Santonkaya is backed by the coastline.
But there is no boat in the village.
Because no one knows how many years this sea has been frozen.
If you look at the horizon when the snow and fog have cleared, you can see an inlet composed of two huge shadows, but they are not cliffs or steep slopes, but icebergs, shaped like the horns of a bison leaping from the bottom of the sea.
The villagers have to paddle their ice sleds for two days and two nights to reach the bottom of the "horns" and the end of the ice sheet.
The coastline is obviously occupied by the ice sheet, but the melted snow on the mountain can flow normally.
Kuima once had such doubts. The priests and elders in the tribe always used the old gods to fool them - it is said that the winter mother used the ice sheet to hide the treasure in the sea, and the divine power made it not melt all year round.
"No one said it was false."
"No one believed it was true."
The morning in Palotusbi was cold and crisp.
Ken listened to a conversation.
He stamped his feet on the ice in his military boots, and it felt harder than frozen soil.
Zhan Jing originally planned to supervise the reconstruction of the wall, but halfway there, he was called here by a fisherman, who invited him to see the Ice Eye.
When the preparations were completed, the crowd dragged their sleds to walk outside the ice.
They walked on the ice for a long time until Sandon Kaya became blurred behind them.
The first thing that came into view was a few stone pillars engraved with totems, which were inserted crookedly into the ice surface, and were connected to each other by chains to form rings. The steel was frozen hard in the north wind and could not make any sound.
When he approached, a deep pit with a diameter of ten steps appeared in front of him.
It looked like a crater, and the edges were all traces of excavation. It was said that the ancestors of Sandon Kaya spent several years to dig out and maintain such a small space.
Ken held the stone pillar and looked down into the pit.
At a glance, the uneven ice chips looked like waves that were frozen in an instant, and the ripples and layers could still be vaguely distinguished.
[Ice Eye]
[Under the eternally sealed sea surface, there are countless resources. Its opening time is not fixed. Because of the current limited means, only the shallowest fish can be salvaged. ]
"Zhan Jing, wait a moment."
The fisherman handed over the heater. His breath turned into frost, and white spots formed on his beard. He rubbed his hands and unloaded the fishing net tens of meters deep from the sled with his companions.
The preparations were not complicated.
The sun rose two fingers higher, and suddenly someone shouted.
A purple light streaked across the horizon in the distance, and ripples appeared in the gray sky. The clouds kept fluctuating and slowly swung towards this side.
Ken stopped and looked up.
The fishermen were not surprised.
This phenomenon occurs every month, for hundreds of years.
Some people in the North have also explored the source of the change, but they haven't heard any reliable rumors. They only know that it is in the direction of the [Sea of the End].
Santon Kaya is located in a remote area, and because it is backed by the coastline, it can see the end of this scenery.
The ripples are divided into three times.
If the fishermen see the first one when they get up early, they will set off with a sled loaded with fishing nets, and the second ripples will appear in front of them.
Ken didn't feel the wind.
But the cold air penetrated the winter clothes and rushed up from his ankles, and the ice sheet under his feet, which was originally as solid as a rock, began to tremble.
The debris in the [Ice Eye] continued to break.
From above, it seemed that an invisible giant hand crushed a piece of cake, and the debris was carried away by the ocean current. The salty and humid sea breeze blew out from the dark hole, and then the gurgling water surged up and seeped to the feet of everyone.
Under the turbid water surface, there seemed to be a black shadow flashing.
The Sandunkaya people shouted "Mother Winter" and thanked nature for its gift.
They were simple-minded and smiled as they placed the net beams, fixed the thick ropes and winches on the stone pillars, and began to bet randomly on the fish they could bring back today.
Ken took a deep breath.
He felt a chill on his back and took two steps back unconsciously.
[Ice Eye] unveiled the veil, and the sea water kept beating against the edge.
It was like a deep well, and like the end of the world. Countless ancient legends and secrets were hidden under the abyss.
…
The wait was very long.
The fishermen sat in a circle and fed the campfire with dry firewood.
"The fishing season has just started. In previous years, we would build snow houses to shelter from the wind and rain." The person who spoke pointed the direction to Zhan Jing, and looking along the way, there were only a few pieces of ice that could not be seen in their original form.
Ken took the food and drinks and listened to the old fishing anecdotes.
He realized that the third wave might not come until several weeks later, when the ice would solidify in the blink of an eye, and the tools currently available would definitely not be able to break it.
Fishermen would take turns living near the [Ice Eye], collecting and releasing nets every day, and using sleds to transport the fish back to the village.
"The severe winter is almost over, and when the mountain road thaws, caravans will pass by frequently."
Sell the fish that cannot be eaten to them in exchange for living necessities and a small amount of property, and save some money to cross the mountain to enjoy the "Spring Festival".
[Ice Eye]
[Production: +150 Food/Day]
Ken's eyes appeared with notes.
He breathed a sigh of relief. In addition to hunting, it was also a stable source of food. At the current stage, the only thing that could be done should be to rebuild the [Berry Field].
As for the planned [Grazing Area], it would have to wait until the number of troops was large enough before considering it.
The fishermen began to break the icicles on the sea surface and grind out large ice bricks. They were quite skilled. Before the first net could be harvested, the [Ice House for Fish Keepers] was already formed.
Several strong men held the capstan tightly.
They buried their heads and exerted their strength, shouting inspiring slogans.
Hualala——
The fishing net was gradually raised, and the sound of fish tails hitting the water surface was heard.
Ken joined in, and together with his subjects, they used hair hooks to catch fish as heavy as ice bricks and threw them far away. They only needed to wait for the net to be collected, and the cold wind would blow the accumulated water on the fish into ice shells, which could both keep them fresh and facilitate transportation.
Each one was plump, but they looked more casual.
Some had black and purple skin, or half of their fangs were exposed, and their cheeks had fine hair...
The sled had become much heavier than when they came. They didn't have snow lizards, so they could only pull it back by manpower. Fortunately, the bottom plate was polished very smoothly, so it was not very uncomfortable to pull it.
"Not only can they be eaten," the fisherman explained to Zhan Jing with a silly smile.
"They have many treasures, such as some internal organs and crystals, which are considered basic consumables for magic. Every season, people come to the village to collect them."
Ken nodded, and he and everyone talked about the past of other villages.
With the help of different people's memories, he enriched the Sandon Kaya in his mind.
Going back along the way, the vague outline became clear. The patrolling wolf cavalry found them, and soon villagers ran out of the street to receive the fish.
"Zhan Jing, you have worked hard."
Everyone greeted Ken, and the scholars who were watching also respected him.
He nodded in return, took off his cotton gloves and wear-resistant shawl, and walked towards the outskirts of the village.
Before he got close, the sound of bangs came into his ears.
Starting this morning, both the troops and the residents were assigned work.
Among them, the group of scholars was also included.
Burke Bartley, who has the highest position, sets an example by personally participating in the reconstruction work with his white hair and beard. The rest of the people don't say much either, just regard it as a way to make up for the missed training during their studies.