“Amy, are you in there?”

It was Noah. Amy quickly opened the door. Noah stepped in and asked.

“You went to the dungeon? Why go alone?”

“I wasn’t alone; I went with Captain Vernon and Melvin.”

“Still, next time, go with me.”

Amy was about to insist that wouldn’t be possible when Noah noticed the statue on the table and stopped.

“What’s that?”

“It’s something I found in the dungeon. I think…”

She paused, debating whether to divulge her suspicions. Meanwhile, Noah didn’t wait for her reply and strode towards the statue, reaching out to touch it.

In that instant, sparks flew with a crackling sound.

“Ah!”

Noah grimaced, covering his ears.

“Your Highness!”

Amy rushed over, worried. Noah forced a smile, though his face had turned pale.

“Does your ear hurt? Let me see.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Relenting to her insistence, Noah lowered his hands. Amy examined his ears, relieved to find only his earring with a black stone slightly swollen but otherwise unharmed.

“What’s this black stone?”

“Oh, it’s a gift from my mother.”

Hearing his response, Amy thought, ‘So this too is part of his mother’s legacy.’ Just then, a humming sound emanated from behind.

“What’s that!”

Startled, they turned to see the statue beginning to operate.

“It’s moving!”

The small sphere in the center slowly started to rotate, and the surrounding larger and smaller spheres began to move as if they were satellites. From the numerous holes in the central sphere, beams of golden light burst forth, creating an awe-inspiring sight.
The beams of light collided with the orbiting spheres, causing numerous scatters. The statue was enveloped in a blinding light, resembling a small torch ablaze with golden flames.

“Incredible…”

The self-moving device, emitting light, was so fantastical that both of them stared at the spectacle with their mouths agape.

After some time, a hurried knock on the door was heard, and the office door swung open as Melvin burst in. He stopped for a moment, his eyes wide as he beheld the device. Regaining his composure, he spoke seriously.

“You must come see this, Your Highness. Something strange is happening.”

Noah, distracted by the rotating device, asked nonchalantly.

“What’s happening?”

Amy turned her gaze to Melvin. Could it be… already?

Melvin, looking extremely flustered and wiping sweat from his brow, stammered.

“The weather outside…”

He grimaced as if he couldn’t believe it himself, swallowed dryly, and continued cautiously.

“It’s getting warmer.”

The ducal castle was in an uproar. Servants, guards, and villagers alike rushed outside, staring in disbelief at the land turning from brown to green.

The cook stood with a large pan in hand, and a laundry maid hugged a basket as big as herself. Women who were drying meat for the winter stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock.

“What on earth…”

As someone muttered in a daze, sweat began to bead slowly on the foreheads of the people. The guards, clad in thick leather armor, were the first to throw off their protective gear. Then, the servants followed suit, dragging off their thickly wrapped cloaks, and the maids shed their head coverings and outerwear to stand in lighter clothes in the open air.

“It’s not cold…”

The people looked at each other, mouths agape, unable to comprehend the situation.

“How can this be possible?”