On the third day, with the large hot air balloon assembled, the exploration of the ruins was ready to begin.
The new hot air balloon, named 'Far View,' features a spacious basket that can accommodate more witches, and is enclosed by canvas barriers to protect against cold winds and heavy snow.
Since the earlier the operation began, the safer it would be, the witches quickly said goodbye to Roland and boarded hot air balloons. They ascended from the castle's back garden, heading straight for the stone tower.
To ensure a swift landing for combat when danger arose, the Farview flew at an exceptionally low altitude this time, barely skimming the rooftops of the town. Most residents witnessed this "miracle," with many standing in awe and some shouting "Roland Your Highness long live" —a feat they believed only the Lord of Border Town could accomplish. As they passed the western section of the wall, the First Army soldiers saluted in unison. Both the accompanying lightning and Macei were familiar to them as witches, especially Lightning, the young girl who often guided the artillery team's fire, who received enthusiastic cheers from the soldiers.
Soon, amidst the scattered snowflakes, the Yuanwang spacecraft left the town behind and entered the hidden forest zone.
Tilly stood on the edge of the basket and looked out over the endless forest.
The snow season spanning the entire lunar month blanketed the world in pristine white. The branches of towering trees were entirely veiled in snow, appearing at first glance like a raised platform that rose abruptly from the ground—smooth and expansive. On the opposite side of the view, undulating mountain ranges emerged through the mist, their silvery-gray hues barely visible. The foothills, which should have connected to the earth, remained hidden, while the distant peaks, undulating like floating mountains, seemed to hover suspended in mid-air.
"What a breathtaking view," Savie marveled. "This is the first time I've seen the Western Lands blanketed in snow." "You're the Witch of the Western Lands?" Wendy asked curiously.
"I originally lived in Dragonfall, which is closer to the south and rarely gets snow in winter. Later, when I heard from Lady Tilly about the development of Sleeping Island, I secretly boarded a ship to Bishui Harbor to join the other Witches." "So that's how it is," Wendy said with a smile, shaking her head. "Our Your Royal Highness has been complaining about why, after rumors of the Commonwealth settling in Border Town spread, no Witches have come yet... He's always one step behind." "Hey, did you also spread word to summon Witches?" "They did, but unfortunately the team wasn't very experienced. I noticed them right after they arrived in Dragonfall," Ash said smugly. "I even caught him red-handed in Silverlight City. He seems to be named Tasa, right?" "You're a Witch too, so of course you'd notice this strange rumor," Andrea pouted. "If it weren't for Lady Tilly, you might have followed him to Border Town long ago." "I wouldn't have followed Your Highness Roland—" "Oh," she mimicked his voice, "Your Highness... calls him quite fluently." "Pfft," Lady Tilly couldn't help laughing. The gloomy look she wore yesterday seemed to have returned to her normal demeanor. In Sleeping Island, only someone of noble birth like Andrea would dare to trouble Ash at any time. "Whether in Sleeping Island or Border Town, they're all our compatriots. Don't make us separate." She turned around, her gaze sweeping over the multitude of witches.
Before setting out, the group had already assessed each other's capabilities to allocate tasks more effectively when facing enemies. It's worth noting that Border Town has far fewer combat-oriented witches than Sleeping Island, with most being ill-suited for fighting. Yet it was their relentless efforts that transformed the town into its current form.
Tilly's gaze lingered on Anna. If she had to choose the woman who left the deepest impression, it would undoubtedly be this one who awakened in the frontier and profoundly influenced Roland.
Standing beside her, I could sense an indescribable weight and serenity—a feeling I had never experienced before. If I had to describe it, it would be like lying on a vast plain, where the softness and solidity behind me brought an overwhelming sense of comfort.
Apart from Roland, Anna spoke little and her expression remained unchanged, yet she was impossible to ignore once she stood among the witches.
Hilvy also mentioned that Anna was the first Witch to evolve in Border Town, possessing an astonishingly vast Magic Power. Her Black Fire, capable of shape-shifting at will, was exceptionally powerful. Moreover, she was the first Witch to complete reading *Theoretical Foundations of Natural Science*, which gave Tilly a sense of kinship.
This winter, it would be a delightful experience to sit by the fireplace with her, discussing the fascinating God-related knowledge from the books. Tilly was eagerly anticipating this.
The Fifth Princess then turned her gaze to the lightning outside the hanging basket. As the daughter of Thunder, she bore striking similarities to the foremost explorer of the fjords—lively, curious, and full of energy. "Only the boundless sky could hold her restless spirit," Tilly thought, realizing she was naturally suited for flight. Though Thunder had hoped his daughter would live a quiet life, the sight of the young girl made it clear: she was destined to become an explorer, perhaps even surpassing her father in achievement.
All I can do is try to protect her as best as I can.
"We're almost there." Just as he thought this, Lightning had already approached the basket and announced to everyone.
"Come in and rest," Wendy said with a concerned God-like look, "your mouth's turned white from the cold." "It's nothing," she replied, patting her rosy-cheeked face, "just a bit of numbness." "Thank goodness for the scarf Your Highness gave me—it keeps my ears warm." The journey passed without encountering any ferocious Devils. Though the evil beasts in the forest occasionally raised their heads to roar, they clearly couldn't attack the hot air balloon in the sky, so the first half of the journey went smoothly. But when the Horizon arrived above its destination, everyone was stunned by the sight before them.
The forest was swept by some colossal force, leaving scattered tree trunks and broken branches everywhere. The snow had been completely turned over, blending with the soil to create a chaotic scene.
"Where is the stone tower?" Ash asked.
"Originally there," Lightning pointed to the empty space beneath her feet, her voice trembling with disbelief, "it... vanished." Tilly looked in the direction she indicated, and a massive void emerged on the brownish-white ground, its bottom dark and indistinct, as if someone had carved a passage into the abyss. Yet judging by the size of the opening, the excavator must have been of staggering proportions.
"Hilvi, check what's in the hole." Hilvi's brow furrowed sharply, his face turning grim. "A... a maggots-like creature moving northwest. Wait—there's a relic in its belly!" "What? A relic in its belly?" Ash exclaimed in surprise.
"Exactly, I saw the stone tower... and the ice coffin you mentioned," she said, scrutinizing the scene. "Good grief, it swallowed the entire ruin!" What should they do next? All eyes turned to Tilly without a word.
"Is there nothing but insects?" the Fifth Princess asked in a grave tone, "especially Devil." "Hmm... there are some other evil beasts, but they're all inside its belly, and they look dead," Sylvie observed for a moment before shaking her head.
Tilly pondered for a moment before declaring decisively, "We're landing now. One group will guard the perimeter, while the other follows me into the cavern to slay the beast and retrieve the ice coffin."