The elder welcomed the two young girls and the Cang Guard soldier into the room.
The two girls noticed two adorable children curled up, shivering while wrapped in thick clothes. The garments seemed to belong to the adults of the household, with the children tucked inside, looking exceptionally endearing.
A faint smile appeared on their faces. The taller of the two girls said, "Once the warm stones are installed, you'll no longer feel the cold in this room."
The elder froze for a moment and asked, "Honored ladies, what exactly are these warm stones and bright stones?"
The two girls each opened a cloth bag and pulled out a stone tablet.
The taller girl, clearly the more talkative of the two, smiled and explained, "Grandfather, this is a creation of the Court officials. It's quite complicated to explain, but you'll understand once it's installed."
Hearing this, the elder nodded. "Since it's from the Court, it should be installed quickly. Is there anything you need us to do?"
The taller girl shook her head and walked toward the stove.
The other girl moved to the center of the room. Meanwhile, the Cang Guard soldier had already brought a stone chair from the courtyard.
The girl stepped onto the chair, stood on her toes, and lightly pressed the stone tablet to the center beam of the house. The stone seemed to possess some suction power and naturally attached itself to the beam.
Clapping the dust off her hands, she took a thumb-sized spirit crystal from her waist pouch and embedded it into the slot beneath the stone. The crystal fit snugly into place.
After completing her task, she carefully inspected the stone tablet on the beam, checking for any mistakes.
The taller girl, on the other hand, had already approached the stove where the two children, Dashun and Nannan, were huddled. She attached her stone tablet to the stove and embedded a spirit crystal into it as well.
The elder, Dashun, and Nannan were completely engrossed in the girls' actions, curiosity written all over their faces.
The girl standing on the chair confirmed there were no issues. Softly, she said, "Bright Light!"
An unusual flow of light coursed through the stone tablet, outlining an intricate pattern of runes.
Under the stunned gazes of the three onlookers, the stone tablet slowly emitted light!
Within a mere few seconds, the entire house was illuminated, every corner becoming vividly clear—brighter than broad daylight!
"This…
This…
Is this divine power?"
The elder's mouth fell open as he stared at the glowing stone tablet above, utterly speechless.
Dashun and Nannan also widened their eyes, staring intently at the luminous rune stone.
The light it emitted was peculiar—though extremely bright, it didn't hurt the eyes at all. Moreover, the light seemed to flow like water, spreading into the two adjacent bedrooms, illuminating them completely despite the wooden doors being only slightly ajar.
"Grandfather, this isn't divine power. This is the Court's masterpiece, created by the Rune Officials. It's called a Bright Stone. If you need light, simply say 'Bright Light,' and it will turn on. To turn it off, say 'Bright Light' again."
The girl explained with a sincere smile.
She had installed countless Bright Stones in the homes of Taicang's people and had grown used to their astonished reactions. But she never grew tired of it—she loved these moments. After a few seconds of shock, their awe always turned into pure joy.
This family was no exception. When the young boy, about eleven or twelve, softly tested saying "Bright Light" a few times, the stone turned on and off repeatedly. The elder's aged face flushed with color.
His eyes shone with joy, and his trembling hands clasped together. "Wonderful!
Wonderful!
Truly wonderful!"
Humans had always yearned for light. Their natural abilities didn't grant them vision in the dark.
Whenever Day's End arrived, they had to endure two long months of darkness.
Even those living close to the administrative centers or main roads often gathered under streetlights, even without any purpose, just to stand there for a while. The sheer length of darkness was unbearable.
Those further away from the lights sometimes attempted the same, but after too many fell to their deaths or froze on the way, the Court strictly forbade such gatherings.
This decree was harsh but necessary, and the people understood.
Day's End would always pass, and light would return, but life only came once.
But now!
A small stone tablet from the Court could burst forth with such brilliant light!
The elder's joy was indescribable, his eyes welling up with tears.
"If only we'd had Bright Stones earlier, who knows how many lives could've been saved in Taicang!"
He thought of his son. If there had been light to guide him, perhaps he wouldn't have stumbled to his death.
Taking a deep breath, the elder was about to speak when the taller girl's voice rang out: "Raise the Furnace!"
The stone tablet attached to the old stove glowed, outlining a rune. The elder saw the flames within the stove suddenly roar to life and turn a bright blue.
The once weak, barely warm stove now emitted a surge of heat that spread throughout the house.
The temperature didn't rise gradually—it increased rapidly and suddenly. The moment the stone lit up, everyone in the room felt the warmth.
It was as if they had stepped into the most comfortable spring-summer day. The cold and dampness vanished completely.
Dashun and Nannan, bundled up like two chubby little pandas, suddenly felt overheated. They quickly shed their parents' thick clothing.
"This stone is called a Warm Stone. I believe you understand its effect now. Its operation is similar to the Bright Stone. You simply say 'Raise the Furnace' to activate it."
The taller girl smiled as she watched the two children running around the room freely.
The elder stared fixedly at the stove, his mouth opening as if he had forgotten what he wanted to say.
"Grandfather, these two rune stones are extremely valuable. They are the combined effort of the Nation's ruler, Rune Pavilion officials, Taicang Academy scholars, and the Cang Guard soldiers. Their cost is significant, so I hope you'll take good care of them."
"These stones are also fragile. Please never remove them. And while they are precious, don't hesitate to use them during cold nights or darkness. But when Day's End passes, and summer arrives, please don't waste them."
The elder remained speechless, staring at the stove, recalling the countless freezing nights of the past.
Nights when they huddled by the stove, afraid to sleep for fear their blood would freeze, stopping their hearts. Such stories were too common.
But now…
The two girls and the Cang Guard soldier quietly left the house, the soldier taking the heavy stone chair back to its original place.
They didn't wish to disturb the elder's joy.
Dashun, however, gave the three of them a deep bow.
The taller girl laughed softly and pointed toward the Court.
Dashun pressed his lips together, took Nannan's hand, and turned toward the palace, kneeling in gratitude.
They weren't the only ones.