The Cornflower Witch

The next day, Sylutia woke again in the swaying train car, the sound of the train's forward movement still in her ears. But she had already grown accustomed to it, even able to sleep peacefully amid this noise.

After getting up, she washed up, changed into her deep blue uniform and black tights for warmth, then led others on a patrol to inspect the train cars.

As the train traveled north, the temperature grew colder. Now, a layer of frost had condensed on the windows, blurring the view outside.

At ten in the morning, the train entered Hulan District. They would rest here and replenish fuel. After leaving this station, there would be no large stations to resupply for over six hundred kilometers. Arriving here also meant they were not far from their destination.

The train slowly pulled into the snow-covered station. The steam whistle's sound shook the roof, causing some snow to slide and fall off.

Before the train had even fully stopped, a crowd of people had already gathered around. Their clothes were shabby, and though they wore fur cloaks, they all looked to be in poor condition, many with injuries.

"Please..."

"Take us with you, please."

"So cold, so hungry."

These people begged. Most of them were elderly, disabled, or unable to move easily. In the snow, a few buried corpses could faintly be seen.

"What happened here? Where are the local leaders and stationed mages?" Master Ge Zhen frowned.

After the train crew got off, they split into several small teams to scout the surroundings, then returned to report.

"Sir, the original leader and stationed mage here have left."

"Apparently, the Third Train passed through here a day and a half ago. Shortly after, a conflict broke out here over the food the Third Train had left behind," a mage who had investigated and questioned answered.

"And then?"

"Then, the local stationed mage intervened and expended a great deal of effort to end the conflict. But by then, many people had already died."

"Considering Hulan District's severe shortage of food supplies, they began preparing to relocate. They took a large amount of food and directly abandoned the elderly, weak, and those who couldn't move easily here."

"After they left, the remaining people here, divided by different tribes, fought several more conflicts. Those still alive now should be less than half of what there was two days ago."

"There's almost no other food left here." After finishing his earlier report, the mage added this meaningful supplement.

Master Ge Zhen didn't press for the meaning behind that statement. With his insight, he could see through many things at a glance; why bother asking about such cruel matters?

"Well..." He sighed as well, looking out at the vast snowy scene beyond the station.

"Replenish the train's fuel, and also get a rough count of their numbers."

"Yes."

Afterward, the mages conducted a rough count and reported the numbers to Master Ge Zhen.

"Currently, there are about eight thousand people around the station. But more are scattered in other parts of Hulan District, where their original tribes' territories are. They're protecting themselves using their former territorial resources. Those able to stay near the station are the stronger ones who can still move around."

"If we tally up the remaining members of these tribes, estimates put Hulan District at nearly fifty thousand people."

Fifty thousand people. Said one way, it was few; said another, it was many. That number exceeded the train's carrying capacity. Moreover, their physical condition was poor, making it hard for them to cross the snowy grassland on their own and reach the relatively dangerous North Wind Defense Line in the distance.

After understanding the local situation, Sylutia pondered for a moment, then shook her head helplessly.

"You can't save us." Such a response surprised everyone present. Though they also sympathized with the locals, the fact was that even if they gave all the food on the train to them, it would only keep them alive for a few more days. Such elderly, weak, and disabled people couldn't cross the freezing grassland to reach their destination.

The train members began moving the coal briquettes stored at the station. During this process, many people still cried and begged to be taken along. Unfortunately, the soldiers maintaining order didn't think much of it; they just pulled these people aside and continued working.

Sylutia and Amisa stood side by side on the platform outside the station, looking down at the snowy ground below and the figures huddled in the corners.

"A bit cruel, isn't it," Amisa said softly.

"Yeah," Sylutia replied, lightly shaking the bow tying her hair behind her head, then turning her gaze to the other side.

The distant road snaked to the end of the snowfield. Even though a day had passed, traces of livestock and wheel tracks could still be faintly seen.

It was said that Hulan District originally had nearly three hundred thousand people. During the wind disaster, a large number of herders and livestock were swept away by the gale and went missing. Later, only a little over two hundred thousand remained.

After these two days of conflict, upheaval, and departure, only a little over fifty thousand people were left here now.

In just a few short weeks, Hulan District's population had been halved. Those who remained wouldn't live much longer.

If she stayed to help, she could probably save many people. But Sylutia also knew she couldn't do that—it would seriously violate the mission she was burdened with.

Life was priceless, but it could be measured in terms of gain and loss. From the perspective of the Mage Alliance's official stance and the overall situation, the lives of these people were inconsequential—just a tragic corner under a great disaster.

Her mood had dampened, the girl thought to herself.

A few minutes later, she walked outside the station.

Then, she asked about the leaders who could still organize locally, or elders whom everyone respected.

"Elder Hemo is the Shaman of the Mossfrost Tribe. But he's very old. He felt that even if he went to the North Wind Defense Line, he wouldn't live many more years, so he didn't leave and chose to stay here instead."

Afterward, she found the elder the people had mentioned.

Looking at the white-haired, slightly trembling old man, Sylutia had no confidence in her heart, but she still took out the small amount of pie left over from last night and had a local tribe member who could still move feed it to the old man.

After eating this food that could restore physical strength, Elder Hemo slowly lifted his head, looked at the girl standing before him, and nodded.

"Hello, young one." His voice was somewhat hoarse, like dry tree bark scraping.

"To be able to take out such precious food, you must have something to tell me," he said, helped up to sit slowly in a chair beside him.

"Yes," Sylutia nodded, looking around.

Most of the Mossfrost tribe's people had already left. Those who stayed were mostly the elderly. Though there were some able-bodied men, most were disabled or ill.

"I'm riding the Ninth Train and passed through here. I'm about to leave soon. Although it's hard for me to stay and help you, I still want to do my best to try. This requires someone to lead and cooperate."

"Please, speak," the old man said, his tone changing.

"It's like this..." Sylutia explained her plan: to urgently produce a batch of simple carts for the locals, then leave behind a few large machines with decent power to pull the carts, setting them on the road to the North Wind Defense Line.

Because she couldn't leave the Ninth Train's people behind, whether this plan could succeed in the end depended heavily on whether the locals could cooperate afterward and stop internal conflict.

"Time is limited. Give me the names of the people you know who can still manage things here. I'll have my subordinates gather them," Sylutia said.

The old man began to think and recall. After a discussion with those around him, he soon compiled a list.

With the list in hand, Sylutia began implementing the plan. First, she had to persuade Master Ge Zhen to agree. Then, she asked Novadon and the other engineers to make simple carts for the locals. Such carts were just four wheels plus a large flat board. For a Gold Steam Aspect mage skilled in construction, a few minutes were enough to finish one.

Faced with Sylutia's request, Master Ge Zhen thought for a moment but didn't refuse outright. He simply told Sylutia that she had at most an hour to do this.

"An hour from now, the train's fuel will be replenished, and we must depart. How much you can get done in that time is up to you."

"I understand." Sylutia took a deep breath, indicating she would give it her all.

"Also, after we're done, there's one more thing I need to tell you." Sylutia thought for a long time, deciding to be honest. Even if it was somewhat incredible, she still wanted to tell this elder about her real achievements from last night and the forty crates of Scorching Sun Crystals she had recovered.

After all, she was a good child who didn't like lying or deceiving.

Perhaps it was only this kind of clear purity, matching words with actions, that was the deepest foundation of her character.

Sylutia began to take action. This was her first time asking for help from colleagues she wasn't close to, and her heart was a little anxious. Fortunately, Novadon and the other mages didn't mind or refuse, but cheerfully agreed.

"Such a simple little matter, no need to be so formal. Just say the word," Novadon said, waving his hand, ordering his subordinates to take out the metal ingots stored on the train, quickly manufacture the needed parts, and then assemble them.

"I can help too, have them prepare some medicine and food for the locals," Amisa said, walking over.

"But I'm still curious, Hedra, how exactly do you plan to get them to reunite? Remember, most of the bodies lying here are the result of internal conflict."

"Uniting is indeed a very difficult thing," Sylutia sighed.

"But I'll do my best to try." Her eyes shimmered with brilliant colors, a rare serious look from her, with a kind of glowing quality.

Half an hour later, members of the Inspection Department brought over the people on the list one by one. Many of them still looked confused, not knowing what was happening.

Standing before this group, Sylutia pressed her hand lightly to her chest and began to speak, analyzing the current situation for them and explaining her plan.

"I know you've accumulated a lot of conflict and hatred before. But if you want to survive, you must cooperate fully."

"Although it may sound incredible to say this, I hope you can achieve it."

"I'm not the kind of person who naively thinks a few words can change what's deep in your hearts. Making you change your minds so quickly in such a short time is indeed very difficult."

"So, I've prepared some helpers to realize this idea." She lifted her skirt slightly, bowed to the crowd, and then stepped back.

Unexpectedly, the shadow at her feet did not move in sync with her retreat. Instead, it twisted and writhed under the crowd's astonished gazes, revealing a mighty and ferocious form.

"This is a demonic beast I keep. Isn't it a bit cute? Please rest assured—as long as you follow the plan, it won't eat people." The girl spoke in a gentle tone about something quite terrifying.

"Also, I've planned a route for you. Just follow it all the way."

Sylutia raised her hand. At that moment, the clouds pressing down in the sky briefly parted. A sliver of light shone on the earth, and then the residents saw a dazzling beam of light shooting out from the clouds, cutting across tens of kilometers of land, leaving behind a striking scorched black mark.

On this endless scorched straight line, the snow melted, and the path was marked.

"Finally, these birds will accompany you as well. They are my eyes and feathers, and they will guide and protect you well." A circle of silver threads emerged around Sylutia's wrist, and these threads then wove beside her into lifelike birds, one after another.

Though there were still many doubts, under the desire for life and the fear of death, the crowd soon bowed their heads and, before Sylutia, together made a blood oath.

The blood-red characters imprinted on the special paper, slowly taking on a faint golden sheen.

"Very good. Now everyone is on the same team." The girl tucked the covenant paper behind her, smiling as she spoke.

"Let's make a pact. If you stop internal conflict and reach the North Wind Defense Line, I swear on my name that I will fight for the opportunity for you to one day return home, so you can still live and herd here in the future."

"Don't underestimate me. This is one of the rare promises I make. Its significance will be revealed in the future."

The people present didn't yet understand the weight of these words at this moment. But years later, they would slowly come to understand. Perhaps only when looking back at that time would they realize just how great an impact this promise had brought.

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