Chapter 562: Witness
“So… is that considered a success?” Anna asked softly.
“Yes, the next step is to cut it open and seal it with silver foil,” Agatha nodded. “The way to finish depends on the type of rune. For example, the Screaming Rune cannot be cut; it must be used as a whole.”
“What about when it fails?”
“The bloodlines fail to gather magic power for unknown reasons. No matter how good the materials used, there's always a chance of it happening. The solution is simple: pry out the magic stone and start over.”
“But that consumes extra blood…” Anna frowned.
“That’s why in Taqila, demon blood is more precious than witch blood,” Agatha smiled self-deprecatingly. “No one cares if witch blood is wasted during experiments, but if demon blood is lost, scolding and punishment are inevitable.”
……
In the end, two out of the six runes failed. Despite the steps being exactly the same as before, the two bloodlines showed no reaction after being injected with magic power. In other words, they didn’t come to life.
Agatha removed the magic stones, took out the spare wooden boxes, and continued with the second attempt.
She had to hurry; the demon was dying.
The alien fixed to the wooden table twitched irregularly. Its blue-black skin gradually turned gray. The significant blood loss caused its breathing to quicken, and the red mist under its helmet was noticeably fading. Once the mist was used up, the demon would die in a very short time, and the blood at that point would last for no more than fifteen minutes.
“Wait,” Anna stopped Agatha as she raised her knife. “Use my blood.”
Before she could refuse, Anna had already cut open the skin on her wrist with Blackfire. “Nanawa can only heal wounds, not replenish blood. His Majesty said that too much blood loss can cause dizziness, and you might even faint, which would be detrimental to your subsequent experiments. Of course, it’s best to rest for two days before resuming practice and production, and eat more meat porridge and liver in the meantime to recover faster.”
“…His Majesty said that too?”
“Yes, every witch has taken a trauma self-rescue class,” Anna laughed. “Besides, the reason you asked me to be your assistant is to teach me how to make runes, right? Why not let me handle these two?”
Agatha was silent for a moment. “Then I’ll trouble you.”
“No problem,” she said easily. “I’m also very interested in it.”
*******************
“……In the end, under the demon’s attack, the Witch Empire collapsed and disintegrated completely. The survivors crossed mountains and rivers to reach this desolate land, re-establishing towns to prepare for the Third – and final – Battle of Divine Will. This is the truth of history.”
Roland rested his chin on his hand after speaking, quietly observing Edith’s expression.
The afternoon sunlight shone into the room, casting a glow on the table. The woman's thoughtful appearance was like a statue. The azure hair was tinged with light white by the sunlight, and the beautiful face did not lose its color due to these alarming news. As he had expected, more than anything Edith’s eyes revealed curiosity and excitement.
She was immersed in thought for a long time before slowly opening her mouth. “You wouldn’t fabricate such an… unbelievable story just to deceive me. Are demons really that powerful?”
“Undoubtedly. They are not only individually ferocious but also incredibly numerous. My army can easily defeat the Tiffeau knights, but it can’t necessarily steadily win against demons. After all, they have been lurking in the northwest of the Dawn Border for the past four hundred years, unlike the witches who need to start from scratch. The most important thing is that this war has no possibility of negotiation; it will only end when one side is destroyed.”
“Then… are you going to reveal this news?”
“It’s only a matter of time,” Roland sighed. “But not now. I don’t know what kind of mentality the people will have towards such terrifying and ruthless alien enemies. Building confidence is a slow process.”
“I agree. Panic is more terrifying than any enemy,” Edith nodded. “I have one last question. How far away is the Battle of Divine Will from us?”
“Five years, or even closer… No one knows the exact time when the Red Moon will descend. I can only say that war can break out at any time, so I cannot slowly unify Graycastle in an orderly manner.”
She didn't respond, but instead stood up from her seat and knelt on one knee. "In that case, the Kant family is willing to be at your disposal. Your laws will be unimpeded in the Northern Lands, and your will will be the only voice in the Northern Lands," she paused, "I also hope that those promises of yours can be fulfilled."
“You’re still thinking about the steam engine factory,” Roland shook his head with a smile. “Your father may not agree to this, and what guarantee does the Kant family have—”
“Me,” she said without hesitation.
“What?”
“Your Majesty, I am the guarantee. If you’re still worried, Cole can stay here too,” Edith said confidently. “That way, even if my father is unwilling, he can only agree.”
“You mean stay in Neverwinter as a hostage?” Although he had this idea before, he still felt a little embarrassed when it was said openly. “Doesn’t this amount to a disguised threat in the Duke’s eyes?”
“Not a hostage,” she placed a hand on her chest, saluting like a knight. “Please allow me to join your City Hall. I want to witness the new world you are planning.”
……
After nightfall, Roland received the six newly made runes.
“Thank you for your hard work,” he nodded to Agatha. “Was the process smooth?”
“The first batch failed twice. Anna also participated in some of the production,” Agatha yawned. “Anyway, if you want to make more runes, please give me a spacious and independent laboratory instead of a shack that’s as rudimentary as a stable.”
“A mage tower, I owe you one,” Roland agreed happily.
As the Ancient Witch left the office, Nightingale poked her head out from behind him. “What are these runes for?”
“They’re roughly equivalent to telephones, alarms, and cameras, right?”
“What are those?”
“You’ll know when you try them,” Roland laughed.
Today was a fruitful day. The Listening Rune temporarily solved the problem of difficult long-distance information transmission. Although the quantity was small and only witches could use them, it was better than relying entirely on flying messengers. The Screaming Rune would emit a high-pitched shriek when it sensed demonic power, with a range about the size of the Border Region, which could effectively deter enemy sneak attacks. As for the Observation Rune, it was part of the Thunder’s expedition plan. He couldn’t follow the fleet out to sea, so it would be a shame to miss the spectacular and strange sea lines.
Of course, what pleased Roland the most was Edith Kant’s oath of allegiance.
Nothing was sweeter than population and resources. If the Northern Lands truly devoted themselves as she said, the territory he actually controlled would more than double, and the remaining noble forces in the Eastern Region would also feel immense pressure.
If all went well, he might be able to complete the unification before the Evil Moon arrived this year.