“It has been some time.”
Those were the first words offered by the small-framed witch.
The meeting place had been established among the countless tents somewhere in the barren mountain range. Although it was unquestionably indoors, the woman showed no sign of extinguishing the pipe between her lips.
It was only natural. Was she not the eldest of the only three remaining ‘Masters’ and the great sorcerer said to encompass every sorcery and herb upon the continent?
When a properly blended herb was burned, it emitted nothing more than a refreshing fragrance.
That was why the other two people present did not bother to complain. Though there were other reasons as well.
The sky-blue-eyed boy was the foremost example. He had associated with the witch for so many years that he long ago realized she would never listen, no matter what anyone said.
And so the servant of the god did not mention the pipe even once.
“How fare your respective armies?”
Instead, he offered a greeting incomparably more important than tobacco smoke.
Displeasure immediately appeared upon the woman’s face, but none of her usual scolding or grumbling followed. The present situation was that urgent.
Moreover, the final person…