The Cornflower Witch Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Visiting Scholar Hyde

Hylial’s life began to become exceptionally regular.

In the morning, she focused on practicing the “Dew Prayer Method,” then read the books Marilyn found for her. In the afternoon, she would practice sword fighting and the “Breathing Method,” and also water the newly planted Swan Orchids in the yard.

Thus, she slowly settled down, and everything progressed in an orderly manner.

…

More than a week later, Hylial finally completed her study of the “Dew Prayer Method.”

[Dew Prayer Method Lv.1] (Jade Nectar): Gathers morning dew at dawn, turning it into emerald dew. (Emerald dew water can promote plant growth and cultivation.)

Now that she had just started, she breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the bottle of “emerald dew water” that was still one-third full in her hand.

If this bottle ran out before she learned the “Dew Prayer Method,” she wouldn’t have money to buy a second bottle.

Now she should be able to sustain herself, and perhaps even have extra “emerald dew water” to sell to the Gardeners’ Guild.

Just as Hylial decided to take a good day off to relax, Winnie’s notification arrived.

In the afternoon, Talil led Hylial down the streets of the West District, then pointed to a mansion in the distance and told the girl.

“See that, Lia?”

“That’s Scholar Hyde’s home. My sister said she already spoke with Scholar Hyde a few days ago, and you just need to go see him today. He’ll probably give you a simple assessment, and if you pass, you can then study with him.”

“I understand.” She took a deep breath, adjusting the slight nervousness in her heart.

Logically, her current knowledge base should exceed most of her peers, so she shouldn’t be afraid of the assessment. But no matter what, this was Hylial’s most crucial assessment to date, just like her first interview after graduation.

“Let’s go.” After adjusting her mindset and breathing, the girl walked towards the mansion.

Knocking on the door, being led by a servant, and walking across the lawn of the front yard, Hylial arrived at the side hall of the mansion to wait.

Today, she wore a simple white dress, and her smooth hair was tied with a cornflower hairband, showcasing the girl’s serenity and beauty. She was like a beautiful painting just standing there.

Soon, Scholar Hyde and an old servant came to the side hall together. He was wearing a scholar’s robe today, exuding a sense of formality and benevolence.

Upon seeing Hylial, he lifted his round bifocals slightly, then sat on a separate sofa.

“Sit down, child.” He raised his hand, gesturing for Hylial to also sit.

“This is our first meeting. What is your name?”

“My name is Hylial.” The girl bowed gracefully, then sat down, her movements and demeanor almost perfect.

“Hylial…” Scholar Hyde murmured the name, seemingly searching his memory for relevant information.

“A very good child.” He nodded slightly, revealing a kind smile.

“Classes will start next Monday, and then it will be five days a week. If you encounter any difficulties, you can also tell me.”

Oh? The girl was a little surprised. Didn’t they say there would be an assessment?

“We still have plenty of time today. Let’s just talk about recent events.” Scholar Hyde told the girl not to rush off.

“Winnie told me that you’ve forgotten many things from the past and want to recover by learning extraordinary temperaments. Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Hehe, don’t be too constrained. Let’s continue. If memory loss is due to the power of temperament, it’s most likely influenced by the ‘Mist Shadow’ or ‘Nightmare’ temperaments.” He recalled what he had learned in his life.

“To recover, the most suitable for you should be the cultivation of the ‘Blazing Moon’ temperament power. However, the ‘Blazing Moon’ temperament…” He paused for a moment.

“It will be troublesome to learn if you want to take this path,” he said with emotion.

“Why is that?” Hylial tilted her head slightly, curious.

“The temperament powers most commonly encountered by ordinary people are ‘Castle’ and ‘Blood Law’, followed by ‘Beast Tooth’ and ‘Jade Nectar’.”

“These temperament powers are all carried by physical objects, so they are relatively simple to approach, sense, and easy to learn.”

“The three temperaments of the moon attribute are different. These three are oriented towards the spiritual level, that is, they are intangible, ethereal, and dreamlike existences. Among them, ‘Mist Shadow’ still leaves traces, while ‘Blazing Moon’ is like the bright moon hanging high in the night sky, distant and difficult to touch.”

“Resources related to the ‘Blazing Moon’ temperament are scarce, leading to an exceptionally rare number of extraordinary individuals whose primary temperament is ‘Blazing Moon’.”

“But the ‘Blazing Moon’ is still revered. It is one of the three top temperaments among many.”

“From your expression, you probably don’t know about the three top temperaments. This is actually an internal classification of extraordinary individuals, not meaning that these three are absolutely powerful, but rather that, compared to other temperament powers of the same rank, they are often more comprehensive and powerful.”

“Blazing Sun, Blazing Moon, Dragon pupil – these three are the top three temperaments.”

“In the Regas Duchy, there are very few extraordinary individuals proficient in the power of the ‘Blazing Moon’ temperament. If you want to take this path, you need exceptionally high talent.” Although this girl had excellent temperament, no one could guarantee that she would also have excellent talent in cultivating extraordinary temperaments. “If it really doesn’t work out, you can also try cultivating the ‘Jade Nectar’ temperament…”

“Jade Nectar cannot directly reach the Blazing Moon, but ‘Silver Moon Orchids’ which contain the power of the Blazing Moon temperament can be cultivated. If you truly become a master in the relevant field, you can also obtain high-level Blazing Moon temperament power through this circuitous method. Then, find a skilled apothecary to prepare a potion for you to restore your past memories.”

“Thank you, teacher.”

The girl bowed in thanks, feeling a deep respect for the old man. No wonder he was recognized as a master scholar in Burntstone City; he had so easily clarified the problems she was facing.

“Alright, let’s not discuss overly distant matters today.” He waved his hand, signaling the girl to sit back down.

“What abilities and skills do you possess now? Perhaps I can help you sort them out and guide you.”

“I currently know the ‘Breathing Method’ and the ‘Dew Prayer Method’,” the girl said, recounting her recent learning experience.

“How long did it take you to learn the Dew Prayer Method?”

“One week.” Upon hearing this, Scholar Hyde nodded, his expression quite appreciative.

“Learning this must have cost a lot of money, I remember that practicing the ‘Dew Prayer Method’ has always been a luxury, which is why there are so few professional ‘Gardeners’ in Burntstone City.”

“Um, isn’t ’emerald dew water’ available at the Gardeners’ Guild?” Hylial asked hesitantly.

“Ah, that ’emerald dew water’ is used to boost the growth of flowers and plants. It’s usually diluted, I believe? It’s not suitable for cultivation because the inherent power is too weak,” Scholar Hyde shook his head.

“Generally, ’emerald dew water’ with a concentration of 70% or more is required, but such ’emerald dew water’ can only be condensed when the ‘Dew Prayer Method’ has advanced to the second stage, and its price is quite expensive.”

Is that so? Hylial recalled learning the Dew Prayer Method some time ago. Indeed, in the beginning, it was very difficult to perceive the faint Jade Nectar temperament. It took her a long time to gradually get used to that feeling before she could condense the first drop of emerald dew water.

“It seems you have met a benefactor who funded the ’emerald dew water’ you needed in the early stages.” Scholar Hyde stroked his beard. It was indeed understandable; given the girl’s appearance and character, anyone with a discerning eye would consider her a promising talent and would not be too stingy.

“I also have many books related to gardening here. You can borrow them and read them whenever you have time in the future.” In this world, books are exceptionally expensive, and being able to borrow them is, in a sense, gaining a large amount of wealth for free.

“Thank you, Scholar Hyde.”

“No, you should call me teacher now.”

“Sorry, thank you, Teacher Hyde.” The girl bowed in thanks, and the old man across from her smiled.

Afterward, the two discussed the recent situation in Burntstone City. Scholar Hyde occasionally asked Hylial for her opinions on certain matters, as well as minor issues regarding economics, customs, and even management. As the girl responded, Scholar Hyde’s expression grew increasingly satisfied, and their lively conversation continued until dusk.

“Oh, is it dinner time?” Scholar Hyde looked up and saw the colorful clouds outside the window.

“Manson, prepare dinner. Make it as lavish as possible to entertain Lia.”

“Yes, master.” The old servant left the room and began to prepare.

Afterward, Scholar Hyde told the girl to take a walk and rest in the courtyard for a while, without needing to accompany him for further conversation.

After leaving the side hall, Hylial saw Talil, who had been waiting for her for a long time in another area.

“Lia, what did Master Hyde say? You two talked for so long, almost all morning and afternoon. Aren’t your mouths dry?” She grabbed the girl’s shoulder, her eyes full of curiosity.

“Perhaps there was tea, but that’s not important.” The two then walked in the courtyard, looking at the flowers planted there.

…

“My sister used to study here, and sometimes when I came to find her, I would see many students her age.”

“Where are those students now?” The girl really wanted to know.

“They… some work in the city like my sister, and others continued their studies, going to other cities for further education.”

“Anyway, to become a scholar, you need to learn a lot and get recommendations from three official scholars, that’s what my sister told me.”

“Her grades were average among her classmates at the time, and the hope of becoming a scholar like Grandfather Hyde was slim, so she didn’t continue her studies.”

“But my sister said that there were also a few younger classmates who were still on the path of seeking knowledge and went to other places.”

…

At night, Hylial and Talil sat at the dining table, having dinner with Scholar Hyde. Today’s feast was ‘Honey Wine Stewed Wild Boar’, with black bread and dipping sauce as the staple.

This rare delicacy would have cost Hylial and Talil 2 Silver Coins if they had eaten out.

After dinner, the two bid farewell to Scholar Hyde, and the girl began to prepare for her future studies.

(End of this chapter)