Xiao Chen pushed open the wooden window of the bedroom, and the cold wind wrapped in fine snow rolled into the house. He blew a breath of warm air into his folded hands, and then propped his hands on the windowsill.
The snow has been getting lighter these days, spring is coming soon.
Looking out from this room on the third floor, the courtyard downstairs, the street outside the door, and the surrounding high and low roofs are all covered with a thin layer of snow. In the days of struggling unknowingly, this world is about to pass the winter. They, the immigrants from Earth, have been in this world for more than half a year. However, Xiao Chen still dare not say that he has adapted to this world. There are always times when he feels that he is in a dream that is difficult to wake up.
Xiao Chen picked up a snowflake from the windowsill with his fingers. The slight coolness brought him a sense of reality.
This three-story house was transferred by the Earl. It has more than ten rooms and two courtyards in front and back. Even in the wealthy area of the capital, it is a very good house. Now it is the school's office in the capital. Oh, no. It is the Chinese Office in the Kingdom of Iberia. Now everyone in the school has publicly declared that they are Chinese and come from a powerful country far away. In this strange world, such a name will undoubtedly give people a sense of sustenance.
Most of the houses around were built with light yellow rocks, and the roofs were continuous deep red. Even with patches of white snow, this color tone didn't seem too cold. To the north was the residence of the great nobles and the royal palace. The royal palace was more like a tall castle than a palace. It was built on a hillside four or five stories high in the city, and the outermost edge was a stone wall at least seven or eight stories high, making the royal palace seem unattainable. Behind the royal palace was the Zhanlong Mountains, which rose from the ground. The mountains were like a natural wall in the north of the royal capital, cutting off any possibility of attacking the capital from this side.
There are two other buildings in the city that can rival the royal palace. One is the Royal Mage Tower and the other is the Temple of Nature.
The Royal Mage Tower is located in the southwest corner of the palace. It is not a single tower, but a combination of five towers. The five silver-gray towers are of different heights and sizes, and are gathered together. There are arch bridges connecting the towers. Even the shortest of the five towers is taller than the main building of the palace. A large arch bridge connects the Mage Tower from the podium of the palace to the bottom of the Mage Tower, connecting the Mage Tower and the palace.
These five magic towers represent the inheritance of five saints, and they have existed for much longer than the kingdom itself. When the Black Dragon Empire existed, they were the Royal Mage Towers, and they are still the same now.
The Temple of Nature is located near the edge of the noble district, across the river from the civilian district.
In Xiao Chen's eyes, this temple is the most unique building in the entire capital. It is completely different from the Greek-style temples or medieval-style churches he imagined. The main body of the natural temple is six huge green stones. The stones are slightly oval, each stone is 20 meters wide and 70 to 80 meters high. They are inserted straight into the ground and form a circle, like six giant black rice cakes. Dense green vines climb on the surface of the stones and connect the gaps between the stones, like green thin threads wrapped around them. These vines are evergreen all year round, and in this early winter, they are also full of yellow and red flowers. The temple has no roof, no walls, and no statues. These stones, vines and flowers are the objects of people's worship and prayer.
Xiao Chen had to admit that even though he was wary and suspicious of the gods, this temple was still a breathtaking sight.
Xiao Chen looked further away and saw a river passing through the city through two sluice gates. On the other side of the river, there were mainly grey and brown wooden houses, most of which belonged to the civilians in the capital. Most of these houses were crowded and crooked, with irregular windows and doors, and walls all over the place. From a distance, they looked like layers of wooden strips covered with wormholes.
However, it is in these dilapidated houses that 80% of the city's population lives. These people, who work as hard as ants, are the organs and blood that sustain the capital.
Although the sun had just risen and the streets and squares on this side of the river were still deserted, many people were already rushing about for the day in the poor streets and alleys on the opposite side. The cold weather made these thinly dressed people hunch their backs, shrink their heads, and walk hurriedly back and forth.
Xi Luo said that common people don't like winter. For magicians, priests, and princes and nobles, winter is a different kind of scenery. The cold is just a matter of adding a few heating arrays, but for most common people, it is the beginning of a difficult life. Even in the capital, many people freeze to death or starve to death every winter.
Thinking of this, Xiao Chen looked at the city decorated with snow in front of him, and felt a little depressed in his heart.
Xiao Chen withdrew his gaze, and just then there was a knock on the door. He closed the window, straightened his mage robe, and opened the door.
Katarina was standing outside the door. In order to better find out the news of the capital, reliable local mercenaries were indispensable. Therefore, Katarina followed Xiao Chen to the capital and walked through the streets and alleys every day to collect intelligence.
The girl who had awakened her fighting spirit had a look of increased restlessness. She had not yet completely mastered her fighting spirit, and her expression always revealed a bit of uneasiness when she looked around. Her appearance had evolved from that of a cat to that of a little female leopard.
"Brother Xiao, today is a big day. That is the Royal Mage Tower, one of the three major scenic spots in the royal capital. I never even dreamed of setting foot in such a place." After arriving in the royal capital, Katarina's mood became much brighter and she regained some of her lively girlish nature.
"Haha, it's just a participation in an assessment. My strength is there, isn't it?" Xiao Chen felt a little more cheerful when he heard the girl's chattering. He closed the door and followed Catalina downstairs.
"You're not nervous or worried at all?"
"Hey, little Catalina, you have to cultivate your face as a human being." Xiao Chen pointed at Catalina's cheek, "Even if you are flustered, you have to appear calm and composed. Even if you are worried and scared, you have to appear fearless. Otherwise, people will see through your thoughts at a glance. You have to learn this."
"Ah? I don't want to, this is too fake." Katarina turned her head away and avoided Xiao Chen's fingers. "Besides, it's not that easy to see through my mind. Can you see through my mind now?"
Xiao Chen looked at her left and right, and saw a red mist rising from her face. "Your secret must be that you made something delicious."
"How do you know?"
"Why else would you come and urge me to eat?"
Catalina snorted lightly, lowered her head, took a few quick steps, and just led the way.
After walking for a while and reaching the stairs, she said, "Yesterday I bought turmeric at the market, and today I got up early and made some gingerbread. You must try it. I want to improve my craft so that I can make all kinds of gingerbread men for everyone to eat during the New Year."
"I said there are delicious foods." Xiao Chen said with a smile, "Mage Tower often has them, but gingerbread is not often available. For me, the temptation of delicious food is much greater than magic."