Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 770 - 769: Early in the Year

In the blink of an eye, winter is already halfway over. The tumultuous year of Anzu 738 (The First Year of Cecil) concluded amidst a fierce snowstorm in the depths of winter, and time has reached the beginning of the year.

In the past year, this ancient yet young nation has indeed experienced many changes—the fading of former royal power, the reunification of the once-divided country, disasters akin to natural calamities, large-scale reconstruction, reshuffling of the old aristocratic systems, and the dawn of a new era...

Mysteriously, it seemed as if a god controlling destiny had suddenly overturned His table, causing upheaval throughout the kingdoms. Only when the dust settled did people slowly realize: the world has changed.

At the southern borders of rocky ridges Town, a brand new Magic-guided Train is quietly stationed beside the platform, waiting for the departure command.

The piercing cold wind ravages and dances outside the platform, lifting loose snowflakes and lighter dead branches into the air. However, a hazy, translucent barrier envelops the platform’s edge, blocking the cold winds swirling towards the inside. On the rectangular platform, furnished with two rows of long benches, some travelers are seated waiting for the train’s arrival, while others, under the guide’s instructions, are boarding the train nearby.

Most of these travelers wear the newly popular, activity-friendly closed-cuff coats and straight-leg trousers that have become trendy in the southern borders in recent years, with thick soft or felt hats on their heads. A few wear older-style long and short cloaks, while the women mostly wear ”simple long skirts” that balance practicality and attractiveness, with additional warm cotton garments beneath. A few women even opt for coats and trousers designed specifically for ladies.

For newcomers to this area, it is an incredible sight—in Anzu 736, even in the southern borders, it was rare to see civilian women wearing trousers that ”transgress the norms” because mainstream religions like the Blood God, War God, and Holy Light God, as well as local aristocrats, often had strict regulations:

Only noblewoman ladies of higher status had the right to wear riding breeches or fencing trousers for hunting or martial arts, or various ceremonial dresses and courtly long skirts for banquets. These garments were considered ”appropriate for aristocratic life and dignified,” while civilian women, in any circumstance, were not allowed to wear ”rule-breaking” trousers, shorts, or dresses in ”vivid colors other than black, white, brown, or gray” (unless registered as prostitutes), otherwise they would face fines from the church or nobles, or even be punished with ”offending doctrine” or ”transgressing norms,” possibly leading to enslavement.

It was not until Frost Month of Anzu 736, when the White Knight led the people to break open the great cathedral in Lu’an City, that the Supreme Administration Office issued a decree nullifying the private armed forces and ecclesiastical trial rights of churches within the territory, and these restrictions began to loosen. Now, after more than two years of changing customs, some bold and generally educated civilian women have finally started wearing trousers out.

However, outside the southern borders, general education has just begun, and the changing of customs has barely started. Even if the Administrative Office encourages people to accept the new social order, few dare to challenge those old customs that have not completely faded.

In the rear half of the train, within a special carriage, Victoria Wilder, with long silver hair, clad in a courtly dress with an aura of cool elegance and nobility, withdrew her gaze from the window and nodded to the slightly plump aristocrat seated opposite: ”Earl Balin, what do you think?”

This northern Grand Governor recently completed her phase of affairs in St. Soniel. Due to work requirements, she is heading to the imperial capital to report, and she brought along several officials from the St. Soniel Administrative Office and Earl Balin, who assists her in handling St. Soniel affairs.

The slightly plump Earl Balin looked at the platform outside with a somewhat complex expression: ”...Many things are indeed unprecedented—I once considered myself not exceptionally knowledgeable but still fairly experienced, yet here, I struggle to find suitable adjectives.”

Saying this, the aristocrat of the capital couldn’t help but shake his head: ”Regardless, this place does indeed embody the rumors of ’challenging conventions.’ I can’t distinguish those outside—who are commoners, who are townsfolk, and who are aristocrats... Oh, aristocrats can still be identified; that gentleman with an attendant, walking with his head high, should be a minor noble, but the rest are really hard to judge.”

Victoria didn’t comment on Earl Balin’s words, only glancing out of the window again, murmuring as if to herself, ”Richer and more vibrant than any place in the North.”

”Indeed, commoners wear fairly exquisite clothing, and those women wearing men’s clothes... Ah, I shouldn’t evaluate women so crudely, but it’s my first time seeing beyond lady’s riding breeches and fencing trousers...” Earl Balin seemed to suddenly run out of words, awkwardly shrugging, ”And look at those dresses, how colorful they are, each one seemingly brand new.”

”Trade with the Typhon Empire brought inexpensive textiles, plus our own textile and clothing factories. ’Clothes’ are no longer luxury items for commoners,” Victoria said indifferently, ”In the South, what’s broken is not just the ’price’ of clothes, but the ’customs’ entangled in these daily necessities as well...”

Earl Balin sighed, ”The ’custom regulations’ in the southern borders seem exceptionally relaxed. I can’t believe that so many churches and nobles accepted the new decrees established by the Administrative Office so quickly and embraced various ritual regulations changes... In this regard, they seem smarter than those stubborn churches and nobles in the North.”

”’Smart’?” Victoria’s eyes, seemingly filled with ice and snow, quietly glanced at Earl Balin, ”Earl Balin, the clergymen and nobles in the South became ’enlightened’ only after the artillery strike at Broken Stone Ridge and the grand trial in Lu’an City. The same logic applies to the northern barbarians who suddenly transformed from brave warriors to those skilled in singing and dancing after the Mountain Corps was established.”

With a slightly confused expression from Earl Balin, the northern ”Ice Duchess” seemed to slightly curl the corners of her mouth, murmuring as if every word was self-directed, ”What I’ve seen here, perhaps gives me a hint...”

Earl Balin suddenly felt a chill, but feeling cold beside Duchess Victoria is quite normal, and he quickly adapted. He then twisted his neck, glancing around and then at the carriage entrance not far away.

The accompanying attendants, guards, maids, and officials are the only passengers in this carriage. Behind this carriage are two specially crafted carriages with resting rooms, also occupied by the Grand Governor’s party—but Earl Balin knows that aside from these, there are many other ”ordinary” passengers on this train, and the carriages they occupy are only theirs during the journey. After the journey ends, these carriages will welcome new travelers.

Because all this belongs to ”the public.”

It makes Earl Balin, used to his own household’s carriage and private gryphon, feel slightly uncomfortable.

”Duchess, why did you choose to take the ’train’?” He couldn’t help but ask, ”A private Magic-guided Vehicle or gryphon would be more befitting for your status...”

”Have you experienced the ’train’?” Victoria’s gaze swept over Earl Balin, casually asking.

”I... haven’t,” Earl Balin shook his head, ”You know, the North doesn’t have this yet.”

”I haven’t either, so I want to experience it,” Victoria said calmly, ”Every time I come here, there are many things worth... experiencing.”

As she spoke, she turned her head, looking at the scenery on the platform through the transparent crystal glass beside the train carriage.

A massive mechanical clock stands at the central platform, with long, iron-black hands jumping notch by notch.

Earl Balin saw Victoria’s actions and couldn’t help but be curious: ”What are you looking at?”

On the platform, some passengers waiting for the next train and several staff members unknowingly gathered near the mechanical clock, collectively raising their heads to watch the jumping hands, observing the gears rotating behind the transparent glass windows below the dial, their faces bearing expressions of anticipation and happiness.

”Things soon to be promoted throughout the entire Empire.”

The mechanical clock’s second hand advances notch by notch towards the top, while on both sides of the platform, the holographic projections indicating halting boarding have risen, and rhythmical vibrations faintly resonate from the train carriage’s base.

”Promoted throughout the Empire? Clock? This thing exists in the North too—though mostly only in churches and noble homes...”

Earl Balin’s words were barely finished when the long hand aligned with the topmost point of the dial, and almost simultaneously, a melodious whistle suddenly echoed from the top of the carriage, resonating throughout the platform, startling Earl Balin in the carriage.

The repulsion mechanisms on both sides of the entire train clatter and synchronize direction, magic symbols sequentially lighting up, and this massive steel machine, amidst a loud roar, starts to accelerate gradually, beginning its drive into the wilderness.

”It’s about punctuality, Earl Balin,” Victoria Wilder withdrew her gaze from the window, ”and the pursuit of ’punctuality.’ It’s part of the new order.”

On the gradually receding platform, those staring at the mechanical clock, waiting for the train’s departure, passengers and staff had already joyfully applauded; some even cheered softly.

This was a bit of entertainment when bored and a ”southern border specialty” on platforms across the lands. Recently, it had gradually become popular among train passengers and station staff as ”waiting entertainment.”

Trains are not always on time; the word ”delay” is a regular in the railway system. But even so, the King still ordered that unified mechanical clocks be set up at every station and on every train, calibrated uniformly through the Magic Web Communication spreading across the southern borders, while optimizing and adjusting the vehicle dispatching processes continuously.

Since the factories in Cecil Castle began operating, the Supreme Administration Office has been striving to introduce ”time awareness” into people’s lives. These mechanical clocks at the stations are evidently part of this effort.

Efforts eventually bear fruit—at least people are already pursuing punctuality, and trains departing on time are something to be proud of for the people of the southern borders.

...

Victoria Wilder, the Grand Governor from the north, will be coming to the southern borders to report in the near future.

In a house on the southern street of the Mage District in Cecil Castle, Fendil Weld, with short silver-white hair and a tall stature, stood in front of the window facing the street, holding a newspaper bought earlier this morning, his gaze falling on a headline on the front page.

The newspaper was heavy, the headline was heavy, and so was the heart.

A knock on the door suddenly came, Fendil raised his somewhat heavy head, adjusted his expression, and said politely, ”Please come in.”

The door opened, Elywen Franklin appeared outside, the heir from the West holding a newspaper as well, waving it as he entered the room: ”Fendil, Duchess Victoria seems to be coming to the southern borders soon!”

Fendil weakly raised the newspaper in his hand: ”I already know.”

”Oh... right, you also have the habit of reading the newspaper,” Elywen nodded in realization, then curiously looked at Fendil’s expression, ”What’s wrong, my friend, you seem to be not in a good mood?”

Fendil couldn’t help but glare at him: ”Probably equivalent to how you’d feel if you suddenly learned your father will visit you tomorrow.”

”Ah, then I would be very happy,” Elywen said cheerfully, ”After all, I’ve just passed all the first-level exams of the four academies. Mr. Santis said I’m the only one in this batch of students who passed the exams of the four academies at once—proving that my days of staying up late reading books and consulting with mentors were very effective...”

Fendil couldn’t help but cover his forehead.

He had almost forgotten how shocking Elywen’s talent in ”studying” could be.

And he himself was more skilled in frost spells and other combat techniques.

So he only passed the first-level exam of the military academy and... heavily biased.

The aristocratic knowledge, emblems, etiquette, and artistic knowledge he possessed were not entirely useless at the academy, but... all considered electives.

Thinking of his always strict aunt, the usually optimistic and cheerful Fendil couldn’t help but feel heavy-hearted again, as though filled with ice and frozen earth from the northern parts.

If he had known earlier, he should have understood the detailed subjects taught at the ”Imperial Academy” before setting out. Although none of this would have helped him quickly improve his grades, it could at least have prepared his mind better.

Looking at Fendil’s changing expression, Elywen could easily guess what he was thinking. He patted his friend’s shoulder—it took some effort as he was considerably shorter than Fendil: ”Relax a bit, my friend, didn’t you say before? Coming to the south, the academy is just part of ’learning.’ The ’Magic Shadow Drama’ we created with Philem is complete, isn’t that equally worth celebrating?”

”Magic Shadow Drama...”

Upon hearing this word, Fendil’s inner turmoil indeed eased quite a bit.

Yes, after such long efforts, with many people dedicating substantial energy and effort, the world’s first ”Magic Shadow Drama” was finally completed.

He couldn’t help but turn his head, his gaze landing outside the window.

The large announcement promoting the Magic Shadow Drama (referred to as a ’poster’ by the King) is already posted by the roadside. The upcoming Magic Web radio programs are also introducing and promoting this new creation. Now, he can faintly see the poster content across the street—

A mechanical ship loaded with passengers sails on the wide Gorgon River, several distinctly featured main characters emerge in the background of the image, below the whole scene is the final title of the Magic Shadow Drama—

”Immigrants”

Simple, straightforward, and unadorned.

”Indeed... this event brought me a sense of ’pride’ that I’ve never experienced in the past decades,” Fendil laughed, speaking with a sigh, ”I never thought that shedding all identity notions and traditional rules, and working together with many from various classes and environments to accomplish something could be so joyful.”

Elywen also smiled: ”I’m glad I listened to your advice then and participated in this meaningful endeavor...”

Fendil glanced at his friend, smiling, reaching out to pat his shoulder.

”So, my friend, let me copy the answers to the second set of geometry questions.”

”...?’