The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 124: Escape from Death

Vol 2 Chapter 124 Escape from Death

Outside the mining cave, in the camp, several fire basins crackled as they burned. Nearly thirty Anty soldiers were stationed here, with most of them sleeping and resting, while the remaining ten or so sat on night watch.

Some were drinking and eating, while others were lecturing the miners who had just come out.

At this moment, an unfamiliar figure walked into the camp from outside. The grayish-white robe fluttered slowly in the firelight, and though the footsteps didn't seem fast, they went straight into the very center of the large camp.

"Stop," Sylutia spoke. This was her final chance for these soldiers.

"What you are doing has already crossed normal boundaries." Her voice spread through the night air. Though not loud, it was exceptionally clear.

Suddenly seeing a stranger appear, the seated soldiers were shocked and suspicious. They rose one after another, some drawing swords and knives, others picking up crossbows to aim and shoot at this young girl.

Pale golden arcs of the blade swept past, slicing these arrows apart. The attacking spears and sword blades were also easily severed by this young girl as she moved swiftly.

Within a few breaths, these soldiers had all lost their weapons and hadn't managed to touch even a corner of the young girl's clothing. Sometimes, she seemed right in front of their eyes, but when their blades swung down, they always missed by a hair's breadth.

After temporarily disarming them, Sylutia took out a smoky-colored potion from her sleeve, dripped it into the eyes within her hood, and slowly closed her eyes for a moment.Then, she raised her gaze. Beneath the hood, the usually clear, light blue eyes were now shrouded in a watery mist. Anyone caught by the gaze of these eyes felt as if they were falling into a whirlpool. Their gaze, body, mind, and will all sank into it, unable to free themselves.

'Illusion Eyes' enhanced her own illusion and hypnotic abilities, which could be used to hypnotize enemies.

A few breaths later, these soldiers slowly collapsed, going limp on the ground, falling into a deep sleep. They would forget everything that happened tonight, as if they had experienced a dream from which they couldn't wake.

As for the soldiers still resting inside the rooms, some heard the noise and got up. When they saw those watery, misty eyes, their gazes also sank deep into the vortex of the illusion, and they slowly collapsed.

After dealing with the soldiers in the camp so easily, Sylutia finally turned and walked towards those miners. The blade in her hand swung, easily cutting through their leg chains and shackles. Some locked iron cages were also broken open by her.

At this point, some miners ran out in joy, but seeing the soldiers still sleeping all over the ground, they didn't dare to shout loudly. They could only nod repeatedly with tears streaming down their faces. Some even knelt on the ground, kowtowing to this young girl.

In response, Sylutia shook her head slightly, gesturing for them to get up.

She sheathed her blade, then her sleeves billowed. A hazy, circular autumn scene unfolded between her hands, and then she set down boxes of food.

"Eat something first. There's also water in the vat over there."

"Thank you," a few of those who could still speak answered softly. Then, quickly and eagerly, they opened the boxes, took out the dry biscuits inside, and took big bites.

Afterwards, Sylutia walked over to the black-haired old man lying unconscious on the ground. She looked at him and only now barely recognized Vanderhey's appearance.

This wasn't her fault. After all, this merchant used to be plump, with a round face, not as lean and thin as he was now.

What a huge change, Sylutia thought. She took a healing potion from her bosom, poured it into his mouth, and then fed him some 'Clear Spring Water' to cleanse the Aspect erosion within his body.

Slowly, Vanderhey woke up. He was still a bit dazed, unclear about the situation.

Seeing this, a miner nearby hurried over to help him up, telling him, "This lady just saved you. The Anty soldiers are all asleep now. They can't control us."

"Hurry up, get up, eat something." Although he didn't understand why this young girl appeared here, seeing her walk straight to Vanderhey, he guessed her appearance was probably related to this merchant.

"Th... thank you," Vanderhey struggled to prop himself up. With the miner's support, he picked up a dry biscuit and began to eat.

During this time, Sylutia looked around and beckoned to a few miners who were in decent condition, signaling them to come over.

"You few, take the food into the mining cave, distribute it to the people underground, and tell them to come out quickly. Before dawn, we need to set off and leave."

Hearing this, the men were extremely excited. So this lady was going to take them away.

"No problem, we must notify everyone. Please wait, Lady," they said, picking up the extra food on the ground and running into the mining cave behind them.

Later, seeing the water wasn't enough, Sylutia had them draw water from the well beside the camp and pour it into the vat. She then used her ability to transform this ordinary well water into a special spring with purifying capabilities.

About three hours later, all the laborers from the mining cave had been called out one after another. They crowded into the camp, eating, some desperately drinking water, and some even wanting to pick up the broken weapons on the ground to slit the throats of the sleeping Anty soldiers.

"Don't kill anyone for now," Sylutia stopped them.

"They are more useful alive."

Seeing her give the order, the people present had no choice but to restrain themselves. After all, this young girl's methods were mysterious and unfathomable, and she was also their lifesaver.

Around four in the morning, seeing that everyone had roughly recovered their strength and condition, Sylutia nodded slightly.

"Now, follow me. If there are people who have difficulty moving, take turns carrying them. I don't want anyone to fall behind."

"Yes," they answered. Although the requirement was strict, hearing her give this command actually made the people present breathe a sigh of relief.

Some weak or immobile miners were carried by their companions. Then they walked out of the camp, following this young girl into the night.

After they left, the weeds around the camp began to grow rapidly. Some rough vines also intertwined among the grass, growing thicker and thicker, blocking the mountain paths.

This way, even if someone noticed something was wrong and wanted to investigate or pursue them, it would take a lot of time.

...

After a full day's arduous journey, Sylutia finally brought these people to the temporary settlement she had prepared earlier.

She hadn't expected that just a few days ago there were only 31 people, and now it would suddenly become over four hundred.

After arriving at this settlement and reuniting with the people who had escaped earlier, they now finally knew who had saved them.

"Thank you, Miss Sylutia."

"It's 'Lady Sylutia'," a companion nearby helped correct the address.

"Right, right, I was wrong. Lady Sylutia," some of them hurriedly corrected themselves.

Although this young girl looked only about seventeen years old, she was their lifesaver and so powerful. No amount of respect was too much.

Having experienced the pitch-black, sunless life in the mining cave, where they could only wait for death numbly, after coming out, even the most ordinary well water felt incredibly sweet, and the plain bread crumbs were like delicious delicacies.

It was truly wonderful. Finally, finally, they were out of that place.

Some even felt they were dreaming, afraid this was a hallucination before death, so they sat in corners and cried.

Others hugged people they knew, continuously sobbing and shouting, hitting each other, as if only this pain could tell them that everything before their eyes was real.

Seeing this, Sylutia sighed softly, lamenting the cruelty of war and death, and how much Distortion and destruction had ruined people's lives.

In this settlement, she no longer needed to keep her face covered. She directly took off her hood, revealing her smooth, long hair. A few strands fluttered in the night wind, while some rested on her chest, showing the young girl's moving and slightly youthful curves.

At night, everyone finished their meal around the campfire and sat together. Although many didn't know each other before, after experiencing this great disaster, they shared an indescribable bond.

"After this, where do you want to go?" Sylutia sat on a wooden chair, asking these escaped miner refugees.

"Because when I saved you, I used some illusion abilities. They will probably think they encountered some unknown mountain monster, not that you actively escaped."

"So, as long as you don't go back, that lord will probably think you all died outside."

Hearing this, although the people present felt some regret, even if Sylutia hadn't said it, they didn't want to return to that city of painful memories.

Some said they wanted to go to distant relatives, others said they wanted to go to other countries, but more people were lost and confused. They had no one to turn to and were unfamiliar with the outside world.

"We don't know where to go. We'll follow Lady Sylutia's arrangements," a relatively knowledgeable middle-aged man stood up, bowing to ask for instructions.

"Don't know..." Sylutia lowered her head in thought, a strand of hair slipping past her slightly childish cheek.

"If you stay within Anty territory, you'll be discovered sooner or later, and it won't be safe either," she predicted there would still be fighting within Regas.

"I can recommend a place for you to go. It can avoid wars between countries, but it will also be very dangerous." She thought of the ordinary people living in the Hidden Grove.

"However, before going there, I need to communicate in advance. So for the next few months, you still need to hide here and cannot go out casually."

"We understand."

Hearing that Sylutia could arrange a place for them, many felt greatly reassured. Those who originally thought of seeking out relatives also began to change their minds. After all, their relatives were mostly just ordinary people and could actually help them very little.

With future matters arranged, the weight lifted from these people's hearts, and they slowly settled down.

In the following two days, Sylutia took them to expand many shacks. They also dug several cellars in the mountain hollow where the settlement was located to store food crops.

Although still relatively crude, compared to their previous life in the mining cave, life here was already better than anything they had dreamed of in their daily lives.

These people gradually settled in. They not only needed to recuperate but also needed to heal the mental trauma they had suffered during this period.