A Muddy Predicament and an Unexpected Confrontation

“So, why were you relentlessly chasing us?”

Standing at the edge of the mud pit, Fanny gazed down at the boy, who was now covered in mud, and couldn’t help but sigh as she questioned him.

This fellow truly was foolish.

During their chase, he had failed to stop in time, plummeting into a roadside mud pit. Such pits were common in the village; while falling in posed no mortal danger, it invariably meant being coated in a layer of reeking, putrid mud.

“I told you already,” Jack spluttered, “to deliver my message to that pastor.”

Struggling in the pit, Jack’s body was thoroughly coated in slime. He desperately clawed his way towards the edge, only for his feet to slip once more, and his face plunged back into the muck.

Despite his utterly dishevelled state, Jack still bellowed at the two girls squatting by the pit, watching the spectacle, his voice full of false bravado.

“Dream on,” South Creek retorted without a moment’s hesitation.

How could she possibly obey the demands of this arrogant brat? For years, healing the sick and saving lives had been Elise’s unwavering mission. Countless villagers, on the brink of death, had been saved by Elise’s skilled hands. Now, someone actually dared to threaten Elise into abandoning her sacred duty?

“Since you insist on behaving this way, perhaps you should reflect properly in that mud pit,” Fanny declared.

Shaking her head, Fanny ignored the shouts emanating from the pit, took South Creek’s hand, and turned to leave. After all, the fellow’s predicament was his own doing. Had he managed to catch them, who knew who would have been the one to suffer?

“You two, wait, wait a moment, wait!” Jack cried out as his body plunged once more into the mire.

“…Fine, when we head back later, I’ll tell Mr. Lister to come over,” South Creek conceded. “If he stays in that mud pit like this and something happens, we won’t be able to bear the responsibility.”

“You’re still too soft-hearted, aren’t you?” Fanny teased gently.

Upon seeing Jack’s pitiful state, South Creek’s heart had ultimately softened. Fanny, understanding her friend’s nature, just offered a helpless jest, her way of agreeing with the decision.

“…I am not.”

“Alright, alright, you’re not, definitely not,” Fanny chirped.

“Gurgle, you two, glug, pah! Wait, wait gu—”

“Honestly, explain yourself. What exactly happened?”

“Uh… well, this, um…”

[That detestable old man Lister!] South Creek fumed internally. [And to think I always listened so diligently in your classes. How infuriating!]

Standing meekly before Elise, South Creek’s heart was a tumultuous mix of emotions. Heaven knew what that meddlesome old fool was thinking. Upon learning that Jack had fallen into the mud pit, he had actually brought him back to the church. The consequences of that were, naturally, predictable.

However, since matters had come to this, there was nothing for it but to tell the truth.

With a small sigh, and under Elise’s complex gaze, South Creek recounted the entire sequence of events, from beginning to end.

“So… that’s what happened…?” Elise murmured.

Surprisingly, after hearing the full account, Elise showed little sign of astonishment. It was as if she had anticipated this very situation. Her brows merely furrowed in a thoughtful frown, seemingly preoccupied with some concern.

“I understand the situation now, more or less,” Elise stated. “It seems I misjudged you this time.”

Pressing her fingers to her throbbing forehead, Elise glanced at South Creek, then towards the direction where Jack was resting, and continued, “I’ll speak with Jack again in a bit about this matter… And another thing: next time you encounter something like this, you must tell me immediately. No more keeping secrets.”

“Mm… I was just, well…”

“It’s alright, I know you care about me, but I am an adult, after all,” Elise said gently. “Such words could never truly threaten me. Don’t underestimate your sister, now.”

Gently stroking South Creek’s head to comfort her, Elise offered a reassuring smile before walking towards where Jack was resting.

[Truth be told,] South Creek thought, [that wasn’t quite what I meant just now. I was simply afraid that wretched boy Jack would blab. It would be disastrous if he spread bad rumors about me in front of Elise. Besides, who knew if that fellow would deliberately twist the facts? I’ve seen countless people like him, full of baseless chatter.]

On another note, upon hearing that Mr. Lister had brought Jack to the church, Fanny had vanished in a flash. She had previously declared her intention to feast lavishly at the church; what a coward.

Sitting nervously on a long church bench, South Creek’s mind once again began to churn with thoughts.

However, before she could indulge in her musings for too long, Elise returned, followed by Jack, who moments ago had been so arrogant and overbearing. Yet, the current Jack had utterly lost his previous swagger. His head hung low, his expression deeply dejected, and his gait was akin to that of an old man.

A surge of triumph suddenly welled within South Creek. Seeing him in such a state, she surmised that Elise must have given him a severe dressing-down.

“Come, Jack, over here.”

Beckoning him forward, Elise led Jack to stand before South Creek.

[Could it be? Is he going to apologize?]

A thrill of delight coursed through South Creek. It had been a long time since she had felt such a pleasant surprise. To make this conceited brat honestly apologize to her would indeed be a significant victory. She imagined that from now on, he would meekly walk around her whenever their paths crossed.

“Since Elise has already said so…” South Creek began, deliberately extending her hand to Jack in a gesture of friendship and offering a smug, overly wise smile.

However, before she could even embark on the first step of her plan, a violent crash echoed through the church.

The grand doors of the church, emblazoned with holy symbols, were thrown open.

A woman, clad in blue-green tie-dye fabric, stormed in, radiating an intimidating aura. Her gaze swept rapidly across the church interior, quickly settling on the three of them in the corner. This sudden intrusion drew the attention of the congregants who had been deep in prayer, but the woman paid them no mind.

Upon spotting Jack standing dejectedly to one side, her expression instantly twisted into a furious scowl. Her throat worked, and a sharp, piercing voice erupted:

“Pastor Elise, you are going too far!”