Cornflower Witch

Chapter 228 Distant Memories

Inside the tent, Hiltiya knelt on a thick blanket, her slender feet spread out to the side like a little duck, looking at the magnificent sword in front of her knees. Even though it was only slightly drawn, the 'castle' aura it exuded brought her immense pressure.

Such a holy sword is not something she can use now. Even if she manages to pull it out, she cannot control the enormous power within it and can only swing it in a futile manner.

At the very least, one must be at least a third-rank knight to use this [Steel-Broken Sword], and must be a knight of the 'Iron Knight' class to truly unleash the sword's power.

The snow-silver blade faintly revealed silk-like patterns, engraved with delicate handwriting. It didn't seem like the oath of a powerful knight, but more like the prayer of a young girl. In fact, these patterns were the words that Ai Moshi wrote when she was young.

To commemorate his sister and to remember her wish, Emerson engraved these words on the blade, which later became part of his legend.

The sword was quite heavy, and Hilti had to hold it with both hands to get used to it; it would be too heavy to hold with one hand.

Her fingers gently traced the scabbard, the girl carefully sensing the rhythm emanating from it, as if listening to an ancient ballad and feeling the profound emotions it conveyed.

As night deepened, the wind and snow continued outside. Inside the tent, a small candle was lit. Hilti placed her sword beside her, wrapped herself in a plush blanket, and slowly fell asleep.

……

In her dream, she heard a song from afar.

In a hazy state, she ran down the slope of the field, surrounded by waist-high wheat grass. The pale yellow tassels and white fluff brushed against her arms, causing a slight itch, and the wind blew from ahead.

She kept moving forward.

Running through the wheat straw along the way
The distant singing grew clearer and clearer.
Until one moment, the hazy, blurry vision suddenly became clear.
She saw a figure with its back to her through the parted grass.

It was a girl about her height, with flaxen braids, dressed in simple clothes, standing in the grass and wind, singing with her eyes closed.
Hiltiya reached out, and a strange voice called out.

'Aimo Poem...'

This wasn't her voice; it was probably the voice of someone from my memory calling out to me.
Hearing the call, the girl with the flaxen braids turned around.
The other person's appearance was not outstanding; they were as ordinary as wheat straw in the countryside.

But to the young girl, a feeling of intimacy and warmth arose within her.
This is probably the tenderness that the original owner had kept in her heart for so long.

He slowly walked to the girl's side and stood beside her. The two of them enjoyed the gentle country breeze and looked down at the village below.

This is where they grew up, and also an exceptionally ordinary place.

The two chatted and laughed about the little things in life.

Aunt Bren made some delicious pies today.
Little Dis caught a big black fish.
In the evening, Uncle Feng would bring delicious honey and small toys from afar.

I knitted a sun hat myself and gave it to my brother who was busy working outside.

These seemingly ordinary things are exceptionally clear in my memory.

"What does my brother like?" The girl beside me turned her head and looked at me with gentle eyes.
The words spoken at that time were long gone, and Hilti didn't hear what the reply was.

'Just for making a living and taking care of me? That won't do.'

'My brother probably has things he wants to do too.'

Whether it's for someone you like or for something that makes you happy.

The original owner couldn't remember what the two said afterward.
Finally, the girl clasped her hands together and prayed to the distant wind and wheat fields.

I hope my brother can live a happy life of his own.

……

The dream has ended, but its lingering charm remains, immersing one in those distant memories.

The next morning, Hilti woke up and sat up from her plush blankets.

She rubbed her eyes and shook the hair at the back of her head, letting it become smooth and no longer messy.

Her gaze returned to the 'Broken Steel Sword' beside her, and the girl's fingers slowly stroked it.

Although it is a weapon used for fighting, the longing and emotions it contains are devoid of any hostility, only a distant and gentle yearning, like an ideal land in a dream.

Those who wield this sword, over time, will be warmed by the emotions within it, able to remain steadfast and unwavering even in the face of harshest winters and most difficult circumstances.

After a good day of rest at the camp, everyone had regained a lot of strength, but it was not yet time to leave and go back.

Hilti led the group to inspect various parts of the camp, clearing away any traces of 'gray' that appeared. Afterward, they reinforced the camp's facilities together to ensure that people and horses could adapt to the harsh cold and storms.

"Is Dorothy still sleeping?" It was almost two o'clock in the afternoon, but Siltia still hadn't seen the blonde alchemist come out.

"Yes, Lady Dorothy said not to disturb her; she wants to take a nap." A student nearby reported helplessly.

"Like This."

Hiltiya thought about it and realized that Dorothy had indeed been busy for a long time, searching for a solution, adjusting the powder, and following her to the 'Iron Cliff'.

"Let her sleep and rest. She'll come out on her own if she gets hungry."

"Yes."

In the afternoon, Hirutiya and the other trainees at the camp cooked together, making dumplings, flatbread, bread, vegetable and meat soup, etc. They hadn't eaten well for the past few days because they had been on the road.

As evening fell, Dorothy, drawn by the fragrance, finally emerged from the tent.

"Tiya, I'm hungry." She ran to the silver-haired girl's side and shook her sleeve. Despite being tall, she acted coquettishly without any inhibitions.

"Know it."

Hilti pulled Dorothy to sit down on a small stool by the campfire, telling her to wait there patiently while she went to get the food.

Soon, Hiltia brought over a sumptuous dinner, which included freshly grilled parsley steak, pies, and a bowl of hot milk and mushroom soup.

"Eat up." Hiltiya placed the cutlery on the small table in front of Dorothy.

This blonde beauty, just like a primary school student, happily picked up her knife and fork to taste the food, and then joyfully began to eat.

Hilti sat to the side, watching Dorothy eat heartily, finding it strangely adorable.

At night, Sylvia and Dorothy sat together on the carpet inside the tent, looking at the 'Broken Steel Sword' in front of them.

"So it's this sword?" Dorothy carefully and curiously touched it with her fingers.

Have you heard of Dorothy?

"Yes, it is a legend that has been passed down on the mainland, so of course I have heard of it." The other party nodded.

"Although the 'Steelforge Knights' led by Emerson are not powerful, they are the knightly order most willing to impart their experience to the poor and train young cavalry."

"He teaches his entire life's knowledge for almost no fee, only requiring the recipient to swear to use this skill to fight against the invasion of the Twilight Beast."

"Such an oath does not cause conflict for various forces and organizations, nor does it require them to bear a great deal of responsibility or pressure, so many people can accept it."

"He is a chivalrous knight in the hearts of the common people, a night watchman who drives away monsters from the wilderness, a fire protector who travels thousands of miles to guard the borders of civilization. Even though his strength only remained at the sixth level throughout his life, many people still remembered his name."

"After his death, many bards wrote poems about his deeds, which were sung far and wide. The 'Iron Knight' class training manual that he created was also made public for free and circulated throughout the continent. It was not until the last few hundred years that it was gradually collected by nobles and its dissemination was reduced."

"The 'Steelforge Knights' he founded has long been disbanded, but those who studied the 'Iron Knight' class and followed him still formed the 'Ironforge Crown' to commemorate this legendary knight."

“Even though the ‘Ironwall Crown Furnace’ isn’t considered powerful, it still has a great reputation in the woodlands, surpassing many large organizations,” Dorothy explained.

"A large organization?" Hiltiya asked with some curiosity.

"What are some of the larger organizations that can be considered large-scale organizations in the woodland today?"

"Hehe, little Tia really doesn't know anything." Dorothy pinched the girl's nose.

"The 'Four Seasons Alliance,' which you are currently closely associated with, is one of the largest organizations in the woodland, even surpassing my own 'Rainbow Glass Bottle.'"

(End of this chapter)