Roland met Wendy and Tilly in the drawing room.

"The current situation is like this..." He roughly recounted the news from the front lines, "I'm afraid we can't delay any longer."

"The First Army needs the witches' help," Wendy said solemnly, "I'll go and inform everyone – after resting for so long, they should be ready."

"Finally, you've said it," Tilly pouted, "The flight manual is just missing a practical combat chapter. I've been wanting to go to the front lines to verify the ideas I've had for a long time. Also, what about the promised special aircraft? Don't forget what you promised me, brother."

Roland didn't gloss over it with a joke as usual, not because he didn't want to, but because his voice seemed to be suddenly stuck in his throat.

"Your Majesty?" Wendy seemed to notice his abnormality, "Are you alright?"

Roland tried his best to calm himself down and nodded slowly, "You all know that the Red Moon has appeared, and this will be the final war that humanity faces... But no one knows how long it will last, maybe a year, maybe ten years. This departure may not return until the end of the war, if..."

He found himself unable to continue.

No one can predict the ultimate direction of this Battle of Divine Will. Once, Ashes was defeated in Fertile Plains. This time, how many people can last until the end of the war? Many people in the Witch Union are girls in their early twenties, who should be enjoying carefree university life in another world, but now they are an indispensable force in the battle of destiny.

This war concerns the future of all mankind, and everyone must do their best. As a member of mankind, witches and ordinary people are not fundamentally different. Roland understands this principle, but emotion is not reason after all. Since the establishment of the Union, he has spent so many years with everyone, and now, at the thought that this parting may be the last time they meet, it is always difficult to issue the order to go on the expedition.

"If others saw you like this, they would laugh out loud," Tilly grinned, "It's been so many years, haven't you adapted to this position yet? Of course... I don't dislike it either."

"Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty," Wendy stood up and said. By the time Roland reacted, she had already walked behind him and hugged him from behind.

"Does this make you worry less?" she said softly, "Everyone sees everything you do. Even if you don't say a word, everyone will take the initiative to stand up – after all, you taught us that you get nothing without fighting for it. Winning the Battle of Divine Will and protecting Holy Mountain are not fundamentally different. I believe the other sisters think so too."

The warmth from behind calmed Roland down. That's right... He wasn't the only one who thought so. Everyone knew that this day would come sooner or later. If they wanted to escape, they wouldn't have waited until now. Since the witches were all here, their intentions were already self-evident. If he were to say something like "I don't want to force everyone to participate in the war" or "If anyone wants to stay, they can ask at any time," it would seem a little pretentious.

Next, he could only go all out.

"Thank you."

Wendy smiled and returned to her seat.

"Then," he took a deep breath and gazed at the two of them, "The Witch Union and the Air Knight Corps are ready to depart immediately to support the front lines."

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

"Leave it to me, brother."

……

The news that the witches were about to go on an expedition to Wolfheart quickly spread throughout the castle district. Lightning took only half an hour to clean up the necessary luggage – a backpack for ammunition and sigils, a waist pouch filled with seasonings and salt, and Maisie on her head.

As usual, the two were always among the first to set off, responsible for reconnaissance and guiding subsequent teams. However, this time, when Lightning looked for Wendy, she was kept behind by the latter.

"Don't be in such a hurry," Wendy reached out and hugged Maisie, "Actually, someone asked me before to see you before you leave."

"See me?" Lightning was slightly stunned, "Who? Aunt Margie?"

"Well..." Wendy covered her mouth and said, "You'll understand when you see them. By the way, that person is waiting for you in the courtyard now."

"So quick with the news?" Lightning shrugged, "Alright then."

"Coo-coo!" Maisie wanted to follow, but was held firmly in Wendy's arms, and could only watch as Lightning disappeared at the door.

"Sorry, stay here with me for a while," Wendy smiled and stroked the pigeon's head, "At this time, I think the other person would prefer to be alone with her for a while."

……

Lightning left the castle and walked along the long corridor into the courtyard, where she immediately saw a slightly flamboyant back in the yard.

"What is it... It's Sand. Fybawd," she muttered, "What do you want from me?"

However, when the other person turned around, the little girl was suddenly stunned in place.

Although wearing the same clothes, he was clearly no longer the same as when she first met him. Although she hadn't seen him for many years, the other person's appearance instantly overlapped with the impression in her memory.

"Fath... Father?" she said hesitantly.

"Sorry for keeping it from you all this time." Thunder said with a wry smile, "I didn't want my daughter to follow in her mother's footsteps, so I decided to temporarily cut off contact with you –"

"When did you find out I was here?" Lightning interrupted in a low voice.

"Not long after you came to Border Town."

"Did Aunt Margie tell you?"

Thunder nodded.

"So you were all accomplices? And His Majesty Roland too..."

"Don't blame them, I begged them to do this –" Thunder hadn't finished speaking when he saw his daughter walk quickly towards him, her fist already raised.

He closed his eyes, quietly waiting for Lightning's angry blow.

However, the expected pain did not appear.

After a long while, Thunder opened his eyes slightly in surprise, only to see his daughter change her fist into a palm and gently pat him on the forehead, while a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

"So, you knew all about my adventure in the Western Region of Graycastle?"

"Uh..."

"Discovered the Holy City of Taquila, found the living witches from four hundred years ago, went deep into the underground ruins, repelled the vanguard of the demons..." Lightning withdrew her hand and said, "How about it, my achievements are not inferior to yours, right?"

Thunder was stunned for a long time before laughing heartily while touching his head, "Worthy of being my daughter, but such a reunion is truly both gratifying and regrettable..."

"I understand gratifying, what's regrettable?"

"It's that you've grown up too fast," Thunder's tone was much more relaxed, "I thought you would either hate me or burst into tears in my arms, but it seems I worried too much..."

If she hadn't experienced the Battle of Taquila, she probably would have burst into tears, Lightning thought, but not now, she had grown up. Before completing Ashes's entrustment and ending this war, she could no longer shed a tear. "So you were always worried about being hated by me, so you didn't dare to reveal your identity? Then why did you suddenly decide to tell me now?"

"Because I've decided to go north with you to fight this Battle of Divine Will," Thunder said word by word, "Anyway, my identity will be exposed by then, so I might as well say it first."

"Really?"

"Yes, my main activity area is the sea and the ports. This has already been discussed with His Majesty."

"Great," Lightning grabbed Thunder's hand, "While there's still time, let me introduce you to the members of the exploration team. There will definitely be opportunities to fight side by side!"

"Looks like you've made some good friends..."

"Of course, but strangely, they're all related to animals. Was I not very good at interacting with ordinary people when I was a kid?"

"Like that pigeon named Maisie?"

"Um... No, it's a witch named Maisie."

"Ahem, anyway, as far as I know, the more people are welcomed by animals, the easier it is to get close to them. Don't worry about this."

"Um, I'm much more relieved then."

……The father and daughter walked towards the castle, their lighthearted conversation as if they had never been separated.