Change of Seasons | Winter
For the past few days, it had been brisk, but not cold. Autumn had just barely arrived before the first bit of snow started to fall during the past few nights. It was hardly a warning for the sudden blizzard that hit Somarium last night.
When everyone woke up, they found everything covered in snow. The scarecrows could have been mistaken for snowmen before they moved and shook it off. Or perhaps they might consider sharing some of that snow, hurling snowballs at random a passerby caught unawares.
Snow wasn't the only change. Despite winter going at full force around it, the onsen looked untouched with no snow around it. Steam from its warm waters could be seen, as if to welcome anyone to come for a nice, warm relaxing dip. The water park in the residential district turned into a snowboarding facility.
The lake may be a bit chilly, but only parts of it ever ice over, and it always changes. One day the eastern shore may be covered in thin ice, but then later it could move to the west. The ponds, however, are completely iced over. For any who tried to skate, they should take heed of the signs that popped up: "CAUTION: THIN ICE NEAR CENTER". The canals remain unfrozen, though its waters tend to change temperature, alternating between hot and freezing. It's amazing how the fish can even survive in there.
With all the changes around them, it would be easy to miss the strange black dot in the distance, far out into the desert. How long it had been there, who knows? But it was there. Just a strange, black dot in the sky. Too far to pose any threat, but too noticeable to be ignored.
And the moon, which had been bright and full for the past couple of weeks, was waning. Fast.
When everyone woke up, they found everything covered in snow. The scarecrows could have been mistaken for snowmen before they moved and shook it off. Or perhaps they might consider sharing some of that snow, hurling snowballs at random a passerby caught unawares.
Snow wasn't the only change. Despite winter going at full force around it, the onsen looked untouched with no snow around it. Steam from its warm waters could be seen, as if to welcome anyone to come for a nice, warm relaxing dip. The water park in the residential district turned into a snowboarding facility.
The lake may be a bit chilly, but only parts of it ever ice over, and it always changes. One day the eastern shore may be covered in thin ice, but then later it could move to the west. The ponds, however, are completely iced over. For any who tried to skate, they should take heed of the signs that popped up: "CAUTION: THIN ICE NEAR CENTER". The canals remain unfrozen, though its waters tend to change temperature, alternating between hot and freezing. It's amazing how the fish can even survive in there.
With all the changes around them, it would be easy to miss the strange black dot in the distance, far out into the desert. How long it had been there, who knows? But it was there. Just a strange, black dot in the sky. Too far to pose any threat, but too noticeable to be ignored.
And the moon, which had been bright and full for the past couple of weeks, was waning. Fast.