The layout of the Snow Phoebe Lake villas was quite different from that of other villas.
They resembled a camping ground instead. On either side of every small villa stood lush trees and beautiful flower walls, while the front entrance generally featured artificial flowing-water caves made from stone and raw timber. They carried a hint of seclusion, yet were inevitably somewhat lively as well, displaying the witches' uniquely contradictory way of thinking.
Most importantly, behind each villa lay a small grassy field with gently rolling slopes. Half of it stood higher up, while the other half faced the empty lake and cloud river beyond the villa, with the vast scenery of Snow Phoebe Lake faintly visible in the distance.
Because such scenery was limited, so too were the Snow Phoebe Lake villas. Fewer than one or two hundred had been built around the lake.
The lower-ranked villas rose progressively higher, farther from Snow Phoebe Sovereign Palace and closer to the outskirts.
On the small lawn in the backyard stood camping tents, with a hotpot made of special dark-black stone beside them.
Angelite, Lilith, and Eileen were adding water to the pot.
Eileen took out a huge jar of water and poured it in. "Spring water from Cat Coast—the purest spring water in the world, and the one most easily imbued with delicious flavor."
Lilith took out a jar of clear mushroom broth and poured it in. "Lucky grass, eight-colored mushrooms, fresh mushrooms—they make the flavors blend even better."
Bang!
An explosion sounded nearby. Angelite emerged from the smoke wearing a strange black nightgown and a black ram-horn nightcap. She had dyed the Sovereign Scepter black as well, and a crow captured by magic perched atop it.
"Heh, Eileen, First Witch—what a dazzling gathering you've put together."
As though reciting from