The Cornflower Witch

After concluding the negotiations, Sylutia arrived at Agate Street in Asra. Compared to two years ago, the street was noticeably cleaner and tidier, with some old buildings renovated and refurbished. Although there were no major transformations, the overall feel was much more warm and peaceful, lacking the previous restlessness and anxiety.

Walking along the street, Sylutia looked down at the road beneath her shoes. The once puddled paving stones now seemed to have been replaced, laid more firmly, no longer spurting muddy water with every step.

Passing by a shop, Sylutia saw her own reflection in the window glass and paused for a few seconds.

The girl in the mirror stood gracefully, her black dress cinched at the waist by a belt, outlining a soft waist curve. The lower skirt was divided into two layers: the outer layer was longer, overlapping at the front to reveal a small part of her thighs, while the white inner skirt covered the upper part of her thighs.

The upper body had a shawl in the same style as the outer black skirt, slightly concealing the curve of her chest. The collar and cuffs featured white silk linings, preventing the outfit from being too monotonous and showing a hint of youthful vitality.

Compared to her time studying in Asra District, wearing this outfit made her appear much more mature and steady in temperament, and also easier to trust.

This outfit was specially ordered and purchased by Sylutia for this negotiation; otherwise, her usual simple home dress would make her look like she hadn't grown up, lacking the stability and authority needed for trust.

It can't be helped; it seems I can't grow up anymore, Sylutia thought to herself.

Crossing the familiar streets, Sylutia arrived at the restaurant she used to visit. The older woman who previously ran the shop was still managing it, but now there were a few more employees, and the environment was much cleaner. The walls, once covered in grease stains, had been wiped clean, and sturdy new chairs had been installed.

"Welcome~" A girl with triangular cat ears came to greet her. She was probably a new employee here.

"What would you like to eat?"

"What lunch options do you have here? Any recommendations?"

"We offer bread, smoked meat, sausages, vegetable soup, and other common items. We also have set meals the owner prepares based on seasonal ingredients, which are affordable and nutritious."

"If this is your first time here, I recommend the parsley and fermented soybean fish rice." She wagged her tail behind her as she recommended to Sylutia.

"I'll go with that." Sylutia nodded, glancing at the other people in the shop.

Most of the diners were residents of this block, with a few mage apprentices who had come specifically to eat. From their uniforms and badges, most were third-year students from Asra District.

If I hadn't been admitted to Tetis College and had stayed here to continue studying, I would probably be a fourth-year student now, in the transition period from school to self-study.

Aside from a few genius exceptions, mage apprentices studying in Asra District typically only finish their preparations and apply for their preferred advanced academy in their fourth or fifth year, by which time they are usually just over twenty.

I wonder how Anari is doing now. Did she get into an advanced academy? After three years of accumulation, she should have filled in the gaps in her foundational knowledge and skills. She's probably in the final sprint phase now, Sylutia thought.

While she was thinking, the cat-eared waitress brought over the prepared lunch. The fresh green parsley paired with fish marinated in fermented soybeans was quite delicious.

Sylutia ate slowly, and after more than ten minutes, she finished and stood up to pay the bill.

"How much is it in total?"

"You ordered a 'Parsley and Fermented Soybean Fish,' the price is 18 copper coins."

It's really cheap, Sylutia thought, taking a silver coin from her pocket and placing it on the table.

"Keep the change. I'd like to ask you about something."

"Huh? You want me to keep the change? That's 82 copper coins, ma'am." The other girl was surprised.

"I have a question. You actually come here often, and you know the shop owner. Do you know where she is now?"

"Oh, so you know the owner! She's in the back kitchen giving instructions right now. Since she's busy, she doesn't usually come to the front hall." The cat-eared waitress replied.

"I'll go ask her for you. What's your name, ma'am?"

"My name is Hedra. Just tell the owner that."

"Alright, Miss Hedra." The girl hopped off to the back kitchen, apparently unaware of the significance of the name.

However, some of the customers and students in the shop seemed to recall something upon hearing the name and occasionally stole glances at this young girl.

"Is that her? That genius who already graduated?"

"It should be her. Even from behind, she looks very beautiful. I remember everyone saying Hedra was among the top ten most beautiful students in Asra District that year, and her grades and strength were undeniably the best. Even the genius from the previous class, 'Grey Crow' Luke, said Hedra was stronger than him. And Luke himself had won nearly a hundred consecutive matches in Asra District and later scored 'Outstanding' to get into a subsidiary school of the Phantom Light School."

Hearing people discussing her behind her back, Sylutia felt a bit awkward. Fortunately, this didn't last long. The beastwoman she had met earlier quickly walked out, and when she saw Sylutia, her expression was one of surprise.

"I didn't expect it was really you, Lady Hedra." She invited Hedra to the back lounge of the restaurant, then took out the restaurant's treasured tea leaves and began to brew tea.

After that, the two started catching up, talking about the changes in recent years.

"Life has indeed improved a lot, especially when it comes to public safety." The older woman sighed.

"Before, when I ran this restaurant, I was always on edge because people would often come to trash the place or eat without paying. Now I don't have to worry about that."

"It's also because the security has improved that I dared to use my savings to renovate the shop. Now the customer flow is stable, and I've even hired a few more helpers." As she spoke, the tea was ready, and she brought it over to Sylutia.

"Lady Hedra, would you like something else to eat? I'll prepare some more for you."

"No need, the lunch I just had was delicious." Sylutia shook her head.

"I came back this time to find some people to help me set up a guild."

"Although I'm funding it, I'll be busy with my studies and won't have much time to manage it, so I need assistance."

"I see." She nodded.

"Where is Anari now?" Sylutia asked curiously.

"She's currently preparing for her exams. Over these three years, she's worked very hard." The older woman sighed.

"Has she decided which college to go to?"

"It seems to be called the 'Ice Death School.'" The older woman recalled.

"'Ice Death School,' ranked 18th in the Mage Alliance, belonging to the second tier of schools. This school specializes in 'Slumbering Winter,' 'Dead Embers,' and 'Secret Word.' They are skilled at commanding the dead, communicating with spirits, and freezing and silencing. They are also proficient in tomb construction and funeral rites."

The members of this school are very low-key within the Mage Alliance. You usually only see them in graveyards and specimen-making workshops.

"I'll give you her address. She's currently living in a house near the school." The older woman wrote down the address and handed it to Sylutia.

"Alright, thank you."

I might as well go visit Anari while I'm at it.

Afternoon, Squirrel Street—

Sylutia knocked on the front door of a house. The house wasn't very large, but it had two floors. It was built from grayish-yellow stone bricks, and some ivy-like plants clung to the walls.

Soon, the door opened, and a girl in simple robes walked out. The pair of large and small curved horns on her head were very striking and unique.

When she saw Sylutia, Anari's eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe it. It took her a moment to speak.

"Is it Lady Hedra?"

"Yes, it's me." The girl nodded.

"It really is you!" She became excited and a bit flustered.

"Please, come in, Lady Hedra." Saying this, she welcomed Sylutia inside, brought her tea, and then stood before the girl.

Compared to three years ago, Anari had developed quite a bit. She was now about one and a half meters tall, and her body was much healthier, no longer as thin as a stick.

Then, Anari told Sylutia about her experiences and studies over the past three years, and mentioned that she was now preparing for the Calydon College exam.

"Choosing the 'Ice Death School' was actually an accident at first." Anari talked about an incident two years ago.

"But I unexpectedly discovered that I could communicate very easily with lingering spirits. So I gradually started learning about this field, and later my instructor also suggested I choose the 'Ice Death School.'" As she spoke, she took out a bell and gently shook it between her fingers.

Then, a python spirit, taller than her, materialized. This massive serpent coiled its body, its raised head about four or five meters high, looking down at the two of them from above.

Under Anari's command, the python spirit roamed around the living room. Its long body filled the space of the hall, making Sylutia feel as if she were sitting in a deep pool filled with writhing giant snakes.

This python must have been quite powerful when it was alive. Even in its spirit form, it has strength equivalent to Second Tier. If Anari nurtures it well, it shouldn't be difficult for it to advance to Third Tier later, Sylutia assessed.

"Very impressive."

"Hmm, but compared to you back then, I'm still far behind." Thinking of Sylutia three years ago, even though Anari was also at Second Tier now, she still felt she couldn't catch up.

If back when she was at First Tier, she only thought Hedra was very strong without fully understanding it, now that she has entered Second Tier, and the knowledge and skills she is learning have become more complex, facing the pressure of exams, she finally clearly understands just how terrifyingly powerful Sylutia was when she entered Tetis College with the highest scores.

Now, despite working very hard, she still only hovers around the top 300 in Asra District, far from reaching the level of those geniuses.

Facing Anari's somewhat self-deprecating remarks, the girl shook her head and comforted her, saying:

"Don't compare yourself to me, and don't envy others."

"Everyone has different encounters. Whether you study or strive to become stronger, it's all to fulfill some wishes and ideas in your heart, not just to compete with others for a false sense of superiority."

"As long as you can achieve your ideals or goals, taking a little more time or taking a few detours isn't a problem. If you let someone else's appearance shake your resolve and recklessly chase progress or grades, you'll actually lose sight of your original thoughts and wishes."

"Mmm... Thank you, Lady Hedra." Listening to this girl's words, Anari's eyes gradually filled with tears for some reason, and her voice became slightly choked.

"Ssh..." Sylutia walked over, wrapped her arms around Anari's shoulders, and gently patted her back to comfort her.

Over these past few years, she must have made a lot of effort and accumulated quite a bit of anxiety and worry.

That's how it is for everyone. As long as you haven't succeeded or achieved your goal, you'll have insecurity and self-doubt—fear that all the effort you've put in will come to nothing, fear that you'll end up with nothing, fear that you'll always be inferior to others.

But these worries and insecurities, most people hide in their hearts and don't confide in others. Everyone only sees the bright side of others and compares it to their own vulnerable side, which often creates a huge sense of disparity.

After a while of comforting, Anari's emotions calmed down, and she suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, having burst into tears like that.

She wiped her tears, stood up straight again, and looked at the girl in black and white before her.

"I'm sorry, Lady Hedra."

"It's nothing." Seeing her return to normal, Sylutia smiled gently. This expression made Anari freeze for a moment.

After all, it was the first time she had seen the girl smile like this. In her mind, Sylutia had always been the image of someone strong, wise, elegant, mysterious, and worthy of admiration and trust.

The girl waved her hand in front of her, snapping Anari out of her daze. Then the two talked about their experiences over the past three years. Anari also heard many things from Sylutia about the Western Mountain Range.

"My home seems to be in a village not far from the western border. Unfortunately, there's no one left there." Back then, she and many beastmen were captured and taken to the underground test site. The village was destroyed long ago.

Later, she came to the Mage Alliance, partly to study and become stronger, and partly to see if she could find any clues. Because the one who conducted the experiments was clearly a Black Mage. Maybe she could find the school that mage belonged to and then follow the trail to get additional information.

She wanted revenge, but sometimes she felt a sense of emptiness. The Black Mage who had harmed her family was already dead. Even if she searched for clues, she would at most find the mage's family or colleagues.

No, no, Anari shook her head.

That kind of Black Mage definitely wasn't just one person. And that test site certainly couldn't have been built by an individual. There must be an organization behind them. She still had a great revenge to settle. She wouldn't forget those dead brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts.

Having escaped from that place, she was no longer living for herself. What she carried was the lingering will of those who had died unjustly.

Maybe that's also why she could communicate so easily with spirits, Anari thought, pressing her hand to her heart, feeling its steady and firm rhythm.

"Lady Hedra, thank you. If I have time later, I'll also go see the mountain range you mentioned."

"Also, if you're looking to recruit some members for your guild, I actually have a few candidates I can recommend." Anari remembered some people she had met since coming to Asra District.

Most beastmen don't perform well academically. Maybe they're naturally not good at memorization and mental arithmetic. But that's no reason to completely dismiss someone. While studying in Asra District, Anari had met many beastmen of the same race who had good personalities but unfortunately poor exam scores.

Because they couldn't get into an advanced academy, they could only go work in workshops and guilds. But it's hard for beastmen to become regular employees. More often, they can only take outsourced work. Rather than wasting their prime years like that, it would be better for them to join Lady Hedra's guild.

Over the past few years, the changes in the underground world of Asra District and the improvements in the lives of laborers were all things Anari had witnessed.

So, over the next few days, Anari took Sylutia around Asra District to find people. In addition, Fire Pig, "Four Fingers," and old acquaintances from "Agate Street" also recommended many candidates to Sylutia.

As the local "Headmen," selecting suitable and trustworthy people for work was their specialty. They took the formation of Sylutia's guild very seriously. They picked the best from the best, recommending only those with reliable backgrounds, trustworthy characters, and a diligent and honest work ethic.

And so, the first batch of personnel for the "Meteorite Guild" was recruited, nearly half of whom were beastmen. Considering that the business was mainly in the Western Mountain Range, where beastmen were more easily accepted, this was an ideal choice.

After the recruitment was complete, Sylutia stayed in Asra District for ten days, teaching and training this first group of three hundred people. She mainly focused on popularizing the rules and framework of the future organization and training them in discipline.

Although it was just a small guild, under Sylutia's guidance, it already had a bit of the strict discipline and operational procedures of a military organization.

Well, after all, she was once a scholar of the kingdom who personally established the Knight Order. Although she looks frail on the outside, when she gets serious, she is also very strong.

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