Witch Training Manual: My Water Magic Is Wrong

After a quick breakfast, Wayne stood in front of the podium and completed his morning prayers.

Several girls sat on a bench. Emma yawned, and Ella gently nudged her.

Footsteps came from outside the door.

Old Hunter led someone in.

She was a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, with light yellow hair, freckles on her face, and very fair skin.

"Your Excellency," old Hunter released his granddaughter and bowed to Wayne, "I brought her with me."

The girl looked up at Wayne.

The girl lifted the hem of her skirt, bowed slightly, her movements awkward but she tried her best to be precise.

"Good day, Your Majesty."

Her voice was soft, with a hint of nervousness.

"My name is Wendy. I heard... you can cure my illness."

Wayne looked at her.

The panel popped up.

Name: Wendy

[Identity: An Unawakened Witch]

[Actual age: 18]

[Status: Magic Backlash. Long-term accumulation of magical elements within the body, unable to be released normally, is causing the body to gradually weaken. If not awakened in time, the patient can only survive for a maximum of three months.]

[Note: She was stronger than she imagined. She knew her grandfather was selling medicine to save money for her treatment, and she cried secretly every night.]

Wayne looked away.

Wendy.

Wendy looked up at him, her light brown eyes meeting his.

“Your grandfather was right,” Wayne said. “I can cure him.”

Old Hunter, who was standing to the side, suddenly had his eyes light up.

"Sir! Really? You can really cure him?"

Wayne nodded.

"But it will take time."

Old Hunter bent his knees and knelt down.

His forehead hit the ground with a dull thud.

"Your Excellency... thank you... thank you, Goddess..."

His voice trembled, and his shoulders shook. A man in his sixties, he knelt on the ground and wept like a child.

Wayne looked down at him.

No one offered a helping hand.

That's the rule.

Clergy, especially bishops, represent the will of the goddess. When believers kneel in worship, they are not kneeling before the clergy as individuals, but rather before the goddess's representative on earth.

He had to accept Old Hunter's kneeling.

This wasn't him deliberately putting on airs, but rather because only by openly accepting the kindness of the lower classes could faith be strengthened. This was a lesson Wayne had learned over the years.

"Get up," Wayne said.

Old Hunter looked up, his cloudy eyes filled with tears.

Wayne looked at him.

"You can stay here and go back."

Old Hunter was stunned.

He glanced at Wayne, then at Wendy standing to the side, his expression becoming complicated.

"My lord... this..."

"What's wrong?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed Old Hunter's eyes.

He was well aware of the reputations of the previous bishops. They were regulars on Tsui Ying Street, known for their holy water bathing practices and the audacity of sleeping with five girls in one night. Those men, dressed in priestly robes, did things more outrageous than the mountain vagrants.

His granddaughter is only eighteen years old this year.

She's not bad-looking either.

in case……

Old Hunter dared not think any further.

But she was his granddaughter. His only relative. If something happened to her, what meaning would his old life have?

"Your Excellency," his voice lowered, "could... I stay? I can work—sweeping, chopping wood, carrying water, anything. Isn't your church short-staffed? I... I..."

Wayne wasn't angry; he understood.

Even he wouldn't feel comfortable entrusting his granddaughter to a stranger—even if that man was dressed in divine robes.

Wayne took a step forward and stopped before the altar. He raised his hand and placed it on the open scripture on the pulpit.

"By the goddess above," he said calmly.

Old Hunter and Wendy both looked at him at the same time.

"I, Wayne, Bishop of Frosttown, swear in the name of God."

His fingers pressed on the pages of the sacred text.

"If, during the treatment of Wendy, I do anything that violates my divine duty or harms her physical or mental well-being..."

He paused.

"May the goddess withdraw my divine grace, and may every word in the holy book turn into a sharp blade that pierces my heart."

The church was very quiet.

Several girls sat motionless on the bench.

Old Hunter knelt on the ground, his eyes wide with shock. He had lived on this street for over sixty years, seen too many people swear oaths, and heard too many beautiful words. But no one had ever dared to place their hand on the sacred texts and swear such an oath.

Divine punishment is no joke.

In this world, oaths made before the sacred texts truly come to pass. Those who break their oaths never have a good end. They are either struck by lightning, burned alive, or die mysteriously. The church registers several such cases each year as proof of the "power of the goddess."

"Your Excellency..." his voice was hoarse, "I...it's not that I don't believe in you..."

Wayne put the sacred text back on the pulpit.

"I know," he said. "She's your granddaughter."

Old Hunter knelt on the spot, unsure of what to say.

Wayne looked at him.

"Now, can you rest assured?"

Old Hunter nodded vigorously.

"I'm relieved, I'm relieved..."

He tried to stand up, but his legs were too weak, and he almost fell over. Wendy caught him, her light brown eyes brimming with tears.

"grandfather……"

Old Hunter grasped her hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Wendy, stay here and get well," his voice trembled. "Listen to His Holiness the Bishop, don't cause any trouble. Grandpa will come to see you in a few days."

Wendy nodded.

"Um."

Old Hunter released her hand and turned to Wayne.

He bent down and bowed deeply.

"Your Excellency, I beg you."

Wayne nodded.

May the goddess protect you.

Before leaving, Old Hunter took a cloth bag from his pocket, held it with both hands, and handed it to Wayne.

"Your Excellency, here are the five dragon blood vines you requested. They are all of excellent quality."

Wayne took the cloth bag, opened it, and glanced inside. Five dark red vines were neatly stacked together, with clear veins and pure color, indeed much better than the one from yesterday.

Thank you.

Old Hunter shook his head, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"Sir, you're too kind. You saved my granddaughter's life; what are these few broken vines compared to that?" He paused, glanced in Wendy's direction, and said, "Well... I'll head back now. I'll come visit again in a couple of days."

Wayne nodded.

"The goddess is with you."

Old Hunter bowed and turned to leave, his back hunched, but his steps were lighter than when he arrived.

The church doors closed gently.

Wayne carefully put away the dragon blood vine, his gaze falling on Wendy. The girl stood there, her light brown eyes secretly watching him. When their eyes met, she immediately lowered her head, her face slightly flushed.

Sister Mayfair.

Mayfair walked over from the side.

"Your Excellency, Bishop."

"Take Wendy around to see the church," Wayne said. "Vera will go too; help her find accommodation and explain the rules here."

Mayfair nodded.

Vera stepped forward from behind and gave Wendy a gentle smile.

"Come with me, I'll show you the backyard."

Wendy nodded and followed Vera to the backyard. When they reached the door, she couldn't help but look back.

Wayne stood at the podium, sunlight streaming in through the broken window and falling on him. His blond hair shimmered softly in the light, and the lines of his profile were so beautiful they seemed unreal.

Her heart skipped a beat.

This bishop...

She's so beautiful.

Vera's voice came from the front.

"Wendy? This way."

Wendy snapped out of her daze, her face flushing even more, and quickly followed after him with her head down.