The Cornflower Witch Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Gradually Familiar Classmates

In the backyard of Scholar Hyde’s mansion.

On the green lawn, everyone sat on chairs of various sizes, forming a semicircle around Scholar Hyde, listening to him impart knowledge.

“As everyone knows, the land we currently inhabit, that is, the continent, rests on the back of a giant serpent, rising and falling on the sea of clouds.”

“There are a total of seven such continents, arranged in a staggered fashion, and the conditions on each continent vary greatly.”

“But, does anyone know where this vast land beneath our feet truly originates?” He stroked his long white beard and asked.

To this question, the commoner students were mostly curious and puzzled, while a few noble students looked somewhat bored, as they already knew the answer.

“Yero, you answer.” Hyde pointed his wooden stick at the chubby boy in the front right.

“Me? All right, Teacher.”

Yero stood up, faced everyone, gathered his thoughts, and began to speak.

“The continents and the celestial gardens, as we know them today, are all formed from the carcasses of giant fish that once roamed the celestial sea in extremely ancient times.”

“In that era, the entire world resembled a boundless ocean, and within it patrolled numerous large fish, some of which might have stretched for tens of thousands of miles, being the largest known creatures. These giant fish were also manifestations of a phase (true fish).”

“Such an era lasted for an unknown number of years, until an alien star shattered the world’s fetal shell and descended upon the world.”

“The terrifying wound torn by the alien star caused the world to tremble, and countless flames erupted from the dark celestial sea, from which the first light, ‘Blazing Sun’ and ‘Illusory Moon,’ was born.”

“‘Blazing Sun’ scorched the celestial sea, and countless living beings perished in this process. Their corpses then drifted across the celestial sea, becoming the original soil and land, and the (true fish) gradually transformed into the ‘螺魚’ (spiral fish) phase we know today.”

“Good, that’s enough.” Scholar Hyde motioned for Yero to sit down.

“As for how these scattered soils and lands transformed into the seven continents we have now, it involves the turbulent changes of several eras, which you will gradually learn in the future.”

“Now, let us continue to discuss this vast and expansive world.”

“The giant serpent roams in the twilight sea of clouds, and the continent we reside on consequently rises and falls. When it is above the clouds, the [Blazing Sun] is intense, which is commonly referred to as the ‘Aurora Wind Season’.”

“When the giant serpent descends, the continent also sinks into the sea of clouds, and the rapidly flowing atmosphere brings strong winds and heavy rain. During this period, the [穹天] (Vault of Heaven) phase flows, which is the ‘Squall Season’.”

“And when the giant serpent sinks to the very bottom, and the entire continent falls within the sea of clouds, the sunlight is dim, all things are silent, and the world seems to fall into a mist, submerged and unseen. During this period, the [Sleepy Winter] and [Fog Shadow] phases permeate, which is the most difficult ‘Deep Mist Season’.”

“After overcoming the most challenging years, when the giant serpent ascends once more, the continent emerges from the sinking mist and once again reaches above the firmament. During this period, the [Vault of Heaven] reappears, also known as the ‘Trade Wind Season’.”

Scholar Hyde’s lectures were rich and interesting, making even complex knowledge easy to understand, and soon all the students present were fully engrossed.

…

Afternoon

After lunch, it was the students’ break time, and this was when they truly began to interact with each other.

“Is your name Lia?” A girl with freckles on her face and wearing a grey linen dress greeted Hylial curiously.

“Yes,” the girl replied, turning around.

“Hello, I’m Komia.” The other introduced herself, pressing a hand lightly to her chest.

As the two chatted, another commoner girl walked over. She was taller and had many calluses on her hands, indicating that she had done a lot of physical labor in the past.

“Hello, I’m Karen.” Karen had golden chestnut hair with a slight curl at the ends.

The three commoner girls sat together, chatting. On the other side, four commoner boys were gathered, talking. Yero sat alone in a corner, reading and studying, while in the pavilion, several noble youths surrounded Iona.

“Miss Iona, you are so beautiful~ I wish to be your most loyal suitor~” A noble youth in velvet clothes knelt on one knee, holding a red flower from who knew where, and recited passionately.

“Tch.” Iona was quite impatient with this and didn’t give the other party any face, turning her head away directly.

“Who is this guy?” she asked the others nearby.

“His name is Barron, the son of Baron Quaid,” someone replied with a gloating tone.

“Never heard of him.”

Iona waved her hand and walked to the other side of the pavilion to get some fresh air, while Valentine, the daughter of Knight Levin, quickly followed.

“Miss Iona,” she squeaked, trying to get on good terms with the esteemed young lady. “Hmm, what’s your name?” Iona asked, without turning her head.

“My name is Valentine,” the girl replied excitedly.

“Alright, sit here then.”

Iona’s attitude was better this time, or perhaps she just wanted a little follower.

“Tell me about Burntstone City, like any powerful figures or anything.”

“Powerful figures, I admire Madame Seel the most! She often holds salons, inviting the celebrities of Burntstone City, including talented artists and painters, who tell us about the latest trends in fashion~” As she spoke, Valentine’s expression was full of longing and excitement.

“Salons? And *that* kind?” Iona shook her head, feeling a bit amused.

She had hosted countless salons and gatherings in Whitecliff City, and some trends in the Regas Duchy were even started by her. How outstanding could a salon organized by a country bumpkin noblewoman be?

“I mean powerful extraordinary individuals, not people who dabble in art and fashion,” she had to interrupt Valentine’s introduction.

“Extraordinary individuals, that…” Valentine faltered instantly.

“My father, Levin, is a very formidable knight!” She suddenly thought of something and recommended her father to Iona.

“Knight Levin is a knight who has sworn allegiance to Lord Xuefeng, isn’t he?” Iona turned her head and inquired.

“Yes, Miss Iona.” Hearing this, Valentine replied proudly.

“Heh, then how can I steal someone from my uncle?” Iona felt that this person in front of her had nothing but useless muddy water in her head.

Moreover, looking at Valentine, her father’s age must not be young. Although he was a Knight (Level 3 – Castle), his potential was probably limited, with little room for improvement. In the past, her father had countless such people under his command.

Thinking of her father, Iona’s face darkened, and her mood soured again.

If her father had won the ‘Battle of the Windmill,’ why would she be reduced to such a backwater?

For a moment, the chatter in the pavilion quieted down, becoming somewhat subdued.

…

“So Karen has even hunted before?” Komia covered her mouth with a light laugh, then asked curiously.

“Yes, my father is the village hunter, and I grew up familiar with these things. But drawing a bow can also hurt your hands, so my father hasn’t let me touch a bow and arrow for the past two years.” Karen spread her palm, showing many scars and calluses.

Among the three, Komia’s parents were Merchant Guild employees, while Karen was the child of a village hunter.

“Then how did Karen come to Burntstone City?” Hylial felt a little curious.

“Because I learned a breathing technique before the new year. The elders in the village thought that a child like me would be wasted there, so they pooled money to let me come to Burntstone City to make a living and learn some skills.” A hint of nostalgia appeared on Karen’s strong, angular face.

“The villagers are very kind,” the girl sighed.

“Yes, everyone is very kind,” Karen replied.

“How did Karen spend her time after coming to Burntstone City?” Komia now leaned in and asked.

“How did I spend it? At first, I didn’t know anything. My older brother from the same village told me to look for work.”

“First, I helped out at the market, where manpower was always needed. Then, because I was familiar with bows and arrows, I went to work at the fletching workshop in the city. Although it was hard work, the pay was decent, about 4 Silver Coins a month.” At this, Karen was exceptionally satisfied.

Arrows are consumables. If one were to make them oneself, it would be extremely labor-intensive, so many adventurers and wealthy individuals would buy them directly.

“What about you, Lia? Have you always been studying with Scholar Hyde?” This was the first time the others had seen her today, and she was beside Scholar Hyde.

“No, but my former teacher was a student of Scholar Hyde, so I’m a little familiar with him,” the girl replied.

“I see.”

The three sat on a wooden bench under a tree, chatting and gradually becoming familiar with each other. Komia was a bit more lively, Karen was simple and honest, and Hylial, to the two of them, seemed like a very beautiful and somewhat delicate girl who had little contact with the outside world.

Slowly, the three of them, Hylial, Komia, and Karen, became familiar with each other.

Thanks to book friends 20250902073130164, 神綺太太想和愛麗絲貼貼, Peach Peach Zero, Stars’ Ballad, uYexi u, Salted Fish Cuisine, and other book friends for their tips.

(End of chapter)