The Witch Empresses of the Fifth Epoch had always shared Shade's aesthetic sense. He had now seen Miss Violet's maids, the student uniforms of ancient Saint Byron's, and now the attire of Chloe's maids. All he could say was that age did not mean outdated taste; he greatly appreciated the way young ladies dressed in ancient times.
Whether they wore Maid Dresses or Cold Protection Cloaks, none of the young ladies in the camp was surprised to see their Empress return while holding hands with an unfamiliar man.
After the two stepped ashore, they pretended not to care and continued with their work. Only when the pair reached the camp entrance did the maids gather around, bringing out a coat prepared for Shade to ward off the cold. It seemed to have been made from an entire bearskin, but Shade declined it.
They had even prepared a special soft cushion for Little Mia, but the cat rejected that as well. It preferred Shade's shoulder.
"I prepared everything for your arrival."
Chloe spoke softly, then dismissed the maids who still wanted to look at Shade. The two formally entered the camp, and in that instant, it felt as though they had passed through a layer of warm water. Within the camp enclosed by that "water membrane," snow still drifted down, but the bitter cold seemed to have vanished.
"Come with me. This way."
Chloe took Shade's hand and continued onward. Shade did not object, merely looking around with curiosity. The enormous camp had not been deliberately decorated with gold or silver, yet the costly Alchemy Crystals everywhere, the tents imbued with Spatial Anomaly properties, the rituals formed by gold-embroidered runes outside the tents, the spices burning in the bonfires, and the Unicorns running through the snowy ground all displayed the camp