Pure white snow accumulated on tiles and stone bricks, the cold wind discouraging any from venturing out. The clear, cold streets were suddenly pierced by the rapid sound of hoofbeats, charging straight towards the city hall.

Shortly after, a shrill siren echoed through the city, making the quiet winter afternoon become bustling.

In the mansions of the rich district, Hexia was explaining fable stories from a book to a group of children. Now, she wore black glasses, draped in a fur-edged cape, fully dressed for winter.

Due to the increasing sounds of hoofbeats and conversations from the streets outside, a few children inside the room grew curious, appearing distracted and frequently glancing towards the window.

Seeing this, she put down the book in her hands and simply allowed them a break.

"Thank you, teacher~" the children's voices responded, tender and innocent, then they crowded by the window to watch the commotion, some even preparing to go downstairs to see outside.

Regarding this, Hexia didn't worry much since the servants in the mansion downstairs would stop these children from running around carelessly.

Gathering her fur-edged shawl slightly tighter, she stood up, descended the wooden staircase, and arrived in the hall on the first floor, where Sigismund and several old friends were drinking tea and chatting. As this gentle black-haired girl descended, a few of them nodded in greeting.

"Good afternoon, Miss Hexia."

"Hello," the girl returned the greeting, then inquired about the situation outside, as she had seen warriors on horseback rushing down the street before coming downstairs.

"What happened?"

"A minor issue, it seems the outpost in the northeastern direction suffered an attack, and they've sent someone to request help from us," a well-informed Grey Feather Species replied, also possessing grey hair and grey eyes. He wore a slightly loose robe and leaned on the wooden sofa.

"Every winter, something always happens on this land."

"Due to the shortage of food and heating materials in winter, many conflicts are inevitably erupting," Sigismund described lightly, appearing accustomed to such situations.

"Other places are not as sturdy and safe as the Shilin Mountain Castle, with stable order, especially in the eastern part, which has always been wild and violent. It's said some tribes even have cannibalistic traditions," another Grey Feather Species in a blue outfit shrugged, expressing amazement.

"It's not surprising for them," the girl remarked, walking as she let her hand slide down from the stair railing. Her graceful body curves, faintly visible beneath the winter skirt's waist, held a rare beauty for this land.

"Life must go on; it's just, from our standpoint, that indeed is a disaster."

"Miss Hexia always has such unique insights," during the two months here, many Grey Feather Species in the rich district gradually came to know this exotic girl who had traveled from afar.

"But this time, the situation may not be as simple as in previous years," one walked to the window, watching the warriors galloping by outside.

"The city's elite main force has been deployed, indicating severe conditions at the attacked outpost."

"Oh," now, those seated also set aside their leisurely attitudes, looking towards the window.

"Is winter coming...?"

————

About 60 kilometers away from the Shilin Mountain Castle, the winter snowfields reverberated with interwoven gunfire and the clash of blades and spears.

A group of wild men with thick body hair brandished crude weapons, charging at an outpost with wooden chevaux de frise and walls, yelling strange cries. Behind them were warriors wrapped in heavy furs, holding rifles, occasionally using cover to advance.

Their shabby fur coats piled messily on them, layered and sprinkled with snowflakes, blending seamlessly with the surroundings. If lying still, it would be hard to distinguish them from the surrounding branches and snow.

On the wooden walls, similarly dressed members raised bolt-action rifles, continuously firing, taking down and piercing the savages rushing at the wooden walls, the blood splattering onto the snow, partially melting it, emitting wisps of white steam.

After the sacrifice of the frontline savages, many behind managed to reach the foot of the wooden walls, striving to crash against the gate, but the thick wood combined with the ice Condensation made it unusually sturdy.

"Let me handle this," from the rear, a tall man stood from the snowbank, spreading his hands, a Fireball with rolling red Flame swiftly Condensation in the air, then launched forth.

Bang, the Flame exploded on the gate, instantly vaporizing a large amount of steam, crackling as the high temperature spread across the gate, Flames and steam coexisting, after which the nails fixing the wood began to glow red.

Soon, as the charred wood shattered, the gate burst open under the impact of a savage entirely covered in ashes and Flames, and the remaining savages swarmed in, followed by the warriors who also rushed inside.

Half an hour later, the battle inside the outpost ended, with most of the original members residing there killed, a few were bound with ropes, and then led out one by one from the outpost.

After that, the winter's food reserves in the outpost were carted out by these thickly furred people using carts and horses. Seeing the boxes and bags of grain and food, the group voiced cheers of joy, then raised their guns in ecstatic excitement.

As dusk set in, the sound of hoofbeats echoed through the mountains, followed by a long procession holding torches reaching the outpost. These cavalry, dressed in black cloaks and finely armoured breastplates, halted before the breached gate. The leading Captain waved a hand, and a few dismounted, cautiously infiltrating the outpost, emerging again shortly after.