Zitria saw that the woman's eyes were wet and red, as if she had just cried, and her expression was grief-stricken.

What is it that has turned this town into this state? In Zitria's experience, the people of her homeland have always been law-abiding and indifferent. Why is the town so angry?

"Get out of the way," the woman said to Zitria, her eyes pleading. Her voice trembled and choked, and her emotions erupted. "Thank you."

"This man is an envoy from the Allies," Zitria said in a calm voice, as if speaking to a frightened horse, "and I can't let him be harmed. ”

"What?" The woman said with a frown.

"Don't do that," said Zitria, "this man is protected by Demacia. ”

Then the woman laughed, a desperate laugh bordering on madness.

"I don't want him," she said, "it's a demon seeker." The one over there. ”

It was then that Zitria realized that the heavy crossbow was aimed at Caston.

"My daughter has never done anything wrong!" The woman said, tears began to flow down her cheeks. Kira took the initiative to stand up and tell the Demon Seeker about her abilities. She didn't want to cause trouble to anyone, she didn't want her family to be sad, she didn't want to make the people in town sad. Everyone loves her! All these incidents - you provoked them! ”

"You took her daughter......" Zitria whispered, looking at Caston.

The Demon Seeker nodded grimly.

"We have no choice," he said, "and the law has been amended." Any citizen known to have magical abilities, benign or not, is required to be taken away for trial. There are no exceptions for all mages in the kingdom. ”

"She's just a child!" The woman shouted, suddenly poking her crossbow in the direction of the demon seeker. "You locked her up! Locked up with those criminals! Or she has been banished, alone in the wilderness! You sentenced her to death! ”

Zitria gasped, she was sure that the bolt was going to be fired...... But it didn't. At least not yet.

"Kira can't harm anyone!" The woman cried, "She always cried and went to sleep, wishing she was born like everyone else." And you took her. You're a monster! ”

"The law is the law." Caston said.

"The law is wrong," said the woman, "she is my life, and you took her away." Now I'll take yours away too. ”

Her fingers around the trigger gradually pulled the trigger...... But she hesitated, for Zitria stood between her and the Demon Seeker.

"Get out of the way," the woman cried. "I don't want to hurt people who aren't responsible."

"I can't let you do that," Zitria said, "put the crossbow down." ”

"My life is gone," said the woman, "and he should not have been kept." ”

"If you do that, there's no going back," Zitria said, "and what if your daughter comes home and finds that you're not there because of the choices you've made now?" ”

"All those who have been taken away by the Demon Seekers have never returned," said the woman, "and Kira will not be able to go home." ”

The desperation in her voice was heartbreaking, stabbing Zitria in the soul.

"How can you be so sure," pleaded Zitria, "that you owe her a waiting to go home." She needs you. ”

The woman's face collapsed in grief, and tears flowed indulgently. But she didn't put down the crossbow.

Zitria took a step forward and held out her hand.

"I'll help you," said Zitria, "and I promise you that I will do everything in my power to find your daughter." ”

Zitria was sure that she would not be able to go to the women. At this distance, a heavy crossbow was powerful enough to pierce her breastplate.

"Please," she said, "you need to be strong." For Kira. ”

The woman collapsed to the ground, with no fighting spirit. But as she fell, she finally lost to grief and exertion, and her fingers pulled the trigger.

There was a crisp sound, then a rapid string sound, and the crossbow was fired.

The bolt tore through the air and bounced off the white stone wall of the alley. Zetria spun around and saw the bolts whizzing past Caston and Arno, just inches away from the young Demon Seeker, and flew straight for Buck.

Zitria saw Abermark's envoy move a few fingers slightly, and slightly twisted his wrist. The bolt was deflected like a transparent wall diagonally in front of Buck, and finally the bolt passed over his shoulder without hurting anyone.

The hairs on the back of Zitria's neck immediately stood on end, and she knew what she had just seen.

Buck was dumbfounded. The bolt should have hit him in the throat, Zitria could tell, and he knew it. The tall, bearskin-clad envoy winked at her.

The young demon seeker crouched on the ground, panting. Kastone clings to the wall on the side of the alley. The woman sat on her knees on the snowy ground, unable to weep.

Zitria hurried to her side, gently removing the heavy crossbow from her trembling hands. Then she hugged the woman, heart to heart.

"Don't arrest her," said Zitria, looking at Caston, "it was an accident, nothing else. ”

The demon seeker hesitated, looking anxious.

"No one has been harmed in any way," Zetria continued, "and she has suffered. Come on. ”

Kaston sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"It's not under my Order," he finally spoke, "because there's no magic here, so it's up to you to decide." ”

Zitria and Buck made eye contact...... But he didn't say anything.

The mob in the town was ramming the shield wall of the Demacian soldiers, punching and kicking again and again. Broken bottles and broken stones hit shields and helmets, but the soldiers still did not draw their swords.

With a shout, Zetria reappeared in the candle shop, taking the red-haired woman with one hand around her shoulder, and the townsfolk backed away.

"Rosalyn?" The stout blacksmith shouted.

"Kira doesn't want to see us like this," cried the woman, "and she doesn't want anyone to be hurt by her." ”

Her sudden appearance brought the crowd to a standstill. A few people were still moving, pushing and shoving against the shield wall, but the others were pushing to the rear and suddenly overwhelmed.

"Get out of the streets!" Gonza yelled. "Leave now, and you won't dig deeper!"

The townsfolk all looked at the blacksmith.

"Do as he says," he said, "it's over." ”

The fury and hatred of the crowd dissipated like the morning mist in the light of dawn. In a few moments, they were ordinary citizens again, and there was no longer a twisted resentment and rage on their faces. Many people bowed their heads and muttered, ashamed of themselves.

Gonza nodded, and the soldiers made way for the blacksmith to cross the line and embrace the woman.

"The rest of you, go home!" Gonza commanded the crowd that was grinding nearby. He could have gathered them all together and detained them one by one, but Zitria was glad to see that he had chosen to dispose of them.

Zitria looked around. Miraculously, apart from a few scratches and bruises, neither the soldiers nor the citizens of Matridridge were actually injured. The townsfolk dispersed, dragging the cart along the way.

Captain Gonza looked at Zitria and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I don't know what you've done," he said slowly, shaking his head, "but thanks to you, soldier, a catastrophe was averted today. ”

Zitria suddenly felt physically and mentally exhausted, and did not have the strength to answer. She nodded and sat down heavily on the steps beside her.

The soldiers were still cautiously watching the last few wandering townspeople. Buck stood nearby, his face cloudy. Zitria's gaze wandered to the two witchers, their expressions grim, and then she looked back at the woman, Rosalyn, who was weeping in the blacksmith's arms.

All of them were Demacians with good intentions in their hearts, but recent actions have brought them to arms.

Demacia was about to have a tough time, she thought to herself.

No, she corrected herself.

Tough times have come.