The Cornflower Witch

Chapter 116: Slumbering Winter's Power

And so, the two dining individuals communicated and chatted via notes from time to time. It seemed that compared to direct face-to-face conversation, both of them preferred communicating through the written word.

As Sylutia finished her meal and was drinking the last of the chilled 'Breeze and Moon Dew Juice', the rabbit-eared maid approached again. This time, however, she was holding a special ice-white flower.

"This is a gift from Miss Florerella, sent for you. She said she was very happy to meet you today."

The flower in the rabbit-eared maid's hand was clearly extraordinary. It had previously been worn as a hair ornament, pinned in Florerella's hair. The large, ice-white flower had adorned her hair and features, making her look exceptionally beautiful.

[Ice Cup Flower] (First Tier · Slumbering Winter): A special, wondrous flower possessing the power of frigid aura. It is an exclusively cultivated flower of the elves, rare in the outside world.

This flower is still alive. If planted in suitable soil and water, it can continue to bloom and grow. Moreover, its potential is not fully developed; if nurtured further, it is possible to raise its Aspect tier.

Upon receiving this flower, Sylutia felt a sense of being undeservingly honored. After all, such a gift was quite precious even among students.

She bowed her head slightly from afar towards the elven girl to express her thanks. Then, after some thought, she decided she could gift a [Fire Glow Orchid] in return. Coincidentally, she still had two Fire Glow Orchids left, so losing one wouldn't matter much.

She wrote her return gift and thoughts on a piece of paper and had it delivered. Soon, the rabbit-eared maid returned with a reply note.

'I will be in my room after 7 PM. You can come find me in Room 3 on the third floor, dear Sylutia~'In response, Sylutia wrote that she understood, telling Florerella she would visit her in the evening.

So she was also a student living on the third floor? No wonder she seemed quite extraordinary. The young girl now realized this.

Shortly after, the elven girl bid farewell first. She waved to Sylutia and then left the dining hall.

Not long after that, the young girl finished her drink and also summoned the rabbit-eared maid to settle the bill.

"You can take off your badge and press it onto the bill," she said, presenting a bill listing the items consumed, with a total price of 5 silver coins.

After glancing at the bill, Sylutia picked up her badge and pressed it onto the paper. The badge grew slightly warm, leaving a faint imprint.

The rabbit-eared maid then collected the bill and happily saw off the silver-haired girl in the black dress.

"Welcome to come again next time~" She waved, bidding Sylutia farewell.

...

After the meal, Sylutia continued to walk around this floor for a while before returning to the third floor where she resided. Upon arrival, she found someone already waiting for her at her door.

The person wore a deep blue trench coat with black trim, had meticulously styled short black hair, with one side swept left, revealing deep blue eyes beneath.

This noble youth seemed to be of considerable status. He also wore a badge similar to Sylutia's on his collar. Currently, he stood with arms crossed, leaning against the wall, apparently waiting for someone.

As Sylutia approached, his gaze turned towards her. Seeing the badge on the young girl's dress, his eyes changed slightly. He then straightened up from leaning against the wall and stood firmly before the door.

"You are Sylutia, right?" He introduced himself. "My name is Edgin. The teacher asked me to take you to the dining hall for a meal, but judging by your appearance, you've probably already eaten."

At this moment, Sylutia remembered that the middle-aged man who had received her did indeed mention something about resting and waiting in her room.

"My apologies, I left first, making you wait so long," Sylutia said, bowing her head slightly with a hint of shame.

The noble youth opposite showed little change in expression, simply waving his hand casually to indicate it was fine.

"Since the meal isn't needed, I'll still show you around. That's the task the teacher assigned me. If you don't have anything to fetch or put away, just come with me now." He walked past the young girl's side.

"Alright, I'll just put something down." She placed the Ice Cup Flower she was holding inside her room, temporarily inserting it into a vase to keep it alive, then came back out.

The two walked downstairs again, arriving at the fourth floor.

"The fourth floor is for storing books. There are many miscellaneous books here. You can come take a look if you're interested. But if you're hoping to find any valuable secret histories or secret arts here, you'll be disappointed." He led her on a brief walk through the library rooms on both sides of this floor.

The environment here was quiet, with a few students sitting and flipping through books, some borrowed, others brought by themselves.

"Borrowing costs money, but we don't have to pay. Just take your badge when you go." After explaining this again, Edgin led Sylutia further downstairs.

"The next floor down is the fifth. You've probably been here; it's quite lively." The two entered the hall, which remained as Sylutia had seen it earlier, with many students gathered in small groups, some even conducting simple business, exchanging items.

"This is Morra Kingdom's finest craft tequila. Trading it for your sword is absolutely worth it," a muscular man in a tank top said, negotiating with another while holding a bottle of alcohol.

"Forget it, I don't even like drinking. Find someone else."

As Sylutia passed by, she glanced at the bottle. Although the quality was decent, it was merely better tasting and had no special effects. No wonder the other person was unwilling.

The two continued through the hall, heading towards a side corridor.

"There are a few lounges over here, similar to inns, quieter than regular dorms. They can be rented additionally, but you and I have no need for them." He continued forward, where stairs led to lower floors.

The two descended to the sixth floor. The hall here was quite bustling, and its structure seemed to have been remodeled into an arena, with a spacious open area in the middle where people were currently sparring.

"This place can be used for contests and duels. Generally, if students have private conflicts they want to resolve, they can come here."

After walking around the perimeter, the two were about to go see other floors when someone came running over.

"Senior Edgin, there's a conflict over there. Some stupid lizard is robbing a new student's belongings, and several others have gotten involved."

Hearing this, Edgin's brow furrowed slightly. He disliked such unexpected disruptions to his plans, but couldn't very well vent his annoyance now.

"Take me there." After speaking, he turned back and made an apologetic gesture to Sylutia. "Sylutia, if you have nothing else to do, you can come along and see."

"Alright."

The two followed that student and soon spotted the gathered crowd.

"Make way, make way, Senior Edgin is here!"

The guiding student shouted loudly. Students along the path heard and quickly cleared the way. It seemed they had all heard of this senior's reputation.

Sylutia followed the swiftly walking Edgin to the center of the crowd and saw the situation on the scene.

A noble youth dressed in silk clothes lay on the ground, with a small amount of blood beneath him. Several people surrounded him, helping him lean semi-upright against a companion. Judging by the clothing styles of these students, they likely all came from the same place.

Opposite them stood three tall lizardmen. The leader's scales resembled mudstone, but were interspersed with a few blood-streaked scales, giving it a somewhat fierce and powerful appearance. It held a glass orb in one claw, within which a blood-colored liquid swirled, reflecting strange red hues under the light.

[Serpent Blood Orb] (First Tier · Bloodline): Contains refined high-tier serpent blood, which can assist in the cultivation of bloodline secret arts.

"You lost. This blood orb is mine now," the lizardman hissed, speaking cunningly.

"You lowly lizard! I never agreed to a duel! You clearly dragged me into the arena by force!" the blood-spitting youth retorted, pointing a finger at the other.

"Oh? But the rules here are like this. We both entered the arena. You lost, so hand over the item obediently. Ssss." The other opened its mouth triumphantly, flicking its tongue.

"You bastard!" The youth's companions were furious, but they didn't dare to actually step forward. Even if several of them joined forces, they probably weren't a match for this large lizard before them.

The weakest of the selected new students were at least First Tier. However, there were vast differences even among First Tiers. In Sylutia's view, most students were inferior to Mick and Solyn, but probably comparable to Baren in strength.

As for the lizard before her, although it was also First Tier, with its innate physique and bloodline power, it could handle five or six other new students simultaneously without issue. Moreover, it had two companions who wouldn't just stand by idly.

"Weaklings should just accept reality obediently." The lizard clutched the orb, putting it away, then raised its lizard head and swept a fierce gaze over the surrounding crowd, forcing back some of the onlookers.

"'Weaklings should accept reality'? That's quite interesting." Edgin's eyes turned cold as he strode forward, covering ten meters in an instant, arriving before the lizard.

The power belonging to the [Slumbering Winter] Aspect spread, condensing a layer of frost on the ground.

——

Aspect [Slumbering Winter]: The searing emptiness, the silence of life, and the frozen stillness.