Chapter 629: Alice (2)

“Okay… So, if I understand correctly, after that incident, women were burned at the stake for the next hundred years or perhaps even longer simply because people suspected them of being witches?”

Amon asked, his expression filled with disbelief. To his surprise, Alice shook her head.

“No… That didn’t happen for many years. It only started about twenty-five years ago.”

That immediately caught Amon’s attention.

Even Arnold, who had been listening quietly, became more curious.

“Twenty-five years ago?” Amon repeated, narrowing his eyes. “What happened back then?”

“Twenty-five years ago, during the awakening ceremony for the village children, a young girl awakened a class related to witches. The ceremony was conducted by the priest, just as it is today.”

Alice hesitated before continuing. “It was the first time that someone in the village had awakened such a class. The news spread throughout Leonera, and everyone began to fear that the witch’s curse was finally coming true.”

“And then?” Arnold asked.

“The villagers started treating her like she was some kind of evil monster. Some of them even tried to attack her and harm her.” Alice’s voice trembled slightly as she recounted the story. “The girl tried to protect herself. She used her newly awakened ability to fight back… and ended up killing one of them.”

Amon’s expression grew serious. “And that was enough to turn the entire village against her?”

Alice nodded. “Yes. After that, their fear only grew worse. They became convinced that she really was the witch who would bring ruin upon Leonera. Even the priest couldn’t stop them. In the end…” She swallowed hard. “They burned her at the stake.”

The wind passed through the trees, rustling the leaves above them.

Alice lowered her gaze before continuing in a quieter voice. “And ever since then, at least one girl with a class related to witches has been born in the village.”

Amon’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Every time?”

“Yes. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.”

She paused, gathering her thoughts. “Back then, the awakening crystal was different from the ones used today. It revealed a person’s class and displayed their status and attributes for everyone to see. So, whenever a child awakened a class related to witches, the entire village would know about it immediately.”

She glanced nervously at the two men before continuing. “Things are different now. In many cities the crystal used during awakening no longer reveals a person’s status to everyone. Only the person undergoing the awakening can see their own information.”

“I know,” Amon replied with a nod. “That change was made to protect people’s privacy and for several other reasons.”

“Yes, but…” Alice hesitated, pressing her lips together. “In this village, they still follow the old ways.”

She fell silent.

Arnold studied her for a moment before asking the question that had already crossed his mind. “And you awakened a class related to witches?”

Alice’s body stiffened. She clenched her hands tightly, her frightened eyes moving between the two men. After a moment of hesitation, she finally nodded.

“Yes… I did.”

A heavy silence settled between them.

Amon didn’t immediately respond. He studied the young girl standing before him, taking in her trembling hands, pale face, and the fear she was struggling to conceal.

From the way she spoke, he had little reason to believe she was lying.

However, that didn’t mean he could completely let down his guard.

After all, he and Arnold had come to Leonera to investigate the evil lurking within the village. Their mission was to uncover its identity and eliminate it.

And now, they had discovered a girl who had awakened a class associated with witches—the very kind of person the villagers believed was destined to bring disaster upon them.

Could Alice be the evil they had been sent to find?

Amon frowned at the thought. ‘No. That’s ridiculous.’

He had seen enough of the world to know that an ability or class didn’t automatically determine whether someone was good or evil.

“If you really awakened such a class,” Amon asked, his expression turning serious, “then why hasn’t the temple or anyone else in the village captured you yet?”

Alice clenched her fists. “I’m the only sixteen-year-old girl in the village. Everyone else my age has already undergone their awakening ceremony, which usually takes place when children turn fifteen. But I awakened mine later.”

Amon and Arnold exchanged a brief glance.

“I know… many tries to awaken later.”

Alice continued. “I was alone when I underwent the ceremony. Deacon Atlas was the one who performed it.”

At the mention of that name, Amon’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. “Atlas?”

Alice nodded.

“When he saw my class, he was shocked. But he promised he wouldn’t tell anyone about it. He said he would register me as someone who hadn’t awakened any class so that nobody would suspect anything.”

“So the priest should be unaware of your situation,” Arnold observed.

“Yes… at least, that’s what I thought.”

Amon crossed his arms, considering her words. “But you suspect that the men who tried to kidnap you were sent by the temple to capture you and burn you at the stake?”

Alice nodded firmly. “Yes. That’s what I believe. The executions are usually carried out in the evening, so I thought they might have been trying to take me somewhere without attracting attention.”

“That doesn’t make much sense,” Arnold remarked.

Alice looked at him nervously.

“If they already knew who you were and that you had awakened a class related to witches, why would they resort to secretly kidnapping you?” he continued. “Wouldn’t it be easier for them to expose your identity and use the villagers’ fear to justify capturing you openly?”

“Exactly,” Amon agreed, nodding. “If the entire village believes that witches must be burned, they wouldn’t need to sneak around in the middle of the night. They could simply accuse you publicly and drag you to the stake.”

His words made Alice lower her head.

“I… I don’t know.”

Her voice grew smaller.

“I even wondered whether Deacon Atlas had told someone about my class. He’s the only person who knows the truth, so I thought he might have betrayed me. But…” She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her dress. “Now that you’ve pointed it out, I don’t understand why they would try to kidnap me in secret if they already knew who I was.”

She shook her head helplessly. “I really don’t know what’s happening. I’m scared… I don’t know whom I can trust anymore.”

—

[A/N: Read Author’s thought below]

Shameless author strikes again with a very enticing offer!

Do you want more chapters?

I have a solution!

Complete the quests below to receive bonus chapters as rewards:

1. Golden Tickets: