Moriel couldn't help but nod.
What struck her most about Neverwinter these past two weeks was the attitude of the ordinary citizens towards witches – not feigned familiarity, nor cold rejection, but half goodwill and half taken for granted.
A few days ago, while strolling in the harbor district, she happened to encounter a gust of wind that toppled empty wooden crates stacked on the dock. Instinctively, she summoned her magic servants to catch the falling boxes. The busy crowd around her not only didn't scream and scatter, but showed great interest in this transparent, footless giant.
This was an unprecedented experience for Moriel. Even on Sleeping Island, the relocated islanders had never been so close to witches. Although they outwardly followed Princess Tilly's orders, witches were still considered outsiders in their hearts. Keeping a respectful distance was the usual practice for most fjordlanders, and only explorers and some merchants didn't mind the power they possessed.
As for the kingdom's mainland, which was deeply influenced by the church, their situation was even worse.
When Lian first brought back news from the Western Region of Graycastle, Moriel was skeptical until she came here herself and discovered that the stories were still too conservative.
Especially after seeing Lian leading a large group of people up and down high-rise buildings, Evelyn running a tavern that was always lively, and Candle, who used to be regarded as useless, being welcomed by everyone in the factory, she felt a sincere envy.
If she wasn't afraid of disturbing Princess Tilly, Moriel would have wanted to actively find a job long ago.
Anyway, she had never been idle on Sleeping Island.
"Also, everyone, don't forget that we have one more formidable enemy—the devils." Tilly surveyed the entire room. "You already know the significance of the Battle of Divine Will. Even the Hermes Church is insignificant in the face of such an enemy. Therefore, you are not working entirely for your own enjoyment. Every banknote represents your contribution to Neverwinter, and even the entire human world. For witches, this will be an honor: because everyone can use this to prove to the world that witches are also an indispensable, and even a pivotal, part of the human race!" She raised her right hand and clenched her fist tightly. "Sisters who are willing to accept the recruitment, please come to the stage now—"
……
"Sixteen jobs, a total of sixty-nine accepted. This result should be considered good." After the meeting, Tilly handed the statistical list to Wendy. "Most of the remaining observers are just hesitant. If we give them some more time, I believe more people will accept Neverwinter's recruitment."
"More than good," Wendy said excitedly, "It simply exceeded His Majesty's expectations."
"Oh?" Tilly asked curiously, "What did he guess?"
Wendy smiled and held up three fingers.
"Thirty people?" Tilly said indignantly, "He underestimates the Sleeping Spell too much."
"Rather than saying that he underestimated everyone's enthusiasm, it's better to say that it's your credit," Wendy put away her smile and bowed respectfully to the Fifth Princess. "You didn't have to say those later words."
If it was just a simple explanation of the recruitment process, thirty people might have been an optimistic guess... It was Tilly's remarks about "for the sake of other sisters, and to improve the reputation of witches" that moved most of the people present. As the former caretaker of the Mutual Aid Society, Wendy naturally knew what her companions lacked most—in addition to a stable place to live, the rest was the recognition of others.
After all, they had lived as ordinary people for more than ten years, and it was not so easy to completely break away from the past.
"I said that for myself as well," Tilly shook her head with a smile. "I have seen many interesting things from Roland, and I also know what an incredible city this is. If the Battle of Divine Will is lost, wouldn't all of these be gone? So, for the sake of seeing more miracles, I must also make an effort. Before the doomsday winter arrives, it is wise to huddle together for warmth, isn't it?"
"...You're right." Wendy also smiled.
"Unfortunately, not everyone will agree with my views," Tilly shrugged helplessly. "Like those witches in the Eastern Region, they may not accept the recruitment in the end."
"Are you referring to the small group led by Aqima?" Wendy asked puzzledly, "Since she is at odds with you, why did she go to the fjord with you?"
"It wasn't like this from the beginning," the Fifth Princess sighed. "They had known the Bloodfang Association before joining Sleeping Island, and the latter had helped them repel the church's pursuers many times during their escape. Therefore, Aqima and others trusted Hedi. Morgan very much. This was nothing in itself, but later, as the conflict between the Bloodfang Association and the Sleeping Spell broke out, rifts also arose."
"So that's how it is..."
"And I directly attacked Hedi without notifying everyone, which aroused Aqima's resentment even more. So when they requested to leave Sleeping Island on the Sleeping Beauty, I agreed to them." Tilly said slowly, "In fact, if it weren't for Joan's persuasion that day, they probably wouldn't be in Neverwinter anymore."
"That's not your fault," Wendy comforted, "Hedi. Morgan deserved it. She deceived the Wolfheart Witches."
"However, it is also a fact that she helped Aqima," Tilly seemed unwilling to investigate further, "If it were me, I might have resentment in my heart. After all, their intentions are not bad."
"Um..." Wendy pondered for a moment, "I might have a way to convince them, but..."
"But what?"
"It may cause them to leave the Sleeping Spell."
"That's no different from now," Tilly said frankly, "If this is beneficial to both Roland and them, then go ahead and do it."
*******************
"Is this... really okay?" Back in the residential building, Doris showed a worried look. "We have already offended Lady Tilly, and now we are rejecting the work of the Lord of Neverwinter. If we completely anger the other party, I'm afraid we will all..."
This sentence was echoed by several other Eastern Region witches.
"I think Doris is right. Roland. Wimbledon is not an ordinary lord. He is now the King of Graycastle. Even if we can return to the Eastern Region, it is already his territory."
"And we are not combat witches. Once the other party takes action, we don't even have the ability to resist."
"Come on, even if you can fight, can you beat Ash, that madman? I bet she has been looking at us with displeasure for a long time."
"Actually... I think the Witch Union is quite good to us."
"Don't think about it. They must be standing on the King's side. It would be good if they didn't help His Majesty to capture us."
"Stop talking," Aqima interrupted the crowd's dispute. "Roland. Wimbledon will never use coercive methods, otherwise the image he created before will be completely wasted. If we agree to the recruitment order, then what will our previous persistence become? In the end, we still have to rely on the Sleeping Spell. In the eyes of outsiders, we are no different from other witches."
While saying these words, she also felt quite entangled in her heart. To be fair, the Witch Union had indeed given them a lot of help in the past half month. There was no oppression as expected, but equal treatment. Even a witch named Wendy had come to talk to her about this matter several times, and her attitude was so kind that it gave her a long-lost sense of belonging.
But Aqima knew that she could only continue to be indifferent. She had a hunch that once she opened her mouth, it would be difficult to escape from the Sleeping Spell again.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" She looked back impatiently.
"It's me, Wendy," a familiar voice came from outside the door, still peaceful and serene. "I want to talk to you, Aqima xiaojie."