The Cornflower Witch Chapter 43

Chapter 43: The Blooming of the Swan Orchid

Bang, bang…

Inside the training ground, Mick and Lei clashed as usual, the crisp sound of weapons clashing occasionally echoing.

Hylial stood behind the railing not far away, her gaze following the two constantly shifting figures, watching them employ various tactics and leverage their advantages to gain opportunities in combat.

(‘Basic Swordsmanship’ proficiency +2)

(‘Basic Swordsmanship’ proficiency +1)

…

Currently, the experience she gained from observing was diminishing.

After watching for a long time, she had a general understanding of their sword skills in her mind. Gently closing her eyes, Hylial reconstructed their probable actions based solely on sound and memory. Finally, when she opened her eyes again, she found that their movements and reactions were exactly as predicted.

With that in mind, she pressed a finger lightly to her chin, pondering how to guide them.

Her swordsmanship wasn’t far superior to theirs, but with her keen observational skills, she could easily spot their shortcomings.

Generally speaking, one’s observational or appreciative ability must surpass their current skill level to constantly progress. If a person’s ability reaches the same level as their perception, and they can’t see any flaws in themselves, but their strength is still inferior to others, that is the most uncomfortable and dangerous state.

Currently, after two months of training, both of them had reached what they considered their ideal state. However, after this, further progress became difficult, and they entered a bottleneck.

Hylial recalled her experiences in the past few months since regaining consciousness and felt that the most significant influence on her life in this world was not the unknown ‘Cornflower’s Love’ and ‘Star’ talents, but rather her observational and comprehension abilities, which were unattainable in her previous life.

Being able to clearly hear the words of ten people simultaneously, and simultaneously understand and remember them, as well as observing subtle changes that ordinary people would find difficult to detect, allowed her to progress rapidly in learning skills.

A few minutes later, the two sparring combatants stopped. They went to the resting area to drink water and wipe sweat, then asked the black-haired girl.

“How was it, Lia? Did you understand?” Mick still didn’t believe that this quiet girl could comprehend the details of his and Lei’s fight.

“I mostly understood,” the girl nodded, but then added, after a moment of thought,

“I can offer you some advice, but you must not tell anyone that I taught you.”

“Why not, then? Alright, Lei and I won’t tell anyone,” Mick didn’t understand, but he agreed after some thought.

“However, your advice needs to be useful; otherwise, I won’t listen.”

Spending time with her, his formerly impetuous temper had unknowingly been influenced by the girl, becoming calmer.

Occasionally, he would recall that hot, hazy afternoon when Hylial felt his forehead to check his temperature. Perhaps it was from that day on that he became less inclined to lose his temper with her.

Was this love? No, it wasn’t the kind of heated, intense feeling Brother Jero described. Instead, it was like the faint fragrance of grass and flowers during a nap, always subtle, coming to mind whenever he quieted down.

While Mick was lost in thought, Hylial sketched on paper, calculating and pondering, finally settling on a general strategy after more than ten minutes.

“Here.” She went to the blackboard and began to sketch the two’s combat movements and weapon usage with a chalk stick.

“This is my private lesson now, so don’t leak it, and don’t get distracted.” The girl had skillfully mastered using her soft and melodious voice to keep them focused.

……

… (Mick ‘Basic Swordsmanship’ proficiency +12)

… (Lei ‘Basic Swordsmanship’ proficiency +9)

… (Mick ‘Basic Swordsmanship’ proficiency +11)

… (Lei ‘Basic Swordsmanship’ proficiency +8)

…

Time for the lesson passed unknowingly. By the time Hylial finished speaking, Mick and Lei felt as if some vital point had been opened, gaining new insights and understanding into many things.

“So, it can be like this?” Mick stroked his chin.

“Lei understood.” Lei also showed a simple, honest smile.

Phew, that’s teaching these two笨 guys. Hylial sighed with relief, lowering her head slightly.

This was still after she had tutored the two for some time, knowing their comprehension and thinking, and teaching them in a targeted way. If not for that, she really wouldn’t have known how to teach them anything.

Given this progress, it is expected that in a while, their basic swordsmanship will break through to Lv.4. As for Lv.5, it will be very difficult, because Hylial herself has not yet reached that level.

“Next is Karen,” she said, gesturing to the girl listening nearby.

“Your spear techniques could also be improved.” She blinked, inviting her good friend to come over for private instruction.

…

After her daily lessons and training, Hylial returned to her residence in the evening.

As soon as she stepped through the door, she sensed a subtle difference. Following this faint feeling, she quickly went to the backyard and found that a ‘Swan Orchid’ in the glass cover had now fully bloomed.

The slender stigma extended from the unfurling petals, forming an S-shaped curve, first drooping then arching upwards, like the elegant curved neck of a swan. The five green and white petals around it lay naturally flat, with a slight arc, symmetrical to the swan-like stigma, appearing so natural yet so strangely beautiful.

【Swan Orchid】 (Perfect -91): Blooming. Due to your careful cultivation, this Swan Orchid has bloomed almost perfectly. As a reward for your incredibly meticulous care, nature has returned to you the condensed ‘Jade Nectar’ aspect.

【Swan Orchid Flower】 (Tier 1 · Jade Nectar): The manifestation of a gardener’s careful attention and patient cultivation. It can be used to purify other aspects and create a peaceful environment free from disturbances.

Carefully kneeling on the flagstone, Hylial carefully observed the blooming Swan Orchid. On its elegantly swan-necked stigma, a faint, almost invisible golden halo seemed to appear, then lightly sprinkled, dispersing into the surrounding air.

When she gently placed her hand on the swan orchid’s bulb again, a strange ripple spread along her fingers into her body and mind. It was the condensed ‘Jade Nectar’ aspect, like scattered fragments that perfectly formed a picture. The swan orchid’s inherent wandering and fragile aspect power no longer easily dissipated, becoming condensed and resilient, and even capable of guiding and manipulating the subtle, hidden ‘Jade Nectar’ aspect power in surrounding flowers and plants like a magnet.

When Hylial immersed her consciousness in the Swan Orchid, she suddenly had an epiphany: if she were to guide it, she could draw this initially condensed ‘Tier 1 – Jade Nectar’ from the Swan Orchid into her destiny, allowing her ‘Sleeping Girl’ Destiny Card (Aspect Tier: None) to advance and acquire the ‘Tier 1 · Jade Nectar’ aspect.

Should I advance now? She thought for a moment and decided to wait and ask Teacher Hyde before making a decision.

Besides, the other two Swan Orchids were also about to bloom. She shifted her gaze to them; their flower buds were partially unfurled, and they had begun to condense the ‘Tier 1 – Jade Nectar’ aspect.

The first swan orchid was the most difficult to condense its aspect. With the first one, the other two would be much easier, guided and assisted by it.

She definitely couldn’t touch the first one yet. She would wait for all three to bloom before deciding, the girl stood up.

As usual, she watered the Swan Orchids again, provided nutrients, and carefully loosened the soil.

After finishing these tasks, she washed her hands and returned to the backyard with a book, reading by the lamplight. Occasionally, she would look up at the blooming ‘Swan Orchids’, which emitted a faint golden glow in the night.

This kind of patience in cultivation, the harvest after long hours of effort, brought her a gentle happiness and a sense of calm. Even if she were to nap in the backyard at this moment, she would feel much more at peace.

(End of this chapter)