The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 98: The Lone Iron Knight

Vol 2 Chapter 98: The Lone Iron Knight

In the second week after Dorothy arrived at 'Lantern Town', a violent gale swept over from the southwest of the Darkmist Mountains, engulfing the entire wilderness.

In the gale, the doors and windows of the town's inner buildings were tightly shut, the howling of the wind was everywhere, and the members patrolling the streets now became exceptionally few, with many members hiding indoors.

Inside the Circular Restaurant, bright flame lanterns hung from above, illuminating the surroundings brilliantly. Some apprentices gathered around tables playing cards or chess, some discussed things they had recently learned, and others sat quietly in corners reading books.

Outside, wind and snow danced wildly, but here, there was a warm and cozy liveliness.

Sylutia sat in a private room on the second floor of the restaurant. A small stove burned in the room. She had her legs, clad in black stockings, drawn up as she sat sideways on the sofa, flipping through the knowledge tomes of the 'Six-Part Glaze School', studying the techniques of high-level glass forging. Occasionally, she would sit up, drink some brewed coffee, and then jot down key points and her own thoughts.

The room was somewhat quiet. The windows rattled slightly in the wind, and occasionally, the lively sounds from downstairs could be heard.

...

On the wilderness over twenty miles outside the town, a four-person cavalry squad was struggling forward through the wind and snow. They could barely see what lay ahead, and even the gaps in their helmets were stained with a layer of frost, sealing off their already narrow field of vision.

The captain leading this squad was a 'Third Tier' knight. A faint white, glowing curtain emanated from his feet, spreading out to form a small circular wall that protected the three people behind him from the erosion and buffeting of the wind and snow."We're almost there. The newly established garrison 'Lantern Town' from last year should be just ahead. We can rest and recover there," the captain encouraged the members behind him.

"Yes, sir."

The group once again buried their heads and trudged forward through the wind and snow, soon disappearing into the swirling blizzard, difficult to discern.

At night, Sylutia was sleeping in bed when she suddenly heard the sound of knocking downstairs, and the bell at the door was also being rung.

She sat up from under the covers, picked up the coat beside her, wrapped it around herself for the time being, and then walked downstairs in her slippers.

Opening the door, she saw several familiar patrol members.

"Has something happened?" She knew that calling for her this late likely meant something had occurred.

"Yes, several members from a garrison deep within the Darkmist Mountains have just arrived. They are exhausted, extremely weak and hungry, and they have something very important to report to you."

"To me?" Sylutia found it a bit strange. Although she was the leader of the town, her strength and seniority were still shallow. Usually, envoys from those large garrisons would only stop over in the town for transit and rarely sought her out specifically.

"I understand. Take me to see them." She tightened her coat with both hands and stepped out.

Passing through the wind and snow-swept streets, Sylutia arrived at the medical recuperation mansion. Here, two physicians were tending to the envoys in the beds. One was a 'Third Tier' knight, and the other three were 'Second Tier' knight squires.

The knight's condition was still acceptable, but the remaining three were already unconscious. It seemed reaching the town had been their limit.

Approaching the knight, she saw his head drooping from time to time, utterly exhausted and drowsy.

"I am Sylutia. May I ask what has happened?" The young girl looked at him with slight curiosity.

Hearing this young girl's clear voice, he barely raised his head. His vision was somewhat blurry, and the only impression in his mind was those striking blue eyes.

So beautiful, he thought silently to himself, then remembered his mission and began to tell Sylutia about what had happened at 'Ironwall Precipice'.

"My comrades and I... we might also be infected, contaminated. You must conduct a thorough examination and handle it carefully, then try to isolate us..." He felt his mind growing somewhat foggy, a sensation he had never experienced since stepping into the Third Tier.

After listening to his description, Sylutia looked at his condition.

Name: Zaria Todd

Race: Human (Bloodline Advancement)

Status: Suboptimal Health (Exhausted)

Talents:

Cold Resistance [Excellent Grade]: A talent passed down through the bloodline, granting resistance to cold climates and better adaptation to harsh weather.

Fate Card: [Lone Iron Knight] [Third Tier - Castle]

'A Transcendent professional who has integrated a knight's skills and abilities into their own bloodline.'

- Effect [Bloodline Advancement]: Having stepped into the Third Tier, all your abilities have been comprehensively enhanced, allowing you to be immune to the effects of many low-tier abilities.

- Effect [Cold Resistance Lv.5]: Immune to medium and low levels of cold energy invasion, capable of surviving in harsh, low-temperature environments.

- Progression Path [Iron Knight Lv.5]: A formed progression path, mastering multiple combat techniques. (Steel Body · Sharp Blade · Horse and Rider as One Lv.5)

Core Card: [Knight Who Practices the Path of Valor] [Castle]

'You have single-handedly defeated seven enemies whose Aspect tier was higher than your own, and are considered a model of valor among knights.'

- Influence: [Valorous Knight]. When fighting an enemy alone, enhances reaction ability against the enemy, fortifies willpower, and grants resistance (medium level) to various effects of the enemy's abilities. (Single Combat Enhancement +3, Willpower +2, Various Resistances +3)

Ability Cards:

[City Wall Barrier Lv.6 (Castle)]: You can deploy an invisible light screen barrier, isolating the influence of other Aspect abilities. (Maximum range 20 meters)

[Soldier Empowerment Lv.5 (Castle)]: You can empower up to twelve 'First Tier' soldiers around you, temporarily raising their tier to 'Second Tier' [Pike Guards] or [Light Cavalry Attendants].

[Amos's Sword Lv.5 (Castle)]: You can raise the longsword in your hand high, responding to the oath you have sworn, unleashing a powerful slashing light blade. (Usable once every three days)

————

He's really strong, Sylutia thought to herself after analyzing his condition.

He was the most powerful Third Tier Transcendent she had ever seen. If this knight were to challenge the Petrification Lizard and the giant spider she had encountered before, it would almost be a matter of effortless success.

However, looking at his condition, he was still quite tormented by that strange 'Gray Sludge'. This enemy was less like a difficult-to-defeat monster and more like some kind of mutated virus or bacteria, leaving people with no way to effectively combat it. This was what led to the crisis at the 'Ironwall Precipice' garrison.

Pondering the root cause and risks of the problem, Sylutia had people temporarily seal off this area.

"Don't any of you go out for now. Everyone stays here." Her gaze swept over all present, her pupils flickering with an unceasing, brilliant light.

Now, not only had 'Ironwall Precipice' been contaminated by the 'Gray Sludge', but even this town where she was located might have been infiltrated. If not dealt with promptly and early, once it spread, she too would be powerless to turn the tide.

Although she didn't understand exactly what these 'Gray Sludges' were, fortunately, she could still rely on her observation abilities, far surpassing ordinary people, to find the corners and traces of their existence and prevent them from causing harm.

"I need to purify everyone present here, as well as this environment."

She spread her hands. A faint silver radiance outlined itself behind the young girl, forming beautiful patterned motifs. Within them, a beautiful maiden closed her eyes, gently supporting a water vessel with both hands. Ripples shimmered at the vessel's mouth as a faint silver halo poured forth like water.

[Sylutia's Clear Spring] (Luminous Moon)

Clear spring water imbued with purifying power, capable of washing and cleansing, removing pollution brought by Aspects such as 'Distortion' and 'Dead Embers'.

The members present watched this scene curiously, only feeling a faint mist of water envelop their bodies and permeate the room. Then, certain corners flickered slightly before everything dispersed, returning to a state of cleanliness.