Witch Training Manual: My Water Magic Is Wrong

Mayfair's figure disappeared around the street corner; the last piece of her gray cloak turned past the wall and vanished.

Emma was still standing at the door, craning her neck.

"Master, did they just leave like that?"

"Um."

"Not turning back?"

"I'm not looking back."

Emma's lips twitched slightly.

She put her heels down, turned around, buried her face in Wayne's arm, and muttered, "I don't like goodbyes."

Wayne reached out and ruffled her hair.

"Separation is a normal part of life."

"Then I'll quit being human."

Wayne's hand paused for a moment.

"What else would you do if not be a human being?"

"To be the master's shadow." Emma lifted her face from his arm, her pale red eyes shining brightly, her gaze even more tender. "A shadow never leaves. A shadow always follows its master. Wherever the master goes, the shadow follows."

Wayne looked at her and remained silent for a moment.

"Shadows can't eat candy."

Emma paused for a moment.

"what?"

"Shadow can't eat all those candies, preserves, and dried fruits you bought yesterday."

Emma opened her mouth slightly, then closed it again. Her eyebrows furrowed, as if she were working on a difficult arithmetic problem. After thinking for a while, she finally spoke: "Then...then I'll be a shadow during the day and a person at night."

"Why be a shadow during the day and a person at night?"

"Follow your master during the day, and eat candy at night." Emma's logic was so clear that Wayne couldn't find a point to refute it.

Wayne smiled.

"OK."

Emma's lips curled into a smile, revealing two small fangs. She buried her face back in Wayne's arm, nuzzling him like a spoiled cat.

Ella stood beside him, watching Emma's face buried in Wayne's arm, and her lips moved slightly. She took a half step forward, then another half step, turning her body slightly to the side, her shoulder gently resting on Wayne's arm.

It's not about relying on, it's about resisting.

She used very little force, so little that if Wayne had taken a step forward, she would have lost her balance. But Wayne didn't move. He felt the force, neither dodging nor meeting it, he just stood there, letting her push against him.

The panel popped up at this point.

[Ella - Current Status]

[Status: Lost in thought.]

[Note: Her sister said she wanted to be a shadow, but she had a different thought. She doesn't eat candy at night; what's so good about candy? If she were to eat it, it would be… well, that's not convenient to say on the panel.]

[Also: She was thinking about a problem. Mayfair is gone, and Kasha is gone too. With two fewer people in the church, will she get more? Her math isn't great, but she thinks this calculation is correct.]

"Master," Ella's voice was soft.

"Um."

Is parting really the norm?

"Yes."

"Will you leave us?"

Wayne did not answer immediately.

"No," he said.

Ella's lips curved into a smile.

"That's good."

Wayne's gaze fell on her face.

"You believed me when I said no?"

"I believe you." Ella's voice wasn't loud, but it was steady. "I believe whatever Master says."

Emma chimed in.

"I believe it too, I believe whatever my master says."

Looking into her earnest eyes, Wayne suddenly found it a little funny. He'd lived so long, been deceived and deceived himself, been trusted and doubted. But these two sisters, who believed everything he said without question or reservation, were the first he'd ever met. He cherished them.

"Let's go," he said.

"Where to?" Emma lifted her face from his arm.

"Eat breakfast first."

"Didn't we just eat?"

"Eat some more."

Emma's eyes lit up, she released Wayne's arm, turned and ran towards the kitchen.

"Vera! Is there any porridge left?"

"Yes! Plenty!"

Vera's voice came from the kitchen, carrying a smug "I knew you guys wanted to eat more" vibe.

Morning prayer time.

The church pews were full of people, and Wayne stood behind the pulpit, the scroll open to a page in the middle.

"Today, we pray for Sister Mayfair."

Someone in the crowd looked up.

"She was invited by the necromancer sect to go to Kansas. It was the goddess's arrangement, and also her own choice."

Whispers spread from the back row to the front.

"Sister Mayfair is gone?"

No wonder I didn't see her today.

"Kansas? Isn't that Necromancer territory?"

"What would a nun be doing in a place like that?"

Wayne raised his hand and pressed it down.

The crowd fell silent.

"Sister Mayfair cared for the dying in Odrian for eight years, and for the sick and orphans in Frosttown. The Goddess saw everything she did. She went to Kansas not to leave you, but to become stronger. Strong enough that one day she could help even more people."

He paused.

"So don't worry about her. Pray for her. Pray she's safe in Kansas, pray she returns soon."

The whispers of the crowd turned into low prayers. Some closed their eyes, some clasped their hands together, and some drew the emblem of the Holy Virgin Mary on their chests.

The Mayfair affair was over and done with.

The people of Frosttown know how to behave appropriately.

I didn't ask any further questions.

After the morning prayers ended, the crowd began to leave.

Someone walked to the door and then turned back.

"Your Majesty Bishop."

"Um?"

"Sister Mayfair is gone, is the church adequately staffed?"

Wayne looked at him.

"enough."

The man nodded, turned, and left.

Several more people gathered around.

"Your Excellency, will there be any more of that potion tomorrow?"

"have."

"Still ten copper coins?"

"Still ten copper coins."

"Okay, I'll come earlier tomorrow."

The panel then appeared.

[Kant Border Valley Camp - Live Footage]

[Shulasa - Current Status: Barefoot. She hasn't worn shoes since the day before yesterday. Not because she has no shoes, but because Hena forbids her from wearing them. "Only by walking barefoot on the ground can you feel the pulse of the earth." These are Hena's exact words. Shulasa thinks this is nonsense, but she doesn't argue. After being possessed by a demon, she learned to keep quiet. Not out of fear, but because she's tired. Reasoning with a demon is more tiring than reasoning with a paladin.]

[Hena - Current Status: Enjoying breakfast. What's in the breakfast... guess. There's no reward for guessing correctly. She sits languidly on the bench by the cabin door, like a cat that has just finished eating.]

[Note: Hena did not use Shurasa's body. She found it filthy. The six paladins left something among themselves. Hena could see it, clearly. She was a demon, she knew it.]

Hena sat on the bench in the carriage.

A blue slime, about the size of a fist, was crouching at her feet. It was bouncy and soft.

That's right!

This slime is Shurasha.

Hena transferred her soul into a slime.

Shurasa was trembling.

It wasn't cold, it was disgusting.

She vomited.

The slime's body changed from blue to light green, and then back to blue. She didn't know what she vomited up; she just vomited.

Hena lowered her head and glanced at the slime.

"Disgusting, huh?"

The slime vomited again.

Hena sighed and pulled her foot out.

"How many times have I told you? Those men are filthy." Hena's voice wasn't loud, but every word was piercing. "Now that I've told you the truth, you can't stand it. You think those six paladins are such good stuff, such good resources, such good... tools?"

She smiled.

"And the result? You thought it was six... but it was actually six turds."

The slime's body shuddered violently, and a fine ripple spread across its blue, gelatinous surface.

Hena reached out and patted the slime on the head, like patting an obedient pet.

"Stop throwing up, or you'll die too."

Xiulasa stopped shaking.

Because she really couldn't vomit anymore.

But the rumination continues.

"Stop talking, ugh..."