Cornflower Witch

Chapter 23 Viscount Xue Feng's Inspiration

Clap clap clap, clear applause rang out from one side of the training field, and then two people walked over, interrupting the training.

"It's Viscount Scheffer and Professor Hyde," someone whispered.

The two walked slowly to the instructor's side. Viscount Xue Feng nodded slightly to the students present, then turned to the instructor.

“Thank you for your hard work, Burke. As for Miss Tia, there’s no need to test her combat skills. Her situation is similar to Komia’s.” As Viscount Schefeng approached, Maester Hyde told him about the girl with glasses and her situation.

“Your will, Lord Schefeng,” Burke replied respectfully, standing at attention.

"Alright, let's take a break for now. Mr. Hyde and I have some things to say to these children."

"Yes." He immediately turned and left, making room for the other person.

Viscount Xue Feng stepped onto the wooden platform. He didn't look old, probably in his forties, with a short, black mustache. He had a robust build, and his large fingers and wrists showed that he often practiced swordsmanship and other combat skills, and was not the kind of incompetent nobleman.

His gaze slowly swept over the crowd, and Viscount Xue Feng nodded slightly.

"It is my good fortune to see such talented children as you in Jiaoshi City."

Talented individuals, especially those with extraordinary abilities, are, in a sense, the greatest asset of a territory.

“Hyde was not only your teacher, but also my teacher. I studied under Hyde when I was young, and I still cherish those memories.”

"If you want to be admired and respected, you must put in a lot of sweat and effort. You should all understand this principle. However, when I was young, I was just like you. I was attracted by various temptations and often wasted my time."

“Considering that you are still in the growth stage and should not be distracted by external things, I have decided to give you some items as a reward to help you focus more on your studies.” After saying this, he clapped his hands, and two attendants brought over a tray.

“If you can get first place in the assessment two months from now, I will give you this ‘Crimson Cloak’ as a reward.” As he spoke, he lifted the cover on the plate, revealing a cloak with fiery red fur inside.

【Crimson Cloak】(Tier 1 - Blazing Sun - Excellent): Made from the fur of a wolf beast with the 'Blazing Sun' attribute, it can 'enhance endurance' and withstand ordinary sword and blade strikes. It is also heat-insulating and waterproof. Its fur has a bright color and is considered a fine item among nobles.

"In addition, I will also give a reward to those who get second or third place in the assessment." Then he had someone lift another cover to reveal two pairs of finely sewn boots.

【Red Wolf Boots】(Tier 1 - Blazing Sun - Good): Made from wolf fur with the 'Blazing Sun' attribute, these boots can 'increase stamina slightly', protect the feet, and provide warmth and waterproofing, making them especially useful in winter.

"Thank you, Lord Xue Feng." The students bowed in gratitude, many of them showing excitement.

……

In the following days, the students were full of energy, throwing themselves into various training and studies. Even the three noble friends rarely caused trouble and no longer clashed with Thorin and the others.

Gradually, the students became familiar with each other, and even the noble students remembered the names of all the commoner students in their class.

Another afternoon.

“Mick, want to spar with me?” Thorin walked over from one side of the training ground, carrying a large wooden sword. He was wearing a short vest and had strips of cloth wrapped around his wrists.

"Heh, come on."

The boy with the triangular eyes readily agreed, picked up the wooden training sword beside him, and walked into the training area with him.

"Tia, they're going to practice their swordsmanship again." Leaning against the wooden railing, Komia propped her cheek up with her hand and said with a hint of boredom.

"It was supposed to be lunch break time when I came here."

“Diligence is good.” Karen approved of this behavior. She glanced at the shooting range not far away and prepared to practice archery as well. “Oh, Karen, are you going too? Okay, Tia and I will go with you.” Komia was wearing a loose dress today, shaped like an inverted trumpet flower, without a waistband.

The three walked along, chatting about recent interesting events.

“Iona didn’t come again this afternoon. She seems uninterested in training sessions and only comes when it’s time to practice riding,” Komia continued.

"It's said that Iona's family is very powerful in the military and possesses many combat skills and related secret techniques," Karen mentioned enviously.

“It’s not easy for ordinary people to learn even advanced swordsmanship, let alone secret techniques involving extraordinary aspects.” Komia shook her head.

"Oh, right, Tiya."

"Hmm?" The girl adjusted her glasses.

"Did you learn any special secret techniques while you were with Maester Hyde?"

"Not yet." The girl shook her head.

Would a Hyde University professor teach something like that?

"Yes, I will." Komia nodded.

“My dad told me, he also learned it from an uncle.”

"Although Maester Hyde studied the 'Castle' attribute class, as a maester he possessed a great deal of knowledge and skills. Not to mention the high-level ones, he definitely had no shortage of secret techniques below the first rank."

"The best way for ordinary people to learn these secret techniques is to join a guild, such as the 'Apothecary Guild'. However, the secret techniques that guilds teach are very limited, only a few basic ones. If you really want to improve, you often have to find a mentor for this career path."

"Although the secret techniques taught by the guild are beyond the scope of ordinary people, there is still a ceiling to their growth. For example, the most powerful apothecary in the guild is only a 'third-tier' professional."

“Viscount Xuefeng has three knights with the ‘Third-Tier Castle’ attribute under his command, and the royal capital is a gathering place for powerful figures, including legendary figures of the fifth tier or above,” Komia said, her voice filled with longing.

"Such a person shouldn't be someone a guild can cultivate," the girl thought, recalling what the merchant, Vanderxi, had said.

“Yes, everyone knows that nobles often have scholars as advisors, but few people know the organizations to which these scholars belong.” Komia turned around and whispered in Tia’s ear.

“I’ve heard that in other countries, the advisors to lords are not scholars, but powerful witches, and there are even ageless witches who specifically guide emperors.”

She then released her hands from the girl's ears and continued her story.

"In the past, there were many witches among the tribes in the mountains. Lord Viscount Xuefeng's ancestors were granted land by the king because they killed a powerful witch."

As the two were talking in hushed tones, Karen, who was in front, turned around.

"What are you talking about?" She couldn't quite understand.

"It's nothing, Karen. Have you ever hunted a beast with the power of a complete phase before?" Komia jogged a few steps to catch up, then waved to Sylvia behind her, indicating that they could talk another time.

“A first-order beast of the complete phase, that could be called a ‘fanged beast’, right…” Karen said as she walked, reminiscing about her past hunting trips with her father in the mountains.

On the training field, young figures gathered in twos and threes, some sweating profusely, some chatting under the shade of trees, and some laughing and chasing each other.

The afternoon sun shines on the dry ground, and gusts of warm wind bring a youthful, tipsy feeling.

(End of this chapter)