Two days later, at dawn.
In the north of the Protos Empire stood Box Mountain Province, a dazzling pearl on the northern plains. It was not only the most prosperous province in the north, but also a transportation hub where supplies and travelers converged.
The mountains to the north surrounded it like guardian deities, forming a natural barrier. At the foot of the mountains, melted snow became winding streams that flowed eastward through the city like thin threads. Once the spring breeze arrived, the moat silently nourished everything, endowing the city-state with boundless vigor and vitality.
Upon arriving in the province, one would find that its architectural style inherited the ancient traditions of the imperial capital, Helrom. Its materials leaned more toward naturally formed stone and wood, creating an appearance that complemented the towering mountains and ridges of the distant north. Stone skin and wooden bones seemed to intertwine with nature, forming one three-dimensional painting after another.
But this year, the seasonal turbulence had brought abnormal cold, and even the warm lands of the southern Protos Empire were covered in winter snow.
Although the northern provinces were nearing mid-April, spring still lingered hesitantly. The fickle weather brought wind and snow from time to time, sweeping the city-state clean all over again and even making its residents wonder whether this frozen world would last until the next winter.
South of Box Mountain Province, west of the central main city, stood the Magic Energy Rail Train station known as Rock Junction. It was the hub leading to the southern part of the empire. The largest Magic Energy Rail Train station in the entire northern empire, it was also a crystallization of ancient craftsmen's skill and magical power.
On the tracks, every braking screech and every spark struck off by the iron wheels