Girl by the Mountain Stream

Shade stuffed God's Gift Box into the backpack he had made himself, slung it over his back, and walked from the Abandoned Tower toward the city at the foot of the mountain. Cassandra Auction House, located in the city center, remained just as lively in late autumn. On the top floor reception room of the auction house, Shade met Grandma Cassandra and Sister Devlin.

The nun would also accompany them to witness the ritual. Aside from the three of them, since Grandma Cassandra's Teacher did not want too many people to know the details of the ritual, only Grandma Cassandra's young apprentice would accompany them up the mountain.

The apprentice, Miss Rita Swift, was a young girl who looked about the same age as Angelina. She was slender, with long, slightly curly flaxen hair.

She rather stiffly returned Shade's greeting, but did not seem puzzled by the existence of a man like him. Grandma Cassandra had probably already mentioned the matter to her young apprentice.

Before setting out, Grandma Cassandra expressed confusion over the box Shade carried on his back, and Shade vaguely explained:

"This is a box used to seal evil beasts."

"I thought it was that Angel Level Relic, the Golden Saint Wardrobe. I remember that relic was clearly in the Creation Church's Church."

The Old Witch was in a good mood today and even made a joke.

The ritual being held on Monday had long been planned, so they could head up the mountain without any additional preparations. Miss Aurora was absent, and Grandma Cassandra did not want anyone from the Witch Council to see that ritual. Even Miss Helen Blake, the organizer of the ritual, was absent. When Shade asked where she had gone, the Old Witch smiled and said that she had already gone up