The Cornflower Witch Chapter 123

Hylial felt a thrill of excitement when Florella suggested she teach her ‘Aromatherapy’. However, she only had one remaining [Ability Slot], and if she were to learn ‘Aromatherapy’ now, she wouldn’t be able to learn anything else.

Despite this, Hylial quickly thought of another solution: learn it first, then intentionally forget the ability. If she needed it again in the future, she could simply relearn it.

Her previous experience in the Shadow World was similar: ‘Bloom-Flowering Method’ had been fractured and distorted, but she quickly relearned it without much effort.

However, this method might only work for her. Others either didn’t have the time and energy to learn multiple abilities, or they couldn’t relearn them as quickly as she could.

“Thank you, Florella,” Hylial said gratefully once she had made up her decision.

Afterward, the two went to dinner together, then returned to discuss learning ‘Aromatherapy’.

“Aromatherapy is a unique secret art from my homeland, and very few people on the Fourth Continent know it,” Florella explained.

“It uses the fragrance of aromatic plants to relieve mental fatigue and tension, and it has certain detoxification and healing effects.”

“Compared to other healing abilities, its potency is weaker, but its advantage is that it can be used on a large scale, covering an entire area, and its effects are gentle with very few side effects.”

After a brief introduction, Florella took out a small bottle of aromatic essential oil and handed it to Hylial.

“This aromatic essential oil is essential for performing ‘Aromatherapy’. You can also prepare it yourself in the future. Just like with the Bloom-Flowering Method, the specific effect of Aromatherapy depends on the types of aromatic essential oils you use.”

[Aromatic Essential Oil (Clove)] (First-Order Emerald Honey): The scent can alleviate mental fatigue and calm the mind.

She uncorked the bottle, and a faint light flickered in her eyes. A gentle breeze carrying the fragrance swept through the room.

The invisible floral scent spread, instantly making Hylial, who had been browsing stalls all day, feel clearer and less tired.

Just as ‘Bloom-Flowering Method’ amplified the effect of flowers, ‘Aromatherapy’ amplified the originally faint effects of aromatic essential oils, increasing their potency several times over.

This had some commonalities with the ‘Bloom-Flowering Method’, the girl thought. However, the range of the Bloom-Flowering Method’s floral effects could be wider, and the essential oils required for Aromatherapy could achieve higher quality and effects through alchemical refinement.

The two still had many differences in certain aspects.

For the next few days, Hylial followed Florella to learn ‘Aromatherapy’, then returned to practice on her own.

Around the sixth day, she felt that she had initially mastered this ability and could form it into an ability card at any time to embed it into her fate plate. However, after her previous experience with Madame Faran, she became a little more cautious to avoid appearing too conspicuous.

“How long did it take Florella to learn it?” Hylial asked during dinner.

“It took me about a month, I think. My mother said I learned it very fast,” Florella recounted happily.

“I see. I’ve also gained some understanding, but it will take a little more time to fully master it.” It was indeed only a “little” more time.

“Don’t worry, Lia. It’s almost another month until we reach the Woodland, so you’ll definitely learn it,” Florella nodded.

After initially mastering it, Hylial no longer needed to learn from Florella every day, and their attention shifted to other matters.

One day, Edson found Hylial.

“The Camel Tower will soon reach the Merchant City Union. Hylial, do you need to purchase anything? You can make a list for me, and I’ll report it to the teacher.”

“Purchase things…” She thought for a moment, and it seemed there was nothing she particularly needed.

“I don’t lack daily necessities at the moment. As for other things, I wonder if the senior has any suggestions.”

Edson picked up his teacup, quickly drank half, and then spoke.

“If you don’t have any particular needs, then buy some seeds. I remember you’re in the Gardening profession.”

“It’s also troublesome to buy seeds on short notice. Give me 50 Gold Coins, and I’ll have the local Gardeners’ Guild prepare a complete set of local seeds for you.”

“Okay, thank you, senior.” Hylial returned to her room, took out 50 Gold Coins, and handed them to Edson.

Seeing her make such a quick decision, Edson was in a good mood. He disliked hesitant girls who asked too many questions and then kept changing their minds.

“I’ve received the Gold Coins. The purchases will be completed in about half a month and delivered to you.” With that, he finished the remaining half of his tea, stood up again, and left to notify the next student.

Three days later, the mountain-like mysterious camel finally stopped, and Hylial could finally see the scenery outside the window.

Their current stop seemed to be a mountain city by Meteor Lake. The vast Meteor Lake was a deep blue, stretching for thousands of kilometers, and its end was not in sight. Rolling hills surrounded the lake, and a city was built halfway up the mountain in a crescent shape. Below the city, near the junction of mountains and water, there was a port with many ‘large ships’ docked, with people constantly embarking and disembarking, transporting goods.

To avoid unnecessary trouble and prevent students from getting lost or being difficult to manage, the students inside the Camel Tower were currently not allowed to go out. They could only wait inside, and only students with badges were able to specify items for purchase.

Ten days later, the first batch of daily necessities arrived, and the restaurants and shops inside the Camel Tower received fresh ingredients and goods. Many students began browsing the shops and buying daily necessities.

After that, new goods were replenished every three days, until twenty days later. “Yes, put these boxes in the warehouse first.” A staff member in the Camel Tower directed three large 2×2 meter boxes to be moved onto the Camel Tower and stored in the lower-level warehouse.

He flipped through a booklet in his hand, checked off a line, then took out a slip of paper and attached it to a box, which read ‘Student ‘Hylial’; Third floor, No. 22′.

“This one’s ready,” he said, then motioned for another box to be brought over.

This box contained a huge glass tank, with several orange-blue, iridescent fish swimming inside.

“Bluefin Silver Spearfish. These important figures have peculiar requests, but they’re ready.” He checked off another line in the booklet.

Inside the Camel Tower, all the students were summoned and gathered in the central halls of several floors, including Hylial’s floor.

At the final stop, she finally met all the badge-holding students on her floor.

There were 19 people in total, each with a distinct style.

Among them were Florella, the elf girl Hylial recognized, Edson, the Blue Windbreaker Youth who had guided her, and many others she had not seen before. Nearly half of them were of noble birth, dressed in fancy gowns or elaborate dresses, while the other half were dressed relatively simply.

Some were completely wrapped in black robes, some wore masks, some were clad in armor with their faces covered, some wore loose linen clothes and carried crude curved knives, some had veiled faces and golden rings binding their upper thighs, revealing a long leg, and some wore short fur shirts, like mountain wildmen, which was astonishing.

After waiting for a few minutes, the black-clad middle-aged man whom Hylial had seen once when she first entered the Camel Tower reappeared. He held a thick-shelled book under his arm, opened it, and as the pages rapidly turned, he verified the faces of each student in the hall.

“No need for too much small talk. Tomorrow, our Camel Tower will set off for the Woodland,” he said, scanning the crowd, making sure everyone was listening attentively.

“Hidden Grove is a general term. In fact, we have many outposts in the Shadow World, and these outposts are built by various organizations within the Woodland.”

“Organizations that contribute more naturally have more authority and resources in that outpost. The different styles of each organization also create differences in the outpost’s style.”

With that, he opened the end of the book, and a page floated out, quickly enlarging to a cinematic screen, displaying a vague outline of the southern continent, but with a gray background.

On this gray shadow continent, various sized dots were marked, each with a small explanation.

“Students going to the Woodland will be assigned to different outposts. For fairness, as the most excellent members, you cannot choose the same outpost; you must each go to a separate one.”

“If all the geniuses went to the same outpost, first, the resources would not be enough to distribute, and second, it would be unfair to other organizations because the operation of the Woodland requires the combined efforts of many organizations, and one side cannot be overly favored.” After a brief explanation, he saw that the students present had no questions, so he nodded and continued.

“I will recommend suitable outposts for you based on your different strengths, and you can choose.” With that, his finger again swept across the book, and pages flew up, floating in front of each student.

‘Student Hylial, you are skilled in gardening, with a [Emerald Honey] Aspect, and possess abilities such as ‘Bloom-Flowering Method’ and ‘Breathing Method’. The outposts recommended for you are as follows—’

[Demonic Blood Forest]

A dangerous border outpost where distorted monsters often rush into the outpost.

Hundreds of years ago, the ‘Bloodthorn Garden’ dispatched personnel to plant a large number of demonic blood trees here, which can entangle and kill monsters that invade the forest, absorbing their flesh and blood to form ‘Fresh Blood Red Fruits’. Members of the ‘Wildfire Cult’ are often stationed here, skilled in the ‘Blood Discipline’ Aspect’s art of killing, as well as the ‘Tusk Grove’ school of beast tamers, who are proficient in raising powerful beasts to assist in combat.

If you go to this outpost, you can access the secret techniques of the ‘Bloodthorn Garden (Blood Discipline – Emerald Honey)’, ‘Wildfire Cult (Blood Discipline – Beast Fang)’, and ‘Tusk Grove (Beast Fang – Emerald Honey)’. Because this outpost is dangerous, the annual supplies are doubled, and it is easy to earn high points.

—

[Glittering Gold Plain]

A stable flatland hinterland, rarely attacked by distorted monsters. It is a source of food for many woodlands. It also grows ‘Glittering Gold Wheat’ that can be used to refine metal.

Organizations stationed here include the ‘Four Seasons Alliance’, ‘Gold Forging Hammer’, and ‘Holy White Knight Hall’. The branch of the ‘Four Seasons Alliance’ here specializes in cultivating food crops and exotic metal products. The craftsmen of ‘Gold Forging Hammer’ forge many weapons and armor here, and many young knight attendants of the ‘Holy White Knight Hall’ also receive training here. This is one of the top ten populated outposts, with many small organizations also stationed here.

If you go to this outpost, you can access the secret techniques of the ‘Four Seasons Alliance (Blazing Sun – Emerald Honey)’, ‘Gold Forging Hammer (Gold Steam – Castle)’, and ‘Holy White Knight Hall (Castle – Blazing Sun)’. Because this area is in the core hinterland, the environment is stable, and there are too many residents, annual supplies are reduced by 30%.

—

[Glow-shroom Cave]

A secluded underground cave, often encountering difficult monsters. Various luminous mushrooms and fungi are everywhere, and it also produces gems and some metals.

Many members of the ‘Night Dream Tea Party’ are stationed here, collecting local fungi as raw materials for potions, preparing elixirs, and honing strange abilities. The ‘Bone Garden’ raises many skeletal creatures in the cave for mining ores, and the alchemist school ‘Rainbow Glazed Bottle’ also has many members stationed here, utilizing local products to create alchemical constructs.

If you go to this outpost, you can access the secret techniques of the ‘Night Dream Tea Party (Mist Shadow – Nightmare)’, ‘Bone Garden (Dead Ember – Spiral Fish)’, and ‘Rainbow Glazed Bottle (Glorious Moon – Gold Steam)’. Because this place is underground and the environment is poor, annual supplies are increased by 50%.

—

At the ‘First-Order’ rank, students are not allowed to change outposts. If they reach the Second-Order, they can spend points to change outposts.

After scanning the three options, Hylial slowly formed an idea in her mind. She decided to go to the [Glittering Gold Plain] first, study there for a while to gain experience, and accumulate strength. Then, when she reached the Second-Order, she would visit the other two places.

After all, Madame Faran had joined an peripheral organization of the ‘Four Seasons Alliance’, and it would be a bit unreasonable if she didn’t check it out.