The Witch is Studying Hard (4K Revised)

"Hey, sir, care for some fine rum?"

"Shut your mouth, Menkrof, you fool! Who gave you the right to shout at a noble like that?"

"Oh, heavens, by the Creator above."

"Look at what I've done—damn it all!"

Dragons circled overhead.

The stone-paved roads were immaculate.

Towering spires stood tall, lining clean and wide streets, with neatly arranged houses and steam-powered carriages rolling by.

The scene before him carried a strong sense of déjà vu.

It reminded Xu Xi of his second simulated life.

Back then, as he and the Witch strolled through the bustling streets of the royal capital, merchants would often call out to them.

Poised.

Elegant.

The vendors didn’t understand what true supremacy meant, but they could tell—

Neither Xu Xi nor Krisha carried themselves like ordinary citizens.

"No, thank you."

Xu Xi politely declined the merchants’ enthusiasm.

Instead, his gaze turned toward the grand cathedral in the distance.

The cathedral’s stone walls stood silently, bearing the marks of time.

Pale gray in color, adorned with stained-glass windows and numerous ancient spires, it resembled a massive castle from afar.

Its sheer size and grandeur left no doubt—it was the largest in the world.

"Krisha, is this where you wanted to come?"

"Yes, Mentor."

Krisha stood beside Xu Xi, her expression serene as she observed the flow of people entering and exiting the cathedral, as well as the towering spires that seemed to pierce the sky.

Sunlight filtered through the clouds, scattering across the stained-glass windows.

A rainbow-like halo formed, wrapping around the structure in a dreamlike manner, further enhancing its solemnity.

Exquisite domes.

Thick stone pillars.

Ornate carvings.

Vivid murals.

All these elements combined to create a miraculous architectural wonder, amplifying the solemn aura of religion.

Yet, none of this was the Witch’s main focus.

"Mentor, may we go inside?"

The immortal Witch, forever bearing the face of a seventeen-year-old, spoke with neither joy nor sorrow in her voice.

"Of course."

Xu Xi agreed.

Amid the bustling crowd, Xu Xi took Krisha’s hand and stepped forward, following the flow of people into the cathedral.

It was only then, listening to the murmurs around him, that Xu Xi learned of the cathedral’s unique significance.

Not only was it a sacred place dedicated to the Creator, but it also served as the wedding venue for royalty and high nobility—a witness to the rise and fall of generations of kings.

"A church wedding…"

"I’ve heard of those before."

Inside, the cathedral was vast and lofty.

The towering arches and curved domes evoked a sense of ascension, as if a deity truly watched from above—sacred and solemn.

But Xu Xi knew.

This world had no gods.

And even if one existed, they wouldn’t dare show themselves before the Witch.

Tap—

Tap—

Xu Xi continued forward, hand in hand with Krisha.

The cathedral was open to the public, but only in the outer halls.

Deeper areas—such as the sanctuary and the inner chapels—were off-limits. Yet Xu Xi and Krisha ignored these restrictions, striding boldly inside.

They crossed pristine white steps.

Passed through narrow corridors.

Emerging from the outer halls, Xu Xi’s vision suddenly opened to a sunlit lawn.

"So, it’s not entirely enclosed?"

"Between the outer halls, the central nave, and the bell tower, there are open spaces… This must be where royal weddings are held."

Xu Xi pondered.

The emerald lawn before them was spacious.

White flowers lined the path, and at the far end stood a quaint little chapel.

Its pale brown roof cast mottled shadows under the sunlight.

Faintly visible was a slender artificial waterway encircling the lawn, its surface shimmering with ripples under the gentle breeze.

"Quite the view."

"What do you think, Krisha?"

Xu Xi admired the scenery.

But the Witch gave no reply.

"Krisha?"

Puzzled, Xu Xi glanced beside him—only to find the ever-emotionless Witch holding a pen and paper, meticulously recording something.

"Green grass paired with flowing water…"

"Pure white flowers…"

"And the overall layout…"

Krisha wandered across the lawn, pausing at times, murmuring to herself.

She noted every detail on her small sheet of paper.

"Krisha, what are you doing?"

"Mentor, I am learning from the wisdom of those before us."

Having finished her notes, the Witch carefully folded the paper and stored it within her wand’s spatial storage—solemn, focused, as if performing a sacred and monumental task.

"Mentor, rest assured—I will study diligently."

So…

What exactly are you learning?

Xu Xi hesitated, words caught in his throat.

The bright, sunny weather suddenly felt uncomfortably warm.

After a while, having admired the lawn’s beauty, Xu Xi and Krisha pressed onward.

They crossed a wooden bridge over the waterway, passing by a few nuns, and entered the deeper sections.

Perhaps because the cathedral frequently hosted weddings, some typical decorations remained.

Along the way, they saw rows of wooden benches for guests, elegant white gardens, and a long, vibrant red carpet.

"Mentor, do you think these are acceptable?"

The Witch was still studying.

Taking notes, seeking Xu Xi’s opinion.

"Uh… It might be a bit too elaborate," Xu Xi offered hesitantly.

"I understand, Mentor."

Krisha earnestly accepted his feedback, making adjustments on her paper.

Admittedly, the weather today was bizarre.

Despite walking only a short distance, Xu Xi was sweating profusely, an inexplicable chill creeping up his spine.

"Mentor, what if we replaced this red carpet with one woven from dragon’s blood grass?"

"...That might be a bit too hard on the dragons."

Hand in hand, Xu Xi and Krisha continued forward.

Along the way, they critiqued the cathedral’s interior design.

Eventually, they reached their destination—the sanctuary.

At the center stood a tall, narrow table, with a red-carpeted aisle leading straight to it.

On either side, rows of benches accommodated numerous guests, all positioned for the best view of the stained-glass wall ahead.

The daylight was bright and intense, but a water veil softened its glare.

The light refracted through the colored glass, casting a dreamlike, ethereal glow—as if a fairy-tale realm had descended upon them.

Xu Xi tilted his head slightly.

Above, the illuminated ceiling depicted the myth of creation.

"This needs to be changed. It cannot remain."

Krisha disliked the existence of gods—including all derived myths—so she had other ideas.

"Mentor, what if we replaced that section with a relief sculpture of you?"

The Witch tilted her head slightly.

Proposing what she deemed a fine suggestion.

"...No, let’s not."

Xu Xi imagined the scene for a moment and found it… profoundly awkward.

Walking down the central red carpet, Xu Xi and Krisha stepped into the sanctuary, stopping before the wooden table at the end.

This is the pulpit.

A place where clergy recite scriptures.

During weddings, it becomes the sacred ground for vows and witnesses.

Holy.

Solemn.

Merely standing here, one can gaze upon the azure stained-glass vault, bathed in a dreamlike cascade of light.

"Is it the power of magic?"

Xu Xi looked up.

Carved onto the surfaces of the stone pillars and vault were light-attribute magic arrays.

Those light spells weren’t particularly complex.

Yet, through the interplay of light and shadow, they diffused across the stained glass, transforming the entire cathedral into something magnificent.

As if a true divine realm.

"Master, do you like this style?"

"I suppose so. There’s a beauty to it, one that speaks of accumulated wisdom."

"I see."

Krisha resumed her note-taking.

She was meticulous.

Recording Xu Xi’s preferences, the cathedral’s layout, even the angles at which sunlight struck the windows.

Her calm, focused expression overlapped seamlessly with the fragile image of her from Xu Xi’s dreams.

Time had passed so swiftly.

The once emaciated little girl had grown into someone remarkable.

She had her own thoughts now.

Her own decisions.

No longer the pitiful figure cowering in the mud, trembling with fear.

"Master, is there anything you’d like to adjust?"

After finishing her notes,

the witch stepped closer to Xu Xi, handing him the paper filled with details.

Xu Xi skimmed through it.

The gist was that Krisha admired the cathedral’s ambiance and wished to recreate something similar on Earth.

Only minor details, like the material of the red carpet, had been altered.

"I think it’s perfect, Krisha."

Xu Xi smiled.

"You don’t want to change anything?"

"No need. I trust you’ll handle everything well."

His voice was gentle.

A warm hand rested atop Krisha’s head, fingers lightly combing through her silver-gray hair in encouragement.

It was rare for Krisha to voice her own ideas.

Xu Xi felt no need to interfere.

"Yes. Thank you for your trust."

The witch blinked, her heterochromatic eyes reflecting the light.

...

After leaving the cathedral,

Xu Xi and Krisha walked side by side, exploring the remaining areas of the church.

The choir’s rear hall.

The rose-adorned passageway, gradually narrowing, patrolled by templar knights.

The towering spire,

its peak housing a massive bronze bell and a narrow, winding ladder.

Xu Xi lingered for a moment at the spire.

Not by climbing—

but by being enveloped in the witch’s spatial magic, ascending the immense height in a single step.

Such were the wonders of relying on her.

"The sun’s about to set…"

Leaning against the stone railing beside the bell, Xu Xi looked down at the dense cityscape below.

The cathedral’s grounds were vast.

A full day had slipped by unnoticed while touring it on foot.

The sunset dyed the distant clouds crimson.

The sky wasn’t empty—steam-powered magitek airships, dragon knights, and wind-element spells hovered above the royal capital.

Bathed in the fading light,

the scene before Xu Xi was the epitome of a fantastical otherworld.

"Krisha, how did you find today’s outing?"

The breeze tousled his hair,

but he hadn’t forgotten that this trip was meant to accompany her.

"I learned a great deal, Master."

Krisha nodded slightly.

"Thank you for spending the day with me."

Her soft voice carried a hint of remorse.

The sun had dipped below the horizon, and night was approaching—well past the witch’s usual curfew.

"I was the one who slowed us down, Master."

Krisha gripped her staff with one hand.

The twilight’s glow gently draped over her silver-gray hair, blending gold and silver into a warm radiance.

Seeing her like this, Xu Xi simply chuckled.

"Don’t worry about it, Krisha."

"But—"

"No buts."

His hand ruffled her hair tenderly, warmth seeping through her strands and into her heart.

"You waited for me a long time, didn’t you?"

"In Allenson City, it was you who cared for me in my old age. Decades passed, all because of your patience."

"Waiting for this inadequate master of yours to wake."

Xu Xi paused, his expression softening further as he tousled her hair.

"Compared to the time you spent waiting,

a single day of my company is nothing."

"So, Krisha, there’s no need to apologize."

Hearing his gentle words,

feeling his comforting touch,

Krisha had much she wanted to say.

That her wait was trivial compared to Xu Xi’s lifelong sacrifices.

That she was his possession, and waiting was only natural.

Yet those words

stuck in her throat, unspoken.

The witch knew they weren’t what Xu Xi wished to hear.

"I understand, Master," she murmured.

She let go of her guilt about time.

Instead, she mimicked Xu Xi, gazing down at the cityscape and the fading sunset.

A warm breeze stirred their robes.

Standing atop the spire, master and apprentice reminisced about the past.

"By the way, Krisha."

"Yes, I’m here."

"Have you figured out whether immortality is a blessing or a curse for you?"

"Yes, Master."

Krisha cupped the azure pendant at her chest, its surface shimmering with an ethereal blue glow.

She answered softly.

"I believe it’s a good thing."

In the second simulation, the witch who’d obtained order and chaos had once been lost,

feeling eternity only widened the gap between her and Xu Xi.

She’d asked him then—

was such immortality a blessing or a curse?

But back then,

Xu Xi couldn’t give her a definitive answer.

She had to find it herself.

Now,

after countless trials and the passage of ages,

the witch had her answer.

She cherished immortality.

A never-ending life in a world with Xu Xi.

"I’m glad you’ve found your answer, Krisha."

Xu Xi tousled her hair again, his eyes filled with pride.

And at that moment,

the witch slumped into his arms.

"Master, I think… I’ve run out of strength," Krisha murmured blankly.

A lie, of course.