The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 13: The Toad Dynasty in My Dream

Vol 2 Chapter 13 The Toad Dynasty in My Dream

In the stable

Sylutia stood on a tall wooden crate, stroking the draft horse’s head, then took out an Alfalfa Flower Ball from behind her and held it up in front of him.

“Want to eat?”

The girl asked softly, letting the roan draft horse sniff the flower ball.

Almost without thinking, the draft horse curled the fist-sized flower ball into its mouth with its broad lips, chewed a few times, and swallowed it.

The manger held the alfalfa branches and leaves Sylutia had just carried in, the ones she had cleared from the fields.

As if its appetite had suddenly skyrocketed, the draft horse lowered its head and ferociously chewed the alfalfa, shaking its head and bobbing, its tail flicking gently. From its behavior, Sylutia knew it was in a very good mood.

So she stood beside the roan draft horse watching, occasionally placing her hand on its neck to sense its physical condition.

About half an hour later, Sylutia felt the horse’s internal Bloodline Aspect slowly increasing. The progress was not fast, but it was definitely changing.If the strength of Aspect energy required to condense First Tier·Bloodline is 1, then the draft horse’s current Aspect energy strength was about 0.3.

(‘Roan Lakeshore Horse’ Bloodline Aspect +0.02)

…

(‘Roan Lakeshore Horse’ Bloodline Aspect +0.02)

…

(‘Roan Lakeshore Horse’ Bloodline Aspect +0.01)

…

(‘Roan Lakeshore Horse’ Bloodline Aspect +0.01)

…

(‘Roan Lakeshore Horse’ Bloodline Aspect +0.005)

…

The subsequent effects slowly weakened, so Sylutia fed it another Alfalfa Flower Ball. Seeing it continue absorbing steadily and chewing the fodder in a good state, Sylutia left reassured.

It indeed worked, and quite well. Unlike Blood Wine, which directly increases one’s Bloodline, the Alfalfa Flower Ball strengthens absorption and transformation, promoting the condensation of one’s Aspect.

In other words, the Alfalfa Flower Ball being Verdant Nectar does not cause the consumer to condense Verdant Nectar.

That meant its general applicability was far better than Blood Wine, and it was much more stable.

The next day, when Sylutia returned to the stable, a foul smell drove her away. She had to fetch the toads to thoroughly clean the stable, and only in the afternoon, after the smell dissipated, did she go back inside.

The roan draft horse in the stable had almost transformed. Its physique became very robust, defined muscles showing under its coat. Its previously messy coloring now looked much neater and glossy. Just approaching it allowed one to faintly feel its surging vitality and awakening strength.

Species: Lakeshore Horse (Enhanced)

Condition: Healthy (Docile)

Talent:

Endurance [Good Grade]: As a draft horse, good endurance is essential. Can pull loads for long distances without rest for days.

Fate Card: [Sturdy Draft Horse] (Bloodline·First Tier)

"Long-term labor training, sufficient nutritional supply, and good living conditions let the bloodline power in your body slowly grow, making you incredibly sturdy."

- Effect [Sturdy Lv.2]: The power of the Bloodline Aspect fills and circulates within the body, moderately enhancing constitution, increasing strength and durability.

Ability Cards:

[Trample Lv.3] (Beast Fang): Large frame, heavy body, hooves like rocks; when it strikes down with force, it can easily crush the bones of other creatures. (Most beasts gain tooth/horn/claw abilities, originating from the Beast Fang Aspect instinct flowing in their bloodlines.)

[Digestion Lv.1] (Bloodline): Stimulated by the Alfalfa Flower Ball, you gain stronger digestive ability, better utilizing nutrients from food and extracting faint Aspect energy from them, gradually improving your constitution.

Seeing Sylutia, the draft horse ran over in hurried steps, almost knocking over the stable, and pressed up to the girl, constantly licking her face with its moist, warm tongue.

“Mm, stop licking.” Sylutia raised both hands to stop it, but could not resist its enthusiasm.

After a while, the large draft horse calmed and rested its head beside Sylutia.

“All right, you’re very happy now, very grateful.” Sylutia stroked its head and said softly.

She glanced around the stable; most of the piled fodder had been eaten overnight, and the floor showed signs of having been cleaned.

It must have defecated a lot last night—otherwise Sylutia wouldn’t have encountered such a stink in the morning.

Thanks to the toads’ cleaning and rinsing with well water, the stable was clean again.

After comforting the draft horse a bit, Sylutia led the two ponies out and gave each half an Alfalfa Flower Ball.

“You’re still young, you can’t eat too much.”

Watching the two little ones begging for more, Sylutia laughed and told them, “That’s all, there’s only this one,” and then sent them off to nibble alfalfa in the fields.

From this experiment she confirmed the Alfalfa Flower Ball’s effectiveness. She was uncertain whether the toads could eat it, so she planned to feed them a small dose as a test.

That night, the toads set up the big pot on the clearing in front of the house as usual, boiled water, and prepared to cook noodles.

But tonight was different; Sylutia, unusually free of tasks and with extra energy, prepared fermented, kneaded dough for them, cut it into small pieces, and placed them in the pot to steam with the vapor.

“Don’t lift the lid yet, wait patiently.” Sylutia stood by the steamer and took out a simple hourglass, telling the toads they had to wait a while.

“Ribbit, understood, ribbit.”

“Boss is giving us something tasty, ribbit.”

“I smell it, I smell something delicious, ribbit.”

The toadfolk curiously gathered around the pot, occasionally craning their necks to sniff the rising steam, where a faint dough aroma lingered.

When the time seemed right, Sylutia opened the steamer and revealed plump steamed buns inside.

[Alfalfa Buns] (Rare): Made with high-quality wheat flour and First Tier·Verdant Nectar Alfalfa Purple Flower as ingredients, these special buns have about ten times the nutrition of ordinary buns. Thanks to alfalfa, even ordinary creatures can digest and absorb them. (Greatly replenishes energy and promotes Aspect condensation)

Sylutia initially broke apart the Alfalfa Purple Flower and mixed it into the dough to weaken the effect, to avoid discomfort for the toads. But combined, the two produced a greater-than-additive effect.

Excellent-quality wheat provided abundant nutrition, while alfalfa enhanced absorption and also contributed nutrients. Together they produced these highly nutritious Alfalfa Buns.

Watching the information floating in her observation, Sylutia hesitated about giving the buns to the toads—what if the nutrition was too much and it killed them?

She had not expected the two effects to stack and amplify each other.

But the moment had come. When she opened the steamer, the toads swarmed forward, sniffing and staring longingly. If not for Sylutia’s authority and her Second Tier Aspect energy suppressing them, they would have grabbed the buns in a rush.

“Ribbit, smells so good!”

“Really want to eat.”

“Boss hasn’t told us yet, we can’t eat.”

“But still want to.”

“Ribbit, I want some too.”

Glancing at the buns and then at the drooling toads, Sylutia pressed a hand to her forehead and gave up trying to stop them.

However, she still needed order. Clearing her throat, she instructed the toads to queue beside the pot.

“One at a time, don’t take more than one, and once you have it, go back inside.” The girl’s gentle voice rang out in the night, making the toads ecstatic.

“Ribbit, we can eat now, ribbit.”

“Do we need to line up? I’m the best at lining up, ribbit.”

Though noisy and crowded, the toads formed a line. One by one they came before Sylutia.

For each toad, Sylutia placed a steamed Alfalfa Bun in its palm and let it take it away.

They usually swallowed it immediately, chewing happily in their mouths.

Even without obvious teeth, they enjoyed the way the dough slowly dissolved. They held it in their mouths and slowly savored it.

As usual, after eating they found places to sit or lie down and enjoyed the moment. But tonight’s Alfalfa Buns were markedly different from ordinary dough.

The strong carbohydrates melted and absorbed, blood sugar surged rapidly, digestive hormones like insulin increased massively, which in turn boosted serotonin and melatonin, and a powerful drowsiness swept in.

Before long, the house filled with the toads’ soft, rhythmic snores.

After Sylutia finished feeding them, every one of them fell asleep inside, sprawled in scattered positions.

Although asleep, they were otherwise fine; their condition was actually very good, absorbing the nutrients bit by bit.

It looked like they couldn’t be woken tonight. Sylutia secured the door for them and left, carrying the remaining Alfalfa Buns back to her dwelling.

She planned to cut off a small piece to taste, but not eat too much.

At night, after tasting a small piece of Alfalfa Bun, Sylutia herself felt drowsy. Fortunately she could resist a bit, yawned a few times, closed the house door, washed up, and then slowly lay down to sleep.

This night she seemed to sleep especially soundly, and she had an amusing dream.

In the dream, she held a purple-flowered alfalfa scepter, seated on a high throne, and beneath her were countless toads of various sizes, charging into battle holding weapons. Wherever the toad army went, enemies were smashed effortlessly.

Finally, she took a purple-copper crown adorned with alfalfa flowers and was crowned on the throne, while below was a cheering sea of ribbits.