The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 50: The Rise of the Tide

Vol 2 Chapter 50: The Rise of the Tide

"Should geniuses be grouped together with other geniuses to mutually promote growth, or should a genius lead a group of ordinary people, serving as a core to exert greater utility?"

Inside a towering castle turret, several people sat around a spacious long table, discussing the recent notification from the association. A wizard in a bright yellow robe stood by the window, asking the question to the few behind him.

"If this question were posed within our knight order, the conclusion would have been reached long ago: let such a genius lead a group to better utilize their talents," the knight seated at the head of the table answered.

"However, in my view, only by gathering multiple geniuses together can we pool collective wisdom and create the most outstanding, top-tier works," another muscular, burly man had a different opinion.

Soon after, that knight lightly tapped the tabletop.

"Now the official reply from the association headquarters has arrived. Our application has been approved. They said they will reduce the material supply commission for the next three years and will also allocate some resources to us to help the local apprentices grow."

"However, they also have a requirement: they want to transfer Sylutia away."

"Why?"

"It's simple. Those high-ranking individuals believe our land here is too peaceful and comfortable, unsuitable for fostering growth. They say staying too long will cause one to stagnate.""The conflict thirty years ago caused heavy casualties among many of the association's core Third and Fourth Tier members. Now the association urgently needs to replenish its combat strength and doesn't have much patience."

"According to reports from our intelligence contacts in the central continent, the Mage Alliance has undergone large-scale reforms over the past decade. They have started establishing schools in every city and providing interest-free loans to some impoverished students, as long as they agree to serve the Mage Alliance after completing their studies."

"Using this method, they have replenished a large amount of fresh blood and continue to research their steam machinery day and night. It's said that several mines in the Candela Mountain Range have already been exhausted."

"The 'Harp Flower Union' in the east has already begun mediating between our Hidden Grove association, and the Sea Cliff Vampires of the north, preparing to join forces to contain and counter the Mage Alliance."

"The well-known 'Silver Bird Tower' organization within the 'Mage Alliance' developed a new core formula three years ago called the 'Arcane Astronomical Clock.' By stepping into the Third Tier using this formula, one can use the 'Arcane Astronomical Clock' to cast three spells without weakening. If one advances to the Sixth Tier, they can even fully cast all twelve spells attached to the 'Arcane Astronomical Clock.'"

"They have already begun selecting geniuses from various places to teach this brand-new advanced secret art."

"In contrast, our Hidden Grove association's once most famous advanced secret art was the 'Stellar Invocation Rite' developed by the Meteor Sorceress. Upon reaching the Third Tier, one could choose a spell ability, gaining a 3-fold power enhancement. At the Sixth Tier, this expanded to a 27-fold power enhancement. If one reached the Seventh Tier, they could push the power of one spell to a terrifying level, capable of piercing through the Floating Cloud Continent."

"Back then, the Meteor Sorceress used this secret art to directly destroy the Lizardmen nation at the southern edge of the continent, leaving behind a fearsome reputation."

"However, learning this secret art relies too heavily on innate talent. Since that great Sorceress, only two other Sorceresses have mastered it, and in the end, they did not push it to the same level as the Meteor Sorceress."

"Now our association has already relaxed restrictions on learning secret arts across organizations a great deal, but the exchange of academic experience is far less frequent and smooth compared to the Mage Alliance."

"This has led to us falling behind in many aspects."

"You can't put it that way;

the situations are completely different," a scholar who had been silent for a long time in a corner of the hall spoke up. He adjusted his glasses and then explained.

"Exchanges between mages only require discussing specific runic formulas, core constructs, spell formulas, and so on. These are like strictly built, exquisitely precise instruments. If one component is missing, others cannot replicate it."

"Moreover, if someone could truly perfectly replicate it, that person would definitely have walked the path of a mage, becoming one of them."

"The various organizations within our Hidden Grove association are more complex. Many evolved from former trade guilds."

"Just as the 'Forging Gold Hammer' was originally the blacksmiths' guild of Rock Cavern City, the 'Holy White Knight Hall' was originally the Royal Knight Order of the Blazing Sun Empire, though that empire no longer exists today."

"The Witches, and some other spirits, were originally members of the 'Moon Parliament,' the losers of the struggle for the position of the Luminous Moon Hour back then."

"The composition of each organization within the Hidden Grove association is different, with an extremely wide span. Even if you want to exchange ideas, many things are not universally applicable."

"During its founding period, due to ideological reasons, the Mage Alliance created extremely unified standards: runic formats, secret art grading, academy organizational divisions, and so on. Their focus on the three Aspects of 'Castle,' 'Secret Word,' and 'Gold Steam' is unimaginable to others."

"It's not just our Hidden Grove association. Since the rise of the Mage Alliance, they have continuously expanded, squeezing the operational space of many traditional powers."

"Furthermore, there's another point to mention. Because of the participation in the struggle for the position of the Luminous Moon Hour during the Eighth Epoch, after the great war, many original legacies on the Fourth Continent were severed. We no longer lead in resource, knowledge, and secret art accumulation, which is also a reason we feel somewhat powerless against the Mage Alliance."

"The Mage Alliance has actually also tried to develop and expand its influence on other continents, but the results have been quite limited, especially in the Sun Dynasty of the First Continent. That is a prosperous empire granted special permission by the Corona Dragon, having unified the entire continent, making it impossible for any other organization or faction to expand there."

"Secret arts, resources, talent—now all parties on the Fourth Continent are competing for them. To stimulate the vitality of the southern region, the association has now relaxed control and restrictions over the various countries in the south."

"Meaning that in the coming years, the south will soon face civil war, is that it?" The wizard turned around.

"Yes. According to the higher-ups' intention, many small countries need to be merged to establish a unified large nation, allowing for better resource allocation."

"Many of the royal families of the countries currently on the surface have already heard the news and are actively preparing for war. Even if not preparing for war, they are considering marriage alliances to deal with the impending chaotic era."

"War will bring certain losses, but war will also create many opportunities, causing those nobles who have been occupying positions without performing to step down, making way for capable people to take high positions."

After listening, the leading knight shook his head.

"For so many years, they were unwilling to change the situation. Who would have thought they would finally start taking action this time. It seems the pressure from the Mage Alliance has already threatened the foundation of the Hidden Grove association."

"We also need to make preparations early."

"Regarding Sylutia, I plan to negotiate with the association headquarters for another six months. If you want to win her over or show goodwill, try to do it within these six months. After that, we will have no choice but to let her go." The knight captain made the final decision, and the others in the hall nodded in agreement one by one.

"Six months... who would have thought we would also be in such a hurry."

For many apprentices, the first year after entering the Hidden Grove is spent adapting to the environment, catching up on previously missed Secret History classes, and familiarizing themselves with the rules and life of the Hidden Grove.

It is in the second year that they truly plan their advanced learning path, select the courses they want to take, and identify the abilities and skills they need to train, and so on.

However, under the tide of the times, an individual's choices are like grains of sand, difficult to influence. They can only rise and fall with the tide, either keeping up or falling behind.