Witch Training Manual: My Water Magic Is Wrong

It was noon when we were on our way back.

The dirt road between the hills is winding and twisting.

Emma walked in front, her steps as light as a rabbit's, kicking pebbles along the roadside one moment and plucking a blade of grass to put in her mouth the next. Ella followed behind her, her pace unhurried, her gaze occasionally falling on Wayne before quickly looking away.

Wayne walked last.

He noticed that something was wrong with Lillian.

Her face was flushed, and she spoke very little.

This is not like her.

When we arrived, Lillian led the way, talking non-stop. This is the church in Frosttown, this is the Wilford family's house, this is the only bakery in town, the bread is hard and dry but it's alright with the soup.

She didn't say a word on the way back.

Wayne quickened his pace and walked alongside her.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Lillian paused, her voice lower than usual by half a tone.

No, no.

"Then why is your face so red?"

"It might be from the sun."

Wayne looked up at the sky.

There are many clouds in the sky.

"Really?"

"Indeed."

Lillian turned her face to the other side, refusing to look at him.

The panel popped up at this point.

[Lilian's Current Situation]

[Status: Mind in turmoil, memories flooding back. She's recalling the scene from her battle with the witch, where you used water magic to remove her curse. At first, she didn't think much of it; it was just a normal removal of a spell. But later, something different appeared, unstoppable.]

[Note: She didn't understand before, but now she does. She finally understands why Dora and Emily always looked at her with those strange eyes and said things she couldn't understand when she was in the Order. Back then, she didn't understand and thought they were being deliberately mysterious. Now she understands. It wasn't that they were being mysterious; she was just too stupid to understand.]

[Note 2: Every sudden success is the result of long-planned preparation. Lillian understands this path to heaven primarily because she has learned to be grateful to the goddess. If Emily hadn't lived next door, she wouldn't have learned those lessons of gratitude. The only thing that shames her is that she secretly learned all of this through her own elemental creations—little paper dolls.]

[Note 3: Having lived at her aunt's house for so many years, she should have known these things long ago. Although her aunt never taught her, her aunt's study had many books about ancient sacrificial rituals. She had flipped through them as a child, but couldn't understand them, found them boring, and threw them back. Now, thinking back, those books weren't describing any sacrificial rituals at all; they were clearly... well, never mind. It's pointless to say anything now. What's missed is missed, and regret is useless.]

Wayne stared at the panel, stunned for a long while.

Oh no, I need to start using my brain...

After walking for a while, he remembered his business.

"Lillian".

"Um?"

"When you get back, take the two of them up the mountain and stay for a few days."

Wayne looked at the two sisters in front of him.

Lillian paused, turning her head to look at him.

Why?

"The missionaries from St. Hilde have arrived in Frosttown," Wayne said calmly. "They've come for the witch. The two little ones are with me, so it's inconvenient for them to stay for now."

Emma ran back from the front and looked up at Wayne.

"Master, are there bad guys coming?"

"Hmm. It's not very convenient for you to come with me."

Emma was very obedient this time.

She nodded obediently.

"Don't worry, Master, I won't cause you any trouble."

Ella also came over.

"Master, me too."

Wayne reached out and ruffled the two sisters' hair.

"Don't worry, I'll come up the mountain to pick you up after everything is done."

Lillian stood to the side, watching Wayne interact with the two sisters, and a strange sense of envy rose in her heart.

Wayne turned his head and his gaze fell on her face.

"When you get back, talk to Christina about this and be more vigilant."

Lillian nodded.

"clear."

Ella stood beside Wayne and looked up at him.

"Master, is there anything special about the Holy See of St. Hilde? Why do they harbor such great hostility towards witches?"

Wayne slowed his pace.

He thought about it.

"Are you familiar with the papal canons?"

Ella shook her head.

"have no idea."

Wayne's gaze fell on the dirt road ahead.

He seemed to be recalling something.

"Five hundred years ago, the witch killed almost all the religious leaders and ruled a dark regime over most of the continent for eighty years."

Ella paused for a moment.

"So...the witch was..."

"So witches were considered heretics by the Papacy." Wayne's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "From then on, the Papacy in every country has treated witches the same way: arrest, try, and execute. This has remained unchanged for five hundred years."

Ella clenched her fingers.

"But...we didn't do those things..."

"History doesn't look at who did it, it only looks at who did it." Wayne turned his head to look at her. "Five hundred years have passed, and the world's fear of witches is etched into their very bones. It's not because of what the witches of today have done, but because the witches of five hundred years ago did something so ruthless. So ruthless that five hundred years cannot erase that memory."

Ella remained silent for a long time.

"So... are we going to have to hide forever?"

Wayne reached out and ruffled her hair.

"No need. Everything will be different once we get to the capital."

Ella looked up at him.

Why?

"Although the Church of Wiggins is one of the seven major papal churches, but..." Wayne's lips curled slightly, "The King of Wiggins is a fool, only listening to the goddess and his mother. The Queen's attitude towards witches is much more lenient than the Pope's."

Ella blinked, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Lillian's gaze fell on Wayne's profile.

"Mr. Wayne, you are right. The Kingdom of Wiggins is indeed the most tolerant of witches among the seven major churches, otherwise the Witch Order would not have been able to take root on the border of Frost Town for more than ten years."

She paused, then lowered her voice.

"But tolerance aside, the Vatican's attitude towards witches has never changed." Lillian's gaze drifted towards Frosttown. "So, with St. Hilde's missionaries here, we have to hide."

The four continued walking forward.

The dirt road winding through the hills was flanked by withered weeds and scattered shrubs. The sun was mostly obscured by clouds, its light neither bright nor dim, offering little warmth.

Wayne's pace suddenly slowed down.

He couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

It's as if a part of my body has disappeared.

Perhaps it was because his body was too exhausted after the battle.

Just then, the panel appeared.

Emily in the Shadows

[Objective: She has arrived in the surrounding area. She departed from the Order, traversing the shadows, and has been waiting for you on your return journey. Her mission is to bring all the witches back to the mountain.]

[Note: Emily originally planned to show herself directly. But after seeing you, she changed her plans. She decided to first squat in the shadows by the roadside, have a sip of milk to satisfy her craving, and rest a bit, since this weather is just too hot.]

[Note 3: A boring life needs absurdity to spice things up. She was tired after a busy day. She didn't mind making everyone walk a little further.]

A cold wind swept by.

Wayne got goosebumps.

Logically speaking, Wayne should be a fourth-tier warrior.

Why am I shivering?

That shouldn't be done, it really shouldn't be done.

Wayne sniffed, thinking to himself.

Looks like I need to get some rest.