The sun is high

"The compilation of this book is, to a certain extent, to fulfill the last wish left by my mentor."

"For many years, we have regarded the revolution in Salem City at the end of 2699 in the Cathar Calendar as the real beginning of the new era. However, in fact, the public still knows very little about what happened that year. After analyzing a large number of textual materials, Through repeated verification and interviews with some insiders, we can confirm that the details of the changes in Salem City are far more complicated than we imagined."

"What caused this incident and caused subsequent serious consequences was not just the conflict between magic and steam, nor was it just the collision between countries and interest alliances. Many factors collided, connected and ultimately related to each other in a very short period of time. Together, they jointly caused the world war that ended the Kartel calendar and Van En's nearly three hundred years of peace, and finally confirmed the ancient prophecy that people feared."

"As this introduction is written, many questions about Vann's past are still widespread."

"These problems are national, ethnic, and racial... To this day, although the hostility between many different groups has eased, due to historical and cultural reasons, it is still rooted in all corners of the world. …When the wave of the Dark Abyss comes again, these contradictions and emotions will sweep over Van En again, which is something none of us want to see.”

"The changes in Salem City are only the beginning of this book. We aim to reveal the inseparable connections between the countries, nations and races in Van En. We hope that the content of this book will enable readers to understand the various countries and races in Van En." There is a more macro understanding of changes and development.”

"As the mentor said: The Sinar Sea goes back and forth, but Van En always moves forward."

"Let's encourage you all."

"——The scholars of Van En Magic Society, compiled in the 99th year of Black Sun."

"Excerpted from "Dark Abyss, Van En and Races"."

…

Winter festival.

The most important festival on the Lovi Plateau, a large number of ancient traditions, fables and stories give this festival a lot of special meaning.

The St. Steele people believe that the Cold Winter Festival is the day when the God of Life sleeps, so after passing through the Cold Winter Festival, the whole world will become colder. Spring will not come until the God of Life reawakens, so they will On this day, very traditional prayers and sacrificial rituals are performed to express respect for life and hope that the God of Life will awaken again.

The residents of the Goddess Plain believe that the Winter Festival is a test set by the gods for mankind. As long as they successfully survive the cruel winter, they can usher in the spring when all things revive...

Even the mages of Merlin Lehe will follow the traditions of the North and the spellcasters and regard the Winter Festival as the most important magic ceremony day - on this day, the magic power in Van En will be more stable than ever, which is very important. Suitable for performing certain important and rigorous rituals.

But this year's Winter Festival has become an exception.

Because in the Isa River Basin near the northern border, local fighting has already started in advance.

As the Isa River completely froze, the front that had been controlled by Saint Steele's army began to move.

At first, only a few teams tentatively crossed the frozen river and explored on the other side of the Isa River. But as the bad weather intensified, the Saint Steele people became more bold in their actions-they deliberately crossed the frozen river in some places. Temporary guard towers were erected at delicate locations, and they even deliberately entered plain villages near the border areas and mercilessly plundered some of the supplies stored there.

This behavior has already posed a threat to the defense line itself, so the army of the Principality of Imope responsible for the garrison took response actions as a matter of course.

Fierce bloody conflicts broke out in two woods in the Isa River Basin, with both sides suffering casualties.

In the past, this situation would have involved a long period of intrigues at the negotiation table, but this time, the Kingdom of St. Steele was obviously itching for help. After this bloody conflict, they immediately took the initiative to escalate the situation. Expand.

Relying on the advantage of weapons, two days before the arrival of the Winter Festival, the St. Steele Artillery Position on the west bank of the Isa River launched a ferocious bombardment towards the predetermined position that directly violated the "war etiquette". During this bombardment , St. Steele's army moved out its world-famous "Snowfield Cannon".

This extremely heavy magic crystal cannon has an exaggerated range and amazing power that exceeds that of ordinary crystal cannon weapons. However, it is too bulky and cannot be easily transported, and can only be used as a city defense weapon.

Of course, Xiuge had some expectations for the power of this special weapon, but when he learned its true performance from others, he was inevitably stunned.

According to reports, the magic explosion caused by just one shelling of the Snowfield Cannon successfully destroyed less than half of the artillery positions of the Principality of Imop. The horrific impact and the direct casualties caused by it made it impossible for the defenders' crystal cannons to organize effective In this case, the St. Steele army advanced brazenly, directly destroying the forward position of the Principality of Imop and completing the forward push of the line of control.

If we say, the changes in Salem City were the trigger for this war.

Then before the Winter Festival, the "Issa Bombardment" that occurred in the Issa River Basin announced the official start of this grand war.

Although before that, everyone thought that the war would break out completely after the Winter Festival, but when it was brought forward for one reason or another, everyone chose to remain silent.

Strange scenes appeared on the streets of the city.

The decorations, sculptures, banners or huge picture frames used to celebrate the Winter Festival are still placed, but near them, you can always find various propaganda posters about conscription, war bonds, and wartime regulations.

The giant-eared goblins in the city are now in constant fear.

As the "white gloves" raised by major families and officials, they are destined to be abandoned one day because they are stained with blood and dirt, and now is the time - collaboration with the enemy, treason, smuggling of important alchemical materials, leaking intelligence And ordnance research and development secrets...

Charges like these that can scare people to death just by hearing them have been thrown at them one after another. In the past week alone, Bolden alone has been sentenced to mental interrogation or shooting as many as a hundred "key criminals". Of course there are abandoned giant-eared goblins among them, but there are also many unlucky ones who have been brought to the table.

In this atmosphere, no matter who it is, they will make certain psychological preparations for what is about to happen.

Therefore, when a recruitment notice signed by the council and the military was delivered to Shuge, he was still in a very calm mood. After all, he had already received the exact information from Wei Lin before.

This is destined to be a war that will involve everyone.

Even though he has a special status now and is under the dual attention of the Walter royal family and the Ernst family, as long as his name has appeared on the list of members of the Mage Council, he is destined to have no way to escape such a large-scale attack. recruitment.

"This is a good thing, this is a good thing!"

When Shuge told Old Zeke that he had received the recruitment notice, the old man was extremely magnanimous and satisfied. As a very typical Votel soldier, he did not think that joining the army and rushing to the front would be a bad thing. .

On the contrary, it is the best way to truly hone your abilities and fully integrate into a country.

Of course, the old man did not hide from Shuge the arrangements and operations he could make in this regard - with the power and connections of the Ernst family, and the support provided by the Walter royal family, Ernst The children of the family will have a safer journey to the battlefield than most people.

"Go and see the battlefield, go and see this era of change... Only after seeing it with your own eyes can you understand more things."

This is what Old Zeke said when he sent Shuge out of the study.

At his level, even if he sends his juniors to the battlefield to be gilded, he can still say it very openly. That kind of indifferent attitude, Xiuge thinks that he may not be able to do it without decades of accumulation. of.

Almost on the same day, a considerable number of mages, alchemy apprentices and doctors in the entire city of Bolden received similar recruitment notices, and the military did not leave too many adjustments and adjustments for these recruits because of the arrival of the Winter Festival. The relaxation time was very clearly written on the notice, requiring the recruits to register and report immediately to the Alchemy Physician College located on the outskirts of Bolden within three days after receiving the notice.

"School of Alchemical Physicians..."

Xiuge read softly for a moment, then he turned to look at the guard Duden who was following him. This guy had been following Xiuge these days, and the two of them were already very familiar with each other. Although Duden was in most cases Most of the time, he still insists on his discipline and responsibilities as a guard, but the conversation between the two is not so polite and tactful.

Duden looked at the recruitment notice in Shuge's hand, with a somewhat complicated expression on his face: "I didn't expect you would actually join the army."

"What? It's beyond your expectation?"

"That's not..."

Duden scratched his head: "Although your family should have made comprehensive arrangements, the battlefield is a battlefield, and sometimes a missed crystal shell can kill someone... When we were in the military camp before, Many people are still discussing you, and everyone thinks it is a waste to let people like you go to the battlefield."

"What's the meaning?"

"You just need to stay behind and write more... Even if it's an encouragement to everyone, without your works, now everyone doesn't like to hoard those magazines. It's boring."

"I also have time to write in the military camp. After all, my work may not be so busy by then."

"Wow."

While they were talking, the two of them had already arrived at the gate of the manor in a carriage. Their next destination was the Alchemy Physician Academy. Xiuge planned to get these things done as soon as possible. After all, he still had a lot of magic topics in his hands.

Without exception, these topics were all thrown by Wei Lin. After she discovered that Shuge's efficiency in learning magic was extremely amazing, and her control over magic power had also improved, she directly entered the state of "strict teacher" and read various books. , notes and magic problems would "appear" on Shuge's desk on time every day, while she herself plunged into the study of "Poetry of the Night" and sorcery.

Speaking of which, Xiuge hadn't seen her for several days, but he knew without even thinking that Weilin's current image was probably not much different from the workaholic female colleagues he was familiar with in his previous life.

On the street with a strong war atmosphere, the Ernst family's vehicles were driving fast. Shuge looked out the window and asked: "Duden, I remember you mentioned before that Miss Sally is at the Alchemy Physician College. ?”

"Yes, the Alchemy Physician College is very close to the station of our Chasseur Regiment. This recruitment work should also be supported by us... But Miss Sally's study time is still very short. I don't know whether she will be able to do it this time. Will move with the army."

"I'll ask again when I see her later."

"Sir, Miss Sally must miss you very much. This makes many people in the military camp very envious..."

In response, Xiuge smiled and said nothing.

The Bolden School of Alchemy Physicians has been jokingly known as the "Merlin Lehe of Plateau Doctors" for a long time in the past. Although this is obviously an exaggeration, it is enough to illustrate the importance of this college to alchemy doctors. extent.

The vehicle had stopped some distance away from the college. Because there were so many people here, the movement of the vehicle was affected, so Xiuge had to get out of the car and walk.

Although the Kingdom of Votel treats soldiers strictly, it is also very considerate in its treatment. After Xiuge took a few steps, he saw people carrying uniforms, firearms, and personal tools and supplies coming from the academy. Walked out.

Some of them also received small subsidies, and most of these people were only children in ordinary families.

And here, Shuge not only saw humans, but also saw figures such as giant-eared goblins, mountain elves, and plateau dwarves. They were also residents of the kingdom that had been officially recognized by Walter, so while enjoying benefits, they naturally also Will assume the responsibility of enlisting in the army.

"I thought I was going to see an ogre."

"Those big guys are too violent and unstable, so the army usually comes directly to recruit them... You will see it later."

Duden replied softly, and then he raised his hand and pointed in a direction: "We should go there, you are the spell caster, and the recruitment must be carried out under the supervision of the Council...I will wait for you here."

Shuge nodded. He took out his Mage Council's ID card and recruitment notice, and followed the directions on the roadside toward the recruitment site for the Mage Council.

Compared with other passages, there are much fewer people here, so the appearance of Shuge naturally attracted the attention of the college students who were assisting in the recruitment work. Some of them recognized Shuge's skin color and hair color. Characteristics, so they turned their backs and discussed secretly.