The Cornflower Witch

While Sylutia was paying her respects to the sages in the manor high above, representatives from the Harp Flower Union and the Hidden Grove Alliance were also conversing in the VIP section of the viewing stands below.

"It's been a long time, Meko." A woman with flowing golden hair greeted with a smile. A green-and-white summer wind chrysanthemum was pinned to the strands beside her ear. Judging by her attire, she appeared to be from the Harp Flower Union in the eastern part of the continent.

"I didn't expect you to be the one leading this time, Antiphia." The witch called Meko turned around, her expression slightly surprised.

"Hehe, is it really that strange for me to lead? Besides, I'm one of the rare talents who's visited various places as a guest. It'd be stranger if they didn't send me." She walked over to Meko's side, and the two headed toward an empty small viewing platform nearby. Standing by the railing, they gazed at the distant cloudsea and the rising sun, beginning to chat.

"Speaking of which, the last time we met was twenty years ago, wasn't it?" Antiphia brushed her fingers through the hair hanging beside her ear.

"Yes, back then you were studying in the Hidden Grove. You kept advancing all the way to Fourth Tier before leaving, and the instructors talked about it for a long time afterward." Meko lightly covered her cheek with her fingers and let out a yawn.

"Ahaha, is that so? To be honest, when I was studying in the Hidden Grove back then, I was always nervous, worried about bringing shame to the Harp Flower Union." Antiphia responded with a laugh.

"You really don't seem like the type to get nervous." Meko bent over and leaned on the railing, her long dark witch's robe revealing a soft waistline curve.

"I might look that way on the surface, but I do get nervous. It's just that I have an outgoing personality, so people easily mistake me for someone who doesn't overthink things." Antiphia also moved closer and leaned on the railing alongside her, looking down at the cloudsea below.

The two reminisced for a while, talking about their experiences studying and exploring together in the Hidden Grove Alliance, and also chatting about some former classmates and teammates.

"Ah, Trusi got married? And to Laika? I completely wouldn't have guessed. That guy was so quiet and reserved back then. How did he manage to win Laika over?"

"Hmph, why would you assume Trusi was the one doing the pursuing? Actually, Laika had already planned to marry Trusi long ago. They just never publicly announced their relationship." Meko spoke of the past.

"Still, among our former classmates and acquaintances back then, only those two made it work. The rest broke up and got back together repeatedly, and many ultimately didn't end up together."

"I see..." Antiphia let out a sigh, then shifted the topic to last night's Silver Bell Festival and the Grand Competition.

"I didn't expect that after just a few years away, the Mage Alliance has developed so quickly. Especially this generation of young people, they all feel incredibly strong."

"You know what? Although there hasn't yet been an absolute gap in actual strength, that spirit of dedication and refusal to admit defeat is truly enviable."

"Among the younger generation of the Harp Flower Union, many prefer a life of comfort and lack any strong ambition to pursue advancement. And the older generation has likewise grown accustomed to a peaceful environment, with no motivation to change."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Meko shook her head helplessly and stood up straight.

"I long for that kind of peaceful environment where you can bask in the sun every day. Otherwise, busy with this and that every single day, you don't even know what you're striving to advance for."

"I've heard that the Hidden Grove Alliance has undergone significant changes over the past few years." Antiphia changed the subject, looking at Meko with a slightly more formal expression.

"The situation of hundreds of small nations existing in chaos has been constantly broken down and reshaped over the past decade or so. I'm afraid that before long, several powerful empires will emerge."

"Oh, is this your way of probing for information?" Meko smiled.

"Alright, this isn't really a secret anyway. Anyone with clear eyes can see it. Yes, the Hidden Grove Alliance has been integrating the chaotic and mixed bag of large and small nations all these years, preparing to consolidate them into several powerful nations or factions."

"Is it because you're feeling pressure?" Antiphia leaned against the railing and asked.

"Mmm, somewhat. But isn't it the same on your side? I've recently heard that you've been in contact with quite a few forces from other continents."

"This is merely seeking commercial cooperation and a path of self-preservation for extreme situations." Antiphia shook her head.

"The forces from other continents aren't fools. Having them transport personnel across the cloudsea to fight a desperate battle against the Mage Alliance would require an enormous cost. And that cost would be so exorbitant that even the Harp Flower Union couldn't sustain it."

"Sustaining it might be possible for a while, actually." Meko wagged her finger.

"Although I've never been to your side, I do know that you occupy several important trade routes leading to the interior of the continent. You must have accumulated substantial wealth."

"I can't speak for other continents, but on the Third Continent, as long as you're willing to spend money, you can always find a batch of ferocious fighters. That place has been steeped in bloody warfare for over a thousand years. If given the chance for an expedition abroad, for those guys who crawled out of piles of corpses, it would probably feel like a vacation."

"Forget it. Let's not talk about those madmen from the Third Continent. I'm afraid that once we invite them over, we won't be able to send them away afterward. Even the descendants of the Blood Dynasty couldn't stand living there back then and fled to the Fourth Continent for refuge, let alone now."

"Alright, enough of that." Meko stopped her teasing.

The two continued watching the scenery of the cloudsea, and the air grew quiet.

"Speaking of which, that girl named Hedra is quite remarkable." Antiphia spoke after a long silence.

"I didn't know about her before. But after this Grand Competition was interrupted midway, I heard many people discussing her and learned some information."

"I heard that she originally came from your Hidden Grove Alliance and only later came to the Mage Alliance to study."

"Are you trying to say that the Hidden Grove Alliance unfortunately missed out on a rare talent?" Meko's voice carried a lazy tone as she spoke.

"Every year, countless young people from all over emerge. Most of them appear to have considerable potential, but what's the real situation? Some achieve fame within a few years, while others linger at the threshold of their profession for over a decade without ever crossing it."

"Before someone truly blooms, who can know or guess the outcome?"

"If Hedra had come to the Hidden Grove Alliance, we certainly wouldn't have let her down. But fate just isn't so accommodating. She went to the Mage Alliance in the north. Many things simply can't be forced." Meko spread her hands.

"Now, she's already gained achievements, status, and instructors and classmates who look after her in the Mage Alliance. Even if she originated from the Hidden Grove Alliance, it would be very difficult for her to turn back now. So why bother doing things that are neither pleasing nor polite? Just let her be. Who knows, maybe we can still keep a bit of fond memory."

"I didn't expect Meko to be so open-minded now." Antiphia's gaze showed surprise.

"If you were like me, working over three hundred days a year for ten straight years, you'd also become open-minded about many things and stop being so fixated." Meko complained with a hint of exasperation.

"Ahaha, my apologies. It seems you've really worked hard these past few years."

"Speaking of which, what exactly keeps you so busy? Of course, if it's not convenient to say, you don't have to." Antiphia asked curiously.

"It's actually related to what you asked earlier. Right now, the Alliance is integrating the many small nations standing like trees in the south. During this process, there are numerous large and small factions that need mediation, negotiation, discussion, and handling of aftermath matters. As one of the few high-level members of the 'Cursed Forest,' I have to assist in coordinating and reconciling, with basically little rest time." Meko spread her hands.

"No wonder. Ever since you advanced to Sixth Tier five or six years ago, the 'Cursed Forest' has held high hopes for you. I'm afraid they're preparing for you to take over the faction in the future." Antiphia covered her mouth with a light chuckle.

"Yes. The several senior witch predecessors within the faction are all getting on in years now. Although there's a possibility they might advance to Sorceress and step into the 'Long-Lived' realm, preparations for succession must still be made eventually. And I'm the unfortunate one designated to take over."

"The Cursed Forest..." Antiphia murmured the name.

"I remember your group is one of the three major witch factions in the Hidden Grove Alliance, right?"

"Correct. But right now, our strength only ranks third. Two years ago, the 'Crescent Moon Forest' absorbed and merged with the 'Night Dream Tea Party,' jumping from third to first in one go. Even the veteran witch faction 'Weaving Fate's Spindle' was suppressed by them. And we slipped from second to third."

"Is that so? I remember that witches generally address each other as sisters, forming bonds like family. How did the 'Crescent Moon Forest' absorb and merge with the 'Night Dream Tea Party'? Wouldn't that trigger rejection and discomfort from both sides' witches?"

"This goes back to the previous era. At that time, the witches, hags, wizards, and thorn users of the Fourth Continent had to join forces to counter the powerful 'Silver Radiance Church,' thus establishing the 'Moon Parliament.'"

"If the 'Silver Radiance Church' represented the radiant aspect of the moon's Aspect, that is, 'Luminous Moon,' then the 'Moon Parliament' represented the dark and obscured side of the moon, such as 'Nightmare' and 'Mist Shadow.'"

"Although the Moon Parliament was established, it was still thoroughly routed by the 'Silver Radiance Church' at the time. Later, the Golden Honey Dynasty of the Fifth Continent, in order to contend for the position of Hours of the 'Luminous Moon,' launched a cross-continental expedition. At the same time, they propped up the 'Moon Parliament,' which gradually stabilized the situation."

"There's no need to elaborate on what happened afterward. In any case, the 'Silver Radiance Church' and the 'Golden Honey Dynasty' both suffered devastating losses, and in the end, 'That One' claimed the position of Hours."

"After the great war ended, the Moon Parliament lost the support of the Golden Honey Dynasty and no longer faced pressure from the Silver Radiance Church. The factions and organizations that had always harbored different intentions quickly disintegrated, scattering into various small factions of all sizes."

"As for the 'Crescent Moon Forest' and 'Night Dream Tea Party' I mentioned, the witch systems they inherited actually trace back to the same ancient faction within the Moon Parliament, like sisters who had been separated for many years."

Although their relationship was quite distant, there was still that layer of connection, which is why the merger of the two factions didn't encounter much resistance.

After all this was said, the sky grew increasingly bright, and the sun had slowly risen above the clouds.

"Ah, I can't take it anymore. I'm getting sleepy. I haven't slept all night." Meko yawned.

"Let's talk again next time. Oh, right." She suddenly remembered something and perked up again.

"Have you received the trade application sent by the Mage Alliance?"

"Oh, you mean the grain procurement? This Sinking Fog season will be especially long. But our Harp Flower Union has the cloudsea shipping routes at our back. Even if grain production declines, we can still transport some from other continents to sustain ourselves. No need to worry too much."

"The Mage Alliance is different. Their population is too large. Even if we help with procurement, it would be difficult to meet their needs. Besides, the cost of cross-cloudsea routes is very high. Using them to transport grain really does seem somewhat wasteful." Antiphia explained.

"What about you? I remember there are several impressive gardener factions in the Hidden Grove area. Especially the 'Four Seasons Alliance' that has risen in recent years. With their Four Seasons Magic Potion, they've attracted many young people."

"That's true. However, we're also hesitating about whether to help the Mage Alliance, because the current relationship is quite delicate." Meko thought for a moment, carefully choosing her words.

"If we don't help, it might cause the conflict between the two sides to expand and eventually develop into war. But if we do help, we worry about aiding the enemy, allowing the Mage Alliance to grow even stronger after overcoming this crisis." She replied with a sigh.

"Alright, that is indeed a difficult position. But I won't offer any advice on this one." Antiphia chuckled lightly.

"It's getting late. Let's talk again next time." With that, the two waved goodbye and headed toward rest rooms in different directions, disappearing at the end of the cloudsea corridor.