The Cornflower Witch

Boarding the return train, Sylutia watched the world outside the window recede at breakneck speed as the train threaded through towering buildings and structures, leaving the Tetis District behind.

After returning to the Mishil District, Sylutia first dealt with the various documents and affairs that had piled up for nearly a month, then visited the major workshops in the main city area, inspecting the situation and coordinating solutions to various problems.

By the time she finished all this, the calendar had turned to January.

Considering that spring plowing would soon be underway, and this was the last two years of good harvests before the Sinking Fog season, Sylutia had prepared extensively. First, she arranged for fertilizer to be shipped in from the north, and second, she offered generous compensation to recruit gardeners to assist with the farming.

"Although the announcement has been posted, the number of gardeners within the Mage Alliance has always been limited, and every region is currently scrambling for them. I'm afraid it will be difficult to secure enough hands." Cerise reported the latest situation to Sylutia.

"I understand." Sylutia gazed at the map hanging before her, deep in thought.

"Are there any places or factions within the Alliance where gardeners tend to gather?" she asked after a moment's consideration.

"Hmm, I don't believe I've ever heard of any." Cerise thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"Perhaps there were some in the past, but within the Mage Alliance, becoming a mage is clearly the more promising path. Over the centuries, even if gardener factions existed, they gradually declined."

Farming just didn't pay. Although Sylutia herself had reaped substantial rewards as a gardener, for most ordinary gardeners, they could hardly match what she had achieved—cultivating exceptionally high-quality crops at such a low rank. Moreover, it required tremendous time and effort to tend to the plants, making for a rather laborious life that paled in comparison to the comfort and income of a mage. Naturally, few were willing to walk this path.

"I see..." A place name suddenly surfaced in Sylutia's mind, and she spoke up to ask.

"Windchime Kingdom, have you heard of it?" She recalled Lady Franne's homeland.

"Windchime..." Cerise couldn't recall anything.

Sylutia pulled out an enormous topographic map of the entire Mage Alliance from the side, then swept her gaze across it until she finally found, in a very small corner, a tiny line of text.

Wind Chime Grass Plains.

The Wind Chime Grass Plains of today was no longer an independent small kingdom. It had been annexed by the neighboring Perika District and now belonged to it as a subordinate territory. The original lords and rulers of the Windchime Kingdom had lost their noble status, but the Mage Alliance had compensated them with considerable assets. Many of the former nobles had relocated to the main city of the Perika District, becoming wealthy merchants and prominent families there.

"The Perika District currently ranks 52nd in economic level within the Alliance, placing it in the upper-middle tier. Life there is relatively prosperous and stable. The region boasts lakes and vast plains, with excellent natural resource conditions and abundant grain production."

"However, the Perika District is situated in the northern part of the Alliance. Over the past two years, it has been affected by cold snaps, leading to some reduction in grain output. Still, thanks to its solid accumulated reserves, the situation isn't too dire."

Sylutia wondered whether Lady Franne was currently at the Wind Chime Grass Plains. She recalled the letter her teacher had left before departing, which stated that she would return to her homeland, the Windchime Kingdom, but made no mention of where she might go afterward.

Later, Sylutia had traveled to the Darkmist Mountains and then to the Mage Alliance, and she had long since lost contact with that teacher.

Should she go look for her? But she didn't have much time to spare—she couldn't leave the Mishil District for too long.

"Cerise, I need to take a trip." Sylutia looked at her maid and assistant beside her.

"Where are you going, milady?"

Cerise had grown accustomed to this by now. One could say the position was quite character-building—the once somewhat timid young woman had now become confident, composed, and decisive.

"You will head to the Perika District to see if you can cooperate with local estate owners or regional administrators to secure a portion of the grain reserves." Sylutia informed Cerise of her plan.

"Understood. I will notify the supervisors of the Mishil District's various workshops and the workshop representatives." Cerise bowed in agreement.

"Will you need to bring some personnel with you for the trip?"

"Let me think... yes, I will indeed need some people." After all, she would need to investigate local industries and markets, and if cooperation negotiations were to take place, a number of people would be required to draft contracts, sort out finances and terms, and handle other such matters.

Earlier, Sylutia and Cerise had discussed the matter and drawn up a list of accompanying personnel. Now they began issuing notifications and making preparations.

Three days later, Sylutia led her team aboard a train bound for the distant Perika District. It was said that the lakes there teemed with life, and the area was also known as the "District."

"We've arrived, Lady Hedra."

The train slowly pulled into the station, and Sylutia and her group leisurely stepped off the car. Today, she wore a black-and-blue ruffled dress, looking rather like an outfit suited for summer.

Stepping onto the bluish-gray stone bricks, Sylutia looked up and took in her surroundings. The station here resembled a grand hall, with square stone pillars and a dome so high it felt vast and empty. Bright light streamed in from the station entrance, and once her eyes adjusted, she could see the endless, perfectly flat plains outside.

If a child who had never left the mountains were to see such a scene, they would surely be astonished—the land was so remarkably level that not a single hill or peak could be seen, stretching for hundreds of kilometers all the way to the edge of the horizon.

After gazing at the scenery in the distance for a while, Sylutia finally walked toward a small side exit of the station, where local officials and mages were already waiting.

"Welcome, Lady Hedra." The lead official removed his hat and bowed, then the group stepped forward.

Had she been following noble etiquette, Sylutia would have extended her hand for the hand-kissing ritual. However, since she was not yet married, she was under no obligation to observe such conventions—a simple nod of acknowledgment sufficed.

Unlike her usual attire, this black-and-blue dress had no waist-cinching belt, with only white ruffles adorning the chest cape, hem, and cuffs. The style was comfortable and ladylike.

"Hello." Sylutia began the conversation, exchanging a few brief pleasantries and stating her purpose.

"I came this time for two reasons: first, to see if there are any opportunities for cooperation, and second, having heard that the Wind Chime Grass Plains has beautiful scenery, I wanted to get out and explore." She candidly admitted that she wished to relax for a while, not spend the entire trip in serious political discussions.

"I see. This is our honor, hehe. Allow me to introduce the local scenery to Lady Hedra." The hosting official was quite delighted—after all, this young lady didn't seem arrogant, nor was she the type to deliberately make things difficult or keep others guessing at her intentions.

Afterward, the group boarded a carriage and arrived at a residence reserved for distinguished guests. After settling in, everyone sat in a pavilion within the estate, chatting about lighter topics before the evening banquet.

The stationed mage of the Perika District, along with a number of senior officials, attended to receive this rising young star.

Ever since winning the individual championship at the Silver Bell Festival College Grand Competition, Hedra's name had become known to far more people. Even in the Perika District, there were many who admired and adored her.

"Ah, so this is Miss Hedra? How adorable."

"She looks so young—is she even twenty?"

"She's about my age, and yet she's already the mage guild leader of an entire district."

"Flawless features... If only I could pursue her."

"They say she's the new-generation leader that the many masters of the Mithril Clock school greatly favor and cherish. In the future, she's bound to be a major figure at the top of the Alliance."

"Those eyes seem to hold magic, making it impossible to look away."

At the banquet, although few could approach Sylutia to speak due to their status, various whispered conversations were all captured by her keen hearing. From time to time, Sylutia could only shake her head helplessly and ignore such remarks.

The local officials and mages were most welcoming of her arrival, and especially the stationed mage, who enthusiastically recommended a lakeside estate he owned and offered to lend it to Sylutia so she could vacation there for a while.

"Then I thank Lord Perika for his generosity." Sylutia considered for a moment and accepted.

Afterward, the two exchanged views on several academic topics. Initially somewhat skeptical of how such a young person could have achieved so much, the stationed mage came away from the discussion full of admiration for the young lady's insights, his doubts dispelled. He was now convinced that this young woman was a truly rare genius.

"If Miss Hedra doesn't mind, my daughter happens to be free at the moment and could serve as your guide, showing you around and explaining the sights." Lord Perika suggested.

"Of course I wouldn't mind." Thinking that having a local guide would save considerable time and trouble, Sylutia didn't decline.

Seeing Sylutia accept, Perika broke into a delighted smile and took a glass of red wine from the server's tray, taking a sip.

"May Miss Hedra enjoy her stay."

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