The Cornflower Witch

The train shuttled beneath the giant wall as Sylutia followed the inspection team forward. During the day, she would wander near the wall, chatting with the local garrison and residents, occasionally buying some local specialties.

At night, the people on the train would barbecue together on the grass. The meat here wasn't expensive and was easy to buy from the locals. Add some spices, and the scent of charcoal fire and grilled meat would drift through the wind.

Sitting by the campfire beneath a sky full of stars, her companions ate skewers of meat, chatting and laughing. Life felt full and happy.

"Hedra, this one's done~" someone called the girl's name.

"Okay, I'm coming." The girl stood up, walked over to the fire, and took the skewer from the companion doing the grilling. Nearly a meter long, the stick was loaded with sizzling, crispy slices of meat glistening with oil, already dusted with cumin and spices. The heat and aroma rushed into her nose.

"Thanks~" After expressing her gratitude, the girl held the long skewer and strolled back to where she had been sitting.

Amisa lay on a canvas lounge chair, gazing at the night sky. A member of the medical team beside her placed cut fruit pieces into her mouth. On the other side, Novadon was laughing and clinking glasses with a tall beastman nearby. The beer in the wooden cups still bubbled, slightly overflowing the rim.

"Want some, Hedra?" A colleague shook an unopened bottle of chilled beer. The liquid inside the glass caught the campfire's glow, refracting a clear, pale yellow gleam.

"No, thanks." She didn't really feel like drinking right now. Better to focus on finishing this giant skewer of meat first.

While Hedra nibbled on the hot barbecue, Amisa was already getting tipsy. The medical team leader with chestnut-gold hair had a flushed face. Her fingers lifted slightly as she leaned back in the lounge chair, pointing lazily at the night sky.

"Such beautiful stars."

"Yeah, they're really pretty," a companion agreed.

"I wish I could fly up and take a look," Amisa said, her eyes glazed with a hint of longing.

"I heard some stars are the celestial gardens where the Hours live. The air there is pure and flawless, and the beings inside live carefree lives, doing nothing at all, with endless fruits and food to eat."

"That sounds wonderful," she murmured unconsciously again.

"I have to flip through documents every day, researching all kinds of strange diseases. It feels like this kind of life will never end." She spoke of the tedious things.

This was the first time Sylutia had seen Amisa so "out of sorts." Before this, the Amisa in her mind had always been the reliable, mature older-sister type, someone who could maintain patience and reason, solving every problem.

"It's okay, Amisa can go there too someday," the medical team companion beside her said, knowing she was just venting the stress accumulated over time.

"Yeah, I definitely want to go. Preferably somewhere new, where no one knows me. Even if I know everything, I'll pretend I don't, so no one comes to me for work or bothers me with random nonsense. I'll sleep well, eat delicious food every day, and none of you are allowed to stop me~" Her eyes were half-open, half-closed as she spoke her wish.

"Yes, yes, no one will trouble Lady Amisa then. Lady Amisa will be the most beautiful woman, and wherever she goes, people will pamper and take care of her." As she said this, the medical team companion couldn't help but snicker.

"I heard that. You're badmouthing me." Amisa's eyes were now fully closed, her hand resting casually on the armrest, her voice growing softer.

"I... will... remember." As she spoke, her breathing gradually steadied. It seemed she had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Then, a companion fetched a thin blanket and draped it over Amisa. The others continued eating their grilled meat and drinking. By Novadon's side, several empty bottles had already piled up.

On the other side, Sylutia sat beside the sleeping Amisa, placing the finished skewer under the big table. She still didn't feel full.

Even without a mirror, she knew there was probably still grease on her face and at the corners of her mouth. The lingering spiciness on her tongue made Duo Nan breathe in rapid, large gulps, exhaling the fiery heat from the tip of her tongue.

Unfortunately, after looking around, Sylutia found no clean water. So, she had to take a bottle of beer from the chilled cooler and pour herself a large cup.

As her tongue soaked in the icy beer, the bubbles mixed with the liquid's sting, instantly clearing Sylutia's mind and quickly easing the spiciness.

Like a cat drinking water, she slowly sipped the beer, the spiciness on her tongue gradually subsiding.

Having eaten something good and drunk something refreshing, Sylutia felt quite satisfied. In a good mood, she sat on the wooden chair on the grass, her eyes slightly closed, feeling the evening breeze brush past her ears.

Beside her, the reassuring sounds of her companions talking and clinking glasses filled the air, punctuated by the faint crackling of sparks. Before long, she opened her eyes, her gaze crossing over the companions by the campfire to the nearby grassland.

Pale silver moonlight spilled across the grass. Though it was night, she could still see far into the distance.

Unlike the vibrant, surging green waves of the daytime, the night breeze brought a soft rustling sound from the distant grassland, along with the chorus of insects rising and falling. Occasionally, blades of grass brushed against her calves, the tips slipping into the gaps of her stockings, bringing a faint tickle.

Holding the frothy beer, Sylutia finished the cup in small sips and set it down.

Though there was still half a bottle left, she couldn't drink any more.

The mild stimulation of alcohol made Sylutia's head feel slightly dizzy. It wasn't deep enough to be troublesome; she could easily dispel it by using her Breathing Technique to accelerate her circulation. But she didn't bother. Instead, she propped her chin on her hand, watching the flickering campfire and the dancing shadows, quietly enjoying the night gathering.

By now, many had finished eating. Some had started dancing by the fire, especially the beastmen in the group. They swayed their hips, their expressions relaxed and natural.

For some, this might have been embarrassing or awkward, but in the local tribe's mindset, dancing to the rhythm was an instinctive behavior that needed no explanation.

It not only helped relax the mind but also allowed them to show off their healthy, energetic bodies, gaining a sense of pride and the satisfaction of releasing their primal instincts.

They followed the beat, raising their hands and clapping, swaying their thick waists, and jumping by the firelight. Occasionally, they bumped shoulders with a fellow dancer. In those physical collisions, their solid muscles and heat-radiating bodies made each lively, unique individual feel directly connected to the group.

At such moments, they called each other brothers. No matter what the future held, at least in that instant, there was genuine excitement and heartfelt emotion.

Humans instinctively crave companions and groups. The firelight and the scent of sweat were memories etched into their blood from ancient times. In such an environment, instinct told them they were safe, that they could rely on each other, free from worry and tension.

Compared to the mages, who lived in towers built of knowledge and theory, the beastmen had retained more of the customs and instincts of ancient human tribes. They found it easy to feel joy from such activities. Their minds might not grasp complex theories, but they could easily find kindred spirits through physical activity and interaction, gaining a sense of stability and security from the tribe.

The companions in the tribe weren't just ordinary colleagues or teammates. They were another kind of lifelong family.

Watching them dance, someone came over to invite Sylutia to join. But the girl politely declined, remaining seated beside the sleeping Amisa. She observed their blurred figures in the firelight, her thoughts drifting between memories and nostalgia as she slowly drifted into a light doze.

Though many mages saw the beastmen's lives as primitive, the beastmen themselves didn't see it that way. They had lived like this for thousands of years and found nothing strange or wrong with it. This was simply the most normal life for them, one where they could often experience simple, fulfilling happiness—eating a hearty meal of grilled meat, dancing by the campfire—all things that brought joy.

The mages had indeed achieved more, but if you stripped away the material improvements, the pure psychological happiness they felt might not surpass that of these "simple-minded" beastmen.

Of course, the mages wouldn't envy the beastmen either. If forced to choose, they would still walk their own path. The satisfaction and achievement of staying clear-headed, gradually grasping truth and power, was something the beastmen couldn't understand or imagine.

This world was vast, filled with different nations and people living with various customs and beliefs. Each had their own pursuits and joys, all living what they considered an ideal life.

If she had never left her homeland, she would probably have been one of those ordinary people, living an unthinking life.

So now that she had seen and understood this colorful variety of nations and lives, what choice would she make? What pursuits and thoughts would she carry with her as she experienced life and time?

This thought drifted up in her mind like a floating cloud, gently circling. Then Sylutia yawned quietly behind her hand, folded her arms on the small table, and nestled her head comfortably into them.

Drowsiness washed over her, carrying her into a peaceful, carefree slumber.