The Cornflower Witch Chapter 245

Durin City, Gardener’s Association.

“Hello, are you looking to buy something?” The clerk behind the counter looked at the young girl who had just walked in.

“I’m a passing gardener, and I’d like to buy some local plant seeds. If there are any books about their origins and cultivation experience, that would be even better,” Sylphidya looked at the decor and stated her purpose.

“Alright, please wait a moment.”

Currently, the aura of “Verdant Dew” emanating from Sylphidya, after she had reined it in, was roughly equivalent to Tier 2. This way, she wouldn’t draw too much attention and could avoid many unnecessary troubles.

After a while, the clerk brought out several small jars, and then a few potted plants from the backyard for Sylphidya to examine.

“This is ‘Calendula,’ very beautiful when it blooms. This is ‘Dewberry,’ it bears tiny red fruits.”

“This is ‘White Bristle,’ it can adapt to very arid environments…” The clerk introduced the local characteristic plants, speaking skillfully, indicating that other gardeners had purchased local plants before.

“Alright, please give me some seeds of each,” Sylphidya nodded and placed several gold coins on the table.

With her current ability, she could easily cultivate ordinary plants to Tier 2. Many seemingly common plants would produce unexpected abilities and effects after condensing their attribute.

Although she couldn’t use the abilities of every single plant, the process of collecting, observing, and cultivating them gradually increased her understanding of nature, and it was equivalent to slowly enhancing the concept of ‘Verdant Dew’ attribute. This was a cumulative effect, like water eroding rock.

“Alright, I’ll pack them up for you right away,” the clerk replied happily.

While waiting, Sylphidya looked around and asked, “Do you have any special plants here? I heard that some gardeners deposit their specially cultivated varieties at the association for sale.”

“There aren’t many gardeners in Durin City. Some of these have been here for a long time without anyone buying or paying attention to them. Later, the local gardeners stopped bothering to deposit them for sale. Only one special plant remains.”

After saying that, he carefully brought out a bottle from the back room, with seeds carefully sealed inside.

“These are ‘Dragon Claw Grass’ seeds. When fully grown, they should be a Tier 1 Verdant Dew plant, with sharp hooks on the leaves and a very tough stem. If cultivated properly, it can condense a Tier 2 Verdant Dew attribute, greatly increasing toughness.”

“Do you have any finished products?” Sylphidya recalled the “Eyeball Grass” she encountered on the camel’s back.

“No finished products, only a dried piece of grass stem, which I can show you.” The clerk thought for a moment and retrieved a brown grass stem from a box in the back. It was about the thickness of a thumb, with a few dried, thorny leaves still attached.

The girl’s eyes widened slightly, revealing a faint emerald green, as she scanned the dried stem.

[Dragon Claw Grass] (First-Order. Pass): A plant with good toughness, possessing hooked barbs, but difficult and slow to cultivate.

It seems it wasn’t a very successful creation. No wonder it had been sitting there for so long unwanted. Nevertheless, she spent an additional 5 gold coins to buy a small bottle of seeds.

After receiving them, Sylphidya left the association and toured Durin City, curiously observing the lives of its residents.

Also formerly a city of the Regas Kingdom, it was much more vibrant than Scorched Stone City. With nearly forty thousand residents, it was a well-known large city in the vicinity. Most of the houses were built with white bricks and stones, and the residents’ diet, in addition to common bread and sausages, included many fruits and fish rarely seen in Scorched Stone City.

After a two-day stay, Sylphidya set off again. She then traveled west along the main road, passing through several counties and cities.

Half a month later, Sylphidya arrived at Cedar City, east of Stream Valley City and northeast of Scorched Stone City. The city was surrounded by dense pine trees, famous for its wood furniture and carriages.

After visiting the local Gardener’s Association again and purchasing some seeds, Sylphidya inquired about the current situation.

“Are you going west? It’s very unsafe over there right now,” the clerk warned the girl.

“Oh, what happened?” Sylphidya put away the cedar and mallow wood seeds she had just purchased.

“There’s fighting going on in Stream Valley City. It’s said that Prince Jobs has gathered old loyalists, hoping to gain independence from Anti rule.”

“How is the war going?” Sylphidya asked curiously.

“I’m not sure, but everyone in the city isn’t very optimistic about Prince Jobs because he’s too young and hasn’t shown much talent in the past.”

“A few years ago, both the Grand Duke of Regas and the First Prince failed to defeat the Anti people. It’s probably difficult now as well,” the clerk sighed.

“I understand. How’s the situation in Scorched Stone City?”

“Scorched Stone City? It seems to be ruled by a lord named Somalin now. He used to be a logistics officer in the army and allegedly bribed General Bete and high-ranking nobles in the Anti Kingdom with a lot of money to get this territory.” “Now he’s preparing to mine the mountains behind Scorched Stone City and has recruited many people. There are notices posted about it even here.”

“There’s still a mine there?” Sylphidya said she had never heard of it before.

“I don’t know either.” It seemed she would only understand the specific situation by going to Scorched Stone City.

Knowing that there was a war in Stream Valley City, Sylphidya was a little worried about Karen, because after their separation, Karen went to the Hunter’s Association in Stream Valley City.

She hoped Sister Karen would be safe. In Sylphidya’s impression, Karen was not someone who yearned for fame and fortune, so she probably wouldn’t participate in the war. However, the situation in reality was ever-changing, and she couldn’t be sure if Karen was alright.

Unfortunately, at this time, Stream Valley City was already closed off, and there were large armies stationed outside. She could only wait until the fighting eased before going to Stream Valley City to investigate the situation.

After buying enough travel supplies, Sylphidya left Cedar City and headed southwest towards Scorched Stone City. If she picked up the pace, she estimated she could arrive by tomorrow night.

Riding on horseback, the familiar mountain forests and trees along the way gradually became apparent. The unique cool breeze of the mountains brushed against Sylphidya’s cheeks. It was currently the season when winter snow had just begun to melt, and there was still a lingering chill in the air.

After the Storm Season, the weather was colder than in the Breezy Season, at least it would snow in winter.

After a day of travel, Sylphidya saw the night darkening, so she found a sheltered spot not far from the main road, set up her tent, and prepared to spend the night.

The campfire was quickly lit, and Sylphidya placed the cast-iron tripod and small pot, cooking some food she liked, which included potatoes, dried meat, and some vegetables.

After adding salt and spices, a faint aroma wafted from the bubbling pot.

Adding more firewood, Sylphidya stood up. She took a wooden ladle from the horse’s saddlebag, made a gesture in the air, and clear water gathered from the invisible air, falling into the ladle.

“Do you want some water?” She approached the white Wind Horse with the ladle and offered it to the horse.

The warhorse, which had carried her all day, knelt down and lay on the ground, lapping the water quickly with its tongue, making gurgling sounds.

Seeing it drink happily, Sylphidya stroked the white horse’s ears and head, then took out a carrot and offered it to the horse.

This Wind Horse was the Lantern Town’s property, bred in the Gleaming Gold Plain’s stables. It was robust, and generally, only official knights were qualified to ride this Tier 2 castle-attribute white horse.

However, Sylphidya seemed to be very popular with the town’s animals, not only because of her calm demeanor but also because she always had an endless supply of alfalfa and carrots. They just had to cuddle up to her to get some.

After finishing the carrot that Sylphidya had personally grown, the white horse licked Sylphidya’s palm, making her feel a warm and damp sensation.

“Alright, that’s enough. You’ve already had three today.”

The carrots Sylphidya gave it were vegetables and fruits that condensed a complete Tier 1 Verdant Dew attribute. Such things, fed once a month, could meet the growth needs of this warhorse. Ordinary stables would not be as extravagant as Sylphidya in their feeding.

After eating, the white horse contentedly lay by the campfire, watching Sylphidya cook dinner, then drowsily flopped down.

By the time Sylphidya finished dinner, the white Wind Horse was already asleep, but a faint white halo spread around it, covering an area of nearly fifty meters, and any other life approaching would trigger its alertness.

Although it was only a warhorse for auxiliary purposes, it also possessed Tier 2 aspect power. Ordinary warriors and beasts were no match for it.

At night, Sylphidya extinguished the campfire, crawled into her tent, covered herself with a blanket, and slowly fell asleep.

In the dead of night, the chirping of insects in the mountain grass continued, occasionally bats flew across the night sky.

On the mountain road in the distance, a group of people, without torches, hurried through the mountains by the faint moonlight. Behind them was a group of soldiers with hunting dogs and torches.

“Hurry, don’t let them escape!”

“These guys, instead of mining properly, dare to conspire and run away.”

“If they get away, Lord Somalin won’t spare us. Chase them quickly!”

Accompanied by barking dogs and sporadic hoofbeats, the torch-wielding soldiers ran and chased the fleeing people through the darkness.

They gradually moved eastward, one after another, getting closer and closer to the girl’s tent where she spent the night.