The Cornflower Witch

In the afternoon, the train stopped beneath the massive turbines. Engineers and mages from the crew climbed inside those huge mechanical structures to inspect and repair them, their occasional voices echoing through the tall, hollow shelter.

It was already late May, and after the storm had passed, the outside temperature had recovered to just over ten degrees, becoming slightly milder.

Sylutia walked along the interior of the towering wall and looked up. Its top was nearly a hundred meters above the ground. Walking here, she could hear cavernous echoes.

On one side inside the wall were gigantic wind-wheel machinery and pipes; on the other side, wind tunnels were arranged so light could filter in, preventing the interior from becoming too dark and damp. At intervals there were access doors, but these were usually closed—only a few were open and guarded by personnel.

Because of the repairs, Sylutia could offer little help. She continued forward along the wall’s huge corridor. In the distance she could see some gray-maned beastmen coming and going.

As her footsteps drew closer, the local beastmen’s conversation drifted in—idle chatter about the fine weather, planning to drive their herds to graze more today.

They wore fur coats and looked relaxed, whistles hanging from their waists; a single blow could summon their herding dogs to help drive the sheep.

Besides the adults, there were children around ten years old, running and playing around the adults, some waving wooden sticks.

When they left through the gate, they chatted and greeted the stationed soldiers—they seemed very familiar with each other.

Sylutia had heard that ever since the North Wind Defense Line had been built, the happiest ones were probably these gray-maned beastmen. Before they lived nearby, they had no absolutely safe shelter from the wind. When Gale Season arrived it was a cruel trial—many herders and livestock would die during the season, and only some would survive to the next warm period when the grasslands became comfortable again.

The North Wind Defense Line not only reduced the damage caused by wind disasters, its long walls also became refuges for these beastmen. They could always drive their cattle and sheep back under the towering walls to avoid the storms.

Of course, the Mage Alliance would not let such grand buildings be used as a refuge for free. Beastmen living under the defense line had to pay a certain number of livestock each year as tax—essentially their rent for living there.

The meat from those slaughtered animals helped supplement the food consumption inside the great city of Candela; the best portions were sent inland for sale, while pelts, horns, and so on were useful materials.

Pelts could be made into beast parchment, which mages processed into scrolls; horns were used for potion components; fat could be made into candles or crafted into parts for devices, or refined into low-tier fire seed material.

If you ignored the risk of Gale Season, the life of the beastmen living here was much freer and happier than the beastmen laborers in large inland cities. Besides herding, they could also work in Candela’s many workshops, producing large mechanical components, or do blacksmithing, hauling, and many other jobs they were capable of.

Some strong beastmen who mastered the Breathing Technique had the chance to be recruited into the garrison legions of the North Wind Defense Line and become soldiers with decent treatment.

As a major northern stronghold of the Mage Alliance, the soldiers stationed here could be equipped with full steel armor—very lavish compared to many nations on the Fourth Continent. When Sylutia had once lived in Scorchstone City in Regas, even many adventurers couldn’t afford full steel armor and weapons; city soldiers mostly wore chain or scale armor, partly because the viscount there valued such matters less.

After walking down the long corridor, Sylutia finally reached the gate. Sunlight from the corner poured in, bringing warmth with the light and wind.

Through the gate the view opened up: sun-bleached grasslands stretched out, and some herding dogs darted about, driving cattle and sheep off toward the distance.

“Want some cheese, miss?” a young beastman called from nearby, waving. Your standing spot was on the side of a small gate; that side faced the sun and the glare made the view harsh, so few older beastmen came here to ask for food.

When he saw Sylutia approaching, the youngster’s tone turned brisk. He lifted a lid and a drape to show tofu-like blocks of sheep cheese.

“Have a piece, fresh and clean from just now,” he said proudly.

“How much for a piece?”

“It’s expensive—seven copper coins each.” It was indeed pricey.

“I’ll have one, then.”

Sylutia drew a silver coin from her sleeve and placed it on the table; she didn’t carry copper coins—silver was the largest denomination she had on her.

“Hang on, miss,” the boy said. He took a large wooden bowl, washed it with nearby water, then carefully placed a block of cheese inside and handed her a spoon.

Earlier, Duo Nan took the spoon and tasted; the texture was somewhat like the yogurt from later memories—perhaps a similar process. With the outside heat acting as a natural refrigerator, the cheese tasted cool and refreshing.

After finishing, they returned the spoon and bowl. The boy wanted to give change, but Sylutia waved it off, saying she had treated them.

“Thank you, you’re very kind,” the boy said gratefully, then asked whether the young woman was an apprentice here for practice.

“Have you seen apprentices come to intern here before?” Sylutia asked curiously.

“Yes, almost every year,” the boy replied. “But they usually come under the watch of skilled craftsmen to learn maintenance and repairs of these facilities.”

“They’re all young and handsome, pretty too,” he added with a compliment. To them, these apprentices were very good customers; interning here, they’d inevitably buy some local specialties, and as future elites of the Mage Alliance, most had no shortage of money.

As she chatted with the older woman proprietor, Sylutia slowly learned more about the local people’s lives.

Most beastmen lived similarly to the past but with far fewer disputes. Before migrating near the North Wind Defense Line, they lived in the central grasslands, and tribes fought yearly over pastures. The losing tribe not only had their cattle and sheep seized, but were also driven out to more barren regions.

Even when a tribe held good pastures, over time population growth meant a need for more land and grazing, prompting outward expansion and conflict again.

“It’s only when the merchant caravans come each spring and summer to buy that the grasslands calm down,” the older woman said. “People sell pelts and various materials to the caravans in exchange for salt, iron tools, medicines, and Blood Wine.”

Blood Wine was hard currency on the plains. Although they brewed it themselves, lacking raw materials, techniques, and equipment meant their quality often lagged behind the Alliance’s inland production.

“Young beastmen who learn the Breathing Technique get rewarded a bottle of Blood Wine by the tribe; soon they can grow into qualified warriors,” she recalled.

The Mage Alliance’s greatest strength lay in its vast knowledge framework—spells, secret arts, crafts, creations—but those learning costs were high and cumbersome for the beastmen. The Breathing Technique and bloodline arts were much simpler; once a beastman reached a certain age he could naturally pick them up. Give him an axe afterward, and he could fell someone who had spent five or six years on foundation magical studies.

So even within the Mage Alliance, most beastmen tribes chose the Path of Bloodline or the Beast Fang path. Only a very small number with exceptional talent and willingness would pursue becoming a mage.

While they chatted, a group of beastmen children outside drew their attention.

In the circle of children, two roughly fourteen-year-old beastmen boys stood facing each other with wooden sticks, seemingly about to settle who was stronger.

Many adults had seen the scene but did not intervene; they watched from a distance with interest.

“Aren’t you going to stop them from fighting?” Sylutia asked.

“No need. This is common here. When children fight it’s a kind of training. They quickly learn their own and their opponent’s strength, and after many fights they won’t panic in real combat,” a beastman answered with a booming laugh.

As she said, some passing herders even whistled encouragement at the two boys to start.

Sylutia squinted toward them. The two boys were the strongest among the group—fittest and most capable. Though young, both had learned the Breathing Technique. As their breaths shifted, power gathered within them.

They tightened their grips on wooden sticks and charged. The sticks whistled through the air and the field echoed with thudding clashes.

Though not bladed, such wooden staffs still hurt when they struck flesh. If a vulnerable joint were hit, it could break bone.

Sylutia moved closer to watch and listened to the children’s calls, then picked out their names: the beastman boys Kara and Uya.

Name: Kara

Race: gray-maned beastman

Status: Healthy (inflammation at the corner of one eye)

Gift: Robust Body [Outstanding]; naturally stronger and more resilient than peers, granting greater strength and damage resistance.

Fate Card: [Beastman Boy] (First Tier·Bloodline)

- Effect [Robust Body Lv.4]: Through adjustment with the Breathing Technique, your body has gradually adapted to the flow of Bloodline and gained a more robust physique and strength.

Ability Card: [Breathing Technique Lv.3] [Empty] [Empty]

Skills: [Basic Wrestling Lv.3] [Beastman Combat Lv.2] [Wilderness Survival Lv.4]

Name: Uya

Race: gray-maned beastman

Status: Healthy (no abnormalities)

Talent: Lively Blood [Good]; an active blood rhythm that makes sensing and learning Bloodline-related abilities easier.

Fate Card: [Beastman Boy] (First Tier·Bloodline)

- Effect [Robust Body Lv.3]: Through adjustment with the Breathing Technique, your body has gradually adapted to the flow of Bloodline and gained a stronger physique and strength.

Ability Card: [Breathing Technique Lv.4] [Empty] [Empty]

Skills: [Basic Wrestling Lv.3] [Beastman Combat Lv.2] [Wilderness Survival Lv.3]

Their abilities and strengths were very close. Kara had the superior physique and power, but Uya’s Breathing Technique rank was higher; under its boost he could keep pace with Kara’s strength. If there was a difference, it was that Kara wasn’t in top condition—his eye corner was red and swollen, and the sting of sweat made him blink to relieve discomfort, which distracted his vision and attention. In the end Uya beat him, striking his cheek with a stick and knocking him down.

“I win!” Uya panted, shouting excitedly, and the surrounding children cheered.

Kara was slowly helped back by several companions, who brought a chair for him to sit on for a while.

They examined his wounds and the older woman went over to help.

“Your eye corner is swollen,” the woman pointed out.

“It’s nothing,” the boy said, turning away—he seemed ashamed.

At that age pride is strong; more than others’ concern, he cared most about the humiliation of losing.

Meanwhile, Uya climbed onto a sheep and paraded around the grass with a group of children, waving like a victorious general. That scene made the sitting Kara even more resentful; he stared fixedly at Uya, repressing his anger.

Sylutia smiled and felt suddenly nostalgic, as if she had seen the same scene long ago.

Indeed, it was a scene from ten years before.

Back then, shortly after she had awoken and been studying in Scorchstone City with Komea and Karen, Mick and Solyn had done the same—they sparred often, always ending covered in bruises and sweat, then rinsing themselves with buckets of water.

Had so much time really passed? Everything felt like it had happened yesterday.

Ten years. She had advanced from First Tier to Fourth Tier twice, experienced the Hidden Grove Alliance and the Mage Alliance, farmed in valleys, been stationed at a Darkmist Mountains outpost, took part in the campaign against Blackquis, studied at the Mage Alliance, trained in the western mountain ranges, and went north to Candela to provide aid.

Counting the years she had lived through, Sylutia found herself astonished at all the events of the past decade.

After her reflection, she walked over to the sulking beastman boy seated on the chair.

“May I take a look? The corner of your eye doesn’t seem like a normal wound,” the young woman’s voice was especially clear and gentle under the great wall.

Even in his sulk, Kara couldn’t help but look up and saw the young noblewoman who had approached.

To him, the girl in a blue dress trimmed with white lace was unmistakably a human noble; she looked like someone who had never faced hardship. He might have previously scorned such humans, but she was simply too beautiful.

Even though he was a beastman, he felt the charm radiating from her, especially those eyes—coming closer almost made his senses melt and he almost looked away.

“W-what look?” he stammered at first, then straightened his pride and turned his head.

Though still sulking, those who knew him would tell you his attitude had softened.

Sylutia examined his eye and indeed found a follicular inflammation from infection. It wasn’t severe, but if neglected it could seriously affect vision.

After a few comforting words, Sylutia produced a small medicinal potion and placed it in his hand.

“Go home and wash it with this every day. Keep it clean and it should improve in a few days.”

Having said this, Sylutia cast one last glance at the bright grassland outside, then waved farewell to the beastmen present.

The turbines on that side had been repaired; she was to follow the train to the next stop.

The beastmen children who had been briefly astonished by the girl watched her go, sitting and standing dazedly as her silhouette receded. Her smooth hair and figure fell into the tunnel’s light and shadow—dappling and hazy.

Like a gust of wind in a memory—sudden, beautiful, and gone so quickly that the wonder felt unreal.

A few minutes later, Sylutia’s figure became indistinct at the far end of the corridor. Only then did several children murmur to each other.

“She’s so pretty, that human sister.”

“Yeah, like she came from the sky.”

“Will we see her again?”

“Probably not. They don’t live here.”

“Then I’ll go see the southern big cities someday.”

The childish voices rang in the summer light, then quickly scattered into the wind.