The Cornflower Witch Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Aster in Midsummer

The white swarm of bees, dense and numerous, moved and shifted in the air, their collective buzzing like the constant clatter of metal sheets, a crisp, sharp sound.

These white bees formed a hand-like shape, charging into the temple ruins, searching for any possible living creatures. When Hylial saw them from afar, she quickly ran, preparing to leave the temple ruins.

But at that moment, not only were they behind her, but buzzing swarms also appeared in front, though not as large as the ones behind.

Numerous bee swarms flew up from the woods around the temple, surrounding the entire structure, forcing Hylial, who realized something was wrong, to retreat step by step back to the central fountain.

“This isn’t good,” the maiden thought to herself.

Her current swordsmanship wouldn’t inflict much damage on these swarms. The only thing that could likely harm these white bees, she feared, was the [Strange Black Cat].

Before Hylial had much time to think, the beating of the bees’ wings, like a signal for an attacking charge, sent these white jade-like bees rushing down like bombers. Along the way, the stone pillars and walls were scraped clean, turning into fine stone dust.

Facing the bee swarm that was about to engulf her, Hylial’s eyes flashed with light, and at the same time, the black card on her soul fate disk also shone.

Dark light overflowed, countless twisted strands rose from the card, and the still black cat stepped out of the card again, its lemon yellow eyes wide with fury. It arched its back, its fur bristling, and let out a cry.

“Hiss-ha–”

The black cat materialized from nothing, blocking the front of the swarm. It was swallowed by the white bees, transforming into a swirling black mist, which then spread like an abyss, in turn swallowing the withered white bees that attacked it.

The black mist and white mist engaged in a fierce struggle, and countless white jade-like bees fell from the sky, struggling on the ground, stained with black spots, their bodies unnaturally mutating, and then dying.

Although a large number of withered white bees died, the black mist in the air was also continuously consumed and diminished. Hylial was unsure if the Strange Black Cat could completely kill the bee swarm in front of her. She looked around, and finally chose the pond behind her, jumping into it.

The icy cold water instantly drenched her whole body. The seemingly shallow pond was, however, like an bottomless abyss below, causing her to sink continuously, and the light from above the pond grew increasingly distant.

Hylial didn’t remember ever learning to swim, and she seemed to have no experience in this life either, yet she didn’t feel uncomfortable in the water. Instead, she felt an increasing clarity, and this clarity verged on being excessive.

It was as if she had completely laid out her entire being; all her thoughts and ideas were now clear. Countless memories resurfaced simultaneously. At that moment, she could even recall the names of her kindergarten classmates, a lunch she ate, the scene of her teacher playing games with them, and the taste and texture of her first ice cream that afternoon.

Everything that was once blurry became absolutely clear at this moment, extending forward and tracing back through her past knowledge.

Is this the power of ‘Glorious Moon’? The ‘Glorious Moon’ affinity in the pure water converged around her, causing her entire body to be enveloped in a faint glow, especially her silver snow hair, which now floated in the water like flowing moonlight.

As if a switch had suddenly flipped, her consciousness instantly plunged into a dream, fully and clearly entering the dream.

……

……

“Lia~”

“Hylial.”

“Miss Hylial.”

She suddenly opened her eyes and found herself standing in a sea of flowers, with a bright sun overhead and an azure sky, clear and splendid like a jewel. The contrast of this ‘clean’ and ‘pure’ feeling made her feel as if her previous life in Burntstone City was like living in a world polluted by coal dust.

“Where is this?” She was about to ponder the question, and the answer automatically escaped her lips.

“This is Mama’s garden.” She looked around and saw purple aster flowers blooming among the verdant leaves.

The flowers were a pristine blue-violet, like the evening sky, and were called ‘aster’.

Layer upon layer of aster flowers bloomed under the bright blue sky, swaying in the wind. The fragrance of the flowers lulled her younger self to a peaceful nap and protected her small figure amidst the flower bushes.

She followed the vague impression in her memory, holding up her dainty skirt and running through the sea of flowers. The bright sunshine made it difficult for her to see distant objects clearly at that time.

Her steps crossed the emerald green grass and landed on white marble slabs. She found a small path in the sea of flowers, and ahead was a white circular pavilion standing amidst the blossoms. Inside the pavilion, a serene figure sat with her back to Hylial.

She ran with unbridled joy. Along the way, maids in black and white uniforms bent down, forming a black and white human fence to prevent the little princess from falling.

She called out to her mother, then spread her arms, eagerly rushing towards that figure, until she finally ran into the pavilion and embraced that warm back with both hands.

“What’s wrong, Little Lia~” Her mother’s soft, gentle voice came, dressed in an elegant gown with a white base and dark purple accents, her face appearing through a hazy glow.

The same silver-snow hair, the same ethereal and flawless countenance, but the other possessed a graceful and composed temperament that Hylial had yet to acquire.

“I…” Hylial couldn’t remember what she had said at the time, probably something insignificant.

Her mother gently stroked her hair, then held her in her arms.

“Elisha bullied you again? Aren’t you two best friends?” She said, smiling, comforting Hylial at the time.

“But, I can’t beat her.” This line, however, left a deep impression.

“Why fight? Girls shouldn’t fight, it’s not elegant~” Mama said, smiling, and gently pinched Hylial’s cheek.

“But you know, you also possess a strength that Elisha doesn’t.”

“Look~”

With that, her mother’s wrist gently twisted within her snow-white sleeve, and a silver rose appeared. Then this rose turned a blue-violet color, then transformed into a spinning windmill, a small rattle, butterflies scattering and dancing, and white doves soaring into the sky.

“The moon is the embodiment of dreams, with countless possibilities. Although not as great as the sun, it can also give you strength that changes with your whim.”

Saying this, she took Hylial’s small hand and simply took a step, and then, as if traversing the folds of space, they arrived in the center of the flower sea, where aster flowers bloomed all over the field.

“Does Hylial like to draw?” Her mother looked up at the firmament, and with a slight lift of her wrist, the aster flowers throughout the flower sea fluttered, countless petals rising into the sky.

“I like watching Mama draw,” young Hylial had replied.

“Then you must learn to draw too, you know.” Her mother turned back with a smile, and the countless aster flowers behind her shattered in the sky, transforming into a strange purple, as if staining the entire firmament, flowing across the celestial river.

Then, Hylial witnessed an incredibly stunning scene: the entire firmament, like a canvas, outlined vivid aster flowers.

These flowers, edged with gold thread from the sun’s rays, and filled with a soft, serene purple, gradually covered the entire view. Until finally, the blooming golden asters surrounded the sun in the center of the canvas, forming a grand and beautiful picture scroll.

Finally, this picture scroll, which covered the firmament, slowly descended and continuously shrunk, until it finally unfolded before Hylial.

[Aster in Midsummer] (Level 7 – Jade Nectar – Blazing Sun – Glorious Moon)

‘Condensing sunlight, capturing midsummer, dyeing the firmament, a miraculous and magnificent picture scroll, possessing unthinkable magic, capable of altering climate, shifting seasons, and creating a sea of flowers.’

“Now, have you learned, Hylial?”

Her mother’s finger gently tapped the maiden’s nose, waking her from this ancient dream.

(End of Chapter)