The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 114: Dialogue at the City Wall

Vol 2 Chapter 114 Dialogue at the City Wall

After receiving the crafted maple wood chest, Sylutia carefully placed her important belongings inside, one by one. These included clothes, weapons, battle armor, prepared potions, sun-dried medicinal herbs, fruits and grains she had cultivated herself, purchased gifts, various spoils of war she had obtained, and two entire chests of gold coins.

She stored all these in the 'Autumn Garden', hiding the maple wood chest within the shrubbery beneath a tree, concealed and covered.

Once fully prepared, Sylutia stood in the water pool to bid farewell to everyone. Then, as the teleportation magic array lit up, her form swapped with a location somewhere on the surface continent above, arriving instantly in the world above the sea of clouds.

A gentle breeze rippled, the sky was azure blue, and the air was exceptionally fresh.

Upon returning to the surface continent, Sylutia felt everything within her vision had become much more vivid, the colors of the world particularly rich.

Her mood was cheerful, her perception spreading along the grass beneath her feet. The surrounding natural environment seemed to possess a faint semblance of life, breathing and moving, welcoming her arrival.

Was this the world as seen through the eyes of a 'Third Tier - Verdant Nectar' Aspect lifeform?

Even though she was in the same world, Sylutia felt it was extraordinarily different, as if a single color could now be divided into five more delicate and distinct shades.

With every breath, she could influence the plant environment around her, making it grow, bloom, and bear fruit.After stepping into the Third Tier, life had entered another level. Even unconscious actions and thoughts would now affect the surrounding environment.

"Hello, could you tell me where this is?"

After stepping out of the water pool, Sylutia asked a nearby association wizard.

"This is deep within the Granite Mountains. To the west lies what used to be Regas, though it should probably be called the Kingdom of Ante now. To the east is the territory of the Merchant Capital Alliance."

"For mortals, there are indeed many dangerous beasts within these mountains. Only our association has established an outpost here; there are no other towns." For ordinary people, this place was truly dangerous. However, for members of the Hidden Grove association, the environment here was actually quite good, far safer than the Shadow World.

"I see, thank you." After understanding her location, Sylutia rested and explored this small outpost for a day before setting out the next morning.

"Just follow the mountain path west, but gradually the path will disappear, and you'll need to find your own way and keep your bearings." The stationed personnel at the outpost briefed her before she left.

"Oh, right, you are Miss Sylutia, correct? There's something left here for you by the 'Four Seasons Alliance'."

"For me?" The young woman was surprised.

"Yes." The other person took out a wooden box and handed it to Sylutia.

Opening the box, the young woman saw a letter and a key inside, quickly realizing who had left this for her.

Lady Franne...

She unfolded the pages of the letter, upon which were Lady Franne's elegant and clear handwriting.

In the letter, Lady Franne told Sylutia that she was leaving Scorchstone City to return to her distant homeland in the north. It was exceptionally far, and she likely wouldn't return to the Kingdom of Regas for many years. If Sylutia had time in the future, she could go there to find her.

Furthermore, Lady Franne had entrusted her mansion in Scorchstone City to Sylutia. In the letter, she also told Sylutia that she had left some books and seeds for her in the mansion's cellar storage room, which would likely be useful to Sylutia in the future.

After reading the letter, Sylutia felt a wave of emotion, a touch of faint sadness, wondering if she would ever see Lady Franne again.

In Scorchstone City, she had truly received so much care and help from her, aiding her through that period of weakness and naivety.

Don't worry, instructor, I will come find you later. When the time comes, I will properly express my gratitude to you.

Putting away the letter, Sylutia mounted the white Windtrust horse that had followed her out of Lantern Town. She bid farewell to the personnel at the outpost and entered the mountain forests, heading westward.

...

Meanwhile, north of Valley City.

The elite army dispatched from the Kingdom of Ante had traversed most of Regas and finally arrived. They numbered roughly eight thousand and were camped at the foot of the cliffs north of the city, also upstream from Valley City, blocking the roads north of the city.

Gray felt tents stretched in connected rows, neatly arranged. Even before clashing with these soldiers of the Kingdom of Ante, the city's defenders were astonished by their strict military discipline.

These were not the useless troops left behind within Regas. They were Ante elites temporarily withdrawn from the frontline fighting against Winter, currently commanded by 'Baron Prison Hound' and 'Viscount Mighty Bear', both renowned and fearsome generals within the Kingdom of Ante.

Now, they had made it clear they distrusted the Ante garrison troops remaining in Valley City, refusing to enter the city. They sent messages demanding that the current Valley City Lord, Fabre, leave the city and come to the army's main tent to receive new decrees from the Kingdom of Ante.

Naturally, the current Valley City Lord dared not agree to such a demand. He feared that once he went, he would be captured, thrown into prison, with his life and death uncertain.

However, he currently only had a little over 2,000 garrison troops. Of these, more than 1,000 were newly recruited local commoners with little combat capability. Facing an elite force four times his size, he had no confidence in fighting. The only reason he hadn't fled yet was because Prince Jabers was here.

"How many have we gathered now?" Prince Jabers stood in the high tower on the city wall, using a telescope to observe the distance, and asked Knight Everett beside him.

"Currently, we have gathered roughly 2,000 combat-capable descendants of Regas, and 3,000 soldiers recruited from over ten nearby towns."

"Those 2,000 descendants of Regas are mostly former minor nobles of Regas, or their ancestors once fought alongside the Knight King. Their capabilities are much stronger than ordinary people. With a little training, they become qualified warriors."

"As for the 3,000 newly recruited soldiers, they are mostly commoners from the countryside. They are still green recruits and cannot be assigned important tasks."

New recruits have many problems. Rashly sending them into high-pressure battlefield conditions would cause mass routs, disrupting our own formations and collapsing overall morale.

"Adding the city's garrison, that's barely seven thousand in total." Prince Jabers felt the chances of victory were slim.

"How could they pull so many from the frontline? Aren't they truly afraid Winter will break through their lines?" He knew the dire situation the Kingdom of Ante faced was not much different from Regas's situation back then.

Unfortunately, no one around this prince could answer his question. They all knew very little about the Kingdom of Ante.

On the other side of the city wall, two figures were gazing at the distant military tents, discussing the matter.

"Uncle Haines, why do you think they can pull out so many elites to come to Regas and suppress us?" The young man beside him didn't understand.

Hearing his question, the bearded uncle in leather armor beside him glanced into the distance and smiled. "You can't see it because you don't understand the thinking of the Ante royal family."

"That's right. Fighting Winter is already at their limit, yet they still can't give up Regas, this piece of fat meat. Or rather, this place is their hope."

"Many of the old noble families in the Kingdom of Ante have their foundations in Ante itself. They fear being conquered by Winter, so naturally, they will resist with all their might."

"But what about the Ante royal family? They know in their hearts that continuing to fight Winter is likely more dangerous than promising, difficult to win. After conquering Regas, many royal confidants were enfeoffed. They are currently entrenched in various parts of Regas. Although their power isn't strong enough yet, these places also lack other powerful local forces, making it easier for the Ante royal family to control them."

"If the Ante homeland falls, the royal family can simply abandon their former territory and flee directly into Regas to continue their rule. As for holding the rear, that naturally falls to the local nobles whose vital interests are at stake."

"But even if they come to Regas, won't the Winter Kingdom just keep pursuing them? Then it's over, right?" The young man beside him still didn't understand.

"They won't keep pursuing. Winter's territory is originally among the mountains, making supply not easy. Ante is at least not too far from Winter's homeland, allowing them to barely sustain. If they fight all the way to Regas, the supply line becomes too long."

"Furthermore, there's also the Eagle-Scorpion Khanate. They are watching closely, and they won't just sit idly by, watching this long supply line right in front of them, allowing Winter to grow stronger."

"With Eagle-Scorpion obstructing the middle, Winter cannot wholeheartedly push south. They must first deal with it before continuing to expand southward. Eagle-Scorpion and Ante are roughly equal in strength; they won't be defeated so easily and will likely hold out for a long time. That period will be enough for the Ante royal family to consolidate control over Regas."

"Wow, it's actually that complicated?"

"Heh, when you've experienced more things in the future, you'll gradually understand too." Haines patted the other person and answered with a chuckle.

"But..." His tone shifted.

"Currently, Valley City doesn't seem to have the strength to resist this army. I wonder what action that Prince Jabers will take."

"Will he persist in resisting to the end, or choose to abandon everyone and flee?"

"Raygard, the 'Knight King' whose bravery illuminated the southern border and whose name spread through the mountains... your descendants may not possess your courage and resolve from back then..." Haines sighed.