Witch Training Manual: My Water Magic Is Wrong

Chapter 7 The Reasons for Having to Leave

The Baroness squeezed forward.

"Father Wayne, I heard you're going to Frosttown?"

"That's fake, isn't it?"

Wayne looked at her.

"It's true."

The crowd erupted in a buzzing sound.

Why?

"You're doing a great job here!"

"Everyone who goes to Frost Town dies!"

"Father, you can't go!"

The sounds rose and fell, and the young girl at the back stood on tiptoe to look ahead, while the women in front had already begun to wipe away tears.

Wayne raised his hand.

The crowd quieted down a bit.

"This is God's will." His voice wasn't loud, but everyone could hear him clearly. "The bishop of Frosttown has been called by the Lord, and the diocese needs someone to take over. I'm just following the arrangement."

"Can't you just not go?" the grain merchant's wife's voice trembled with tears. "If you leave, what...what will we do?"

These words were met with immediate agreement.

"Yes, what will we do if you leave?"

"Who will listen to our confessions?"

"Father, you can't abandon us!"

Wayne looked at them.

He knew perfectly well what these women were thinking.

Three years.

What they received from him was not just a few words of comfort, not just a few "the Lord will forgive you." It was true solace, something that could calm both body and soul, his magical water magic—pain relief, fever reduction, hemostasis, and itch relief.

But knowing is one thing.

No one dared to say it.

No one else could do this.

Wayne reassured everyone.

"Don't worry, everyone. The church will make arrangements, and a new priest will take over soon."

The Viscountess's voice was very loud.

"But we don't want anything new! We want you!"

Some people in the crowd started to push forward.

"Father, at least... at least let me confess one more time!"

"Me too!"

"Let me go first!"

Wayne raised his hand, signaling them to be quiet.

"I have other things to do today," he said. "The church will be open as usual tomorrow. Anyone who wants to confess can come."

The women looked at each other in bewilderment.

tomorrow?

But he's leaving the day after tomorrow...

"Father..." The grain merchant's wife wanted to say something more.

Until the church bells rang.

"It's time for morning prayers, everyone, please excuse us..."

Wayne seized the opportunity to leave quickly.

The ladies then slowly dispersed.

Finally, a young girl mustered up the courage to catch up and slipped a handkerchief into Wayne's hand.

"This is something I embroidered. Please keep it as a keepsake..."

After saying that, he ran off into the distance.

Wayne looked down at the handkerchief. It was white with an unidentified flower embroidered on it. The stitches were a little crooked, but it was clear that it had been made with care.

He tucked the handkerchief into his sleeve.

Two girls stood by, watching this scene.

Emma leaned close to her sister's ear and whispered.

"Sister, those women... all like Master?"

Ella didn't say anything.

Emma continued muttering.

"There are so many, and they're all quite beautiful..."

Ella tugged at her sleeve.

"Don't talk nonsense."

"I'm not making this up. Look at that girl in the blue dress just now, her eyes were practically watering at the owner..."

"Emma!"

Emma pursed her lips and said nothing more.

In fact, Wayne could have stayed, just as the women said; he could have stayed.

Over the past three years, the connections he had built in Aldrian extended far beyond the noblewomen. The guild master owed him a life; it was he who concocted the medicine overnight when the master's son was poisoned. He had saved the city defense captain, and he had healed him from severe injuries sustained during the demonic tide outside the city. Even the city lord's wife would come to him once a month to "repent."

If he speaks up, many people will help him.

The local church may not really dare to break off relations.

The real reason was that he had to leave.

Not long ago, a message popped up on that panel.

It's not about Kasa, nor is it about Frosttown; it's about his cheap father who got his position by selling his ass.

The old count recently met with a papal envoy. The discussion concerned presenting a certain "outstandingly handsome illegitimate son" to the Pope. The Pope, sixty-seven this year, has never changed his tastes. The envoy, having seen your portrait, was very pleased, remarking that the child indeed resembled his mother.

If you stay in Aldrian, a paladin will escort you to the Holy City in half a month, ostensibly for "the Papacy to select outstanding young clergy for further training."

This is the real reason why he willingly accepted the appointment; it's not because he was particularly devout, but because he had no other choice.

When Wayne finished reading it, a chill ran down his spine.

The Pope, sixty-seven, hasn't changed his tastes.

That really fits his stereotype of the Pope.

His cheapskate father, who climbed to the position of earl by selling his body, is now plotting to sell his son.

It really disgusted Wayne.

He had never seen such a disgusting person in both his lives. To sell his son to this extent, he was truly a genius.

Wayne had considered rebelling.

But to rebel against the Papacy?

He knew better than anyone the power of the Papacy in this world. If they really sent paladins to "escort," what could he do? Kill the paladins? That would be making an enemy of the entire Church. Escape? Where could he escape to? The Church had spies everywhere along the kingdom's borders.

The only way out is to leave Audrian and get out of the Vatican's sight.

Frost Town.

North of the border, demonic tides frequently occur, and the church's power is weak.

Once he got there, the emperor was far away, and even his cheapskate father couldn't reach him. Even if the Holy See wanted to find him, they would have to cross that desolate wasteland overrun by monsters first.

More importantly, Frosttown is located next to the border of a neighboring country.

If all else fails, he can run away to a neighboring country.

So, in a sense, that old man Casa did him a big favor.

If he tries to escape, the news will spread even faster. A priest who leaves his post without permission is a fugitive. Once an arrest warrant is issued, he won't be able to cross the border without proper documentation and will be caught and brought back.

After morning prayers, Wayne led the two girls through the side door of the church and toward the living quarters behind it.

Passing through an archway, you reach the place where the monks dine. A long wooden table, several benches, and a benevolent statue of a goddess on the wall overlook each person who sits down.

Breakfast was simple.

Dark bread, wheat porridge, and a small dish of pickled vegetables.

Wayne pushed the plate in front of the two girls.

"eat."

Ella and Emma stared at the food in front of them, neither of them touching it, while Wayne watched them.

"What's wrong?"

Emma swallowed hard, her dark eyes fixed on the bowl of porridge, which shone brightly, but she didn't reach for it.

"Master, is this... food for us?"

"otherwise?"

Emma reached out and picked up the bowl of porridge, holding it in her hands and sipping it slowly. Ella was a little slower, but she also started eating.

They ate very carefully.

It wasn't the kind of eating that involves wolfing down food; it was the kind of eating that only someone who's been starving would do. They chewed each bite for a long time, reluctant to swallow it, as if confirming that this really wasn't a dream.

Wayne sat opposite him, chewing on his black bread.

The porridge was quickly finished.

The black bread is all gone.

The pickled vegetable dish was empty.

"Master," Emma put down her spoon, licked her lips, "are we really going to that...Frost Town?"

Wayne nodded.

Are you scared?

Emma thought for a moment and shook her head.

"I'm not afraid."

Wayne looked at her.

"Frosttown is very cold. It snows for eight months of the year. There are demonic tides, wild beasts, and refugees; people can die at any time."

Emma blinked.