In May, the branches outside the window sprouted young buds, dotted with light green.
This year's spring came extremely late, and it was rare for the weather to get warmer and clearer. People took off their heavy clothes and put on lighter and more comfortable clothes. Farmers in villages and manors were busy farming, and most of the land had been plowed by machinery in advance. Now all it takes is to sow seeds. Such a thing was unimaginable in the past. After all, Master Mage has a distinguished status, and the price of machinery is high. If it remains high, no one will use it for cheap agriculture. But with the arrival of Season of Sinking Fog, the situation has changed a lot. Even Mage, who has a high status and does not leave the Mage tower all year round, now realizes that the next ten years will be particularly difficult. If he does not prepare more now, he may have to pay a heavy price in the future.
As a result, the promotion of machinery in agriculture became rapid, and the large demand gave birth to a large number of orders, and these orders made more Mage willing to delve into this field and develop better-used and easier-to-make equipment.
After the scale of production was expanded, the cost was gradually reduced through constant adjustments and iterations, making it no longer as unattainable as it was in the past. Nowadays, even small towns in remote areas will collectively pool money to bring agricultural machinery from the city to the town to help turn over the soil and open up new fields. However, if it was like in the past, it would be difficult to open up the land that is mixed with rocks and has rugged terrain by relying solely on manpower.
Now under the surging mechanical power, hundreds of people can work for a month in one afternoon, and the efficiency is incomparable. In the room, Xilu Tia looked at the recent reports submitted by Mishir District various villages and towns, which detailed the situation of land reclamation and cultivation in various places. The results were quite gratifying, better than she expected.
Of course, this is related to the fact that Mishir District itself produces a variety of machinery. Many agricultural machinery are even sponsored by local workshops for free, just to help the region produce more food, which will be beneficial to local residents in the future.
However, even with machinery, the "Fire Seed" that drives the machinery is still an irreducible consumption. In the past two years, the price of "Fire Seed" in the Mage Alliance has been rising steadily. It is said that in order to cope with the shortage in the central region, the Alliance officials also brought back some of the "Fire Seed" that Kandra had reserved for emergency use.
Among the Steam Engine machines currently developed, except for the most basic and low-end ones, which can barely be driven by burning wood and charcoal, most of them require "Fire Seed" to provide energy, especially the mid-to-high-end machines.
Although charcoal is also a good resource, it requires cutting down a large number of trees to obtain it. Now in the Mage Alliance, many forests near urban areas have been cut down, and it will only become more and more difficult to obtain it in the future.
After the trees were cut down, the bare mountains were not only unsightly, but also prone to flash floods and other disasters. The animals also became much rarer. It is estimated that in ten years, many children will not know what animals such as wolves and deer look like. After all, there is no zoo in this world. Xilu Tia put down the report, turned to look at the new buds outside the window, thought for a while, and decided to go out for a walk today.
Speaking of which, she hasn't been out for a long time. In the past two years, she has been busy with various things, such as studies, Mishir District's affairs, advancement, and occasionally she is concerned about the movements of the two major forces the Alliance, considering whether to participate in them, etc.
Walking out of the room, Xilu Tia briefly explained to the maid waiting outside, then took a parasol and walked out. There were some white clouds in the sky that had not dispersed, but the blue background had already appeared, and the sunlight shone particularly brightly on the streets and gravel-like walls. For people who have spent a long and cold winter, today is a rare good weather, and the streets You can also see many families walking and playing. Today, Xilu Tia is wearing a bright yellow dress, holding an umbrella, and walking lightly. She occasionally stops to look at the sky and the shops and pedestrians on the street, and listens to the various little things people say about life. This kind of exposure to the fireworks of ordinary people's lives relaxes her originally dull mood.
Because she was covered by an umbrella, it was difficult for ordinary people to recognize her from her back unless she was in close contact with her from the front. This made Xilu Tia feel much more relaxed when she was walking. It took about a morning before three people recognized her. However, when Xilu Tia blinked, these people did not call out her name, but simply saluted her from a distance, and then walked away.
At noon, Xilu Tia came to a cafe on the street, found a private room on the second floor and sat down, ordered a drink, and sat for a while. The sunlight outside shone through the glass on her legs, making her stockings slightly hot, and then she stood up and left.
Unconsciously, Xilutiya's footsteps finally stopped in front of a mansion in the city. She walked up and knocked on the door, and then a capable maid with long ponytail opened the door.
"Good afternoon, Lining." She greeted this familiar maid, and this is where Lady Falan lives.
Seeing Xilu Tia's appearance, Lining hesitated to speak, but finally lowered her head and lifted her skirt to salute.
"Master Hedra, good afternoon."
"Well... it doesn't have to be so formal." The girl turned the fan handle, put away the umbrella, walked into the house, and looked around for a place to put the umbrella.
"You're still so stupid, leave it to me." Lining returned to his usual venomous appearance, took the umbrella from Xilu Tia's hand, and then inserted it into the empty vase aside.
"Ah, so this is what this vase is for?" Xilu Tia blinked, very curious.
"Yes." Lining lightly brushed the hair beside her ears with one hand, shook the ponytail behind her, and then asked Xilu Tia to sit in the living room while she poured tea. "Madam and Talia I went to the manor to inspect the farming and didn't come back until about four in the afternoon." She explained while preparing tea. Soon, the scented tea was brewed, and Lining brought it to Xilu Tia, and then stood quietly to one side.
Xilu Tia took a sip of the scented tea and praised Lining for still being as powerful as before, and then curiously asked about various things. In the past ten years, Lining's appearance has not changed much, except that her hairstyle has become slightly more mature. Probably because she has advanced to the third level, aging has become very slow.
Although the maid Class is not outstanding in other aspects, it has many special auxiliary abilities, and delaying aging is one of them.
From Lining's mouth, Xilu Tia learned a lot about what happened after she left, including Lady Falan's long journey and her secluded life after returning to Bellflower Plains.
"When she came to her hometown, she became uncharacteristically low-key. She often stayed in the manor for several months without going out, just tending the flowers and plants, and occasionally walking on the hillsides in the wilderness." Lining recalled.
"My wife has very complicated emotions towards her mother, Mrs. Adeline. Sometimes I can feel that she wants to talk to the lonely Mrs. Adeline in person, but she restrains this impulse very well and just watches from a distance."
"Perhaps only the person involved can understand this kind of thing. The kind of bitterness that is mixed with nostalgia, disgust, and longing for closeness, but her reason tells her of a pessimistic outcome. Such complex and delicate things are difficult to explain to outsiders." Xilu Tia held the tea cup and spoke slowly. From the clear amber green tea, she saw the vague reflection of the window. The light green tea leaves inside were like a sinking boat, floating slowly.
"Tia's character is still so considerate, but now it seems a little better than before, not so soft." Lining looked at Xilu Tia and made a comment like a complaint.
Although the two had a master-servant relationship in the past, Xilu Tia had just woken up at that time and was very confused. Since Lining was called a maid, Xilu Tia actually had to mention a lot of things in life, and occasionally made venomous comments, as if she was dealing with a simple and ignorant person. Zhi's sister was the same. Later, although Xilu Tia grew up rapidly, the two of them also came to separate. So for a long time, Lining remembered that Xilu Tia was soft and a little ignorant, but also considerate and delicate.
"Don't always look at me the same way as in the past."
The girl made a small protest. Although she said this, she also felt a long-lost relaxation and closeness. Here, she did not have to remain dignified and majestic as when sitting in the office. She could move freely, such as sitting on the sofa and swinging her legs, occasionally lying on the sofa to read a book, or sleeping on her back, just like she used to live in the Lady Falan mansion.
In this way, the two chatted and reminisced until four o'clock in the afternoon, when the door opened again and Lady Falan came back with Talia. Ten years later, Talia had become extremely mature, and she inherited Grandpa has the strong and tall physique of an adventurer. His chestnut hair is neatly combed and tied behind his head. His body is not as thin and flat as malnutrition in the past, but appears to be a bit plump. If he returns to his former village, he will definitely be a good farmer and herder.
Now Talia is standing next to Lining, saying that she is Lining's eldest sister, some people definitely believe it.
However, after returning home, she saw Lining standing next to the sofa, and she still spoke in a timid voice.
"Sister Lining, what is this?" She only saw Lining, and Xilu Tia was lying on her side sleeping on the sofa, which happened to be the blind spot of her sight. "Shh." Lining raised his finger, closed one eye slightly, and asked Talia to lower his voice. Then he took Talia's hand and walked to the sofa in small steps to let her see the sleeping girl on her side.
Her soft and beautiful cheeks, her black hair fell on her graceful neck, and a few strands fell down. The sunlight outside the window shone on part of the skirt of the sleeping Xilu Tia's body, and her face fell into the shadow next to it, looking a bit hazy.
Although ten years have passed, this girl does not seem to have changed much compared to the first day she met Talia. She is still so pitiful and cute. "Tia..." Talia whispered the other person's name, then realized something and lowered his voice to avoid waking the other person up.
Lady Falan put away his umbrella and inserted it into the vase. He walked over slowly and smiled when he saw the girl sleeping on the sofa. "This child is still the same as before..." When she said this, there was a bit of nostalgia in her voice, and there seemed to be a little bit of happiness like broken light.
How wonderful it would be if the people and things in my memory could be maintained like this forever. Looking at Xilu Tia, Lady Falan who was sleeping soundly, I thought of a lot.
After being stunned for a while, Lady Falan turned around and ordered Lining and Talia to prepare a rich dinner. The two quickly understood and went to the kitchen.
Half an hour later, Xilutiya woke up from her nap, rubbed her eyes, and saw the figure sitting on the sofa opposite her. The hazy outline became clear in the evening light. It was Lady Falan who was reading a book while holding a tea cup.
At this moment, her memory was a little blurry, as if she was still studying at Scorched Stone City, and the experience of these years was just a long dream. "Teacher Falan..." she called the other party's name, then sat up, and her consciousness came to her senses.
It turned out to be not a dream.
"Tia, let's stay and have dinner together today." Lady Falan will speak.
"Um, okay."
In the evening, the four of them sat at the dining table to share dinner. Tonight there was a dinner of roast goose, crispy meat pancakes, garlic snail soup, and red beef stew.
The candlelight was shining, and a little warm yellow light illuminated the dining table. The four of them talked occasionally. Talir was particularly curious about Siltia's experience over the years. "Has it turned out that Tia has experienced so many things? First she went to the forest, then she entered the world of shadows, and now she comes to the mage. Alliance." Listening to Siltia's story, Talir seemed to have twinkling stars in her eyes, and she was particularly envious and curious. Compared to Siltia, she has been a bit duller in the past ten years. She only traveled with Mrs. Farlan and visited many places. She was not as surprised as Siltia.
However, this girl is also a very special case. It should be said that few people have such varied experiences as hers.
After having dinner together, Xilu Tia seemed to have relived the past time. Even in a foreign country, she felt a little at ease and at ease.
After leaving, Xilu Tia returned to the Mage Guild's residence. In the next few days, she finished handling Mishir District's affairs, and then officially started the specific matters of advancement.
Most of the rare gems and materials required have been prepared, but a small part of them still needs to be obtained by herself. That is, "Land of the Moon" takes the afterglow of the past moon and condenses it into different Lunar Phase Crystals to make "Moon Clock".
At the top of Sky Tower, "Sodras" finally teaches Xilu Tia about this step.
"Hedra, you know, before Seventh Era, Dream World was extremely prosperous." He slowly told the ancient history. "In that era," Silver Moon Dragon" is called Lord of Dreams. It controls the world after all living beings fall asleep. This is exactly opposite to "Blazing Sun" which controls the day. The two are the masters of day and night respectively."
"In that era, many Transcendent could enter Dream World through "dreaming", where they could communicate, learn, explore, and obtain strange resources."
"But since the passing of "Silver Moon Dragon", Dream World has gradually withered and broken. Now all living beings can only wander in the fragments of their own small dreams. There is no longer the glorious splendor of the past that brought together the dreams of all living beings."
"Land of the Moon is an area between reality and dreams. In the past, it was the place where "Silver Moon Dragon" lived. As the pool passed, this area also sank into the Twilight Sea. Now you can only go there through dreams."
"Because I have been addicted to the Twilight Sea for a long time, now "Land of the Moon" is surrounded by many monsters of the Twilight Sea, and I will always be attacked by "Distortion" in the process. Corrosion, if it were not for "Radiant Moon" Aspect Power, or without the protection of "Radiant Moon", it would be easy to get lost in such a place, become a wandering soul forever, and never wake up again."
"When you go there this time, I have prepared something for you to protect you and prevent accidents. But if you encounter a rare and unsolvable situation, you don't need to hold on. Just activate one of the Magic Orb. I will use a special secret method to instantly pull your consciousness back from the dream and leave there."
After explaining this, "Sodras" began to teach Xilu Tia, "Dream Entry Art" and many secret techniques and secret histories related to dreams, such as <Accounts of the Land of the Moon>, <Lord of Dreams~The Legend of Aoli Silver Wax Tree Hill>, <Simoco's Sevenfold Realm>.