novelraw Book 2: Chapter 83: A Letter Across the Sea of Clouds and the Continent
Book 2: Chapter 83: A Letter Across the Sea of Clouds and the Continent
Vol 2 Chapter 83 A Letter Across the Sea of Clouds and the Continent
Pushing open the tavern door, Sylutia, clad in a black robe, stepped inside. The sounds of various clamors reached her ears, and the air was slightly murky, carrying a hint of warmth.
Mammoth's population wasn't large, but the tavern was never quiet. It was probably the only entertainment and gathering spot in the town, loved by both apprentices and permanent residents alike.
Finding a relatively quiet spot to sit, Sylutia removed her hood, revealing her pretty face and silver hair. Just then, a tavern staff member came before her.
"Classmate, what would you like to eat?"
"Give me a grilled steak and a bowl of vegetable porridge." She felt like eating something warm right now.
"Alright."
After noting down the young girl's request, the staff member went to notify the Chef to prepare. Meanwhile, Sylutia sat at the table, observing the situation in the tavern.
Many of the customers here were local residents. Their ancestors might have been early members who came to the Shadow World to pioneer, later settling here, so their descendants also lived in the various garrisons.
Unlike the apprentices who were all Transcendents, most of these pioneers' descendants were ordinary people. They also undertook many mundane jobs within the garrisons.Compared to the surface world, because the garrisons were all managed by the association, and Transcendents didn't care about those petty profits, the treatment given to these ordinary people was often much better than in the surface world. There were no nobles collecting heavy taxes either. If they could stay in a safe garrison, most could live peaceful lives and pass away around fifty years old.
The tavern staff, three men and two women, were all in their early twenties. They were also ordinary people who hadn't condensed an Aspect. They shuttled back and forth between tables and customers almost non-stop, very busy. But judging by their demeanor, although sweat beaded on their foreheads, they seemed quite accustomed to it, the process familiar.
Occasionally, they would encounter acquaintances from the town, stopping for a brief moment to chat a few words, then arranging what to do after work. Some planned to go fishing by the river, others to play cards together or have a drink.
The town's population was only a little over three hundred. Between neighbors, there were almost no secrets. Just during Sylutia's short sit, she heard many repeated bits of gossip and news.
Who liked whom again, what misdeed someone did last night, or what new faces had arrived recently.
In an era where information wasn't well-developed, the tavern was one of the few places where news converged. Even if nothing was happening, people loved coming here to listen to gossip and pass the boring time.
Twenty minutes later, the grilled steak Sylutia ordered was ready, served along with the simmered vegetable porridge.
She began eating in small bites, occasionally stopping to sip some porridge to cut the greasiness, enjoying the quiet time after her adventurous trek.
...
After finishing lunch, Sylutia stood up, stretching her body slightly, feeling a bit drowsy. It was probably because she hadn't slept well for many days in the Spider Forest.
First, she led her warhorse to the inn in town to settle in, then went to the assigned room, wrapping herself in a freshly washed quilt and falling into a peaceful sleep.
She slept soundly like this for an entire afternoon and night. Only at ten o'clock the next morning did the young girl reluctantly rise from her bed.
Looking at the scenery outside the window and realizing it was almost noon, Sylutia propped herself up, sat before the dressing mirror, and tidied her somewhat disheveled silver hair.
Looking at it this way, sealing the spider's core ability that day had indeed taken a significant toll. She hadn't felt it on the way back, but once she relaxed upon reaching the town, exhaustion surged over her.
After a simple grooming, she went out for lunch, then returned to soak in a hot bath for a while before going back to bed to continue sleeping.
And so, after sleeping for another day and night, Sylutia felt she had finally recovered.
On the new day, feeling refreshed and clear-headed, Sylutia went to the Hidden Grove association in the town to report on this adventure.
"You're saying you went to the Spider Forest alone and dealt with the Tier 3 giant spider there?" The association member didn't quite believe it, thinking the young girl before him was boasting.
"As an apprentice of the Hidden Grove association, you should know the consequences of lying about such matters. Please be careful with your words." The other party had to remind this seemingly delicate girl.
"Sigh." The girl sighed, then took out a special Mithril badge from her bosom and placed it on the table.
The badge was made of a base metal with a faint blue luster, inscribed with a pure white crescent moon surrounded by alternating white and blue bellflowers. This signified that the apprentice had received extremely high evaluation from the association and was an officially recognized true genius.
"This should prove my identity and that my words aren't fabricated, right?"
Seeing this badge, the other party's pupils contracted, his shock beyond words.
"I'm sorry, I was abrupt." Even though the other party was only Second Tier, this association member felt deeply apprehensive.
He immediately picked up the paper and pen under the counter, filling out forms according to the content the girl had previously described and stating the experience of this adventure.
"...You said you also discovered traces of past Twin-Snake Cult activities?"
"Correct, this is the remnant item found." Sylutia took out that broken metal snake cup.
"Can you contact and consult local records and history?" the girl inquired.
"My knowledge is limited, but I can apply on your behalf. Later, scholars will handle this matter." After saying this, he took out a specially made box, carefully placing the cup inside and sealing it.
"In that case, I've basically finished reporting what I needed to." The girl thought for a moment.
"This is the applicant section of the form. Please sign here, Miss Sylutia." The other party handed the recorded report to the girl.
After signing her name, Sylutia returned the form to the other party, who then stored it properly.
"I'll handle the rest, Lady Sylutia." His form of address grew increasingly respectful.
"Mhm, that's it then."
Sylutia tried to recall if she had any other matters to attend to, but unexpectedly, the other party mentioned something first.
"The association also has mail stored here for you. Originally, we were waiting for Lord Reginson to come next time to transport it towards the Darkmist Mountains, but since you're here, you can take it yourself first."
"Oh, it's for me?" Sylutia was slightly surprised.
"Yes." The other party brought over two sealed boxes.
One had elegant, slightly artistic handwriting on it, while the handwriting on the other box was more neat and plain.
"This box was mailed to you by apprentice Florerella. The other was mailed to you by apprentice Yan."
"Alright." Sylutia accepted the two boxes and brought them back to the inn.
She first opened the box mailed by Yan. Inside was a short letter and a packet of mushrooms.
"Sorry about this, Sylutia. It's Yan. I originally meant to send you a gift as thanks earlier, but recently, I got called to form a team for an adventure, which delayed things again. Only after it ended did I remember this matter.
During this adventure, we discovered a strange mushroom in a dark cavern. When grown, it resembles a pale purple jellyfish, emitting faint Aspect power.
At first, we didn't know what it was, but the scholar in our team said this thing was likely very rare, so we dug out part to bring back, and I kept a smaller portion of it.
After inspection by the association's Appraiser, this mushroom should be the rare 'Fungal Threads' Aspect. Their growth and cultivation are exceptionally difficult due to the decline of 'Fungal Threads,' but they are still very helpful for researching the evolution process of Aspects.
I thought since you're a gardener, you might be interested in something like this, so I mailed a small portion to you. I hope you don't mind the gift being too simple.
—Your friend, Yan"
So it was 'Fungal Threads'? Sylutia picked up the shriveled mushroom, carefully examining it. It still retained some vitality, not completely dead.
After carefully inputting a tiny amount of Verdant Nectar Aspect, the shriveled mushroom regained a bit of vitality, putting Sylutia's mind at ease.
Afterwards, she picked up the other box. After breaking the seal and just opening the box, a long-lost sense of familiarity and intimacy washed over her.
Even though she had never seen it in this world, even before seeing the handwriting on the letter, this innate sense of closeness surfaced in her heart.
Lying on the letter paper was a dried flower and several seeds wrapped in cloth beneath it.
The petals had long turned brownish-yellow, but their faint shape still told Sylutia that this was the 'Cornflower' she had been searching for so long yet had found no clues about.
Holding this withered flower, Sylutia's emotions surged. That excitement was like a rising tide, overflowing her heart, yet mixed with a sense of daze and unreality.
As if it were a fated encounter, this withered Cornflower regained vitality in her hands, sprouting tender buds and new leaves bit by bit from the withered stem, then taking root and growing anew, until finally, a fresh, pale blue flower bloomed.
"Happy Birthday, Tia.
I don't know your exact birthday date, but separated for nearly a year, your birthday should be approaching, or perhaps has already passed.
Communication between the Shadow World and the surface world is quite troublesome, and my hometown is on the very distant Second Continent, so finding Cornflowers took a long time. I hope you don't mind this belated birthday gift, Sylutia.
I like Sylutia very much and am very happy to become friends with you. Since we're friends, of course, I want to help you fulfill the wish you've been longing to achieve.
Although the clues were a bit scarce, fortunately, my family back home took my letters very seriously. They also helped me find that elder and obtained a Cornflower bloom and a small number of seeds.
I don't know if this is exactly what you've been longing to find, but if it can help Sylutia, that would be wonderful.
I heard you performed excellently in the Glittergold Plains and received high praise from the instructor. I need to work hard here in the orchard too. Next time we meet, I must let Sylutia taste the fruit I've grown.
Looking forward to seeing you next time!
—Your friend, Florerella"
Putting down the letter, Sylutia turned over the box's outer shell, seeing the flowing seal script on it. This box had likely first arrived at 'Glittergold Plains,' but upon finding she wasn't there, the association then transferred it to 'Mammoth.'
Who knew how much distance it had traveled along the way, how many people it had passed through, crossing the cloud seas and skies of several continents, finally delivered to this extremely remote town and into her hands.
Although it was just a very small box, Sylutia felt like crying.
She had only mentioned it casually a few times back then, yet the other party had remembered it so attentively and later spent so much thought and effort to help her search.
Whether in her previous life or this one, she had lived and acted alone for a very long time, never having experienced this kind of feeling before.
This scalding sincerity slightly melted the faint loneliness deep in her heart.