There was a din around her. Am I at the gallows, or am I captured?Mystery Moon tried her best to free herself but the yellowed thick hemp rope had not only tied her hands together, it seemed to wind tightly around her body.
The village chief, Faror stood right in front, speaking with a voice that drifted strangely.
"…Degenerates that have been enticed by the Devil, let God punish your filthy souls."
With a wave of his hand, Mystery Moon felt the ropes around her body tighten. It felt like an ice-cold liquid was flowing down her neck.
Am I going to die?
"No…No, I still want to play in the market. I still have many things I want to buy… I don't want to die. Release me…!"
Mystery Moon opened her eyes and felt a little stifled. She was being hugged tightly like a doll by a girl she had never met before. Her drooling face was approaching her rapidly as if she had seen delicious food in a dream. "Ah! Please, no…" After a round of struggling, the two finally separated. The female stranger woke up in shock too.
"Hi there, I'm Mystery Moon. I'm a witch that just joined yesterday. You are…" Mystery Moon felt a little unsettled. She heard of rumors that certain young noble ladies had strange hobbies. As she spoke, she slowly eased her way towards the straw mat.
"Idiot, what's that look in your eyes? That's the roost that took me a lot of time to set up. Can't I squeeze with you…"
The female stranger wiped the corners of her mouth. She looked like she had blown a fuse when she saw the look in Mystery Moon's eyes and the tiny gesture she had done. She held Mystery Moon's light-blue hair and said, "I'm Lily, in charge of food preservation in the Witch Cooperation Association. Can you look at me decently?"
"Heh, it looks like the relationship between the two of you is very good. You are already so happy after having just met." A teasing voice sounded from the side. Following that, Nightingale, who was carrying the pork crisps, appeared out of the fog.
"Why in the world would you think my relationship with this idiot is good!?"
"Why in the world would you think my relationship with this hussy is good!?"
Both of them cried out at the same time before staring at each other."Alright, Cara wishes to meet you. Mystery Moon, come with me. Lily, remember to help me prepare an additional batch of pork crisps. I'll probably be going on a long trip in the next few days."
"Okay, Sister Nightingale."
"Okay, Sister Nightingale."
"Don't you imitate me!" Lily angrily tugged at the lock of light-blue hair sticking out from Mystery Moon's head. Nightingale pricked up her eyebrows and turned around. "Follow me."
A black snake with sparkling blue stripes shot out of the woods and bit at a desperately running wild boar's calf. Simultaneously, a blue magical wall of light suddenly appeared in front of the boar, cutting off its path. The surrounding weeds began growing madly as they twined around the boar's right leg. With a sudden tug in the opposite direction, the running boar slammed to the ground in a rather humorous manner. Although it was doing its best to tear away from the weeds with its head, a marsh had begun appearing beneath it. In addition, Cara's Snake of Numbness was making the boar's struggles slow down.
"Mentor, Mystery Moon is here." Cara was about to use the Snake of Death to deliver the final strike on the boar when Nightingale appeared from the side of the woods. She was pulling the shy Mystery Moon.
Cara turned her head to see Mystery Moon. She looked quite terrifying in the woods with half her face looking like a snake. Mystery Moon could not help but shrink behind Nightingale. She heard a hoarse but gentle voice, "Don't be afraid. You are no longer a frail mortal. I heard that God bestowed you with the ability to control metal. Then, try using this knife to finish the final strike on this boar. Leaf, Stone, keep releasing your magic power to control the boar."
Nightingale drew her short sword and handed it over with a smiling nod. Mystery Moon felt her hands sink as she observed the sword in her hands and recalled the feeling she had back in the market. She injected it into the sword but she suddenly heard an exclamation. Cara's clothes had suddenly ripped apart as a small knife was trying its best to move towards Mystery Moon.
"Stop, there’s no need for you to use your magic anymore." Feeling a little disappointed, Cara interrupted Mystery Moon. "What you were bestowed with is not control over metal but magnetism." Cara, who seemed to a little upset, waved her hand at the boar, releasing the Snake of Death.
"Return to camp. Think carefully about how you should use your gift. You are not of age and your abilities might still be unstable. Nightingale, explain to her the rules of the Witch Cooperation Association." Following that, she left with the other witches to dispose of the boar.
"Sister Nightingale, is Mentor angry?" Mystery Moon had her incantation interrupted and felt that Cara's attitude towards her was no longer as warm as the day before. She felt a little uneasy as the blue lock of hair on her head drooped down.
"To be honest, the Witch Cooperation Association has it tough. Mentor also wishes for there to be an additional combat witch to protect everyone. Perhaps it was the Church's recent manhunt that has vexed her. There are many jobs in the camp that needs more manpower. Don't be sad." Nightingale could not help but pinch Mystery Moon's cheeks when she saw how she remained sad. "Cheer up. You cannot look so sad the first day you meet everyone. Didn't you notice that Lily can't fight either? You silly girl."
Yes, I will work hard to hone my abilities.
Mystery Moon cheered herself on. She did not want to burden Nightingale and definitely, she would not let the hussy mock her again.