Fito froze for a moment. “She… uh, well… she was worried I’d get cold, so she gave me this robe…”

A flicker of hesitation crossed the guard’s eyes, but his microexpression didn’t escape the witch’s notice. Jealousy settled over Shana like silent, fine winter snow, weighing heavy on her chest.

“You’ve been at the Great Wall how long? Don’t you know how to dress for the cold without someone reminding you?” It was the first time Shana had felt such a tangled mix of fluster and irritation, and she didn’t know how to handle it.

“Uh… it’s not… not what you’re thinking…”

“Then what is it?”

“See… all us Great Wall soldiers wear black robes… uh, anyway, you have to believe me!” Fito looked flustered.

“Why are you wearing the purple robe then? Even if you had to accept it, you didn’t have to put it on!” Shana pressed on, though she wasn’t sure why she had the right to question him.

Fito’s gaze darted away. “Uh… I’m on duty today, I can’t leave Commander Orek’s side for a second. If I carried the purple robe in my hand, it would cover my silver shield and slow my reaction if we were attacked… so… I had to put it on…”

“Then keep wearing it!” Shana snapped, stamping her foot. She turned and walked toward the wall, not wanting to say another word to him. I misjudged you!

“Shana?”

Just then, the door behind the guard opened, and Great Wall Commander Orek stepped out. He wore a black robe trimmed with dark gold patterns, his face as haggard as ever.

“What’s going on?” the Seer asked.

The person I wanted to find is nowhere to be seen, but the one I didn’t want to see is here. And the one I wanted to see before… now I really don’t want to see him.

Shana stopped, took a deep breath, and reined in her emotions. “Commander, I was out looking for someone and ran into the guard, so we were chatting.” Orek is the Great Wall’s commander—I have to respect him.

“Who are you looking for?” the Seer asked.

“I’m looking for Shan.”

Orek’s face changed instantly. “She’s out again?”

Shana noticed his shift in tone and expression, and a vague sense of unease washed over her. Has the Seer noticed something wrong too?

This was serious; Shana pushed aside her petty feelings and said earnestly, “Shan hasn’t been in the dorm for two nights in a row.” She hesitated, deciding not to mention her missing vials yet. I haven’t confirmed she stole them—don’t spread misleading information that could cloud the Seer’s judgment.

Orek frowned. “Is this Shan even from Mandala Palace?”

“No.” Shana shook her head. “We met Shan in Holy Light Village. She said she’s an apprentice demon hunter and wanted to see the Great Wall, so we brought her along. I don’t know her very well.” As soon as she finished speaking, a thought struck her. If Shan has been out at night these past two days because she’s upset about the dead hunter, why would she give Fito a robe?

Orek exchanged a glance with Fito, then said, “Do you remember what the scholar said that day?”

Fito nodded. “After examining Hannibal’s body, Old Ray said the hunter had a chance to shoot his final arrow at the attacker, but he didn’t. It’s likely that the moment he was attacked, he saw the killer’s face clearly—and that face shocked him so much he froze, missing his fleeting chance to fight back.”

Shana said, “You’re saying Hannibal might have been killed by someone he knew?”

Fito said, “Shana, since you don’t know Shan well, I can tell you this: our boss suspects the killer is in the witch coven.”

“That can’t be!” Shana exclaimed, but her mind immediately turned to Shan.

“Hannibal was a new recruit; he’d been at the Great Wall less than half a year. He was introverted and had no friends here…” Orek sighed. “If someone here tried to hurt him, he wouldn’t have given up fighting back—unless that person…”

“Was Shan.” Shana’s voice turned calm, the witch in her taking over. Shan had a devilish figure that was very attractive to men; if she was an assassin, it would be easy for a man to let his guard down.

“But could she really make him hold his arrow?” Shana wasn’t sure.

“It’s possible.” Fito said, “At the banquet the day before yesterday, I went out to use the bathroom halfway through. When I passed the narrow square, I saw Hannibal and Shan hugging each other.”

Whoa! That’s a twist! Shana’s eyes widened, shifting instantly from “calm witch” to “astounded witch.”

Fito continued, “At the time, I thought they’d fallen in love at first sight, so I didn’t want to interrupt them. But now I realize it might have been the Wolf Seductress’s trick.”

“Wolf Seductress?” Shana had heard of that type of werewolf.

The Seer said, “Yes. These wolves specialize in seduction. They use their alluring looks to get close to good people, then strike when their guard is down.”

“Right! I read about them in the Monster Compendium. These she-wolves are total man-killers!” Shana suddenly thought of something, grabbed the purple robe off Fito’s body, and said, “How dare you wear that seductress’s robe? You’ve fallen for her trap! You fool!”

The guard laughed. “I didn’t fall for anything! When Shan brought me the robe, I was watching her eyes and microexpressions the whole time. I didn’t expose her because the time wasn’t right—I didn’t want to scare her off. I didn’t tell you earlier because I didn’t know what your relationship was with her.”

“Cut the crap! Take it off!” Shana didn’t want to hear his explanation. She forcibly helped Fito take off the purple robe and threw it on the ground.

Just then, a sweet, cloying voice came from the corridor.

“How dare you! I was kind enough to give you a robe, and not only do you not appreciate it, you throw it on the ground! Is this the Great Wall’s idea of politeness?”

Shan!

Shana spun around. The “demon hunter” stood at the other end of the corridor, wearing reddish-brown leather armor. Her eyes were large and bright, and her curvy figure exuded a seductive, wild charm.

I was just about to find you! And you show up on your own!

When the person she’d been searching for appeared, Shana—who had no real combat experience—froze in shock.

“Wolf Seductress!” Guard Fito quickly stepped in front of the Seer and the witch.

Shan put one hand on her hip and walked toward the three divine beings. “You suspect I’m the killer? And a Wolf Seductress…”

Even from ten steps away, Shana could smell the strong perfume on her.

“Stop right there!” Fito raised his silver shield.

Shan stopped, fixed her gaze on the guard, and smiled. “Tell me… am I beautiful?”