Witch Training Manual: My Water Magic Is Wrong

Isabella, holding Nako, was about to turn and leave when Wayne's voice came from behind her before she could take her second step.

"Your Highness, do you really have nothing to say to me?"

Isabella stopped in her tracks.

She was surprised.

"Tell you? Tell me what?"

Nako lay in her palm and whispered a reminder.

"Your Highness, didn't that old man Cecil say..."

Isabella paused for a moment, then suddenly realized.

"Oh right, Professor Cecil did ask me to pass on a message."

She looked at Wayne again, her earlier eagerness to leave gone, and her tone became more serious.

“Master Cecil said that the Protestant reformation is about to begin, and he looks forward to your return. However…” She paused, her gaze lingering on Wayne’s face for a moment, “When you pass through Bellino, I advise you to be careful. It’s a stronghold of conservatives. I’ve heard they’ve been getting very close to the Church of St. Hilde lately, so you must be cautious.”

After listening, Wayne was silent for two seconds, then nodded to Isabella: "Thank you for conveying this message, Your Highness. Please also convey my thanks to Teacher Cecil."

Isabella waved her hand: "Thank you? Go thank yourself. Nako and I aren't going back to the capital for the time being."

Wayne was somewhat surprised.

"Not going back to the capital? Where are you going then?"

"Didn't a large-scale demonic tide occur in the Frost Town area a while ago?" Isabella said. "Teacher Nako and I are going to hunt a rare magical beast, partly for training and partly to prepare medicinal herbs for advancement."

After listening, Wayne didn't rush to reply, but instead looked Isabella up and down. She possessed the aura of a mid-fourth-tier cultivator, with a solid foundation, but still some distance from a breakthrough. With her status and resources, she could have steadily improved through methodical cultivation, but she chose to directly venture into the demonic tide region to hunt demonic beasts and hone her skills.

This ambition surprised him somewhat.

"Be careful," Wayne said. "A while ago, there were signs of Abyssal Demons in my area, and I was lucky enough to kill one."

He pulled the dark red magic core from his pocket and casually tossed it at Isabella.

Isabella caught it instinctively, her gaze sharpening slightly.

The magic core was cold to the touch, its surface covered with fine black lines, and a dark red luster that subtly flowed in the light. She examined it several times, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

"It really is the demon core of an Abyss Demon, exactly the same as the one recorded in the Palace Compendium." She looked up, her eyes filled with obvious surprise. "Hasn't that thing not appeared for hundreds of years? You actually managed to kill one..."

She didn't say the second half of the sentence, but the question "What is your strength?" was already written on her face.

Abyssal demons, starting at the fourth rank, possess formidable physical strength and typically unique abyssal abilities. These are creatures that even a human warrior of the same rank might not be able to guarantee a victory in a one-on-one fight, yet this priest claims he "had the good fortune to kill one."

Nako also looked at the magic core in the princess's hand.

"This thing hasn't appeared on the continent for hundreds of years. The last recorded kill was during the Blood Moon War three hundred years ago, when an entire knightly order was mobilized to kill one."

She looked up at Wayne, the flippant "he's alright looking" in her eyes fading considerably, replaced by a serious scrutiny.

"You actually managed to solo kill this thing..."

Wayne didn't answer directly, he just smiled:

"I was lucky, and the cross made it easier to handle."

Nako pursed her lips, clearly not believing this claim.

"However, the appearance of this demon core indicates one thing: the Abyss is already stirring. The Millennium Purple Sun hasn't even officially arrived yet, but the Abyss's vanguard has already infiltrated the surface. When the Purple Sun officially descends, it probably won't just be a matter of one or two demons."

Isabella clutched the magic core in her hand, her gaze turning solemn.

"I must report this matter to the capital as soon as possible. The appearance of the Abyss Demons is no longer an ordinary demon tide event. If the demons can cross the dimensional barrier in large numbers, then the entire kingdom's defenses will need to be reassessed."

Wayne nodded, his tone calm.

"I've already reported it. The message was sent out through the Holy See's emergency communication channels on the very night I killed that demon. According to procedure, the capital should receive it by tomorrow at the latest."

Isabella paused for a moment.

"...Have you already reported it?"

"Um."

Wayne spoke of it casually.

"The demons have appeared on the outskirts of Frost Town, only four days' journey from Aldrian. I can't keep such a big thing a secret."

Isabella opened her mouth, then swallowed back down. She looked up at Wayne and slowly exhaled.

"You're quite efficient."

She put the magic core into her bosom and patted her clothes.

"Since you've already reported it, I won't go through the trouble again. But I need to take this back to the court mage corps to see; perhaps this thing filled with demonic energy can still have some use."

Wayne did not stop him.

"You can keep it. If you leave it with me, it's just a rather hard rock."

Isabella's lips twitched slightly at his words.

Nako nestled in Isabella's palm, staring intently at Wayne for a long while before suddenly blurting out, "You're actually quite interesting."

Wayne glanced down at her.

"It is my honor to have gained the recognition of the Elven race."

Nako snorted, not replying, but also not looking away. Her gaze lingered on Wayne's face for a couple more seconds, then, as if recalling some unpleasant memory, she flapped her wings and darted into Isabella's collar.

Isabella glanced down at her collar and sighed.

"She's not feeling well today, please don't mind."

Wayne shook his head:

"Won't."

Wayne thought for a moment, then added, "If you insist on venturing deeper into the North, I suggest you take the western ridgeline. The concentration of demonic energy is lowest there. Although the path is more difficult, at least you won't run into the Abyss's scouts head-on."

Isabella put the magic core into her pocket, then nodded to Wayne: "Thank you. I'll remember this favor."

"Wayne, I'll try your magic again next time we meet."

She said it very casually.

But Wayne could tell from her eyes that she was serious when she said that.

"I'm ready to serve you anytime."

Isabella nodded and stepped out. The door closed behind her, and her footsteps faded into the quiet of the church's depths.

After Isabella left, Wayne breathed a sigh of relief.

"Phew, that princess is finally gone."

He leaned back in his chair and stretched his stiff shoulders. Dealing with one princess was more tiring than dealing with ten noblewomen.