Witch Training Manual: My Water Magic Is Wrong

The next morning arrived.

Wayne encountered Dirk, who looked grave.

Upon seeing Wayne, he quickly approached: "Young Master, the Dragonblood Knights reported this morning that Vice Commander Lucian did not return last night. This morning, someone found signs of a fight in the woods outside town; many trees were broken, there were scorch marks on the ground, and there was blood."

Wayne nodded, his tone calm.

"He's dead. I killed him."

Dirk's pupils contracted sharply, and it took him a while to find his voice: "Young Master...you said...you killed Vice Commander Lucian?"

"He wanted to kill me, so I killed him."

Dirk's expression shifted several times. He stood there, seemingly processing the information, or perhaps quickly processing the potential chain reactions this event might trigger.

After about three or four breaths, he slowly spoke, his voice a few decibels lower than before: "Young Master... Lucian is the vice-commander of the Dragonblood Knights, having served in the order for over ten years. He was personally promoted by Lord Jen. If he has betrayed us, there must be someone behind him. Are you certain he has completely sided with the old faction?"

Instead of answering directly, Wayne briefly recounted what had happened the previous night. From the assassination attempt by the three witches, to Lucian's appearance and subsequent betrayal, to the three witches turning against him, and finally joining forces to kill Lucian.

Dirk listened quietly, then slowly nodded: "...It was my oversight. I cleared the ambush points along the way in advance, but I overlooked the possibility of a traitor within the ranks. If it weren't for your ability to handle things yourself, young master, the consequences would have been unimaginable. This is my dereliction of duty."

Wayne waved his hand: "It's not your fault. Lucien was very good at hiding it. If he hadn't exposed himself, I wouldn't have imagined that the vice-commander of the Dragonblood Knights would side with the old faction."

He paused, then continued, "Dirk, I need you to do two things. First, spread the news that I killed Lucian. Tell them that Lucian, the vice-commander of the Dragonblood Knights, ambushed Bishop Wayne of Frosttown last night on the outskirts of Pes Town with three witches, only to be killed instead. Let everyone who needs to know know about this."

Dirk nodded. "No problem. I'll handle that personally. And the second thing?"

Wayne continued, "Prepare an extra carriage, discreetly, so as not to attract too much attention. I need to bring three men with me."

Dirk nodded after hearing Wayne's instructions, but a hint of hesitation remained on his face. As the steward of the Marquis Lynch's mansion, he knew all too well what the word "witch" meant in the capital—they were the primary targets of the old-school papacy and the victims of countless political struggles. Taking in three witches was tantamount to walking on hot coals; the slightest misstep would result in being burned to ashes.

"Young master, witches are a hot potato. I dare not stop you from taking them with you, but what if they are discovered by others on the way..."

Wayne raised his hand to interrupt him: "Among those escorts, some were members of the Dragonblood Knights, right?"

Dirk nodded: "Yes, young master. Five members of the Dragonblood Knights who came with Lucian last night are still in town, responsible for perimeter security. I haven't let them know about Lucian's whereabouts this morning."

Wayne thought for a moment and said, "If they were going to defect too, they would have come to besiege me with Lucien last night, instead of waiting until now. The rest of the people are probably fine, so there's no need to dismiss them or be on special guard. Just continue on your way normally, and pretend nothing happened."

After listening, Dirk pondered for a moment, then nodded heavily: "Young Master is right. I was overthinking it. I'll go arrange the carriage and spread the news right away."

Dirk turned and walked away quickly.

About half an hour later, the group set off again.

There was one more carriage than when they arrived. Dirk only told everyone that he had "brought some extra supplies for the journey," and no one suspected anything. The three witches had changed their clothes, wrapped themselves in simple cloaks, and sat quietly in the second carriage with their heads down, without making any noticeable noise.

Wayne sat in the first carriage, leaning against the wall, resting with his eyes closed. Emma sat beside him, holding a piece of honey bread that Vera had just baked that morning, taking small bites.

She took a couple of bites, then suddenly stopped, tilting her head to look at Wayne: "Master, you seem a bit strange today? Like you have something on your mind?"

Wayne didn't open his eyes: "It's nothing. I was just thinking about some plans after we get to the capital."

Emma said "Oh" and didn't ask any further questions. She thought to herself, "It seems that Master didn't rest well last night. I won't disturb her today."

The other half, after Dirk's actions.

The news spread very quickly.

Before Wayne even returned to the capital, news of his assassination attempt had spread like wildfire throughout the city. Idlers in teahouses were gossiping, adventurers in taverns were discussing it, and even the fishmongers in the market were talking about it with their neighbors.

"Have you heard? The bishop of Frosttown was assassinated on his way back to the capital!"

"He didn't die, did he? I heard he killed the assassin and also took down a vice-commander of the Dragonblood Knights."

"The vice-commander of the Dragonblood Knights? Isn't that someone from the Heinrich family? Why would he go and assassinate a bishop?"

"Who knows? Anyway, everyone's saying that someone couldn't sit still and tried to kill someone on the way, but they ran into a brick wall."

Similar conversations were playing out in every corner of the capital. Some gloated, some were skeptical, some cheered and applauded, while others left hastily with gloomy faces.

Inside the palace, Queen Evelyn stood by the window, holding a cup of warm black tea. Sunlight streamed in from outside, casting a soft and serene glow on her profile.

She put down her teacup and muttered to herself, "Very good, very good..."

Behind the screen, a figure dressed in casual black robes bowed slightly, awaiting her next instruction. Evelyn didn't turn around, but simply asked in a flat tone, "Has the news been confirmed?"

The black-clad servant respectfully replied, "Confirmed. Lucien's body has been found in the woods outside Pace Town. His entire body is charred, but his identity can be confirmed through the remaining fragments of equipment. Bishop Wayne himself is unharmed and departed from Pace Town this morning, expected to arrive in the capital this evening."

Evelyn didn't speak immediately after hearing this. She picked up her teacup, took another sip, and looked past the window at the garden, her gaze settling on something further away.

"A fourth-tier bishop managed to survive an attack by a fifth-tier knight and three witches, even killing the fifth-tier knight and subduing the three witches..."

She couldn't help but sigh.

"Cecil, Cecil, this student you've taught really does surprise us every time."