Cornflower Witch

Chapter 319 The Fourth Year of the Woodland
Two weeks later, under Cerrofi's guidance, Silti not only learned the spell 'False Bouquet', but also gained a deeper understanding of the 12 runes that constitute this spell.

"Let's try it now, Tia." Serofi led the girl to an open space outside the garden.

"Okay, teacher."

Facing the target 50 meters away, Hilti raised her hand, and a brand new card lit up in her consciousness disk.

This is a card outlined by numerous pale purple and cyan patterns. These patterns are like silk threads or circuits, flowing with the power of the 'Emerald Honey' element. At the center of the three-dimensional card outlined by these patterns, a cluster of 'Bright Flame Cornflowers' is sealed like a heart.

As the patterns lit up, the 'Bright Flame Cornflower Bouquet' in the center also appeared with a pale golden halo.

In reality, the invisible flame cornflower gathers in Siltia's hands, burning brightly like gold, appearing even more delicate and intense than the real bright flame cornflower.

The flaming flowers were tossed into the air and scattered into the wind. The shattered petals struck a distant target, and just a small piece was burned to ashes.

Seeing this, Cerrofi's expression was complicated, but he nodded.

Seeing the teacher's strange expression, Hilti couldn't help but ask why.

"Because the effect you're showing... is quite different from the original concept behind this spell," Cerrofi had to gently remind her.

"The person who first invented the 'false bouquet' actually used it as a useful curse spell."

"He would specifically seek out high-level flowers that possess both 'rare toxicity' and 'powerful negative effects' as building materials for spell cards."

"When the 'False Bouquet' is completed, it will inflict rare 'poison' and 'negative effects' curses on the enemy, thus weakening and killing them."

"Compared to common 'curse rituals,' the 'deceptive bouquet' can be performed repeatedly and conveniently without having to prepare rare raw materials each time."

"However, in your case, the so-called 'toxins' and 'negative effects' are not as strong as the 'purifying flame' effect of the 'Bright Flame Cornflower' itself."

"So, a perfectly good curse-type support spell has become a direct attack spell in your hands," he said with a sigh.

"Of course, it's not your fault. It's just that your talent and strength are too great, and the cornflowers you cultivate are also very powerful, directly overriding the negative effects that the spell was originally meant to bring out."

After hearing Cerrofi's explanation, Hilti understood why the other party looked so complicated.

She did create excellent spell cards, but the effects were completely different from the original design, although they were very powerful.

“It’s alright, teacher. If I ever cultivate a cornflower with strong toxicity in the future, I will use it to replace the ‘Bright Flame Cornflower’ that I’m using now.”

"hope so."

After that, Hiltiya sought out Cerrofi to learn a lot more about mysticism, including the characteristics of each sex at higher levels, as well as the incomplete meditation technique 'Memory Maze' that she had previously obtained from Morris.

"This intermediate meditation method should be a secret method of the 'secret language' nature. I wonder if the teacher can improve and complete it."

After receiving the meditation notes from Silti, Seroffie began to carefully study them.

"This kind of meditation method..." After watching for a few minutes, he had a general understanding.

“This is indeed a meditation method based on the ‘secret’ aspect of sexuality,” he nodded.

"However, it's not exactly rare. Many schools of thought teach it. It's probably a fairly common intermediate meditation method. If you want to learn it, I have the complete version."

"Because of your special status, I can teach you directly, but since this meditation method comes from the 'Liberal School,' you will need to exchange some resources for contribution points."

"What kind of resources does the 'Clerical School' need?" Hiltiya asked curiously.

"It's very simple. Just give me twenty portions of 'Tier 3 Bright Flame Cornflower' of excellent quality."

“Although our organization is a scholarly faction, our mission is to seal forbidden books and prevent their dissemination. Sometimes we even burn forbidden books directly, so we need some high-level resources with the ‘fire’ attribute.” “I see.” Hiltiya nodded.

She then took out 20 bright flame cornflowers stored in the 'Sun Garden' and exchanged them for the complete 'Memory Maze'. She also asked Cerrofi about the 'Black Dream Meditation Method'.

"That's the signature meditation method of the 'Night Dream Tea Party.' Based on this meditation method, combined with their sect's secret techniques, a variety of abilities can be developed. It has a wide range of applications, and it's also very effective in increasing mental strength."

"However, this meditation method is not without its drawbacks. It not only fails to increase mental stability, but it can also decrease it during practice."

"When mental stability is low, it is difficult to control the use of magic, often resulting in disorder, and may even further affect the mental state and emotions of the superhuman, causing them to gradually become unstable and collapse."

"In short, it's a meditation method that trades 'mental stability' for a rapid increase in mental strength and powerful attack effects."

"Personally, I don't recommend you learn it. Although it can greatly enhance mental strength, restoring mental stability is not easy unless you take some high-level tea water for healing over a long period of time, or practice the meditation method of the 'Radiant Moon' aspect to increase mental stability and neutralize its side effects."

“I understand.” Hilti nodded, thinking that she might be able to give it a try. In fact, her mental stability had always been very good, and it had far exceeded the normal value during the previous test, but the teacher in front of her did not know this.

In the weeks that followed, Hilti continued to study the 'False Bouquet' and learned the arcane technique 'Wind Summoning' (Skyfall) provided by the Four Seasons Alliance.

This is a wizarding spell that requires 'Skyfall' materials to assist in learning. After upgrading it to Lv.3, you can use the method given by the Four Seasons Alliance to fuse it with the Branching Technique and transform it into 'Winds of Abundance' (Azure Honey Skyfall).

Materials are easy to obtain; Hilti, who is now at level four, already meets the requirements for cultivating 'Bubble Grass'.

For the next year, Hilti stayed in the 'Sun Garden' to slowly acquire the knowledge and skills she needed, as well as cultivate the flowers and crops she liked.

This year was probably the most regular, fulfilling, and relaxed year of her life since coming to the woodland.

After my strength increased, I didn't feel much pressure. I spent my days studying and reading, taking walks in the garden, tending to the flowers and plants in my backyard, tidying up the yard, and chatting with my companions about recent events.

Unlike 'Lantern Town,' which serves as a transit point and supplies various foods, the task at the Sun Garden outpost is quite simple. All Hilti needs to do is maintain the place well and submit a certain amount of high-quality crops on time. Other miscellaneous tasks can be handled by skilled companions.

Before they knew it, their fourth year in the woods had passed by. Although her height and appearance had not changed, many people felt that Hilti had become much more serene than before, just like a naive and ignorant girl who had become a quiet and proper young lady.

Such a behavior naturally earned Hiltiya more respect from the local members and gradually built up her prestige, but not everyone expected it to be like this.

"Ugh, the shy, soft, and adorable little Tia from before is gone." Dorothy sat under the parasol, propping her head up with her hand, and muttered to herself.

To such words, Hilti could only shake her head helplessly. Today, she was wearing a black gothic dress with a cinched waist. Underneath the black pleated skirt was a white petticoat, and the pure white lace trim inside the black sleeves covered the back of her hands, revealing her slender, fair fingers.

“When facing something unfamiliar for the first time, it’s bound to be chaotic and a little flustered, but I can’t be like that every time.” She picked up the gold enamel teapot and poured Dorothy some of her homemade flower tea, then poured herself a cup as well.

"Although, Tia looked so cute back then, so innocent, so easy to bully." Dorothy picked up her teacup, recalling the scene when she met Tia two or three years ago.

"You're telling the truth, aren't you, Dorothy?" Siltiah wanted to tap the blonde beauty with something.

"Oh, I just blurted it out without thinking. Tia, can you just pretend you didn't hear me?" Dorothy tugged at Hilti's sleeve, speaking in a deliberately coquettish tone.

"No, Dorothy, please make some more glass for me this week."

"Ah, glass again. I'm practically your personal glassmaker now. You already have a flower sea that's resistant to erosion, so why does Tia still need so much glass? Now you don't need to build any more greenhouses."

"It's a secret I can't tell Dorothy." The girl blinked, and in her light blue eyes, it seemed as if layers of blue cornflowers were blooming, easily captivating Dorothy.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

"Thank you, Dorothy, you've worked so hard."

(End of this chapter)