In early September, High Castle still retained some of August's heat, which dissipated along with the rolling floodwaters.
From along the Honey River, two branches split off downstream.
One branch, the Kolo River, heads west to Langsande County, while another, the Silver Mantis River, crosses Reif County and rejoins the Nao'an River.
At the junction of Si'an Mountain and King's Path lies a protruding flat-topped hill that people call Angel Plateau.
On Angel Plateau, by the banks of the Silver Mantis River, stands the capital of Shangruifo County, the location of the Shangruifo District's cathedral — High Castle.
A series of red-roofed buildings, ten-story square white stone towers, tree-lined avenues with carriages parked, and ubiquitous crucifixes.
Among them, the golden crucifix on the church dome shines the brightest.
Although more than half of Shangruifo County has been submerged by floods, there is no sign of tension on the streets of High Castle.
