Good Girl
The next day, at noon, during the free period.
Ophelia sat alone on a bench at the edge of the courtyard. It was overcast today, with thick dark clouds covering the sky. It was a rare occasion for her to be able to move around in broad daylight.
Meirujinu stood about two meters away from her, leaning against the wall with her arms folded.
"On the east side of the courtyard, the woman wearing a gown and a wide-brimmed wizard hat, sunbathing, is the witch Dailey," Ophelia's lips moved slightly as her eyes focused on the two prison guards patrolling below.
"Dailey..." Meirujinu squinted her eyes, "Is it the witch Dailey who lives in the Shadow Ruins?"
"I'm not sure. I don't know much about her background."
"Then, is she very skilled in summoning demons?" Meirujinu inquired.
"Yes, she uses a short ebony wand. I've seen her summon three different kinds of demons before."
"Then it seems it's indeed her," Meirujinu affirmed.
"Do you know her?" Ophelia asked.
"No, I've only heard her name. She's a prominent figure in the 'Witch Gathering,' but it's been many years since I've heard anything about her. I didn't expect to find her here."
"So you are indeed a witch too" Ophelia glanced over at Meirujinu.
When Meirujinu helped her undo the curse mark on her neck, Ophelia had already suspected that Meirujinu had a witch background.
"I should say, I used to be," Meirujinu let out a sigh.
Yes, she was expelled from the "Witch Gathering" a long time ago.
She was once quite famous in that world, excelling in potions, demon contracts, and sealing spells — She uses these methods to train those children into formidable killers.
"Does she not have to wear a prisoner's uniform in this prison?" Meirujinu asked.
"That's a privilege for inmates with high-level treatment. They're allowed to keep a certain amount of their own clothes," Ophelia explained. "By acting as lapdogs for the warden, they can secure better treatment levels."
"Where is that necromancer you mentioned?"
"Arsena, she's not here right now, but you've probably seen her. She's the librarian designated by the warden."
"The girl who always sits there buried in a book and wearing glasses?" Meirujinu recalled.
"Yes, that's her," Ophelia paused for a moment, adding, "a rather dull woman."
"Do you know her?"
"We had a slight acquaintance before being thrown in here," Ophelia said indifferently, "and then, the last one, the Tainted Blood Evangeline..."
As she spoke, she shifted her gaze to the small figure in the corner of the courtyard.
But Meirujinu interrupted her, "You don't need to tell me about this one, I know her."
better than anyone else...
After all, that child was the one she had personally nurtured.
"I only know of these three. There might be others, but I believe it's unlikely," Ophelia said in a composed tone, "living people would find it very challenging to bear too many demonic contracts."
"So, that means..." Meirujinu's lips curled into a faint smile, "as long as we turn them against each other, the warden will end up all alone?"
"But the premise is that you can truly lift the death contracts from them," Ophelia added, "can you really do it?"
"In this regard, I'm somewhat confident," Meirujinu responded nonchalantly.
"When are you planning to take action?"
"I'll let you know later. You have to give me some time to set things up."
"Then I'll patiently await your good news." Ophelia got up and headed towards the dormitory building.
If any of the more perceptive prison guards were to see the new inmate alone with her for so long, they might become suspicious. Their plan is still in the preparation stage and they must be cautious.
Meirujinu turned to look at Evangeline in the corner, staring at her for a while. Then she turned to check the movements of the guards before heading towards the corner of the courtyard.
"Vanee." Standing behind Evangeline, she called Evangeline nickname in a low voice.
Evangeline turned her face in surprise, and Meirujinu took the opportunity to unseal her memories.
Seeing the "mother" from her memories standing in front of her, Evangeline widened her eyes. It was only then that she recalled the fact that her "mother" had infiltrated this prison.
She actually forgot such an important thing!
Just as she was about to say something, Meirujinu raised a finger, making a "quiet" gesture.
Evangeline immediately closed her mouth, swallowing back her words. Obeying the woman in front of her was a deeply ingrained reflex from her childhood.
"Mom heard about it," Meirujinu's lips curled slightly, but there was no amusement in her eyes, "You're working for others, aren't you?"
In that moment, Evangeline face lost its color.
The Memories of being with her "mother" for many years told her that the current "mother" was angry.
Speaking words that angered "mother" would bring a punishment worse than death.
As long as she pleased "mother," she would be loved.
Never defy "mother"—this was the survival rule she had repeated countless times and summarized.
But now, Meirujinu reached out and gently touched her head, speaking in a tender tone, "You've suffered, being forced to work for others... that damned man actually threatened you with your life."
Evangeline stared blankly, not reacting for a moment.
Meirujinu took the opportunity to sense the demonic contract placed on Evangeline.
"But rest assured, this level of restraint won't trouble Mom," Meirujinu smiled, "soon, I'll take you away from this wretched place, and you'll be free in no time."
"Leave... from here?" Evangeline suddenly showed a bewildered expression.
In an instant, the words Aiden had once said echoed in her ears: "This is the only place you can seek refuge, leaving this prison will have you hunted to the ends of the earth. In this world, there's no corner left for you to live freely."
"What's wrong?" Meirujinu sensed the other's party unease, "Are you Doubting Mom's words? That's not like you at all."
"But, Aiden said..." Evangeline said stiffly.
"Are you going to repeat what others say to Mom? Is this how I've taught you? Or Have you already forgotten?" Meirujinu suddenly stopped smiling.
A bone-chilling coldness surged through her body, and Evangeline tongue seemed to knot up.
Even though she had lost the ability to feel pain, those painful memories from the past were deeply etched into her soul.
Finally, she mechanically opened her mouth, and answering with a lifeless voice, "No."
"Good Girl." A smile once again appeared on Meirujinu's face.
Good Girl
The next day, at noon, during the free period.
Ophelia sat alone on a bench at the edge of the courtyard. It was overcast today, with thick dark clouds covering the sky. It was a rare occasion for her to be able to move around in broad daylight.
Meirujinu stood about two meters away from her, leaning against the wall with her arms folded.
"On the east side of the courtyard, the woman wearing a gown and a wide-brimmed wizard hat, sunbathing, is the witch Dailey," Ophelia's lips moved slightly as her eyes focused on the two prison guards patrolling below.
"Dailey..." Meirujinu squinted her eyes, "Is it the witch Dailey who lives in the Shadow Ruins?"
"I'm not sure. I don't know much about her background."
"Then, is she very skilled in summoning demons?" Meirujinu inquired.
"Yes, she uses a short ebony wand. I've seen her summon three different kinds of demons before."
"Then it seems it's indeed her," Meirujinu affirmed.
"Do you know her?" Ophelia asked.
"No, I've only heard her name. She's a prominent figure in the 'Witch Gathering,' but it's been many years since I've heard anything about her. I didn't expect to find her here."
"So you are indeed a witch too" Ophelia glanced over at Meirujinu.
When Meirujinu helped her undo the curse mark on her neck, Ophelia had already suspected that Meirujinu had a witch background.
"I should say, I used to be," Meirujinu let out a sigh.
Yes, she was expelled from the "Witch Gathering" a long time ago.
She was once quite famous in that world, excelling in potions, demon contracts, and sealing spells — She uses these methods to train those children into formidable killers.
"Does she not have to wear a prisoner's uniform in this prison?" Meirujinu asked.
"That's a privilege for inmates with high-level treatment. They're allowed to keep a certain amount of their own clothes," Ophelia explained. "By acting as lapdogs for the warden, they can secure better treatment levels."
"Where is that necromancer you mentioned?"
"Arsena, she's not here right now, but you've probably seen her. She's the librarian designated by the warden."
"The girl who always sits there buried in a book and wearing glasses?" Meirujinu recalled.
"Yes, that's her," Ophelia paused for a moment, adding, "a rather dull woman."
"Do you know her?"
"We had a slight acquaintance before being thrown in here," Ophelia said indifferently, "and then, the last one, the Tainted Blood Evangeline..."
As she spoke, she shifted her gaze to the small figure in the corner of the courtyard.
But Meirujinu interrupted her, "You don't need to tell me about this one, I know her."
better than anyone else...
After all, that child was the one she had personally nurtured.
"I only know of these three. There might be others, but I believe it's unlikely," Ophelia said in a composed tone, "living people would find it very challenging to bear too many demonic contracts."
"So, that means..." Meirujinu's lips curled into a faint smile, "as long as we turn them against each other, the warden will end up all alone?"
"But the premise is that you can truly lift the death contracts from them," Ophelia added, "can you really do it?"
"In this regard, I'm somewhat confident," Meirujinu responded nonchalantly.
"When are you planning to take action?"
"I'll let you know later. You have to give me some time to set things up."
"Then I'll patiently await your good news." Ophelia got up and headed towards the dormitory building.
If any of the more perceptive prison guards were to see the new inmate alone with her for so long, they might become suspicious. Their plan is still in the preparation stage and they must be cautious.
Meirujinu turned to look at Evangeline in the corner, staring at her for a while. Then she turned to check the movements of the guards before heading towards the corner of the courtyard.
"Vanee." Standing behind Evangeline, she called Evangeline nickname in a low voice.
Evangeline turned her face in surprise, and Meirujinu took the opportunity to unseal her memories.
Seeing the "mother" from her memories standing in front of her, Evangeline widened her eyes. It was only then that she recalled the fact that her "mother" had infiltrated this prison.
She actually forgot such an important thing!
Just as she was about to say something, Meirujinu raised a finger, making a "quiet" gesture.
Evangeline immediately closed her mouth, swallowing back her words. Obeying the woman in front of her was a deeply ingrained reflex from her childhood.
"Mom heard about it," Meirujinu's lips curled slightly, but there was no amusement in her eyes, "You're working for others, aren't you?"
In that moment, Evangeline face lost its color.
The Memories of being with her "mother" for many years told her that the current "mother" was angry.
Speaking words that angered "mother" would bring a punishment worse than death.
As long as she pleased "mother," she would be loved.
Never defy "mother"—this was the survival rule she had repeated countless times and summarized.
But now, Meirujinu reached out and gently touched her head, speaking in a tender tone, "You've suffered, being forced to work for others... that damned man actually threatened you with your life."
Evangeline stared blankly, not reacting for a moment.
Meirujinu took the opportunity to sense the demonic contract placed on Evangeline.
"But rest assured, this level of restraint won't trouble Mom," Meirujinu smiled, "soon, I'll take you away from this wretched place, and you'll be free in no time."
"Leave... from here?" Evangeline suddenly showed a bewildered expression.
In an instant, the words Aiden had once said echoed in her ears: "This is the only place you can seek refuge, leaving this prison will have you hunted to the ends of the earth. In this world, there's no corner left for you to live freely."
"What's wrong?" Meirujinu sensed the other's party unease, "Are you Doubting Mom's words? That's not like you at all."
"But, Aiden said..." Evangeline said stiffly.
"Are you going to repeat what others say to Mom? Is this how I've taught you? Or Have you already forgotten?" Meirujinu suddenly stopped smiling.
A bone-chilling coldness surged through her body, and Evangeline tongue seemed to knot up.
Even though she had lost the ability to feel pain, those painful memories from the past were deeply etched into her soul.
Finally, she mechanically opened her mouth, and answering with a lifeless voice, "No."
"Good Girl." A smile once again appeared on Meirujinu's face.
