The scorching air rolled through the corridor in invisible waves.
"Freeze this spot."
A marking spell indicated the area that needed freezing. At Angelite's command, Jiang Han, Annie, and Heather gathered frost magic in their three pairs of Eternal Ice Eyes, turning the passageway that had been radiating intense heat moments ago into an icy floor.
Heather and Annie let out a breath in tacit unison. Possessing high-quality Eternal Ice Eyes made them tire more easily than ordinary Sea Siren witches. Though high-quality Eternal Ice Eyes came with lower tax rates, their greater power also meant greater consumption; a mere 4,000 to 5,000 magic power was nowhere near enough to sustain such eyes.
Jiang Han, brimming with energy, skipped ahead. She was the sort of witch who got more animated around people.
A little listless before using magic, then immediately spirited afterward.
"You're as healthy as the three-year-old fawn I raised when I was ten!" Annie said between breaths.
By their third day of working together, they had gradually grown familiar with one another. They were no longer particularly afraid of Angelite either—outwardly stern, but in truth a German who often tossed out a sarcastic jab—and were willing to chat a little while working.
Of the two, Annie had decided to stay in China for work, while Heather was still conflicted, somewhat reluctant to abandon her old life and come live here—but both had earned their Chinese language certificates, passed the second round of intensive screening, and received their temporary residence and provisional resident permits.
"Really? Too bad I'm not your fawn," Jiang Han said, sounding a little flirtatious.
Annie froze for a moment, then nodded, looking somewhat dim-witted.
After thinking it over, she said:
"It's better that you're not, because I ate that deer afterward. It tasted pretty good."