The Witches were still awake, still unable to believe they had been taken in by Prince after enduring such a series of hardships. No chains, no guards—just letting everyone stay in the castle, in such spacious and comfortable rooms?
Wendy, sensing her sisters' unease, called them to her room with Nightingale. They gathered around the bed in a circle, chatting to ease the tension.
This is the leader's demeanor, Ye Zi mused. Had it been Haka, she would never have been so meticulous. Even if she had noticed, she wouldn't have bothered to comfort her sisters.
"Your Royal Highness, what will you ask us to do?" the hummingbird asked timidly. "Our abilities are far inferior to yours and Sister Nightingale's." The words struck a chord with the other sisters, who nodded in agreement.
Wendy chuckled with a 'haha,' 'Let me think. Hmm... First, you need to practice your abilities.' 'Practice abilities?' Soraya hesitated. 'Does Your Highness expect me to keep drawing?' 'Highly likely,' Wendy patted Moonlight, who was hunched over nearby. 'You too. Though Hakkara forbids you from using abilities in the camp, Your Highness won't. On the contrary, he'll encourage everyone to master their abilities through practice.' 'My abilities might cause trouble for my sisters,' Moonlight whispered.
"That requires practice too," Wendy declared with unyielding determination. "It's a matter of life and death." "Life and death?" Ye Zi blurted out.
"Exactly, Your Highness Roland has discovered how witches can safely survive the Awakening Day," Nightingale interjected, replacing Wendy. "From now on, we can bid farewell to the torment of Magic Power backlash, and all sisters will live to adulthood." The witches stared at Nightingale in disbelief. "Is this Miss Anna you mentioned last time?" Shujuan asked, surprised. "You said you weren't sure about the exact reason." "Yes, it was just Your Highness's guess at the time, but Nana Wa's Awakening Day later confirmed it—she too escaped unscathed." "So this method is..." Shujuan held her breath.
"Simply consume Magic Power daily," Nightingale explained in measured tones. "The mist allows me to track its fluctuations. Regular use gradually builds up the body's capacity while reducing the torment of phoebus. By the time of awakening, once all Magic Power is depleted, it causes minimal harm." "You can sense the underlying truth," Wendy added. "During the Church's relentless pursuit, we hid in town's shadows, too afraid to use our abilities. That's why many sisters perished each winter. But this year, in the Desolation Mountains 'camp, everyone survived the Demon Moon except Aining and Aishi." "That explains why our encounter with demon phoebus in the wilderness was so brief," Yezi sighed deeply. "The Holy Mountain isn't in that barren wasteland..." "True," Wendy nodded. "It's not a fixed location. Any place that accepts us, treats witches as equals, and allows sisters to wield their powers—such places are Holy Mountains." "Wendy had requested to visit the camp after the Demon Moon ended, to share this with everyone," Nightingale murmured. "Even if we don't find the Holy Mountain, you can survive in the mountains." "Since everyone's back, there's no need to bring it up," Wendy said with a smile, shaking her head. "So whether Your Highness needs your abilities or not, you must practice them daily for your own safety." "If this is the key to neutralizing the Magic Power backlash, have other witches already noticed this?" Shujuan paused before speaking. "We're not the first witch organization to gather. There are other witch alliances in Dawnlight and Wolfheart Kingdom. I sent letters inviting them to join the quest for the Sacred Mountain, but never received a reply." Yezi sighed softly, knowing Shujuan had more to say. Ever since discovering ancient books in an underground ruin of the Eastern Forest, Hakkara had steadfastly led the group on their journey to the Sacred Mountain. The Common Aid Society thus embarked on a long exile, traversing nearly the entire Graycastle. Along the way, they met many new sisters and lost many others. Had they chosen to hide in that ruin from the start, might they have discovered this key earlier?
"We could try contacting the hidden Witches in other cities," Nightingale suggested. "Your Highness Roland has the same plan. He wants to draw the Witches 'attention to this remote town by spreading rumors. If we act as intermediaries, it would undoubtedly ease their wariness." "But I still don't understand why Your Royal Highness took us in," Echo replied, her face blank. This alien woman from the Far South had endured worse than most Witches: first sold by sandfolk to merchants in Greenwater Harbor, then repeatedly trafficked to the capital. She was forced to learn dance, court etiquette, and even the art of pleasing men. Had she not been rescued by the Guild of the Alliance, she would have been sold at a premium to some duke or Minister. Even now, her speech still carries a distinct alien accent.
"Maybe just like those who want to buy you," Lily pouted. "Men, you know..." "Don't talk nonsense, Lily," Nightingale said irritably. "Your Highness Roland is different from everyone else. Once we've been here for a while, things will become clear." "Exactly, I've felt this myself," Wendy maintained her gentle smile. "It's getting late. Let's head back to our rooms. Even if the abilities don't work, there's no need to worry. Your Highness mentioned he wants all the Witches in the territory to live like normal people. If you're curious about what he'll make you do tomorrow," she paused deliberately, "I think it'll start with signing a contract." Ye Zi and Shu Juan returned to their rooms, with the latter casually closing the door. "Let's sleep too." "Mm-hmm." When asking about abilities earlier, Your Highness had arranged for Ye Zi and Shu Juan to share a room, explaining it was only temporary. The town would soon have new single rooms available. But in her opinion, three people sleeping on such a spacious bed was perfectly fine.
She slipped off her outer garment and nestled into the quilt, where an indescribable softness and comfort enveloped her. Ye Zi couldn't help but let out a soft hum as she buried her head in the pillow. After a long while, she murmured, "Do you blame Hala?" "...," Shu Juan sighed softly, "No one can foresee the future. Whatever she did later, at least she genuinely wanted to find a home where the Witch could live in peace. It's pointless to dwell on it now. Sleep, my child." Closing her eyes, she said, "Goodnight."