Shana sat on the edge of her bed, checking her pack. Everything was finally accounted for. Checking the contents—especially her vials—morning and night had been a strict daily ritual ever since she’d become a witch. She’d never forgotten her master’s warning: A witch has many vials. Always sort them carefully and tend to them often, lest you mix poison with antidote.

Shana tucked the tidied pack into the wooden drawer under her bed, then leaned back against the headboard, her voice soft and coquettish: “Little Chestnut, it’s been so long since I smelled mandala flowers…”

“Sister Shana, this Great Wall is so boring, and the food’s terrible!” Little Chestnut fussed with the vials lined up on the table. “It’s always the same three things—black bread, beef jerky, and white liquor. Now I feel sick just looking at anything black!”

“When can we go home?” Xu’er pulled a crimson robe from the wooden cabinet and handed it to Shana.

“I’m here on a mission, not a vacation.” Shana draped the robe over herself, smiling lazily. “I’m not leaving until I’ve leveled up to a Gold Mage!”

“Ah! How long will that take?!” Little Chestnut dropped her head onto the table. “Gold Mages need demon-slaying merits! Everyone knows you’re invincible, Sister Shana, but if we never get a chance to fight werewolves, you can’t level up!”

“The Great Wall’s the best place for mages and warriors to train. We’ll get plenty of chances to fight wolves!” Shana grinned. “Look, I already uncovered a werewolf just days after arriving!”

“But I still miss good food more…”

“Cheer up! It’s not all bad here. Well… there are a lot of cute guys!” Xu’er teased.

“Oh right, Sister Shana! I noticed something!” Little Chestnut turned to her. “That Fito seems to have a crush on you!”

“Fito?! That blockhead with the shield? I wouldn’t look twice at him!” At the mention of his name, Shana sat up abruptly, as if reacting to a jarring sound. “Besides, I’m here to build battle merits, not waste time on romance!”

“Really? Every time you talk about Fito, your face turns pink. I think you’re lying to yourself!” Xu’er laughed.

“You little rascal! How dare you mock me! I’ll make sure you don’t see tomorrow’s sun!” Shana reached into her robe, pretending to grab a vial.

“Ah! Spare me, Witch Lady! I’ll always follow your lead from now on, I swear!” Xu’er quickly ducked behind Little Chestnut, giggling and begging for mercy.

“Something’s wrong!” Just as the three girls were messing around, the door slammed open, and Yun burst in, her face tight with urgency. A sharp, cold wind swept in with her, filling the room with a chill. Shana quickly pulled her crimson robe tighter around herself to ward off the unexpected cold.

“Sister Yun, what’s happening?”

“Our Mandala Flower Banner was taken down from the war room!” Yun panted.

“What? Who would do that?” Shana’s first thought went to one person. Who else could it be?

“It might be a misunderstanding, but this concerns the honor of Mandala Palace. We have to demand an explanation!” Yun frowned.

“It’s that two-faced bitch stirring up trouble! We can’t let her get away with this!” Shana straightened her clothes and rushed out the door.

“Wait! Ray holds the Night Watch Badge—don’t rush in recklessly!” Yun chased after her.

“Woo—woo—woo—”

As Shana hurried up the spiral stairs of the Oracle Tower, she heard a long, resonant horn blast echoing around her. What’s going on? She stopped and looked down. The massive gate of the Great Wall creaked loudly as four rows of soldiers hauled on iron chains, slowly lifting the heavy iron portcullis. The Great Wall gate was opening!

“The rangers are back! The rangers are back!” Shouts rose from below.

Shana looked toward the gate tunnel. A lone rider on horseback emerged slowly. The moment the horse crossed the gate, the rider suddenly lost his balance and fell off. The crowd surged forward at once.

“Who is he?” Yun caught up behind Shana.

“They said the Great Wall Legion sent three rangers to patrol beyond the wall. Could this be one of them?” Shana changed her mind suddenly. “Sister Yun, let’s go down and check what’s happening first!”

“Alright.”

Shana ran down the spiral stairs, across the uneven narrow square, and reached the gate. She pushed through the crowd and saw a blood-soaked rider lying on the ground. His face was lined with deep creases, crusted with a mixture of sweat, blood, and dust, but his eyes sparkled with the joy of being home.

“Ding Rui! You’re back!” A man stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and supported the rider’s back. Shana looked closely—it was Du Sanyuan, the Great Wall’s master archer.

Du Sanyuan shook the rider’s shoulders: “Are you okay? Where are the other two—Shao Si and Wei Te?”

The rider’s lips parted slightly, but he couldn’t get the words out. He was too weak to speak!

“Stop asking! He’s extremely weak!” As she spoke, Shana pulled a small vial from her robe and knelt beside the rider.

“Hold him steady!” the witch ordered the archer. She pinched the rider’s chin open and poured the red healing potion down his throat.

“Sister Shana, what’s wrong with him?” Du Sanyuan asked.

Shana stared intently at the rider’s face and held up a hand to silence him. No time for questions!

Moments after the potion went down, a red glow emanated from the wounded man’s body. His wounds began to heal at a visible rate, and his face gradually regained its color. After a while, the glow faded, and Ding Rui slowly sat up, moving his limbs as if he was already unharmed.

“The witch’s potion really works!” Du Sanyuan praised.

Shana smiled: “Don’t worry, you’re not going to die.”

“Thank you. I never thought I’d make it back alive…” Ding Rui’s voice was thick with the weight of hardship.

“What happened? Why did it take you so long to get back?” the archer asked.

“The Wolf King… he’s returned to Wolf Fort…” Ding Rui panted. “The werewolves… they’re gathering…”

“Wait, what did you say?” Du Sanyuan was about to ask more when the crowd stirred again.

“Move aside! All of you!”

Two knights in golden armor pushed through the crowd and stood on either side of Ding Rui.

“Commander Ray has ordered that this suspect be taken to the war room immediately!” one of the golden knights shouted.

Shana frowned in anger: “Suspect? He’s a Great Wall ranger!”

“Commander Ray says that since the ranger’s been missing for days and suddenly returned, the situation is suspicious. His identity hasn’t been confirmed yet, so he must be interrogated strictly!” the knight retorted.

Commander my foot! Orek just left two days ago, and you’re already putting on airs! Shana seethed at the knight’s tone and shouted: “He’s a member of the Great Wall Legion! What right does your Golden Knights have to interrogate him?”

The knight sneered: “You forgot. Lady Ray holds the Night Watch Badge now. She leads everyone on the Great Wall—including you, witch!”

“Bullshit! What right does she have to lead me!” Shana roared.