The weather has not been good this week, the top of the head is always gray, and Karl Vanbert's mood is just like the weather, it is extremely low.
Walking down the wet flagstone streets, he was greeted every now and then—in this small town, Carl runs an academy. Unlike those academies in Greycastle that only noble children can attend, he also teaches children of ordinary people. Therefore, in Border Town, he has a very high reputation.
"Hey, Mr. Vanbert, good morning."
"Sir, is my son doing well?"
"When are you free, Carl, let's go fishing together."
Usually Carl would always respond with a smile, but today he just nodded without saying a word.
After witnessing Anna's hanging, the world in his eyes had a crack—or rather, the crack had been there since he left Greycastle, but he deliberately turned a blind eye. He numbs himself with his busy work, and the innocent and simple smile of the students also hides the cracks to some extent.
It was not until Anna died that he realized that nothing had changed in this world. The crack not only did not disappear, but expanded.
For Anna, his memory stayed at half a year ago. She is not conspicuous among the more than 30 children in the academy. She looks ordinary and does not speak much, but one thing impresses Carl.
That is her passion for knowledge. No matter what she teaches, whether it is words or history, she will always be the first to remember. Even the history of religious evolution that he himself found boring, the other party could read the book for a whole day. He has also seen the little girl help take care of the neighbor's sheep - in the sun, Anna carefully brushes the lamb, and moves gently like taking care of a baby. He still remembers that scene very clearly to this day. The girl's smile is sweet and pleasant, and it is impossible to hook up with evil no matter what.
Later, there was a fire in the block, Anna's mother unfortunately passed away, and Anna never came to the academy. Until a week ago, she was proven to be a witch and hanged in the square in the center of the town.
Seduced by the devil? Unclean people? Evil one? It's all bullshit! For the first time in his heart, he had doubts about the Holy See, and for the first time, he had doubts about the knowledge he imparted.
He didn't know if Anna was a witch, but the word "evil" couldn't be her turn! If a girl who is underage, ignorant and curious about the world can also be called evil, then the administrative officials in Greycastle are all devils from hell! For the sake of hundreds of golden dragons, the stone was deliberately replaced, causing the theater in the new district to collapse in the middle of the construction, and more than 30 members of the masons' association died.
But did they go to the gallows? not a single one! The judge finally sentenced the leaders of the Mason Society to improper construction and sentenced them to exile, and the Mason Society was ordered to dissolve. In order to avoid the limelight, Carl, who knew the inside story, had to drag his family and escape from Greycastle, all the way west, and finally came to Border Town.
He set up an academy, had many students, met new neighbors, and made new friends, but the crime staged by Graycastle was always engraved in his mind. Now, he once again felt the world's mockery - what is evil, can the gods in the sky really see clearly
The last straw that overwhelmed Carl was Nana.
Nana is different from Anna, or even the complete opposite. She is a very lively girl and is quite famous in the academy. As long as she's not in class, it's rare that she has a break, either riding on a tree to play with birds, or rolling on the grass. When asked what she was doing, she giggled for a while before replying that she was listening to the grasshopper and the ant arguing.
Nana's face is always full of smiles, which seems to be her nature. This tragic and difficult world has nothing to do with her, at least in the academy, she can laugh carefree all the time. Carl even has a hint of curiosity - has she cried since she was born
Until two days ago, Nana found him with a sad face, "Teacher, will I be hanged like Anna?"
Only then did he know that his student, Nana Pine, had also become a witch.
"Ah, isn't that Mr. Vanbert! Come over here and help us see what's written on it."
Carl felt someone tugging at his sleeve, and he looked up to find that he had come to the town square at some point. Many years old people were shouting something around the bulletin board, and when they heard Van Bert's name, everyone consciously moved out of the way.
"It's such a coincidence that you're here, sir, help us take a look."
"Yeah, Meg was reading it all the time, but she said she went to the toilet with a stomachache, and she hasn't come back yet."
If it was normal, he would definitely smile and nod, and then explain the contents of the bulletin board in detail to everyone. But now Carl finds he can't - the smiles and enthusiasm of these people are not fake, but more unbearable to him than wearing a fake smile mask.
The notice to hang Anna was also posted on it, and everyone was discussing it so happily. You are all murderers in a sense, he said in his heart, your ignorance and ignorance killed her.
Karl suppressed his emotions, took a breath, and walked to the announcement list.
"The prince has recruited people to build Border Town, and there are various grades of work to choose from," he read.
But I am also one of the murderers, so what qualifications do I have to blame them? Wasn't he who told them that witches were evil? Carl only felt bitterness in the corners of his mouth, look at what I said to the children, and told the teaching of the church according to the script, and thought it was good, hell!
"Crushers, male, 20 to 40 years old, strong and physically fit. Pay 25 bronze eagles per day."
"Clay artisan, gender is not limited, over 18 years old, with experience in masonry, and paid 45 copper eagles per day."
"Handyman, male, over 18 years old, paid 12 copper eagles per day."
"… "
No, he had to do something, if Anna's death was irreversible, then at least Nana couldn't make the same mistakes. There was a voice in Carl's heart calling out. He didn't stand up when the Mason Society was destroyed, and he didn't stand up when Anna was hanged. Do you want to keep silent like this and watch these lovely children being sent to the gallows
But what can he do? Escape from Frontier Town with Nana? He has his own family, and his family came here from Greycastle. The situation has just improved and he wants to leave? Not to mention that Nana was born in a wealthy family, can she endure the life of no fixed place
"Stone craftsmen are not limited by gender or age. Anyone who has participated in municipal construction, fortresses, and fortifications is welcome. The city hall has been recruiting for a long time, and the monthly reward is 1 golden dragon."
"Supplementary terms: Those with rich experience and outstanding performance can be granted official positions."
After the notice was read, everyone was already noisy, "The monthly payment of 1 golden dragon is comparable to the cavalry team of Changsong Fortress!"
"But can you? It's not easy to build a cesspool, and build a fortress?"
"Don't just stare at this, the first few items are also very good. If you are paid every day, it will not be much less than hunting."
"Indeed, hunting may cost you your life. The Hidden Forest is not a place to go casually."
Karl Van Bert didn't pay attention to these, all his attention was on the seal and signature at the end of the notice. It was the autograph of the fourth prince, Roland Wimbledon.
Didn't the prince know that it would be the Moon of Demons soon? Whatever he wanted to build, it wasn't a good time to start. It seems that His Royal Highness Wimbledon doesn't know anything about construction. If he can use the name of the Mason's Guild to attract his attention... Carl suddenly had an idea, maybe through this recruitment, he can meet the prince himself - the highest ruler of Border Town. By.
The thought made Karl swallow his saliva and convince the prince that witches are not evil? It is rumored that His Royal Highness the Prince has a unique idea, a personality different from ordinary people, and he hates the church very much. It might work! He thought that although it was Prince Roland who finally ordered Anna to be hanged, he could see that he was reluctant.
The prince himself is only in his early twenties, so it should be easier for him to understand, how can those young girls who are still in their cardamom years suddenly become unpardonable evildoers
Of course, there is also a possibility that he was sent to the gallows together as a witch's accomplice. Church law clearly stipulates that anyone who shields a witch or intercedes for a witch should be regarded as a depraved evildoer.
We can only hope that the prince who hates the church will also treat the law of the church as waste paper.
Carl prayed in his heart.
Although he didn't know which god to pray to, he closed his eyes and asked for a blessing.
For the dead Anna, for the living Nana, for the crack in his heart not to expand.
He decided to take the risk.