But Wendy wasn't as excited as she was, and asked in a skeptical tone, "Did he really say that?"
"Yes, he had already rescued Anna and Nana before I got there. The prince never believed that witches' power came from the devil. He said it was our own power—" Nightingale suddenly stopped, realizing that the other party didn't believe what she said.
Well, she thought, it wasn't Wendy's fault. If it were her, she probably wouldn't be drawn to it based solely on a witch's description. Witches have been oppressed for too long, traveling all the way from the Eastern Territory to the Impassable Mountain Range. Too many real-life examples are in front of them. Betrayal and abandonment are common occurrences, and they can no longer easily trust others.
Thinking of this, her excitement gradually subsided. Perhaps this trip would not be as smooth as she thought.
"Wendy, you know my branch ability. In addition to seeing the flow of magic power, I can also tell if others are lying," Nightingale said seriously. "I asked him why he would take such a big risk to do this for the witches. He replied, 'Border Town doesn't care about background.' He wants all the witches to be free people."
"If he does this, he will become a thorn in the side of the Church," Wendy frowned. "Even if the prince doesn't know what this means, don't you know?"
Nightingale couldn't help but chuckle. "My initial thoughts were almost the same as yours. I asked him, can these things really be done? Guess what he answered?" She paused and said word by word, "If you don't take this step, you'll never know the answer."
"No lies?"
"No lies," Nightingale affirmed.
"It sounds unbelievable," Wendy's tone softened slightly. For this friend of many years, she really couldn't think of a reason for the other party to deceive her.
"Yeah," Nightingale deeply agreed. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes and had the ability to verify it, she probably wouldn't have made up her mind so quickly. Now, looking back, just like Roland said to her on the city wall watchtower, he rarely lied. In the nearly two months of getting along, Nightingale was very satisfied with everything except that he didn't honestly explain the use of Icemane.
Of course, she didn't care about that little deception. It would be strange to completely open up secrets to a strange witch she had just met.
"Tonight, after everyone comes back, I want to tell the sisters this important news!" She looked at Wendy and said in a deep voice, "I hope you can help me convince everyone."
As evening approached, the witches who were busy outside began to return to the camp one after another. Seeing Nightingale's safe return, everyone was very happy and gathered around to ask questions. Seeing the white cloth strips wrapped around their arms, Nightingale felt a heavy weight in her heart. After casually answering a few questions, she raised her hand to quiet everyone down.
What followed was a long period of narration. She started from sneaking into Border Town, meeting Roland, Anna, and Nana, then building the city wall, assembling the steam engine, and finally resisting the evil beasts, and Anna's adulthood. Nightingale took out the steam engine design drawing she had "seized by force" from her arms to prove to everyone that she was not lying.
Most witches lived in seclusion after joining the Mutual Aid Society, and it was difficult to imagine life outside. Everyone listened attentively. When Nightingale said that Anna had not suffered any pain and had safely passed her adulthood, the crowd suddenly erupted. This was a major event that plagued witches for their entire lives. They endured a life of hunger and cold, and ran to the Impassable Mountain Range to find the legendary Holy Mountain. If, as Nightingale said, there was a lord of a territory willing to accept them, and there was also the possibility of avoiding the pain of being devoured by demons, wouldn't it be even more perfect than the Holy Mountain residence?
At this moment, a path separated in the crowd, and a witch with green hair and half a snake-shaped tattoo on her face walked up to Nightingale.
"Honorable mentor, hello." Nightingale bowed to her. The person who came was the creator of the Mutual Aid Society, Snake Demon Hakala. In the society, the sisters all called her mentor.
"I heard the stories you told," her voice was hoarse and hollow. "Are you trying to tell everyone that what we are doing now is wrong?"
"No, mentor, those are not stories, I mean—"
"Enough," she waved her hand impatiently. "I don't know what you encountered on this trip to Border Town that made you say such things. A prince who sympathizes with witches? It's as ridiculous as sympathizing with frogs," she turned around with a sneer and asked loudly, "Sisters! Have you all forgotten how those mortals treated you!"
Without waiting for Nightingale to explain, she continued to accuse: "That's right, mortals, that group of incompetent people impersonated the name of God and aimed their blades and whips at us. Without the God Punishment Stone, how could they trample witches under their feet? Our ability does not come from demons, but from the gift of God. It shouldn't be the Church that exercises power on behalf of God, but us! Sisters of the Mutual Aid Society! The Holy Mountain recorded in the ancient books is the residence of God!"
What... Nightingale couldn't believe her ears. Although she had always thought that the leader of the Mutual Aid Society had a somewhat eccentric personality and an extraordinary obsession with finding the Holy Mountain, it was far from madness. Hakala was not as approachable as Wendy, but at least her concern for her sisters was sincere. But she didn't expect that she was so hostile to ordinary people.
So, she has been suppressing her hatred and anger for the past few years? The so-called not interfering in secular affairs is just to accumulate strength in exchange for a thunderous revenge one day? Nightingale thought to herself, so what is it that makes her no longer want to hide herself now? Could it be...
"We have discovered the clues to the opening of the Holy Mountain, just as recorded in the ancient books! In just twenty days, when a blood-dripping red moon appears in the night sky, we will pass through the huge stone gate rising from the ground, and we will reach the final shore!" She turned back and stared at Nightingale, "You have been deceived by mortals. We have been living in a huge lie since we were born. The suffering of adulthood is a test of our spirit and body by God. Only those with a firm will and unyielding spirit are worthy of obtaining true power. As for the Church," she sneered twice, "a group of mortals dare to act in the name of God, they will all go to hell sooner or later."
"And you... child, it's not too late to turn back now," Hakala paused. "Forget the stories you told. I can forgive your ignorance and mistakes, and re-accept you as a member of the Mutual Aid Society, and together with us, find eternity in the Holy Mountain."
Nightingale's heart had completely cooled down. Suffering is a test? Those sisters who suffered from the pain of being devoured on Awakening Day and failed to survive were all insignificant eliminations? This statement is exactly the same as the Church. And the surrounding witches actually showed an expression of agreement, and Wendy did not stand up... She suddenly felt bored. In the blink of an eye, the founder of this Mutual Aid Society, the guide of the witches, had become a stranger.
She shook her head, "In that case, I will take the sisters who are willing to leave with me, and for those who decide to stay here... I wish you good luck."
Just as Nightingale was about to leave, a slight sting came from her calf. She lowered her head and found a black snake with blue stripes biting her calf—this was a magic snake, silent and capable of using various toxins, Snake Demon Hakala's usual ability.
Paralysis quickly spread throughout her body. Nightingale opened her mouth to say something, but all that greeted her was darkness.