Snow-covered Breeze City glittered beneath the sun as it broke through the clouds.
A carriage with its crest in plain sight rolled into Breeze City, but passersby merely glanced at it. Nearly three months had passed since the screening of The Mage Tower's Fall. Classics never went out of style, but the Northern Frontier's cold was enough to dampen anyone's enthusiasm.
A few people waved at the carriage or followed it, keeping a distance Annan found comfortable. The people of Breeze City had once behaved as though the Elf Mentor had possessed them.
Speaking of the Elf Mentor's gift, Annan still hadn't decided what to get her... It had to be something she liked, but not something that would unleash her animal instincts.
So he ruled himself out.
Back in Breeze City, Annan went to the Warehouse first. It belonged to Andrew Luna and had served as a spinning mill, Annan's temporary lodging, and then a spinning-wheel workshop. Now it was Star-Moon Bay's Warehouse in Breeze City.
While there, Annan found Andrew Luna and asked whether he would like to open a Tavern in Star-Moon Bay.
"Hmm... As long as it isn't too expensive."
"Actually, I'm planning to give you a Tavern. You'll still have to pay taxes, though."
Annan had yet to decide how to sell the houses in Star-Moon Bay. As for taxes, he had asked Ingrid to copy Breeze City's rates and adjust them afterward.
"Aren't you afraid I'll steal so much of Faster's business that he has to go back to Pinglin Town?" Andrew Luna asked deliberately.
"I had the Town Chief tear down the Dawn Tavern on my way back," Annan said. He had also left the Bard a letter. But word of the "King of the North's domain" had spread across the northern reaches