Although the sunshine in winter cannot bring much warmth, it can make people feel better.
For Severus, Cokeworth is gray-black in most cases--
Gray-black sky, gray-black clouds, gray-black snow, gray-black chimneys, gray-black roofs, gray-black walls, gray-black river...
Especially in winter, the nearby trees that have been dying have lost all their leaves, leaving only gray-black branches covered with scar-like cracks.
After getting up in the morning, I stood by the window and looked out the window. I could hardly see any bright colors.
In this gray-black world, even the brown soil looks a bit gray, always mixed with gray-black snow, making it muddy and tugging at your shoes.
Only when the sun rises and you look up at the dazzling sunlight in the sky can you feel better, as if the pressure on your chest is a little looser.
After having breakfast and finishing housework, Severus opened the door and walked out, taking a deep breath.
The outdoor air, which is much colder than indoors, flows along the nose and into the lungs. It is cold but full of vitality, making people clearly feel that they are breathing and alive.
When will I grow up?
When will you be able to change your home like Manus said at that time?
"Severus?"
Manus From afar, he saw Severus standing at the door and looking up at the sky. He looked up and saw that the sky was still the same as before, with the sun and clouds.
Hearing the call, Severus looked away, rubbed his sore eyes before looking at Manus:
"Manus, you are here."
Also withdrew his gaze, Manus looked at Severus again:
"Well, have you waited for a long time?"
"No, I just finished sweeping the floor and came out to bask in the sun."
Severus shook his head and looked at Manus who was walking towards this direction with his hands in his pockets.
It is different from Severus, who is white on the inside and black on the outside, and whose outfit almost blends in with the gray and black colors around her.
Manus is wearing a beige jacket and trousers. The knitted hat on his head is a warm red, with a few strands of light blond hair playfully peeking out from the edge of the hat. The scarf around his neck is also the same red, with a white snowflake pattern outlined in the middle by stitches.
Severus took a deep breath. He seemed to be more accustomed to the cold air outside and felt that breathing was more comfortable.
"Let's go~"
Manus spoke as he walked past Severus, and the two walked side by side in a direction farther away from the center of Cokeworth.
Their destination was an abandoned construction area, where no one usually went, and there were ruins in all directions.
It was originally a dormitory of a factory. Later, the factory opened and closed down after unknown circumstances. Therefore, this dormitory, which was built at a low cost, soon became dilapidated and became like this.
After Manus and Severus discovered it, they naturally regarded it as a gathering place similar to Secret Base.
Children always have such an obsession. A place that is far away from home but not too far, where no one usually passes by, and has a large or small semi-enclosed space, is a perfect place for Secret Base, isn't it?
"Have you opened the gift box and looked at it?"
On the way, Severus asked.
"Of course, a bottle of Pepperup Potion, right?"
Manus turned his head slightly:
"And you cooked it."
"Did you see it?"
Severus raised his hand to his mouth and took a breath. The rising white mist blocked his slightly guilty eyes:
"Mom said that it is still far from a qualified bottle of potion, but I don't have enough materials to brew another bottle... Its validity period may only be one week? No, it may be shorter."
Severus's voice sounded slightly annoyed, but Manus laughed and took off the scarf and gloves he was wearing and threw them to Severus.
"What do you do?"
"Try to catch a cold before that bottle of Pepperup Potion expires, otherwise wouldn't it be a waste?"
"What are you talking about-"
Severus was stunned. When he was told this, he was a little confused. Should it be better to use up the bottle of Pepperup Potion before it expires, or should it be better not to get sick?
"Hahahaha--"
Seeing that Severus was actually thinking about this problem, Manus laughed so hard this time that he couldn't hold back his laughter.
Severus frowned. He felt as if he had been tricked, but he had no evidence.
On the other side, Manus squinted his eyes, immersed in this simple, pure, and warm friendship that he had never experienced before traveling through time, without any worries on his mind.
From an academic point of view, this kind of positive and strong emotion definitely has power and value worth exploring in this world, and from an emotional point of view, he himself also enjoyed the process.
Manus has never been a madman who wants to cut off his emotions for the sake of research. He will not refuse the pursuit of making his life more comfortable, such as delicious food, even if this will affect the efficiency of research and study.
But he always believes that keeping one's soul in a high-spirited, passionate and positive state is the way to truly maximize research efficiency.
In the past, he got Absorption energy from food and scenery to keep himself in this state. Now he found that family and friendship had a similar effect.
Is it the peculiarity of this world?
Forget it, it's not important, after all, there is no reference for comparison.
At this time, their destination arrived. Manus stepped onto a fallen wall in one step, used it as a ladder to climb up the ruins in front, and climbed to the second floor in two or three steps.
This was originally a dormitory, but now it is in the open air. Most of the high part of the wall is still there, and the lower part is where Manus came in. It is completely unobstructed when walking up the wall on the first floor.
Standing on the second floor, Manus looked at Severus on the first floor through the gap in the wall. The other party was holding his scarf and gloves against the wall in front of him, so he shook his head:
"Wouldn't it be nice if you put on your scarf and gloves?"
"Hmm... makes sense."
Not long after, the neatly dressed Severus also went up to the second floor. Looking at Manus who had already sat down on the half wall, he also followed and sat down next to him.
"I have prepared the birthday gift for you this year."
Before Severus could speak, Manus spoke first.
"What is it?"
Upon hearing his birthday gift, Severus suddenly forgot what he was going to talk about.
Except for Gobstones given by his mother, his other toys were all birthday gifts from Manus.
For example, there is a stuffed bear that is about the same height as he was at the beginning, but is now a bit Transfiguration due to starching, and another example is a pair of Oak Wood little people who can dance ballroom dancing by themselves when put together, and some of their paint has peeled off now...
Severus couldn't help but look forward to the new gift.
"You will find out today next week - if you tell me what the gift is in advance, there will be no mystery."
Manus showed a somewhat evil smile:
"By the way, what were you going to say just now?"