The letter also mentioned that Tilly was attempting to translate these texts and wanted to see if there were any leads from the Mutual Aid Society.
Roland resolved to inform the recipient about Devil and the Sacred City of Tachira in his reply, along with the photos of the scene restored by Soloya, which might aid her translation. Such intelligence shouldn 't be concealed—uncovering the events from over four centuries ago sooner would allow for timely preparations. It might even expose the Church's vulnerabilities. If they were truly reckless, they wouldn't have buried their entire history in the earth.
There are clearly things they are trying to keep from being known.
Moreover, it would be advisable to dispatch personnel to inspect the stone towers in the Hidden Forest. The ruins of the Eastern Sea Wind District have been sealed off by the Church, while the fjord's stone islets remain submerged in seawater year-round, leaving only a pile of books in a secret chamber. The depths of the Hidden Forest are rarely visited, even by the Church, and might yield some valuable clues.
Yet the Devil in the Lightning Report also struck him as formidable. Such operations demanded the deployment of Witches, but any casualties from sending them would be unacceptable to Roland. After careful deliberation, he resolved to await the army's new-generation firearms before heading straight to the forest with a Witch to confront the potential threat.
Roland suppressed his inner unease, forcing a forced smile. "I understand what happened to Tilly. I'll write back and explain everything to her. For now, let's focus on completing the ability test." After all, it was only right to build up his strength during peacetime. When war became inevitable, he would at least have the means to fight back.
...
The test site was set up outside the town's walls. To prevent refugees from accidentally entering the testing area, Roland also mobilized the First Army to cordone off the surrounding area.
The first to be tested was Lotus.
With a youthful age matching Nightingale's, she sported jet-black short curls and delicate features that exuded delicate charm. Standing at just 1.5 meters tall with a slender frame, she appeared like a young girl still developing, contrasting sharply with Nightingale's towering stature. Yet her capabilities were anything but fragile—within a five-meter radius, she could effortlessly reshape the terrain beneath her feet.
The description in the letter was far less striking than what I witnessed firsthand. During the test, the ground beside Lianrang rose vertically, forming a towering 'earth pillar' that seemed to pierce the sky. It wasn't until it reached nearly seven or eight meters that the pillar collapsed due to structural instability.
As she explained, the looser the ground, the less Magic Power was needed for renovation. However, similarly, poor geological conditions resulted in houses and walls of very low strength. If the ground's main component was gravel, it was nearly impossible to build anything decent—clearly, she could only alter the terrain, not the earth's material. Of course, this issue could be addressed by expanding the growth range and thickness.
Roland had her demonstrate the house construction process, but the soil in the Western Border was noticeably less compact than that on Sleeping Island. The earthen structure, which rose from the ground, collapsed multiple times when creating window and door openings, ultimately requiring walls to be thickened to about half a meter. The completed dwelling was as rudimentary as a cave dwelling, serving only basic residential purposes—far inferior to the well-organized, structurally sound brick houses.
That said, even the poorest cave dwellings are preferable to leaky wooden huts. At least in winter, a fire pit and an earthen bed can keep the interior warm. If brick houses aren't built in time before the Evil Demon Month arrives, these makeshift shelters can serve as a stopgap solution.
The final step is the comprehensive test—Lian's ability is a classic summoning type with no branch abilities. Terrain shaping works within a five-meter radius of the user, but it's highly susceptible to the God's Stone effect during activation. However, once the land is formed, it won't retract.
"How is her Magic Power level?" Roland asked.
"A brown whirlwind with a dense core—quite impressive for a Witch," Nightingale mused. "It's on par with Leaf." "How about the mana drain?" "The mud ground holds up well," she noted, glancing at the raised stone wall at the foot of the northern slope. "But the Magic Power drops sharply when transforming rocks. I doubt it'll last beyond an hour or two." Roland nodded. Leaf's Magic Power ranked third in the Witch Alliance, trailing only Anna and Soraya. Sufficient Magic Power was essential for sustained abilities—though low-consumption skills like Nightingale's and Lightning's could sustain her all day without issue.
After jotting down the information in his notebook, he proceeded to test the second witch.
"Who wants to come?" "Me, me, me!" said Honey.
Roland curled his lips and said, "Then show us your skills first." The girl nicknamed Honey was no taller than Lian, barely a few inches above her. Having just turned adult the previous winter, she had a lively spirit. Her short, curly brown hair hung loosely, while her slightly darker skin was adorned with animal-tooth necklaces around her neck, wrists, and ankles.
Her primary ability is "Beast Language," which affects animals within its range. All animals tamed by Magic Power will obey her commands, provided the commands do not exceed their abilities. The taming is either released upon completing the task or by her own initiative.
Beyond these traits, Honeycomb possesses a fascinating secondary ability: animal messengers. She can send taming commands through these sentinels to target creatures—like summoning a bird to hunt for a more powerful animal to serve her. Whether it's an aged feline or a ferocious eagle, the process remains entirely unpredictable, with the outcome always shrouded in uncertainty.
Both primary and secondary abilities are subject to the God's Stone's influence. The animal messenger, in particular, can have its commands instantly erased by the stone, restoring the animal's freedom. Moreover, the larger the tamed animal, the more Magic Power it consumes. As she puts it, a bird can command dozens at once, but switching to a cow limits her to just two or three.
The third participant was Evelyn, a woman in her mid-twenties with a distinctly capital city accent that carried a warm, familiar charm.
Tilly's list stated that she could transform low-quality ale into other spirits with entirely different styles and flavors—any she had tasted would work. For this Witch, Roland's initial goal was clear: to purify alcohol. If she could turn diluted ale into delicious wine or fruit wine, then spirits must be no problem either, right?
To this end, Roland meticulously prepared several bottles of pre-packaged liquor, with alcohol concentrations ranging from 50% to 95%. While the spiciness was intense, a couple of sips wouldn't pose any issue. The crucial point was to make her accept these throat-irritating transparent liquids as genuine alcohol.
The scorching wilderness was no ideal setting for wine tasting. Without appetizing side dishes, ice, or crystal glasses, serving the pungent liquor might even be mistaken for poison. He planned to make his subtle approach during dinner, so after casually asking Evelyn a few questions, he moved straight to the next Witch.