The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 158: Kingdom Scholar - Sylutia

Vol 2 Chapter 158: Kingdom Scholar - Sylutia

Sylutia had swapped out the White Flower Battle Armor she often wore before for comfortable robes, living in the palace of White Cliff City. Since the newly established Regas was still unstable, she needed to stay to maintain order.

Considering future unified planning and development, the new Regas did not confer traditional hereditary nobility with real power. Instead, it adopted a bureaucratic management system. As for the selection of officials, it was divided into recommendation and examination. Currently, due to a severe shortage of bureaucrats, most personnel were directly recommended. They were originally locally influential people of some repute with a certain sway in their areas. Next were those who had made contributions during the revival and independence process; a large number of these people were also granted official positions.

"Although their professional competence might be insufficient, this can be compensated for by recruiting advisors," Sylutia discussed with Mursa.

"However, when a nation is first founded, the core power must be firmly grasped in one's own hands. This is the most suitable time for sweeping reforms and the period to set the overall tone."

"If substantial power is given to opportunists and those who are not loyal, it will be very difficult to reclaim it later or to command them to handle affairs."

Although Princess Mursa was familiar with the specifics of kingdom governance, in terms of overall strategic direction and foresight, Sylutia was stronger.

Even though both were feudal-era state systems, Sylutia still preferred a centralized state. This could mobilize collective strength to the greatest extent and allow the nation the will and capability to accomplish many major undertakings.

During this period, Sylutia often discussed matters with Mursa late into the night before returning to her room to sleep.

Gradually, the two became more familiar with each other, and Mursa's impression of Sylutia underwent several changes."At the very beginning, I thought you were that kind of passionate, impulsive youth, exceptionally talented and powerful," Mursa said, pouring Sylutia a glass of chilled juice, recalling the scene from that night they met.

"I only found out later that Tia was also a girl, which was quite a surprise at the time. Although the difference between men and women among Transcendents isn't great, girls who choose the Knight Path are still quite rare."

"Later, after Regas was restored, you stopped wearing armor and usually preferred simple, comfortable dresses. You looked somewhat adorably like a younger sister, making it hard to connect you with your past image."

"Now, after discussing more with you, I'm curious about how exceptionally far-sighted your thinking is, more long-term than some scholars, with clear logic, clever beyond belief." After saying this, Mursa picked up her cup, used her sleeve to shield her chest, and took a small sip of the chilled juice.

Since Sylutia didn't like alcohol, she only prepared juice and very low-alcohol fruit wine for meals.

After hearing Mursa's description, Sylutia felt both amused and exasperated, holding her cup and taking small sips to savor the blueberry juice.

"Actually, I'm not a Transcendent who specializes in the Knight Path; the knight progression path is just a side profession," she explained, momentarily unsure how to put it.

"My main cultivation is actually 'Verdant Nectar'; I'm just a flower-cultivating gardener." Sylutia blinked, the hair at her temples lightly curling.

"Eh? Gardener is your main direction?" Mursa widened her eyes in surprise once again.

"Yes, but the Gardener Path indeed doesn't advance as rapidly as 'Castle'," Sylutia expressed some regret.

"Mursa is already Fourth Tier now, right?" she asked curiously if the other could control her own rank power.

"Mmm." The young Queen Mursa thought for a moment before answering.

"In the past, when I was still a princess of Regas, the royal authority blessing I received was roughly around 'Third Tier - Castle'. Later, after White Cliff City fell, I quickly dropped to 'Second Tier'. Among my peers, the strongest should have been my elder brother Leon; he was a very formidable knight."

"Father once possessed the 'Fifth Tier - Castle' rank. He could knight a large number of guards and bestow upon them powerful blessings and protection, making them invincible on the battlefield."

"At that time, although White Cliff City was besieged and the situation was dire, Father and my elder brother did not give up. They still believed they could hold on, just like previous generations of ancestors. Having us leave first was just not wanting to put all eggs in one basket, preserving a possible retreat."

"So, the strongest elder brother did not leave with us at that time," Mursa recalled the situation then.

"Is the Attire King of the Ante Kingdom also 'Fifth Tier - Castle'?" Sylutia asked curiously.

"This... it's hard to say," Mursa shook her head.

"For example, I am now 'Fourth Tier - Castle', but as long as the kingdom stabilizes, the enacted code is implemented, and order is maintained, over time, the 'Castle' Aspect upon me will also accumulate due to the gathering of royal authority until one day, like my father, I break through to 'Fifth Tier'."

"The area of the Ante Kingdom where King Attire rules is roughly three times that of Regas, with over four times the population. Their king, if he can ensure the kingdom's stability and good development, could likely push the reigning ruler to 'Sixth Tier'."

"But now, nearly half of the Ante Kingdom's territory has fallen, and the war with the Winter Kingdom is extremely arduous. Being able to barely maintain their rank without slipping is already a fortunate matter."

"On the continent, the royal authority limit for a typical duchy is 'Fifth Tier', for a kingdom it's 'Sixth Tier', for an empire it's 'Seventh Tier'. There's also that rare, unified continental dynasty golden age; their emperor could probably reach 'Eighth Tier'. That is the limit of the mortal world."

"The monarch of an empire is only Seventh Tier..."

Sylutia recalled her mother, the 'Aster Sorceress' Sherin's situation. Based on her childhood memories and others' accounts, her mother had reached Seventh Tier even before giving birth to her. It was truly unimaginable, what kind of genius that was. However, it might also be that her mother had the ability to maintain her youth, just always looking exceptionally young.

If she were to follow the Gardener Path, even with her astonishing talent, she estimated it would take nearly twenty years. Sylutia guessed her mother might have leveraged family resources, after all, the 'Meizhalansi Family' was also a major influential clan, able to utilize the power of the School of Royal Authority to condense the 'Castle' Aspect.

However, although Aspect ranks could be rapidly built up through various means, without corresponding knowledge, skills, and practical trials, the result wouldn't be much different from Prince Jabers back then.

After advancing to 'Fourth Tier - Castle', due to a lack of knowledge and skills, she couldn't freely transform her abilities or unleash powerful strength like she could with 'Verdant Nectar'.

Although she still defeated the Anty army that way, it was just because they were too weak. According to distant intelligence, the overall quality of the Ante Kingdom's army was one level lower than the Winter Kingdom's. Even in battles between knights of the same tier, the Ante Kingdom lost more often.

"Yes, but the Gardener Path indeed doesn't advance as rapidly as 'Castle'," Sylutia expressed some regret.

It needed a grand clearing out, then a restart.

After reaching 'Fourth Tier - Castle', she was now desperately cramming various knowledge and skills of the 'Castle' Aspect. Coincidentally, it was also the kingdom's initial establishment, with all aspects needing planning, which conveniently allowed her to practice her learnings and ideas.

Now, talent was lacking everywhere within Regas. Sylutia thought of several familiar friends from before. She had already invited that warrior Haines to come to the palace as the Guard Commander. Then, Yero arrived at the palace the day before yesterday; he would become an advisor within the palace, assisting with various governmental affairs.

As for the other rescued prisoner, Morris, he had also arrived at the palace now. What he had learned before was quite eclectic, and he was now immersed in the underground library, studying various mystical knowledge almost without sleep, which surprised the palace people.

Although his previously learned abilities were messy, Sylutia could see that the other possessed an extraordinary love and desire for exploration regarding knowledge and mysticism. Such a person was probably very suitable as a research and development talent and should be able to help Mursa in the future.

Now that Scorchstone City had returned to Regas, the originally stationed Anty soldiers were safely repatriated by Sylutia. However, that axe-wielding warrior Aru did not return but joined the new Regas, becoming a warrior in the army.

As for the reason, it was also simple. His origins in the Ante Kingdom were lowly; returning would probably just mean being sent to the battlefield as high-grade cannon fodder, so he simply didn't go. Additionally, he was also thinking of performing well to get new 'Blood Currants' from Sylutia to enhance his abilities.

Currently, the supply and treatment Sylutia offered him was one cluster of 'Blood Currants' per year. Although the quantity was far less than before, it was still quite generous. If exchanged for money, considering the consistently high quality Sylutia cultivated, the market price would probably be over 400 gold coins. This showed that Sylutia had actually given too much too hastily before because she didn't know the value of the fruits she grew.

This was also why Aru absolutely refused to leave. He wouldn't get such good treatment back in Ante.

Karen was recently helping train archers in the army. Of course, she also encountered several retired veterans from the former Regas army, learning advanced secret arts abilities from them. Although a large number of Regas's former talents had perished in the war, a few survivors remained.

Ray had now preliminarily finished learning blacksmithing craftsmanship, but he wanted to stay in Scorchstone City to hone his skills and hadn't come to White Cliff City.

'If I go to White Cliff City now, I'll embarrass Tia,' Ray answered Sylutia's invitation plainly in a letter.

As for Komea, she was in a distant country, and Sylutia couldn't contact her for now. Mick also seemed not to be in Regas, having gone to other regions. However, Mick's opponent and rival Solyn was discovered by Sylutia and was now an outstanding warrior in the army. Not long ago, she had even knighted him, granting him the 'Third Tier - Castle' rank.

"The ways of the world are unpredictable. Originally, I wanted to be a valiant warrior. Unfortunately, after seeing too many people die on the battlefield, this idea of mine quickly wavered."

"Sturdy armor and long swords are what war needs most, so I could only switch to being a knight," Solyn answered Tia at the time.

He had experienced the fall of Windcliff City, surviving against all odds from the attacks of the Eagle Scorpion and Anty armies. Later, he continuously engaged in guerrilla warfare in the mountains with small teams of comrades, living a savage-like life until Regas was restored, when he finally returned. Although those three years were exceptionally wretched, his strength had also improved greatly. Several brutal life-and-death struggles had given him many insights.

"I, Solyn Agade, am willing to heed the guidance of Lady Sylutia, be loyal to Regas, and swear to protect this beautiful land from any enemy invasion or destruction." The now-grown youth knelt on one knee before the white-robed maiden, receiving the knighting ceremony of the sword and obtaining the knight's title.

"May you remember your oath, with the wind of victory ever at your side."

Now standing before him was the Chief Knight of Regas, the First Court Advisor, the Kingdom's Grand Scholar, Acting Prime Minister, the benefactor and close friend of Queen Mursa, the founder of the Griffon-Lion Knight Order, the one who rebuilt Regas, the Azure Star

— Lady Sylutia.