The fireplace in the room was blazing, casting a red glow on half of the floor.
Listening to the crackling of the firewood and looking out of the window at the whistling north wind and falling snow, Azima felt warm all over. Perhaps it was the sequela of rummaging through the garbage for food when she was a child, but her hands would get frostbite in the winter and the skin would crack and molt. After moving to Sleeping Island, it didn't get better. Instead, it got worse because of long-term exposure to salty seawater.
But now, there were only a few shallow cuts on her fingers. There was no trace of blood, and she did not feel any pain. Although compared to the suffering she suffered when she was a vagrant beggar, the frostbite was not unbearable, but no one would complain about less pain. She had almost forgotten about this kind of comfortable feeling that she had just experienced.
The living environment in Neverwinter was indeed indescribably magical. Even the most common houses were very different from those in other towns.
For example, this brick house had thick mortar on both sides of the wall, and every corner of the window was closely connected to the brick. No matter how heavy the snow outside was, the interior would not be affected much. Otherwise, it would be difficult to maintain a sufficient temperature by relying on a fireplace alone. If it were an ordinary house in Valencia, it would have been leaky and the doors and windows would be whistling.
In addition, there was a hole in the fireplace, which could transmit some heat into the bedroom next door. When the fire was extinguished late at night, the bed would basically be warm.
And this was only a small part of what she had found. Similar details could be found everywhere in Neverwinter. The longer she lived in Neverwinter, the more she felt it. Sometimes, Azima could not help but wonder if the city was built for people to live here.
It was a paradise for enjoyment.
As for why it was built in the Western Region, which was the most affected by the Months of Demons, it was because of the strong contrast. The warmth felt in a place like spring all year round was obviously not as impressive as the warmth in a world of ice and snow. The more impossible something was, the more praiseworthy it would be when it was achieved.
For a moment, she almost believed it herself.
"The soup is ready. Dinner is ready." Doris walked out of the kitchen with a pot of thick soup and placed it on the low table in the living room.
"... Thank you." Azima handed him a cushion and sat down at the table.
Two dishes and a soup, all of which were made with mushrooms as the main ingredient. This kind of mushroom was called the Bird Beak Mushroom, which was a specialty of the Western Region. It had an excellent fat texture and fragrant juice. No extra seasoning was needed. As long as some salt was sprinkled on it, it would be delicious no matter how it was cooked. However, she also knew that this was actually the cheapest ingredient in Neverwinter, and its price was comparable to that of wheat.
"Hehe, I took advantage of the market clearance sale and bought a lot of mushrooms to store in the house," Doris said happily. "Even if we run out of food this winter, these mushrooms should be enough for us to last until spring. Although the taste won't be as delicious after a long time, at least it can fill the stomach. "
Azima scooped up a spoonful of soup. In the light of the fire, the oil droplets floating on the surface of the soup reflected a golden luster, which was quite attractive. When she put it into her mouth, the rich fragrance immediately filled her mouth and flowed along the hot soup into her stomach, causing her entire abdomen to warm up.
The taste was still impeccable, but she didn't have the same appetite as before.
After drinking only two spoonfuls of soup, Azima put down the small bowl in her hand.
"What's wrong?" Doris quickly noticed that Azima was acting strangely.
"I'm thinking... whether I made the wrong decision that day." After a long silence, Azima said in a low voice, "Leaving this place should have been my plan alone, but now I've made everyone and their long-lost relatives lose the chance to live a better life. If Whitey and the others hadn't been freed from the Sleeping Spell, they might have lived in a big house with a heater by now, instead of a few people crammed into a small room with no room to turn around. "
"Why do you suddenly say this..." Doris was stunned for a moment and then comforted her. "No matter how small the house is, it's always a shelter. Moreover, their relatives will gradually move out after they save enough money for the down payment. Although it's not as good as the place where the Sleeping Spell lives, I think it's good enough for two people to live in. Compared to the days when we were homeless... "
"But it's different now!" She interrupted Doris, her tone even a little irritable.
Azima had underestimated her own ability and the situation. In the past, she could take everyone to rummage through the garbage for a long time or fight with a group of stray dogs for food. How could she put down her pride and do such a thing now? Even if the other sisters didn't care, she didn't want to make a fool of herself in front of Tilly and the others.
She submitted several job applications to the City hall in the way ordinary residents did, but none of them were approved. The Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Industry all recruited strong adult men, which meant that she couldn't work at the construction site or the furnace area, which had the lowest requirements. In addition, most of the positions required literacy, and those with slightly better pay required a primary education diploma. Even the clerk at the City hall suggested that she go to college to finish her studies first, so as not to delay her bright future.
Among the six of them, only Doris and White Pear had an unstable job. Doris was employed by the Witch Union to reenchant the enchanted copper rod created by Miss Mystery Moon. Her salary was close to that of the witches living in the castle, and she could earn about 30 to 40 silver royals a day. Unfortunately, this job was not available every day. Sometimes, it was less than once a week.
Doris worked as an assistant in a tailor's shop. Since it had nothing to do with her ability, her salary was basically the same as ordinary people, ranging from 15 to 20 silver royals a month, depending on the specific working day.
The other sisters also encountered the same predicament as Azima.
In other words, the living expenses of the six of them fell on Doris and White Pear.
Because of this, the warmer and more comfortable life was, the more Azima felt guilty. She had refused Vendy's kindness because she wanted to prove to Nightingale that she was not a coward. Even without the help of the Sleeping Spell, she could still go on as she wished. However, the current situation undoubtedly made her feel embarrassed.
Therefore, there was a hint of impatience in her voice.
However, as soon as the words left her mouth, Azima regretted it. "Sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"It's okay." Doris held her hand. "I know how you feel. What I want to say is that we all agreed with you and decided to leave the Sleeping Spell together. It's not anyone's fault. As for the living expenses, you don't have to worry about it. You've done so much for us before. Can't you let us pay you back now? "
"Pay me back? I'm not doing this for you."
"Then we'll do the same, okay?" Doris blinked.
"But..." Azima did not know what to say. Looking at the sincere face of Doris, she suddenly felt something surging in her eyes. This feeling, which she had not felt for a long time, was strange, like a rusty iron lock. When it was opened again, it even felt a little sour. However, she tried her best to bear it. As a trusted leader, she had already lost her composure by saying those words. She could not allow herself to make another mistake.
Just then, there was a knock outside the door.
"Who is it?" She quickly looked away, withdrew her hand, and stood up. This was both a question and a cover.
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