at the customer asking, skillfully picked up the wooden skewer for grilling fish, then thoughtfully wrapped the wooden handle with paper and handed it to the girl.
"6 copper coins."
"Hmm." Lorraine Hill took out the copper coins from his coat pocket with one hand and handed them to the vendor, then took the grilled fish with the other hand.
"Okay." The vendor smiled and continued the introduction.
"I usually open my stall from 6 to 9 pm at night. If customers like it, they can come often."
"Yeah." Lorraine Hill nodded, then took the grilled fish and ate it while walking.
This grilled fish uses a kind of loach from the nearby river. Its meat is similar to loach, very smooth and tender, and has no small bones, so it is very popular among everyone, although this kind of fish is generally not very big.
The numbness of Sichuan peppercorns, the delicious flavor brought by the salt grains, and the aroma of cumin are mixed with the hot fish meat. When the fish is torn open, a faint white air is revealed, and together they twine around the tip of the tongue, and a different kind of comfort arises in the heart.
No wonder this guy's business is so good, he seems to have a few tricks up his sleeve.
Lorraine Hill ate the grilled fish in small bites, occasionally sticking out his tongue because of the spicy taste and breathing in the night air to relieve the feeling on his tongue.
Overly strong perception can allow her to better appreciate the deliciousness of food, but sometimes it can also have side effects of being too stimulating.
After slowly eating the fish, Lorraine Hill also gradually came to the square in the city, where a performance was going on.
Several dancers rotated and danced on a temporary wooden platform, with a faint afterimage of magic on their sleeves and hands and feet, making the dance more visual and moving.
Several musicians nearby were playing brisk snare drums and melodious bagpipes, and then they sang and told various legendary stories.
Some of these stories tell about the heroes who emerged from the chaos and disaster at the beginning of the Third Age, and there are also legends about princesses, princes, sages and witches.
After nearly a thousand years of circulation, these stories have become more and more classic, and many characters have become deeply rooted in people's hearts. For example, 'The Boy Who Tamed the Dragon', 'The Three Heroes Who Defeated the King of the Storm Bar', 'The Girl Selling Phantom Candles', and 'The End of the Bridge'
The Last Knight' and more.
Gu Bin
Even some of the protagonists in the story are known to Lorraine Hill. For example, the "girl selling phantom candles" is a legend related to Tidais.
It tells the story of a boy who, after losing his parents, searches for a way to be resurrected and see his family again.
During the journey, he asked many people. Some people sympathized with him, some ridiculed him, and some were indifferent to him. After getting answers one by one, he finally found the girl in a black dress.
…
Then the girl in the black dress lit the candle in her hand.
She said to the boy: "Even so, do you want to resurrect your parents?"
"Yes, it's all my fault. I was too willful that day and I couldn't say goodbye to them properly until the end. I want to see them again."
Then the candle in the girl's hand burned, and two figures appeared in front of the boy. They smiled and welcomed the child's return.
Just like that, the boy hugged his parents and fell asleep forever in their arms, never waking up again.
The real events may be different from the story, and there are elements of artistic processing, but the general plot is still consistent.
After telling a story and legend, the dancers bent down to express their thanks, and then there was warm applause. Taking advantage of the break, two members of the chamber of commerce came on stage and began to promote their own product, which seemed to be a new type of soap.
, can wash clothes and tableware.
In order to watch the next performance, the audience had to wait patiently for these two people to finish speaking, because it was their sponsorship that made tonight's performance possible.
Looking at this familiar scene, Lorraine Hill smiled and shook his head in the audience, then slowly walked away to the other side of the square.
It's rare to go out and relax tonight, so let's go for a walk.
After turning around various streets where accessories are sold and girls like things, Lorraine Hill turned to a cleaner and tidier street. Here are several large alchemy workshops. They have different styles according to their respective areas of expertise.
The decoration style is brightly lit even at night.
Through the glass closet, the girl could see the steel golems, refined weapons, protective equipment, and even some large household alchemy creations displayed in the store.
When she was thinking about which store to visit first, a burst of melodious music came from a store, attracting the girl's attention.
She raised her head and saw the lyre sign on the store. She roughly guessed that it was a musical instrument store, and then walked in.
Various musical instruments are placed in glass cabinets in the store. Their styles are beautiful and unique. It seems that the instruments are made like works of art.
There were four or five customers watching the store at the moment. They kept quiet and slowly walked past the exquisite closet.
It can be seen that although these instruments are beautiful, there are still only a few people who know how to use them and are willing to spend a lot of money to buy them.
After slowly entering the store, the two clerks in the store did not come forward. They just smiled at the girl from afar and continued to stand where they were.
They have a non-enthusiastic approach and will only introduce products and services to customers if they need them.
Walking in the store, Lorraine Hill soon spotted an acquaintance.
With the intention of saying hello properly, Lorraine Hill deliberately lowered his steps and slowly walked towards the figure, preparing to pat her on the shoulder, but the other party suddenly turned around and grabbed her wrist.
"Little Lorraine is naughty again." Wei Miya looked at Lorraine Hill trying to play a prank and smiled.
"Okay, you discovered it."
Only then did Lorraine Hill step forward to see what Vimiya was doing here.
"Actually, it's the owner of this chamber of commerce who wants to work with me to use recording equipment to convert singing into a gramophone device that can be circulated and sold."
Isn't this just a song album? In other words, the music industry has been able to usher in glory in the past precisely because of the booming development of its industry.
"It's very good, but I was outside just now, so I didn't recognize that it was your singing."
"Yes, because after the transformation, the sound will be deteriorated and distorted, so this invention is still being adjusted." Wei Miya used her hands to spread the hair on her shoulders, and then introduced Lorraine Hill in detail.
A metal box decorated with patterns was opened, revealing a structure that resembled a rotating clock. Several tiny gems were inlaid on the gear disc. As it rotated, it touched a tiny copper piece, and then the sound was transmitted.
"Due to structural problems, it is currently only suitable for recording slow-tempo and relatively soothing music."
Looking at this alchemical creation, Lorraine Hill thought of Lan Lier, the inventor of the magic speaker. Although the two had different uses, they also had many things in common.
"Does Wei Miya still remember Lan Lier?"
"I remember, we stayed on the boat for a while, and she often played cards with me." Wei Miya thought of those days at sea.
"She's very good at this. Maybe we can ask her to help."
"But won't this be a little troublesome?"
Lorraine Hill recalled Lan Lier's playful and money-grubbing appearance in the past and shook his head.
"As long as that guy sees what the gold coins look like, he won't feel troublesome, haha."
"I heard that she is currently working on her own alchemy workshop. She must be short of funds right now. If our big star, Ms. Diva, is willing to join, she will definitely welcome it with a raised hand."
"Then I'll write to her and ask her. Thank you Lorraine for your suggestion."
The two of them looked at the musical instrument store for a while, then left hand in hand and gradually returned to their place of residence.
Because of their status and relationship, they live very close to each other, and their bedrooms are almost next door to each other, so it is particularly convenient.
It was already getting late, and there were some insects chirping in the grass beside the street, making the night less monotonous.
The stars in the sky are exceptionally clear, and the vast starry sand is endless, making those who look up cannot help but be shocked by its beauty.
"Speaking of it, Luo Lan." Wei Miya suddenly spoke.
"After Ivar's Chaos Disaster is resolved, where are you going to go? It seems to me that you are not keen on being worshiped and surrounded by others."
"At that time, maybe you will go for a walk in the Milky Way and see the magnificent ruins left by ancient people. Then if you are tired, you will come back to live in seclusion, plant an orchard of your own, and plant all the fruits you like, and then
Call Keti back and live together."
"I don't want to be held on that throne all the time. Although it looks very beautiful, I still feel constrained by my introverted and sensitive personality."
"It is indeed your style, the unfettered pure wind." Vimiya looked at Lorraine Hill and showed a nostalgic smile under the starry night.
That appearance made Lorraine Hill feel a different kind of familiarity and strangeness, as if he was seeing another figure in his memory.
That is the Vast Blue Water, Sifnelian. Compared to Vimiya, who is slightly shy of strangers, Sifnelian will be more mature, just like the difference between a person's growth period and his maturity period.