"Difficulties? What difficulties could you, a High Witch, possibly have?" Aeliana snorted, giving Beth a chance to explain herself.

"Lady Solana offended too many merchants and witches. We couldn't meet her without offending all of them as well. Thus, we could only express our intentions to meet through a letter," Beth explained.

However, her explanation didn't appease Aeliana in the least. On the contrary, it only served to fuel her anger.

"Such nonsense," Aeliana spat condescendingly as the cold light in her eyes intensified. "A High Witch would fear offending a group of Senior Witches? Do you think I am a fool?! Just be straight with it and say you'd rather offend my mother than offend all those merchants!"

"Lady Dahlia almost lost her life after leaving to purchase materials elsewhere, yet you had the audacity to call my mother out to meet you despite the dangers. That's no different from wishing for my mother's death!" Aeliana glared murderously.

"Please calm your anger, Lord Aeliana." Beth did her best to control her unsettling emotions and remain calm and reasonable. Then, she continued to explain, "We've only arrived in Sunpeak Town today and weren't privy to Lady Dahlia's incident and Lady Solana's dire situation."

"We wouldn't have sent our letters to Lady Solana if we knew. But, more importantly, it's not the merchants we fear offending, but the ones backing them," Beth stated. "Please understand our situation."

"Hahaha.." Aeliana laughed maniacally.

"Understand your situation? I say, to hell with your situation!" Aeliana spat with contempt and said, "You sent meeting letters without understanding my mother's situation, but you know who is backing those unscrupulous merchants?!"

"I'm tired of listening to your excuses. Kneel for me!" Aeliana roared.

Her mana raged, accelerating the growth of her tendrils and vines as they weaved to ensnare Beth and Annette.

Although the two quickly tried to flee with abrupt changes in their expressions, they were still too slow, caught by Aeliana's sudden attack.

The lustrous green tendrils and vines formed an inescapable net, sealing off all their paths and constricting to limit their movements.

Beth and Annette immediately used their magic to cut open a path. Alas, they quickly discovered their level of magic had limited effect on Aeliana's tendrils and vines.historical

They only managed to damage the tendrils and vines, not destroy them.

As such, the tendrils and vines quickly regenerated, undoing whatever damage Beth and Annette had inflicted upon them.

The tendrils and vines were extremely tenacious and full of vitality.

As the tendrils and vines continued to constrict and restrict their movements like snakes, Beth and Annette joined hands to conjure a fire barrier to obstruct them from tightening further.

"Do you think you will get away with this, Lord Aeliana?! We came to apologize, yet you have slapped away our kind intentions!" Annette roared before shifting her gaze to Astoria. "Do you condone these disrespectful actions of hers, Headmaster Astoria?! I'm disappointed in you!"

Astoria did think Aeliana was going too far. But after hearing Annette's words, she no longer cared enough to intervene. Her gaze turned cold before she walked away.

"Hmph!" Astoria snorted, and the pressure of her power briefly seeped out.

"Mid-stage High Witch.." Beth uttered blankly, having sensed Astoria's power during that brief moment. Then, she reprimanded, "Dammit, Lord Annette! You just made us offend a Mid-stage High Witch! A Mid-stage High Witch!"

"We apologize for everything, Lord Aeliana. Please cease this madness at once!" Beth pleaded shortly after.

She realized that even though Aeliana was an Early-stage High Witch, her power was comparable to Mid-stage High Witches.

"If you were going to apologize, then you should have apologized sincerely from the start! I have given you a chance, yet all I received were excuse after excuse! Now, I'm tired of listening," Aeliana coldly said.

"Do not resist and just grovel on the ground like the worms you are until I am satisfied. Otherwise, the one you'll be facing won't just be me but the master of those blue flames!"

Once Beth and Annette heard those words, the flames of anger in their defiant hearts immediately diminished, replaced by wariness and fear.

Their eyes darted around, trying to locate the master of the blue flames.

However, they couldn't begin to guess who could wield such powerful blue flames from such a distance if the person was nearby. Furthermore, the blue flames seemed inexhaustible, as if the spellcaster had limitless mana.

After all, some time had passed since the blue flames sealed off Sunpeak Town, yet they showed no sign of weakening or disappearing.

Checking out the identity of the blue flame caster was their hidden agenda for paying the lord's estate a visit in the night.

Although they had yet to figure out the person's identity, they confirmed the person was indeed on Lord Aeliana's side.

In front of such unparalleled power, it was indeed a foolish mistake to side with the merchants instead of the acting lord of Sunpeak Town.

If only they had known Lady Solana possessed such powerful backing, they would have made different choices.

As Beth and Annette's rebellious wills weakened, they bit their lips and dispelled the fire barrier.

The burning tendrils and vines immediately entered, constricted them, brought them down to their knees, and eventually pressed their faces into the ground.

Beth and Annette gritted their teeth as they endured the pain of the burning tendrils and vines searing their flesh and burning away parts of their clothes, leaving them partially exposed in humiliating positions.

It's been a long time since they felt so powerless.

"How long must we stay like this to appease your anger and earn your forgiveness, Lord Aeliana?" Beth asked, hiding her indignance under a humbled look.

"How long?" Aeliana glanced down at the two witches under her control before she coolly replied, "As long as it has to; it's not up to me. Unless my mother makes the request, you two can stay like that for all I care."

"I see.." Annette clenched her fists tightly as she forced a smile and asked, "And when will Lady Solana see us?"

"When? My mother went to bed. She'll see you in the morning. Or maybe she won't. Who knows?" Aeliana replied nonchalantly, turning her back to leave and head inside the lord's estate to rest.

"Feel free to try escaping during the night. However, I won't be responsible for the consequences."

Beth and Annette weren't sure how to reply to that.