roccoschili Chapter 130 Rochester, the Land of Water 1
Chapter 130 Rochester, the Land of Water 1
As we all know, the Magical Association's business has never been limited to magic-related areas—after all, ordinary people who don't know magic make up the majority of the population, and not everything in reality needs to involve magic.
In almost every country with a branch of the Magical Union Association, there is a special trouble-dropping mailbox. Locals can write down their troubles on paper and drop it in.
Afterwards, staff members of the Magic Integration Association will sort these trouble letters and hand them over to the association's special departments. Members of those departments will then offer advice based on their own experience and write letters to the people who sent the trouble letters.
In an era with such convenient tools as magic, the time between sending and receiving a letter usually does not exceed five days.
You only need to pay for mailing the letter—it's a very convenient and people-friendly service that has been highly praised since its inception.
However, there will always be some people who are not satisfied. Their troubles are sometimes quite urgent, but not to the point of having to ask the Magic Integration Association to handle them, and five days is too long.
At this point, people often tend to choose the prayer box from the Magic Integration Association.
Similar to the prayer boxes in some local churches, where a priest sits inside to enlighten you and help you repent for what you have done wrong—but the prayer box of the Magic Integration Association usually only has an experienced magician or a specially trained psychologist sitting inside.
Moreover, while church prayers may be free, consultation fees must be paid here.
Compared to the trouble-dropping mailbox, this model is less convenient (the prayer box is not always open), and the price is not as affordable.
Therefore, not many people come to pray.
On this day, another guest arrived at the prayer box of the Rochester Magic Integration Association branch.
This roused Elizabeth, who was sitting inside and getting bored and dozing off.
Today she is in charge of overseeing the prayer box. As a psychology instructor specially appointed by the Magic Integration Association, her workplace is either inside this box or in the department that writes advice for those troubled letters.
But if she had to choose, she certainly wouldn't want to stay in this somewhat stuffy box, especially in Rochester's prayer box, which is already in a humid climate.
Because so few people came, he could only idly read newspapers and sleep in the prayer box for almost the entire day.
The main problem is that I can't sleep well either—it's so hot and humid, who can sleep?
But Elizabeth had no choice... It was part of the job... She received a salary from the association, so she had to do things for the association; complaining wouldn't solve anything.
"Excuse me... can I confide my troubles here?" The person who came seemed to be a young girl.
The prayer box is structured with a partition in the middle separating the mentor who oversees the prayer box from the customer who pours out their troubles. There is a window in the middle that has been blessed with magic, through which only a blurry figure of the other person can be seen.
“That’s right, that’s right.” Elizabeth crumpled the newspaper she had read countless times on the table into a ball and threw it away. “You can confide any troubles you have, as long as you’re willing. And I will give you my advice based on your troubles.”
Finally, I can get her to speak. It was so boring.
I chose psychology because I really enjoy chatting... well, that's a ridiculous reason, but it's true.
Another reason is that I have a certain talent for psychology.
Is this place a secret?
“This is my work ID. If you find that your secret has been leaked, you can complain to the Magical Union Association at any time. I don’t think I want to lose this secure job yet, you know what I mean.” Elizabeth tossed her work ID through the window.
While the Magic Integration Association may lack a bit of freedom, its benefits are excellent.
After being briefly glanced at, the work ID was returned.
“It’s like this.” The other person cleared their throat. “I have a friend…”
amount……
You can say it's your own.
But Elizabeth took a small sip of tea and did not expose the other party's disguise.
“She witnessed a tragedy that was completely beyond her control, and she’s very disheartened. I’d like to know how I can comfort her,” the other person said.
"Could you elaborate on the specifics of what kind of tragedy it was? If not, that's fine," Elizabeth said. "However, if it's just such a broad description, my advice will lack specificity and will just become what you call feel-good platitudes."
"There's nothing that can't be said. It's just that she saw someone trying to save another friend, and she paid a terrible price, only to be betrayed by her so-called friend in the end... All that person's sacrifices and regrets all along were just wishful thinking."
Elizabeth listened patiently.
She had to piece together the true nature of things from such vague descriptions.
"Actually, she knows very well that there are no perfect fairy tales in the world... but disappointment is inevitable, so I don't know how to comfort her."
“There’s no need to preach to her; she understands that better than you do. All you need to do is give her a hug and tell her that you’re always there for her,” Elizabeth said. “Right now, all she needs is the support of a friend to lift her spirits and let her know she’s not alone. Or perhaps, time heals all wounds.”
After receiving Elizabeth's advice, the other party remained silent for a while.
Elizabeth knew that the so-called friend was the person she was consulting with, and that her implication was that she should go out and have some fun with a friend so that she could get rid of these troubles.
After all, she doesn't need any motivational platitudes to lull her into a false sense of security.
"Can I ask you about one more thing? I have another friend..."
You have so many friends!
Elizabeth politely replied, "Of course. I didn't think the last suggestion was worth your consultation fee, so this consultation can be free."
She just wanted to chat a little longer...after all, she'd been bored all morning.
Anyway, no matter how much consulting fee she earns, it won't go into her pocket; her salary is fixed.
"What if that friend keeps overthinking?" the other person asked.
"What kind of crazy ideas are you having? Dreaming of getting rich overnight and buying a villa? Or is it about becoming a goddess of justice and being sung about by people?"
The other party was silent.
Elizabeth chuckled and said, "Just kidding. I apologize for my excessive joke."
Could they have actually predicted everything?
“Sometimes, she really does fantasize like that… never mind… it’s me. What you said is really going too far. What’s wrong with being a bit immature when you were a kid?” the other person said.
"Sorry, sorry. It's a normal fantasy. I'm almost thirty and I still fantasize about becoming the richest person in Rochester," Elizabeth laughed.
"Lately, I haven't been sleeping well, and my mind is all over the place."
What might they be thinking?
"Sometimes I even have nightmares because of his laughter."
"Excuse me, is the other person of the opposite sex?"
"Yes……"
"your friend?"
"Yes."
"Judging from your accent, you're from out of town. Did he travel here with you?"
"..."
After a long while, the other party finally said weakly, "Yes."
"Child...you shouldn't be asking me this question..." Elizabeth was trying to think of a more tactful way to phrase it.
"What do you think of him... or rather, why did you travel together?" Elizabeth asked.
"I think traveling with him would be nice."
That's it? Elizabeth nearly spat out the tea she was holding in her mouth. Elizabeth simply couldn't believe a girl would travel with a man for such a reason.
Unless he's the kind of player who's a player.
It's not just the safety issue; other people's opinions alone are a headache.
"He... once... saved me twice..." the other party added.
That makes sense...it matches the family dramas Elizabeth usually watches. Based on all that's been said, Elizabeth can basically conclude that this child is a blockhead.
Let's stop beating around the bush and just lay it all out.
"Do you like him?" Elizabeth asked, perhaps she even had the talent to be Cupid.
"what?"
“Literal,” Elizabeth said.
What does it feel like to like someone?
"Simply put, it's about finding the other person pleasing to the eye, thinking they're reliable, and believing they can bring you happiness. Physiologically speaking, it's about hormones stimulating the body's desire to reproduce..." Elizabeth said.
"I……"
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s normal for men and women to enjoy each other’s company at your age,” Elizabeth said.
"You're making yourself sound so old..." Elizabeth thought to herself, though she was only twenty-eight.
“Sometimes, when the opportunity is still there, you should seize it… No one can predict the future, so don’t leave yourself with regrets,” Elizabeth said. “Otherwise, you’ll end up like me in the past.”
"The person you were pursuing dumped you?" the other person asked.
“No, we’re together, and we have a lovely child,” Elizabeth said with a smile.
"then you……"
"I haven't finished yet, otherwise I would have hesitated like I used to. I only mustered up the courage to give it a try because my rival confessed to me."
The other person got up and left the prayer room, then tossed a silver coin in through the window before leaving silently.
“I’m quite good at making up stories.” Elizabeth tossed the silver coin in her hand. “I’m not that indecisive when it comes to dating, and besides me, who in their right mind would be interested in him?”