The Cornflower Witch Chapter 209

Pushing open the tavern door, Hylial, clad in a black robe, stepped inside. The clamor of various sounds assailed her ears, and the air was somewhat murky, tinged with a slight warmth.

The population of Mammoth Town was small, yet the tavern was never deserted. It was probably the only place for entertainment and gathering in the town. Both students and permanent residents loved to come here.

Finding a relatively quiet spot, Hylial took off her hood, revealing her pretty face and silver hair. Just then, a tavern employee came up to her.

“Student, what would you like to eat?”

“I’d like a grilled steak and a bowl of vegetable porridge.” She felt like having something warm.

“Alright.”

After noting down the girl’s order, the employee went to inform the chef. Hylial sat at the table, observing the situation in the tavern.

Many of the patrons here were local residents, whose ancestors might have been early pioneers in the Shadow World, later settling here. Their descendants continued to live in various outposts.

Unlike the students who were all Transcendent, most of these descendants of pioneers were ordinary people. They also undertook many mundane tasks within the various outposts.

Compared to the surface world, because the outposts were governed by the Association, and the Transcendent didn’t care about petty gains, these ordinary people often received better treatment than on the surface world. There were also no nobles collecting heavy taxes. If they could stay in a safe outpost, most could live peacefully their entire lives, then pass away around fifty years old.

The tavern had three male and two female employees, all in their early twenties. They were also ordinary people who had not condensed their Aspects. They constantly shuttled between tables and guests, almost never stopping, and were very busy. But observing them, despite the sweat on their foreheads, they seemed quite accustomed to it, carrying out their duties with practiced skill.

Occasionally, they would encounter acquaintances from town, stopping for a moment to chat, then making plans for after work, whether it was fishing by the river, or playing cards and having a drink together.

The town’s population was only just over three hundred, and there were virtually no secrets among neighbors. Just during Hylial’s short stay, she heard many repeated rumors and news.

Who liked whom, who did some immoral deed last night, or what new faces had arrived recently.

In an era where news was not well developed, taverns were one of the few places where news converged. Even if there was nothing to do, people loved to come here to listen to gossip and pass the time.

Twenty minutes later, Hylial’s grilled steak was ready, along with the simmering vegetable porridge.

She ate in small bites, occasionally pausing to drink some porridge to cut through the richness, enjoying the quiet time after her adventurous journey.

…

After finishing lunch, Hylial stood up and stretched a little, feeling a slight drowsiness. It was probably due to not sleeping well for several days in the Spider Forest.

She first led her warhorse to an inn in the town, then went to her assigned room, wrapped herself in freshly washed blankets, and fell asleep peacefully.

She slept soundly for an entire afternoon and night, and it wasn’t until ten o’clock the next morning that the girl reluctantly emerged from under the covers.

She looked at the scenery outside the window, realizing it was almost noon. Hylial propped herself up, sat in front of the dressing mirror, and tidied her somewhat disheveled silver hair.

It seemed that sealing the core ability of the spider that day had taken a heavy toll. She hadn’t felt it on the way back, but once she relaxed in the town, fatigue swept over her.

After a quick tidying up, she went out for lunch, then returned to take a hot bath, and then went back to bed to continue sleeping.

Only after another day and night of sleep did Hylial feel fully recovered.

On a new day, feeling refreshed, Hylial went to the Woodland Association in the town to report on her recent adventure.

“You mean, you went to the Spider Forest alone and even dealt with the Tier 3 giant spider there?” The Association member didn’t quite believe her, thinking the young girl in front of him was exaggerating.

“As a trainee of the Woodland Association, if you were to lie about such matters, you should know the consequences. Please be mindful of what you say,” he felt compelled to remind the seemingly delicate girl.

“Sigh,” the girl sighed, then took out a special mithril badge from her懷 and placed it on the table.

The badge was made with a base of faintly blue-glowing metal, inscribed with a pure white crescent moon surrounded by white and blue alternating bellflowers. This represented that the student had received extremely high praise from the Association and was a truly recognized prodigy.

“This should prove my identity and words are not fake, right?”

Seeing this badge, the other party’s pupils constricted, indescribable shock on his face.

“I apologize, I was abrupt,” even though the other party was only Tier 2, this Association member felt deeply anxious.

He immediately picked up a pen and paper from under the counter and filled out the report form according to the girl’s narrative, detailing her adventure.

“…You mean you also found traces of the Dual-Serpent Cult’s past activities?”

“That’s right, this is the remaining item I found.” Hylial took out the broken metal serpent cup.

“Can you check local relevant records and history?” the girl inquired.

“My knowledge is limited, but I can apply for you. A scholar will handle this matter later.” With that, he took out a special box and carefully placed the cup inside, sealing it for preservation.

“Since that’s the case, I’ve pretty much said everything I need to report,” the girl thought for a moment.

“This is the applicant for the form, please sign it, Miss Hylial.” The other party handed the recorded report to the girl.

After signing her name, Hylial returned the form to the other party, who promptly put it away.

“Leave the rest to me, Lady Hylial.” The other party’s tone became more respectful. “Okay, that’s all then.”

Hylial tried to recall if she had anything else to do, but the other party spoke up before she could.

“The Association still holds your mail. It was originally meant to be carried to the Dark Mist Mountains when Sir Reginson next visited, but since you’re here, you can take it yourself.”

“Oh, it’s for me?” Hylial was slightly surprised.

“Yes.” The other party brought two sealed boxes.

One had elegant, somewhat artistic handwriting on it, while the other’s handwriting was neat and simple.

“This box was mailed to you by Trainee Florella, and the other by Trainee Yarn.”

“Alright.” Hylial accepted both boxes and took them back to the inn.

She first opened the box mailed by Yarn, which contained a short letter and a packet of fungi.

“Sorry, Hylial, it’s Yarn. I meant to send you a gift to thank you earlier, but I got delayed because I was called to join an adventure team. After it ended, I just remembered.

On this adventure, we found a strange mushroom in a dark cave. When it grew, it resembled a pale purple jellyfish, emitting a faint power of Aspect.

At first, we didn’t know what it was, but the scholar in our team said it was likely very rare, so we dug up some to take back. I also kept a smaller portion.

After inspection by the Association’s appraiser, this mushroom is likely a rare ‘Mycelium’ Aspect. Its growth and cultivation are exceptionally difficult due to the weakening of the ‘Mycelium’, but it is very helpful for studying the process of Aspect evolution.

I thought you, as a gardener, might also be interested in something like this, so I mailed a small portion to you. I hope you don’t mind the simple gift.

– Your friend, Yarn.”

It was ‘Mycelium’, indeed. Hylial picked up the shriveled fungi and carefully inspected it. There was still some life force remaining, not completely dead.

After carefully injecting a minuscule amount of Emerald Honey Aspect, the shriveled fungi recovered a little vitality, reassuring Hylial.

Then, she picked up the other box. After breaking the seal, as soon as she opened the box, a long-lost sense of familiarity and intimacy washed over her.

Even though she had never seen it in this world, and even before she saw the handwriting on the letter, this innate sense of closeness filled her heart.

Lying on the letter was a dried flower, and below it, wrapped in cloth, were several seeds.

The petals had long turned brownish-yellow, but their faint appearance still told Hylial that this was the ‘Cornflower’ she had searched for so long, yet found no clue of.

Holding the dried flower, Hylial’s emotions surged. The excitement was like a rising tide, overflowing her heart, yet there was also a sense of trance and unreality.

As if by a fated encounter, the dried cornflower in her hand regained vitality, gradually sprouting tender shoots and new leaves from its withered stem, then rerooting and growing, until a brand new, pale blue flower bloomed.

“Happy Birthday, Lia.

I don’t know your exact birthday, but it’s been nearly a year since we parted, so your birthday should be coming up soon, or perhaps it’s already passed.

Communication between the Shadow World and the surface world is quite troublesome, and my hometown is on the distant Second Continent, so finding cornflowers took a long time. I hope you don’t mind my belated birthday gift, Hylial.

I really like Hylial and I’m happy to be your friend. As a friend, of course, I want to help you achieve the wish you’ve always held dear.

Although the clues were scarce, fortunately, my family back home was very attentive to my letters. They also helped me find that elder and obtained a cornflower and a small amount of its seeds.

I don’t know if this is what you’ve been looking for all this time, but if it can help Hylial, that would be wonderful.

I heard you performed excellently on the Glittering Gold Plain and received high praise from your teacher. I also need to work hard in the orchard. The next time we meet, I must let Hylial taste the fruits I’ve grown.

Looking forward to seeing you next time!

—Your friend, Florella.”

Putting down the letter, Hylial turned over the outer casing of the box, seeing the flowing script on the seal. This box must have first arrived at the ‘Glittering Gold Plain’, but finding her not there, the Association then transferred it to ‘Mammoth Town’.

Along this journey, she didn’t know how much distance it had covered, how many people it had passed through, crossing the Cloud Sea continent over several continents, finally arriving at this remote town, into her hands.

Although it was just a small box, Hylial felt like crying.

She had only mentioned it offhandedly, yet the other person had remembered it so intently, and later spent so much thought and effort to help her find it.

Both in her past life and this one, she had lived and acted alone for a very long time, never having experienced such a feeling.

This fervent sincerity melted the faint loneliness deep within her heart a little.