"So that was it." Tree Spirit's voice carried sudden understanding. "You couldn't stand them going at each other, so you ran out?"
Angel nodded. "They said they were here to redeem Eyeless Man, but after talking for ages, they hadn't mentioned him once. They were just attacking each other. It was simply unbearable to watch."
Tree Spirit was unsurprised. "This is actually not too bad. They're still trading blows back and forth; whether it's a sharp arrow or a thick, blunt soft blade, you can see it all clearly and know how to respond. Once the tea party begins, you'll understand what true terror is."
Though Tree Spirit had never personally attended a tea party, the witches of Savage Cave had. When they returned and discussed it, Tree Spirit naturally overheard them. Merely hearing these scraps of rumor was enough to make Tree Spirit feel afraid.
"A tea party is not merely a gathering for exchanging information. It is also a breeding ground for rumors where people fight for the right to speak, and even more so a battlefield where they slaughter one another. Though there is no smoke of war, the scent of gunpowder within is no less than on any battlefield."
Tree Spirit's sigh made Angel seem as though he, too, could smell the stench of blood and the howling wind.
If Gloria and Lydia could wound each other to such an extent, Angel could well imagine how terrifying the tea party would be.
Fortunately... tea parties were occasions for witches. Men were forbidden.
Angel said, "When all is said and done, Tree Spirit Lord, you still don't want to hold the tea party, do you?"
Tree Spirit nodded as though it were only natural. "That's right. But the tea party still has to be held. If only