Three days later, in the castle garden.
"Sister Anna..." Nanavala pulled Laanna's cuff.
"Huh?" The latter turned his head.
"Do you think, Sister Nightingale... she's a little weird."
"Strange?" Anna was stunned. "Did you mean her clothes?"
Nightingale stood beside Roland. She wasn't wearing the weird patterned robe that she never saw changed, but just like herself, wearing a weird costume invented by His Royal Highness. Although Anna didn't want to admit it, the other party's tall figure perfectly reflected the advantages of this suit - well-proportioned legs, slender waist, and long curly hair. Paired with a cape and a pointed hat, anyone's eyes will be on her first.
"It's not clothes," Nana muttered. "Don't you think that the tone of voice she spoke to His Royal Highness and the eyes she looked at His Highness have become different from before?"
"Have it?"
"..." Nana curled her lips, "Okay, Sister Anna, don't blame me for not reminding you."
Inexplicably, Anna shook her head, ignoring her, and focused her attention on the other two new witches.
The one named Lightning looked about the same size as Nana, but dressed very differently. Anna made a rough count. There were at least a dozen pockets sewn into her rag-like coat.
As for the other witch, Wendy, she was not wearing the same patterned robe as Nightingale when she first met her, but ordinary women's casual clothes. But something that made Anna particularly concerned, that was the other party's chest... It was too grand.
"Since you all agreed to sign the contract, let's do our first training." Roland has the training experience of the first two witches, and now he is more than comfortable. "Lightning, you come first."
"Oh!" Lightning raised his hand and walked out of the shed.
There was light snow outside, and there was no wind. The little girl floated easily into the air, waiting for Roland's next command.
"Try your fastest flight speed first!" Roland raised his head and said loudly.
"Hey, look at me," she gave a thumbs up, took a starting position, and quickly turned around the castle.
Roland visually measured the speed, which was about 60 to 80 kilometers per hour. This was a conclusion based on his experience of running high-speed back to his hometown every year. As far as flying is concerned, this speed is not very fast, similar to that of ordinary pigeons. But it was exaggerated to hear that she could take Nightingale and Wendy to fly with her on the way home.
What is the concept of taking off with a load of one hundred kilograms? In Roland's mind, a piston machine with a hundred kilograms of bombs hung...
But the next experiment shattered his beautiful fantasy.
When the load exceeds 50 kilograms (about 110 pounds), the flying height of the lightning drops sharply, from the previous 100 meters to about 10 meters, and after changing to a weight of nearly 100 kilograms, she can barely touch the ground. Fly two meters
That is to say, if you want to turn Lightning into a bomber, even if it is a few kilograms of explosives, she will enter the opponent's strong crossbow range because of the height problem.
However, Roland quickly thought of the little girl's new use-whether it was reconnaissance or artillery shooting, she was an excellent candidate. The encirclement and annihilation plan that had been bothering him before seemed to have a glimmer of light now.
While the prince was testing Lightning's ability, Wendy silently looked at him.
After leaving the monastery, she has met many people, commoners, farmers, craftsmen, soldiers, nobles, during her fifteen years of wandering. They are always like a mold. When they don't know they are witches, they show longing and admiration, but once they know their witch identity, their longing and admiration will instantly turn into fear and hatred. There was an evil desire that made Wendy almost want to vomit.
She thought that she would only be with witches in her life, and would never be able to approach any man again. This was also the reason why she planned to reject Nightingale... Not out of distrust, but out of fear in her heart.
But Roland Wimbledon changed her mind.
The way he looked at himself was too ordinary—just like he had seen countless times before, when she saw Roland for the first time in Nightingale's room, she thought it was because the other party was hiding extremely well, and because Nightingale was on the side. But for the next few days, his expression remained the same.
Could it be because His Royal Highness's vision is much higher than that of ordinary nobles
And the contract, Wendy thought it was just a form. But when she unfolded it, she found that it was densely filled with clauses, which not only stipulated responsibilities, but also stated the rights she had.
It's incredible! Bringing witches under his command would be extremely generous without depriving them of their freedom, yet still claiming their rights in the contract
For example, in Article 2.1 (the first time Wendy saw this way of writing), she can have paid leave, which means that she can take money and not work. Next, the witch should complete the experimental project arranged by the employer, but when the witch feels that it is difficult to complete part of the project or causes discomfort, she can make changes or refuse the application. In the next article, the employer shall provide and guarantee the witch's safety, accommodation, food, and salary. When these conditions are not met, the witch may unilaterally terminate the contract.
These terms are a bit confusing to read, but the meaning is very clear. The witch who signed the contract is not the prince's personal property, and she also has rights equal to her responsibilities. In this contract, she felt the sincerity of the other party - if it was only for form, there was no need to list the treaty in such detail.
Thinking of this, Wendy couldn't help looking at Nightingale. She was very aware of the other party's experience, and she also understood her disgust for nobles from the bottom of her heart. But at this moment, when Nightingale was talking to Roland, there was a different emotion in her tone and demeanor - I'm afraid she didn't even know this change.
It was only two months after leaving the main force to go to Border Town alone, and after only two months of getting along, Nightingale completely trusted this man.
Judging from the fact that she would rather sever ties with the Aid Society and return to Border Town, in her heart, I am afraid that His Royal Highness Roland Wimbledon is more likely to bring the witch a real destination than the Aid Society. The behavior of the mentor is also sad. The founder of the mutual aid association seems to have forgotten how difficult it is for any surviving sister.
Wendy knew that she couldn't go back. Since he was brought here by fate, why no longer believe in Nightingale's choice? As I had believed in her countless times in the past—
"Wendy?"
"Ah..." Wendy came back to her senses and found that Lightning's ability had been tested, and everyone was watching her.
She smiled apologetically and walked outside the house.
If you make a decision, you can't lose to the juniors, right
At this moment, the humming of the horn came again from the west, and the sound echoed in the mountains, breaking the tranquility of the town.