The weather had been gloomy all week, with a persistent grayness overhead, and Carl Van Beurt's mood mirrored the gloom, sinking to rock bottom.
As he walked along the damp cobblestone street, passersby occasionally greeted him—this was the town where Karl ran an academy. Unlike the exclusive institutions in Graycastle that only Noble heirs could attend, his school welcomed children from ordinary families. This made him a highly respected figure in Border Town.
"Good morning, Mr.Vanbert." "How's my son doing, sir?" "When you're free, Carl, let's go fishing together." Normally, Carl would respond with a smile, but today he merely nodded without a word.
Ever since witnessing Anna's execution, a fissure had appeared in his perception of the world—or rather, it had been there since he left Graycastle, though he deliberately ignored it. He numbed himself with work, while the innocent smiles of his students partially masked the crack.
It was only after Anna's death that he realized the world had not changed at all. The rift had not only failed to vanish but had instead widened.
For Anna, his memory lingered on the events of six months prior. Among the thirty-plus students at the academy, she stood out as unremarkable—her plain appearance and reticence in speech—but one detail left a lasting impression on Karl.
This was her passion for knowledge. Whatever she taught—be it literature or history—she always remembered it first. Even the religious evolution history, which he himself found dull, she could read for hours on end. He once saw a young girl tending to her neighbor's sheep—under the sun, Anna gently brushed the lamb's fur with the tenderness of a mother. That scene remains vivid in his memory: the girl's smile was sweet and serene, utterly untainted by evil.
Later, a fire broke out in the neighborhood, tragically claiming Anna's mother's life. Anna never returned to the academy. It wasn't until a week ago that she was identified as a Witch and hanged in the town square.
Tempted by the Devil? A sinner? A villain? All nonsense! For the first time, he doubted the Church and even questioned the knowledge he had been taught.
He couldn't tell if Anna was a witch, but the label of evil was never meant for her! If even a young girl, naive and curious about the world, could be branded evil, then the administrators in Graycastle must all be devils from hell! For a few hundred gold dragons, they deliberately switched stones, causing the new theater to collapse halfway through construction and killing over thirty stonemasons.
But were they hanged? Not a single one! The judge ultimately ruled that the stonemason guild's leadership had failed in their duties, sentencing them to exile and ordering the guild's dissolution. To avoid the scandal, Karl, who knew the truth, had to flee Graycastle with his family, heading westward until they finally reached Border Town.
He established a college with many students, befriended new neighbors and friends, yet the crimes committed in Graycastle remained etched in his mind. Now, he once again felt the world's mockery—what truly constitutes evil, and can the gods in heaven truly discern it?
The last straw that crushed Karl was Nana Wa.
Unlike Anna, Nana is the complete opposite. This energetic girl is a campus celebrity. When classes are out, she's never idle—either perched on trees to play with birds or sprawled across the grass rolling around. When asked what she's doing, she giggles for a while before admitting she's listening to grasshoppers and ants bickering.
Navana's face was always filled with a smile, which seemed to be her innate disposition. This wretched and difficult world held no relevance to her—at least within the academy, she could laugh carefree without end. Karl even harbored a hint of curiosity—had she ever cried since her birth?
Just two days ago, Nana Wa came to him with a tear-streaked face, 'Teacher, will I be hanged like Anna?' Only then did he realize that his student, Nana Wa Pai En, had also become a Witch.
"Ah, that's Mr.Vanbert! Come over here and help us read what's written on it," Karl said, noticing someone tugging at his sleeve. He looked up and realized he had somehow ended up beside the town square. A crowd had gathered around the noticeboard, shouting about something, and when they heard Vanbert's name, they instinctively made way.
"You're in the right place, sir. Could you check this for us?" "Yes, it was always that Meg who read it. She said she had a stomachache and went to the bathroom, and hasn't come back yet." Normally, he would have nodded with a smile and explained the notice board's contents in detail. But now Karl realized he couldn't—these people's smiles and enthusiasm weren't feigned, yet they were more unbearable to him than a mask of fake smiles.
The notice of Anna's strangulation was also posted there, and everyone was discussing it with great enthusiasm. In a sense, you are all the murderers, he thought to himself, your ignorance and folly killed her.
Suppressing his emotions, Karl took a deep breath and approached the notice board.
"Prince is hiring for Border Town, with multiple job levels available," he announced.
But I'm one of the murderers too—what right do I have to blame them? Aren't I the one who told them witches are evil? Karl's lips curled into a bitter smile. He stared at the children, reciting the Church's doctrines like a textbook, convinced he was right. Damn it!
"Stonecutter: Male, aged 20-40, physically strong. Daily wage: 25 Bronze Eagles." "Mason: Gender-neutral, aged 18+, with masonry experience. Daily wage: 45 Bronze Eagles." "General laborer: Male, aged 18+, daily wage: 12 Bronze Eagles." "..." No, he must act. If Anna's death is irreversible, then at least Nana Wa must not repeat her fate. A voice in Karl's mind cried out: When the stonemason perished, he stood by; when Anna was hanged, he stood by. Must he remain silent, watching these innocent children be hanged?
But what could he do? Take Nana Wa to flee Border Town? He had a family—his family had been displaced from Graycastle to this place, and now, just as things were improving, they had to leave again. Not to mention Nana Wa herself, who came from a wealthy family, could she endure living without a fixed home?
"Stone craftsmen—no gender or age restrictions. Anyone with experience in municipal construction, fortification, or engineering is welcome. The City Hall is hiring long-term, offering a monthly reward of one Golden Dragon." "Additional clause: Those with proven expertise and outstanding performance may be granted official positions." The notice sparked immediate debate. "A monthly Golden Dragon's reward? That's more than the cavalry's pay at Changge Fortress!" "But can you even fill a cesspool properly? Let alone build a fortress?" "Don't fixate on that. The other perks are great too. With daily payments, it's not much less than hunting." "True, hunting might cost you your life. The Forest of Concealment isn't just any place to go." Karl Vanbert ignored the comments, his eyes fixed on the seal and signature at the end of the notice. It was the autograph of the Fourth Prince, Roland Wimbledon.
Did Prince not know the Evil Demon's Moon was approaching? Whatever he planned, now wasn't the right time to begin. It seemed Your Highness Wemberton knew nothing about construction. If he could use the Mason's Guild's reputation to draw his attention... A sudden idea struck Karl—perhaps this recruitment would let him meet the Prince himself, the supreme ruler of Border Town.
The thought made Karl's mouth water. Could Prince be convinced that the Witch wasn't evil? Rumor had it that Your Royal Highness had a unique mind, a personality unlike ordinary people, and a deep hatred for the Church. Perhaps it would work! He thought, though Roland Prince was the one who ultimately ordered Anna's hanging, it was clear he was reluctant.
Prince, being just in his early twenties, should find it easier to understand how those young girls in their prime could suddenly become unforgivable villains.
Another possibility is that he was treated as a fellow witch and hanged alongside her. The Church's laws explicitly state that anyone who shelters a witch or intercedes for her is deemed a fallen heretic.
One can only hope that Prince, who detests the Church, will likewise treat its laws as worthless.
Carl prayed in his heart.
Though unsure which God to pray to, he closed his eyes and prayed for blessings.
For the deceased Anna, for the living Nana Wa, and to prevent the rift in his heart from widening further.
He decided to take the risk.