The Cornflower Witch Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Mist Forest

Hylial and the others stepped forward, drew a wooden lot, and then, according to the number on it, boarded a carriage covered in black cloth to head to the departure point.

Today, she wore a khaki gray robe, simply tied at the waist with a cord, cinching the garment to reveal a slender waist. Inside the robe, a lantern and two swords hung at her waist.

Other students were also dressed in various outfits, carrying their prepared weapons and creations.

According to the assessment rules, while weapons and some armor could be purchased or crafted by others, other combat consumables had to be self-made.

Limited by personal rank and family resources, most of the weapons and equipment prepared by the students did not exceed First-Order, and creations of higher orders were currently difficult for the students to control and utilize.

“This is it.” The voice of the rider came from outside the carriage, and at the same time, the cloth cover was lifted for Hylial to disembark.

The black-haired girl pushed aside the curtain and lightly stepped down from the carriage, then thanked the rider who saw her off.

“Thank you.”

The rider gave her a slightly surprised look, then rode away.

“Be careful tonight.” Just as Hylial thought the other person had left, a voice came from the direction the rider had departed, making her turn back.

“I understand.” She bowed again in thanks.

Will it be very dangerous here at night? Hylial looked up at the mist-shrouded mountains ahead, then stepped into them.

…

The forest was very quiet. Probably because it had just rained, the fallen leaves on the ground were damp, and there was no sound when she stepped on them.

After walking for a short while, Hylial found a branch in the woods to use as a probe, pushing aside the thick, damp undergrowth.

This mountain forest was vast. The “sweet spring” mentioned by the instructor provided no clues, so she had to find it herself. The only thing she remembered was that the instructor had mentioned that the spring had a faint Mist Shadow affinity.

After walking a distance, Hylial stopped and took out a small vial of potion from her waist pocket inside her robe. This was her self-made Green Eye potion, and it was the only potion she currently knew how to make. Probably due to the Emerald Honey affinity and the Dew Prayer and Branch Combing ability, she found making this potion very easy and didn’t spend much effort learning it.

She dripped a drop of the potion into her eye. Her normally cornflower-blue eyes gradually turned emerald green, and then everything before her became dazzling and strange.

Because the Green Eye potion was specifically for observing plants, when she stood in the forest, her vision was overwhelmed by the “spectrum” emitted by various plants. This intense flood of information made Hylial’s eyes ache slightly.

She had to close her eyes first, ease the strain, and then slowly open them again. At this point, her two different-colored eyes, one blue and one emerald, shone with a strange brilliance, giving the girl in the forest a peculiar charm.

Blue Stream Grass… Black Water Mushroom… Fiery Red Grape Fruit… Perilla Moon Grass…

She murmured, listing the strange and rare plants she found, but unfortunately, she found no trace of the spring with the Mist Shadow affinity.

It shouldn’t be this area. The girl closed her eyes again, easing her overused eyes. At this moment, the emerald green in her eyes slowly faded, returning to a gentle light blue.

Keep going forward. She re-planned her route, preparing to gather the rare plants she had just discovered, and then proceed deeper into the mountains.

…

Elsewhere, Komia carefully skipped through the shade of the trees, basket in hand, looking around. Bells hung from her waist, occasionally emitting a crisp sound.

“Has Dough arrived yet? If it could follow me, this assessment would be so much easier,” Komia murmured softly.

After learning the assessment location that day, she had pointed the way to the white Wolfdog, telling it to wait for her there. But she didn’t know if Dough had understood. If it had, that would be for the best.

…

Solin walked through the mountains, holding a peculiar copper pendant in his hand, shaped like a chicken, with automatically rotating parts.

“Mist Shadow affinity… This Wind-Seeking Chicken my dad gave me should be able to detect it, but it also gets interfered with by other ‘Mist Shadow’ things. So I need to hurry and make more rounds.”

Having made up his mind, Solin quickened his pace again.

…

The young nobleman Balun was also walking through the mountains with a small cage, and he constantly murmured to the white sparrows inside.

“If you find any trace of the Mist Shadow spring water, chirp a few times, alright?” This bird was bought by his father at a high price from a bird trainer, and it could detect manifested “affinities.”

Unfortunately, if he were a professional with bird training skills, he could simply release the bird and let it search on its own.

…

Other students were also searching using various strange methods. At worst, they simply walked through the mountains, relying purely on luck.

Throughout the morning, everything was normal. As noon gradually passed and many students ventured deeper into the forest, some situations began to unfold.

“Strange, this tree somehow looks like it has a human face.” A student walked past a big tree, feeling a chill down his spine as he saw the twisted bark and trunk.

“This too…” Soon, he encountered another tree that was the same. Looking deeper into the forest, it seemed as if twisted branches were everywhere, some withered and blackened, with leaves scattered.

Around 2 PM, the first battle occurred in the assessment forest.

“Roar…”

The black and red Wolfdog wrinkled the fur on its snout, baring sharp teeth, its front paws restlessly scraping the ground. Before it stood an extremely nervous student.

“Don’t come any closer. I know the Breathing Method. It could be me or you.” The student gripped his sword with both hands, his eyes fixed on the Wolfdog, muttering disjointedly.

He had participated in many trainings in the past, but facing an enemy alone for the first time, he was somewhat timid and uneasy.

However, the Wolfdog before him had little patience. It darted forward at an incredible speed, charging towards the student’s legs.

In a panic, he swung his sword purely into the air, and then a sharp pain shot through his left foot. He looked down to see the Wolfdog biting his pant leg, its teeth likely embedded in his flesh.

Under the intense pain and fear, he grabbed his sword and thrust it fiercely at the Wolfdog, drawing a spurt of blood.

“Ahhh!” As if to bolster his courage, he continuously stabbed and slashed at the Wolfdog in front of him until it was thoroughly dead. Only then did he gradually calm down.

Even though the Wolfdog was fierce, for a student who had undergone several months of training and mastered the Second-Stage Breathing Method, he could have suppressed it with sheer physical prowess. He was simply too inexperienced and lost his composure first.

After this battle, the student became much more mature and decisive, gaining a little confidence. He bandaged his lower leg and continued deeper into the forest.

…

Of course, not all students were so green.

In another corner of the forest, the golden-haired Iona advanced swiftly. Any wild beasts or monsters she encountered were easily sliced apart by the two swords she wielded, their blood staining the ground, while she herself remained spotless, not a drop of blood on her.

Because her father was a general, Iona had been hunting with adults since she was young and had witnessed many fighting scenes. She was experienced and would not be as timid as ordinary girls.

Although she wasn’t sure of the exact direction of the spring, she was familiar with the assessment process. Such a spring would undoubtedly be located deep within the forest, not near the starting point, and there would definitely be special beasts guarding it.

Therefore, she only needed to find the area where a large number of wild beasts gathered to find clues to the spring.

…

At the closest departure point to the main road, Mick hurried along the trail, a hint of unease in his heart.

These were the markings left by Brother Jero’s adventure team. Could they also have entered here?

This was not a safe place. Many team members had not even condensed a First-Order affinity. Facing the powerful monsters used for the assessment, it would be extremely dangerous.

Naturally, he thought of the giant wild boar they encountered during their last hunt, and his heart was filled with worry.

He had to move faster. He hoped Brother Jero and his team were alright.

Yes, Brother Jero was stronger and braver than he was, and he was experienced; nothing would happen to him.

The boy chanted silently, rushing deeper into the forest marked by the signs.

(End of this chapter)