In the Oracle Tower’s War Room, two battle banners hung on the stone wall: on the left, the Golden Knights’ *Ten Swords United Banner*, its steel blades glinting under torchlight; on the right, the Great Wall Legion’s *Night Watch Banner*, its faded black fabric emblazoned with a silver crescent. The *Mandala Flower Banner*, once a proud symbol of the Witch Coven here, had vanished.
Ray, the Golden Knights’ chief knight, stood by the long oak table, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the massive military map spread before her. She seemed to completely ignore Ding Rui, the ragged commoner standing trembling across from her.
Who does she think she’s fooling with this arrogant act? Shana, seething in the corner, found the knight’s affectation unbearable. Moments earlier, she’d followed the golden armor-cloaked guards as they dragged Ding Rui into the room. The ranger had stammered through a brief account of his capture and release, but Ray had offered no response—just stood there, pretending to study the map like she held the fate of the world in her hands. The witch’s temper was about to snap. You two-faced snake! What gives you the right to take down our coven’s banner?
“Have you finished presenting your defense?” Ray finally spoke, her voice cold as the northern frost.
“Lady Ray, I told you everything. The werewolves captured me, but the Wolf King said he wanted peace, so he let me go. That’s all there is to it.” Ding Rui’s voice wavered, but his eyes held steady.
Ray pointed a gloved finger at the spot marked “Wolf Fort” on the map: “We sent three rangers to patrol this sector. Only you came back. Where are Shao Si and Wei Te? What happened to them?”
“I don’t know.” Ding Rui shook his head, his shoulders slumping. “After the Wolf King took us, they locked me up alone. I never saw the other two again. I asked the werewolves about them, but they wouldn’t say a word. I swear I don’t know what happened.”
“The Wolf King captures three men, releases one, and you call that goodwill.” Ray sneered, stepping closer to loom over the commoner. “Is the Wolf King lying to us… or are you lying to me?”
“I’m not lying! Every word I said is true!”
“Let’s list the facts.” Ray held up three fingers. “One: you were captured by werewolves but not killed. Two: you return unharmed, but your comrades vanish. Three: none of our secret outposts beyond the wall sent word of your arrival—yet you showed up at the gate out of nowhere.” She leaned in, her eyes sharp as a blade: “How am I supposed to trust you?”
“After they let me go, I took a detour. I didn’t want the werewolves to follow me and find our hidden sentries.” Ding Rui’s voice grew hoarse. “That’s why Sean and the others didn’t see me. I couldn’t get any food, either—I nearly starved to death out there.”
Ray snorted, glancing at his now-rosy cheeks: “You look perfectly healthy. Hardly like someone who nearly starved.”
“I’m telling the truth!” Ding Rui repeated, desperation creeping into his tone.
“I don’t have time for this.” Ray turned to the guards. “Take him out and execute him.”
“Wait!” Shana burst forward, placing herself between Ding Rui and the golden knights. “What right do you have to kill him?!”
Ray glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, her tone dismissive: “His defense is unconvincing. He could be a werewolf spy.”
“There’s nothing wrong with his story! When he first stumbled through the gate, he was dying! I gave him Red Flower Potion to save his life!”
Ray laughed, a cold, sharp sound: “Werewolves often inflict self-wounds to trick witches into wasting healing potions. You covens always fall for that old trick, don’t you?”
Shana’s face flushed with rage: “He’s not a self-inflicted wound werewolf! He’s a ranger of the Great Wall Legion!”
“He was. But that might not be the case anymore.”
“You’re despicable! What proof do you have he’s a spy?”
“I don’t need proof.” Ray’s voice hardened. “The Great Wall is in crisis. When it comes to suspicious people, it’s better to kill a thousand innocent than let one enemy slip through. Besides, he’s just a commoner. Even if we’re wrong, the good camp loses nothing.”
“A commoner’s life is still a life! You can’t just vote him out like he’s nothing!”
Ray studied Shana up and down, a smirk playing on her lips: “So the Witch Lady wants to protect him?”
“That’s right! I’m protecting him!”
“Then let’s put it to a vote.”
“Fine! What’s the big deal?” Yun gently tugged on Shana’s sleeve, trying to calm her, but the witch was too furious to notice. She took down our banner—there’s no way I’ll back down!
Ray’s smirk widened: “Very well. The Golden Knights have 108 members, plus 300 from the Great Wall Legion. That’s over 400 votes in my favor. How many do you have, Witch Lady?”
Shana’s face turned bright red: “You only represent the Knights—108 votes at most! How do you claim to speak for the entire Great Wall Legion?”
“Have your spells addled your brain?” Ray tapped the Night Watch Badge pinned to her chest. “I hold this now. Every member of the Great Wall Legion follows my lead in votes.”
“That’s nonsense! They won’t listen to you!” Shana scanned the room for supporters. I refuse to believe they’ll turn on one of their own for her.
Just then, Old Rui, the Great Wall’s senior scholar, hobbled into the room, his robes dusted with snow. With Orek gone, he’s the true voice of the legion!
“Old Rui, perfect timing! This Ray is trying to force a vote to eliminate one of your rangers!” Shana shouted.
Old Rui stepped between the two, his eyes shifting uncertainly. He looked at Shana, then at Ray, and said slowly: “Lady Ray, my men told me there’s a misunderstanding with Ding Rui. I came to see what’s going on.”
“Lord Rui, there’s no misunderstanding. I just have doubts about his loyalty.” Ray’s tone softened slightly—she knew better than to dismiss the scholar’s influence.
“Ding Rui was a cook under Officer Camon. He’s still a new recruit, but Camon spoke highly of him—said he’s steady, reliable…”
Ray cut him off: “No need for pleasantries. You want to protect him?”
Old Rui hesitated, then said: “Ding Rui volunteered to be a ranger not long after arriving here. That’s rare for a commoner. Beyond the wall is a death trap—even some divine warriors refuse to patrol there…”
“Our knights have all served as rangers.” Ray’s patience wore thin. “Spit it out. What’s your decision?”
Old Rui sighed: “Your caution is justified. His sudden return is suspicious. But we don’t have proof. Why not lock him in the black prison for now? We can investigate further, or wait for Lord Orek to return before making a final call.”
“That’s exactly what I think! I fully support this!” Shana chimed in, relief flooding her. See that, you snake? The legion doesn’t all bow to you!