It was said that the plains outside were already blanketed by heavy snowfall, and both Red Maple City and Boulder City to the west had been dyed white by the snow.
Andesa held the terrace railing and slowly made her way to its edge. Standing high atop Thorin Castle, she gazed toward the distant horizon.
It should be snowing over at Winterwolf Fortress too, shouldn't it? And Long Branch Manor... Scholars predict that the Northern Continent as a whole will be colder this year, and this war... will likely bring an even colder winter.
She raised her head, yet she could not see any snowflakes drifting down from the sky. All she could see was endless green, with towns and outposts scattered among vines, canopies, blossoms, and grass. Countless artificial lights flickered across the land like stars, while the dim regions between them were filled with strange luminescent plants.
Unfamiliar birds darted through the giant tree's canopy, occasionally flapping past overhead or boldly landing atop the castle's towers and weathered walls.
A faint rustling came from nearby. Andesa followed the sound and saw a small wild beast with bright red fur, slightly larger than a squirrel, climbing onto the terrace from somewhere unknown. It held a crimson fruit in its mouth, and upon seeing Andesa, it astonishingly lifted the fruit with its forepaws and offered it to her—after even wiping it with one paw.
Andesa froze for a moment. After staring into the little creature's eyes for several seconds, she hesitantly reached out and accepted the fruit. It was a kind of fruit she had never seen elsewhere. Its bright red skin gleamed like a gemstone, and it gave off a strange, sweet fragrance that made it look especially tempting.
She remembered its name: Sorin Tree Fruit. It was borne