Release That Witch

Nana heard footsteps pounding up the stairs and ran to the door to see who it was. She was disappointed to find that it was His Highness.     

"She's still working. She may come later."     

"Work?" Nana heard the prince say that word often these days. "Do you mean she's burning that gray powder?"     

"For the time being, yes."     

Nana pouted and went back to the table. "I also have work," she thought. "I stay here and treat those who are injured while defending the town."     

"What is it? Are you bored when Anna is away?" Roland smiled. Taking a chair, he sat down by the fireplace.     

"Well..." Nana looked down. Honestly, she did not want to help the injured. It was just… too terrible.     

She remembered the scene when she first treated Brian. He was soaked in blood, and the reddish-brown clots solidified in his chest. Red and white blood bubbled out of his dry lips. Upon seeing this, she fainted...     

She was so ashamed.     

Nana looked up and stared at the prince, only to find he was snoring in his chair. "He seems exhausted, too," she thought, "he must have been constructing the city wall and training soldiers to protect Border Town from the demonic beasts."     

When he invited to come to the castle, she had hesitated for a long time, but in the end she agreed.     

"You'll also encounter something that you want to live for, even if you have to struggle." Nana did not understand the meaning of these words, but when she closed her eyes, she could see Anna. Her blue eyes were like a lake, gently enveloping her. It was because of her that she agreed to help Roland.     

She wanted to be as strong as Anna.     

Suddenly, she heard footsteps downstairs. Nana jumped up from her chair to see if it was Anna. However, she was stopped by an invisible hand.     

"Wait, there's more than one person."     

Nana patted her chest, unnerved. "You scared me, Nightingale."     

The door was pushed open, and Brian, who was in charge of the first floor, came in. "Miss Pine, please come down. Someone was burned."     

This is my work, isn't it?     

Nana closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Alright, I got it."     

She went downstairs. The two guards were busy placing a man who was moaning painfully on the bed. Next to them stood a small man, looking anxious. Brian came forward and tied the wounded man's hands and feet to the bedside. The guards then sent the small man out of the room and drew the curtain.     

"What happened?" Roland went downstairs, rubbing his eyes.     

"Your Highness, this man came from the mine of the northern slope. He seems seriously burned."     

The prince looked the man over. "These are steam burns. Is there any problem with the first machine? Who brought him here?"     

"He's in the hall." Brian pointed at the door.     

"I'll go and ask about the situation. You stay here," Roland said as he left the room.     

Nana slowly went closer and glimpsed at that man from the corner of her eyes. She saw that his face was melted into a ball. His original ruddy skin became pale with dehydration and was hanging onto his face like a rag. On his neck were blisters as large as bowls, some of which had been broken. Mucus with blood wetted the pillow. In the flickering light of the fire, his appearance was more terrible than a demon from a nightmare.     

She retreated a few steps and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw her father was watching her with care.     

"Are you alright?"     

Nana nodded and thought about what Roland had told her: "It's best to think of treating the wounded like treating a small animal." With this in mind, she went back to the bed and stretched out her hands.     

An incredible feeling emerged from her body, and she gathered a small part of this power into her palm. She saw a ray of green light flowing out of her palm and onto the injured man's face. Although this green light was so visible to her, others could not see it. The wound then changed. The scalded skin fell off and new skin grew quickly underneath it.     

The painful moaning of the wounded man gradually stopped. His breathing became even as if he had fallen asleep.     

Nana exhaled. She performed better than she did the last time, didn't she?     

"My God, is this the healing power His Highness mentioned? This is the first time I've seen it," said Tigui Pine. "My dear daughter, you're amazing!"     

"It's the power of the deities," said Brian. "I'm so grateful that Nana helped me when I was injured."     

"Ah, this fool." Nana clutched her face and thought. "Didn't he know that Nightingale helped me sneak out to cure him?"     

"When was it?" Tigui said, surprised, "Why don't I know?"     

"Well... Her strength has nothing to do with the deities. It belongs only to the witch herself." Roland opened the partition and coughed as he joined the two men's conversation. "How's the injured man now?"     

"Basically healed," said Brian excitedly. "It's like he was never injured! Your Highness, with Miss Nana's, everyone will have a chance to survive the Month of Demons!"     

"As long as you don't die on the spot, it's not a problem to keep you alive." The prince nodded, motioning Brian to wake up the man. "You're Iron Head, am I right?"     

Iron Head sat up. He said in confusion, "Is, is this a dream?"     

"No," said Roland. "You're still alive."     

"You're... I've seen you in the square!" The man suddenly realized the identity of Roland. He abruptly got down from the bed and fell to his knees. "Prince Roland, did you save me?"     

"Tigui Pine's daughter saved you. She's a witch with healing powers."     

Nana tensed and wondered if it was okay to say that she was a witch so directly. Sure enough, the look in the man's eyes changed. "A... witch? Your Highness, aren't they demons...?"     

"What the hell are you saying!" Tigui stood up and shouted unhappily. "My daughter doesn't have anything to do with demons. She did save your life. Do you think a demon would lend you a helping hand?"     

"No, no! Please forgive me for my rudeness." Iron Head lowered his head. "You saved my life. Thank you, Miss Pine."     

Nana was overwhelmed by her feelings. She wanted to run out of the room. Still, there was a voice repeating in her head, reminding her to "be strong".     

When Iron Head was sent away, Tigui asked with concern, "Is this really alright, Your Highness? If you do this, I'm afraid my daughter won't be able to live a normal life."     

"Think about the positive side, Mr. Pine," the prince said. "If we take advantage of this period to break the ice, Nana may be able to have a future where she's truly free. Otherwise, as time passes, she'll one day be exposed. When that day comes, I'm afraid I can do nothing but hide her."     

Truly... free? Nana did not know, but right now she felt like she was free. But if what His Highness said became true, then Anna could also leave the castle on her own. Would she return to Teacher Karl's college?