Aranza frowned slightly and looked through the young deserter's pupils. He saw fear in the young deserter's eyes, but the source was not the impending death of the sword in his hand, but something else, imprinted on
What occupies all the memories in this young deserter's mind.
What could make a warrior who is not afraid of death feel hysterical and fearful, and make him flee in panic?
The young deserter came to his senses, but instead of begging for mercy in a panic as before, he first tried to breathe out several uneasy breaths. His heavy breathing made the people around him suddenly feel an indescribable gloom. For a long time, this man
The young deserter calmed down, or in other words, he used self-paralysis to make himself sluggish so that he would not fall into the deep fear.
He raised his embarrassed head, his dry lips turned white, and said: "Sir... I saw... a witch! It's a real witch!"
One sentence cannot represent a conclusion. Aranza suppressed the turmoil in her heart and continued to look at the young deserter, only to find that his eyes no longer had precise focus, and he just followed the movement of his head and looked around blankly. Aranza was impatient again.
He frowned, but still asked: "Well, what is a witch like?"
"She looks like an angel in black..."
The young deserter's voice was as light as gibbering. Now, Aranza could confirm that the young deserter's spirit had collapsed. The things in his mind had filled his brain, and even stretched out tentacles to pull out the young deserter.
His head on the verge of collapse was wrapped up. As long as someone mentioned it in his ear, it would overflow instantly, and tentacles filled with fear would twist into his mind and destroy his last will. The young deserter's reply at this time
, more like the body’s last instinct.
"The day died the moment she appeared, and the night brought nightmares..."
"Enough said."
Aranza looked at the young fugitive quietly. His soul had long been broken, leaving only a body that was talking. The white-haired boy did not delay any longer, put the long sword against his chest, and said slowly: "I and
As the leader of the Thorn Mercenary Group, with the glory of the Norland Legion and the witness of the gods, I hereby grant you the death penalty."
After saying this, the long sword was quietly raised and lowered, stopping the young fugitive's life and his fear.
Blood spurted out from the broken part of his neck, and a few drops fell on Aranza's face, as if the blood came from Aranza's own wound, sliding down her cheek. Then, Aranza took out the silk scarf from the treasury ring, and put it on
Wipe away this extra drop of blood.
Everyone then rode off the flat hill. The beheaded young fugitive's body would be burned by the fire, and his head would be hung in front of the gate of the Noland Army's temporary barracks for public display as a warning to those who held the promise.
Newly arrived soldiers who have thoughts of escaping.
On the way back to the city, Aranza, who was in the lead, suddenly pulled the horse's rope, slowing down a little, and was parallel to Cyril who was following behind. Aranza turned to look at the silent girl, her hair was flying in the wind, not fluttering.
flag, but like a quiet flowing stream.
Aranza's lips curved slightly and she said, "Well, I think what I did has puzzled you again."
Cyril was also looking at Aranza, with a hint of obvious hesitation in her eyes. She opened her mouth, but withdrew her gaze in confusion and said nothing.
"Say it, I'm still me."
Hearing this, Cyril looked at Aranza again, but said: "You don't like my kindness, I am changing it."
Aranza was stunned by her answer, and then said with a wry smile: "Well... maybe, we can try to understand each other instead of forcefully accepting each other's point of view."
His words seemed to make Cyril feel better, and there was less hesitation in the girl's eyes, so she said: "That deserter, is he telling the truth... a witch. I just heard the soldiers say that there can't be any witches
.”
"Well, he didn't lie."
Aranza answered in the affirmative. When he mentioned the witch, a coldness suddenly appeared in his eyes and he said: "There is no need for a dying person to lie."
"Then why did you kill him?"
Aranza couldn't help but be stunned again by such a question. After regaining consciousness, she smiled without thinking: "It's just a rule. Deserters, no matter what the reason, must be beheaded."
Having said that, Aranza stopped talking. The horse's speed suddenly increased and returned to his original position - at the front of the team.
However, while Aranza was accelerating, Ilita slowed down so that her horse was parallel to Cyril's.
"I heard your conversation. If you don't understand, you can ask me."
There was not much expression on Elita's face, but she suddenly smiled at Cyril and said, "After all, I am still your teacher."
Cyril also gave a rare smile and said: "I just don't understand why, since that person has completed his mission, even though he escaped, why should I kill him..."
"This is military regulation. Deserters must be put to death."
Before she finished speaking, Elita directly said: "Moreover, think about it, if there really is a witch, it is a potential threat, and the soldier responsible for detecting this threat actually ran away and did not bring anything to the headquarters.
Go get the news. He did not complete his mission at all, but only completed part of it. Whether there are witches or not is not important. What is important is whether the headquarters knows whether there are witches."
"and……"
Ilita's eyes suddenly turned forward, falling on Aranza's back, and said: "Cyril, you see, his position has always been in front of us... You have to understand that his position will make him think more.
We are more. Whether it is this deserter or the family that was killed by the war magic machine in the city of Noland last time... Every decision he makes is because of his position. He cannot hesitate, let alone be kind.
"
"Can't be kind..."
Cyril recited these words softly, and her eyes fell on Aranza's back. The team moved forward amidst the sound of horse hooves, but his back remained steady.
"So, Cyril!"
Ilita suddenly emphasized her tone and said, "You must follow him carefully. You must help him pick up the things he lost and keep them safe for him."
After saying this, Ilita also speeded up, and her horse passed Cyril and returned to the position beside Aranza, leaving Cyril at the back of the team, thinking silently.
Early the next morning, Aranza called Hancock and Carew, but once again rode out of the city, heading for the small surviving forest between Noland City and Alice Fortress.
When they reached the outskirts of the forest, Aranza realized why the trees here had not been cut down.
It's eerie and terrifying.
Even in autumn, the trees are still growing with luxuriant branches and leaves, and the huge crowns are close to each other, densely blocking the sun. The soil on the ground has become extremely dark and moist after not seeing sunlight for many years, and the half-rotted dead leaves are even more so.
It was covered with a sticky and wet layer.
Just such an environment shows how weird this place is, and its solar terms seem to deviate from other places.
Everyone walked carefully through the woods, with Aranza walking at the front, Hancock in the middle, and Carew taking charge of the rear. After just a few minutes of walking through the woods, Hancock couldn't help but frown, it was too dark here.
, so that she had to hold up a lighting magic above the heads of the three people, and under the reflection of the light, the surrounding trees printed twisted shadows on the other trees behind them.
She tried to let her sight penetrate farther, but was blocked from the lighting magic. Even the night vision could only make her sight a few steps further to the limit of the light. She finally squinted her eyes and said, "I have
An ominous premonition.”
"Well, it turns out you are afraid too."
Aranza walked in front, turned to look at Hancock, and smiled nonchalantly.
Hancock snorted and said, "I just don't like you being so reckless."
"What's going to happen?"
The white-haired boy scratched his head, but put on a thoughtful expression.
"Thousands of years ago, when witch hunters hunted witches, they would first destroy the environment of the witch's residence instead of rushing in stupidly."
"Well, I just don't want to scare her away."
Aranza chuckled and said: "This is a witch, perhaps the only witch in this era!"
Hancock did not answer Aranza's words directly. Instead, he controlled his magic power accurately and cast a levitation spell to make his body float without floating too high. She couldn't stand the soft and soft feeling when she stepped on the dead leaves.
In contrast, Aranza and Karu, who were wearing armor, didn't care about the sticky feeling.
Feeling better, Hancock complained happily: "Do you want to turn this rare witch into a member of the Thorn Mercenary Group?"
"Well, that's right. The news of the witch has spread to the cities around Noland City. The residents are very worried. If we catch the witch, we can also appease people's hearts."
Aranza gave an unconvincing reason, and then in the blink of an eye, she stared at Hancock meaningfully and said: "Besides, if I have the energy to conquer the witch, I might as well find a way to trick you into becoming a maid of thorns."
Come to the regiment."
"uh-huh."
His words actually put a touch of pride on Hancock's face. Different from Leng Ao, this was a kind of pride that was just like "smugness". She said: "How do you plan to let me join your mercenary group and go to mercenary affairs?"
Is it registered?"
"Well, it's not that troublesome."
Aranza said teasingly: "Come on, just call me Captain."
Hearing this, Hancock once again let out a disdainful "hum" and said, "Whoever cowered when they saw me back then is now hardened."
Aranza chuckled and was about to answer, but a flash of caution instinctively flashed through her heart!
"Who is it?!"
Aranza stopped walking, and the Blade of Silence in his hand suddenly burst into boiling lava! He held his breath and carefully searched the surroundings with his eyes, but cold sweat unknowingly fell from his back.
He felt an unusually powerful aura, but even though Aranza had maximized his soul sensing, he didn't find any other soul points besides his own!