Above them, a gigantic bird soared by, its wings beating loudly as it emitted a piercing cry.

Once the bird was out of sight, Roscoe whispered, "That's an Alistair Bird. It patrols the valley at night. If it spots strangers, it swoops down, snatches them up, and drops them from a great height to kill them."

Nicole felt a chill run through her. She had seen the massive shadow the Alistair Bird cast. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was nearly the size of a whale. Such a massive bird could easily snatch one or two people effortlessly.

“How do they recognize strangers?" Nicole asked.

From her observations, the animals in this area were remarkably alert and responsive to commands, suggesting to Nicole that the witches had genuine magical powers.

However, Nicole had her doubts about the simplicity of it all. The serpent's fear of sulfur powder was a good example.

Roscoe spoke quietly. "The Alistair Bird was trained by the witches and can pick up different scents. The witches incorporate Soul-leaving Grass into the bird's diet. Each witch carries a vial of the Soul-leaving Grass extract, which helps the bird identify who is a friend and who is a foe."

Nicole found this explanation convincing. It affirmed her suspicion that the magic she observed was just a brilliant manipulation.

Roscoe guided Nicole skillfully through the winding forest, moving as if he knew every twist and turn.

"How do you know all this?" Nicole whispered.

“I observed as I moved around during the day," Roscoe answered.

Everyone thought he was just another mindless puppet under the control of the parasites, so his random wandering around the valley seemed harmless.

In reality, Roscoe used these moments to study the paths and to learn how the witches directed and manipulated their surroundings.

Like Nicole, he didn't subscribe to the myths of sorcery, though he acknowledged the mind-controlling power of those parasites.

During the darkest times when the parasites dominated his mind, Roscoe's efforts to fight against their influence went beyond description.

Roscoe led Nicole to a riverbank, stopped, and then pulled out a small glass vial, hanging it around Nicole's neck. He explained, "This is Soul-leaving Grass. Keep it on and follow the river. It will lead you out."

Nicole hesitated, realizing that Roscoe wasn't planning to leave with her. She paused before asking, “What about you?"

"I'm not leaving yet," Roscoe answered. "You'd better get going. I can buy some time for you."

“Why aren't you leaving with me?" Nicole questioned, baffled.

"I found out that their chief keeps herself young by consuming human blood. She intends to transfer her soul into another body, a feat only one person is rumored to have achieved before. The witches believe this completely, and that's why they captured you. You were selected by their serpent spirit because of the unique energy of your body."