Shana sat on the edge of her bed, packing her bag. Inside was a cloth purse holding one gold coin, nine silver coins, and three obsidian shards; a bronze mirror; a wooden comb; a short dagger in a leather sheath; and dozens of small iron vials filled with specialized potions.

Each vial looked identical, but Shana could tell at a glance whether it held poison, antidote, or cosmetic tonic.

Wait—there are fewer vials than there should be! Shana distinctly remembered she’d had thirty-two vials. Now two were missing.

“Who touched my bag?” she asked her dorm mates.

In the room, seven other witches were busy with their own tasks: Yun was bending over to fold her quilt carefully; Xu'er was hanging her clothes neatly in a wooden wardrobe; Chestnut was sorting books, trinkets, and vials on the desk into categories; Shui Shui had just returned from outside with a bronze basin, her wet hair falling over her pale shoulders; Quan'er leaned against the wall, flipping through a spellbook; Ning and Mith sat cross-legged on the bed, heads close together, whispering secrets and laughing softly like silver bells.

At Shana’s question, all seven paused and turned to look at her.

“What’s wrong, Captain?” Chestnut asked.

“I’m missing two potion vials. Did anyone touch my bag?”

“I didn’t take any.”

“Me neither.”

“I didn’t touch it.”

The witches all denied it.

“That can’t be. Someone must have taken them.” Shana was certain of the count: They’re definitely missing!

She scanned the room and noticed one person was absent.

“Where’s Shan? Where did she go?”

“Shan went out for a walk. She seemed really close to that hunter who died. She’s been upset, so she’s been going out at night these past two days.”

Shana’s brows furrowed.

It’s her again! What’s gotten into her these days? She’s not in the dorm at night, running around everywhere! Was she really that close to Hannibal? She just arrived at the Great Wall a few days ago—how deep could their relationship be? Could she have taken my vials?

Shana knew everyone in the room well. They were all sisters who’d trained together at Mandala Palace; she could trust them all. The only one she didn’t know well was Shan.

Shana recalled meeting Shan on their journey north to the Great Wall, in a deserted village. They’d been roasting meat over a fire when Shan had showed up uninvited, carrying a roe deer she’d hunted, and joined their feast. Shan was extremely talkative; though it was their first meeting, she’d quickly bonded with the witches. When she heard their destination was the Frost Great Wall, she’d said she wanted to see it and asked to come along. Shana had liked her and agreed on the spot, bringing her to Shield Fort.

Now Shana thought she’d been too impulsive: We only met once—why did I trust her so quickly?

“There’s something off about her. When we’re working, she often stares at us. Sometimes I catch her out of the corner of my eye, and her gaze is really sharp.” Yun said softly.

Shana’s unease grew. Yun was the oldest in the coven; though her magic wasn’t as strong as Shana’s, she’d hunted five werewolves and had far more practical experience. If even Sister Yun says there’s something off about Shan, she must really be suspicious!

Shana remembered: When I agreed to bring Shan along, Sister Yun objected, but in the end, she respected my decision as captain. But what if I was wrong…

Shana thought back to their journey to the Great Wall. Some of Shan’s words and actions had indeed been strange. Though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly where Shan had slipped up, something about her just felt off.

“I’m going to find her!” Shana stood up and headed for the door. If I was wrong, I’ll fix it myself.

“Wait a minute!” Yun grabbed her hand as she reached the door.

“Sister Yun?” Shana felt something pressed into her palm.

“A witch never goes out empty-handed.” Yun warned.

Shana looked down—Yun had given her a small potion vial.

Oh right! I forgot again! Shana stuck out her tongue at Yun, a sheepish smile on her face, then left the room.

A thin, pale red crescent moon hung in the night sky, casting its light on the ice-covered wall, making it glint with a cold, eerie sheen.

Shana walked up the stone corridor leading from the Oracle Tower to the top of the wall. The wind cut through her thick cotton coat like tiny needles, reaching straight to her bones. She shivered.

The Great Wall in late autumn is so cold! Shana remembered Mandala Island in the South Sea, where this was still a season of blooming flowers. The witches could still wear colorful short dresses and skirts, flitting like butterflies between classrooms, dormitories, gardens, and markets. In the afternoons, after magic lessons, the young girls would go to the beach together, strip off their robes, and swim naked in the sea.

Here, ice and snow seemed to freeze everything! Shana felt like she’d entered another world, living another life. Her old days felt like memories from a past life. No wonder the older sisters always said the north’s summer is colder than the south island’s winter! Shana had thought their stories about the Great Wall were just exaggerations to show off, but now she knew they’d told the truth.

Shana took a deep breath; the icy air stung her lungs. She wrapped her red robe tighter, trying to fend off the pervasive cold.

As the witch turned the corner and climbed unsteadily onto the wall’s top from the corridor entrance, she saw a figure standing at the end of the path. The person wore a purple robe, their back long and lean.

Shan? Shana recognized the purple robe. That’s the one the female demon hunter had worn when she joined them in the deserted village that night. I finally found you!

“What are you doing out here so late?” Shana walked over, hands on her hips. I’m getting answers tonight!

“Shana?” The person in purple turned around.

Shana froze.

Guard Fito?

“W-why is it you…”

Fito stood tall and straight, an oval silver shield slung over his right arm. Shana immediately remembered the one-on-one duel in the narrow square yesterday, when the silver guard had knocked his opponent down with a spinning kick. That image was etched deeply in her mind. That move was so cool!

After a moment of starstruck daze, suspicion flared in Shana’s heart. But why is he wearing Shan’s robe? Could it be…

A sour ripple rose in the witch’s chest. She could imagine the circumstances under which a girl would give her outer robe to a man.

“What are you doing here?” Fito walked up to Shana, his eyes filled with obvious delight.

“Why are you here?” Shana didn’t answer his question, her lips pouting, her heart full of disappointment and resentment. I could slip you a poison potion and make sure you never see tomorrow’s sun!

“I’m guarding the Commander!” Fito pointed to a wooden door behind him.

“Orek… uh… the Seer is inside?”

“Yeah.”

Shana remembered Orek rambling on about the Great Wall these past two days, and her scalp tingled. She wanted to leave quickly to avoid being cornered by the “dark-eyed” Seer. But she had to resolve this knot in her heart, or she’d be miserable.

“Why… are you wearing Shan’s robe?” she asked, biting her lower lip.