The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 190: The Red-Haired Bard

Vol 2 Chapter 190 The Red-Haired Bard

Amidst the fiery flower sea covering the mountains and fields, a pure white, beautiful round tower stood.

"Legend says a princess of unparalleled beauty resides within that white tower. She never ages, wandering alone within the tower, waiting for a..."

On the clean stone-step corridor, a red-haired bard strummed his strings, narrating a beautiful yet slightly sorrowful poetic tale, attracting many apprentices to gather and listen.

"Hurry up and tell us, waiting for what?" one apprentice couldn't help but ask.

"Is she waiting for a prince wearing a swan crown?" a female student couldn't resist fantasizing and guessing.

"It must be her dream lover. The two were forced apart due to their parents and nations." Another noble student adjusted his glasses, speculating.

"I think it should be an even more tragic and beautiful story. Probably the princess's beloved is buried within that flower sea..." Another student with a literary air tapped his pen, constructing the idea.

Just as everyone was offering various opinions, a patrol of knights passed by. They wore white cloaks and armor, the sword hilts at their waists adorned with golden vine patterns, and the scabbards bore the emblem of the Bright Flame Cornflower.

"Don't block the way here, please move aside." A capable female knight walked at the front, dispersing the apprentices here. When she spotted the red-haired youth in the crowd trying to hide and slip away, her gaze instantly sharpened."Gallas, have you been spreading strange rumors again?"

"Ah hehe, I was just conducting a bard's 'practical training.' After all, only by singing moving tales can one gradually achieve the tri-phase balance of a 'Bard' and advance on the progression path," he argued weakly.

"Is that so?" The female knight walked over, her eyes full of disbelief, and grabbed his shoulder. Her fingers, covered in silver-scale armor, clamped down like steel pliers, squeezing his shoulder bone.

"Ow ow, Lady Rachel, Sister Rachel, please let me go." The red-haired youth hurriedly begged for mercy.

"You think I'd believe what you say?" Rachel gave a look to the team members behind her, signaling them to ask the apprentices who hadn't yet dispersed what they had just heard.

"You previously fabricated strange stories about Lady Ya, and I caught you red-handed, yet you still refused to admit it."

"I really don't understand why Ya saved a guy like you back then. Also, I am not your sister, nor am I your senior. On the contrary, I should be calling you Senior Gallas, shouldn't I?" As she spoke the last few words, the force in her wrist increased, making the red-haired youth grimace in pain.

"I understand, please let go, Junior Sister Rachel."

"Hah, now you know to call me junior sister. You should address me as Knight Rachel or Captain Rachel. That would be proper."

"Alright, alright, Captain Rachel, please listen to my detailed explanation."

After much smooth talking, Rachel finally released her grip, giving the red-haired youth a chance to explain.

Although Gallas was Third Tier, because his progression path was 'Bard,' his combat strength wasn't high. Several months ago, he had fought quite perilously against a 'Second Tier' monster in the trial labyrinth. If not for good luck in obtaining a powerful item and later encountering the merciful Sylutia, he would have likely died in the trial labyrinth long ago.

Towards his lifesaver Sylutia, he was naturally filled with gratitude, along with an indescribable reverence and admiration.

"Lady Sylutia is simply too perfect. No language can describe the awe and worship in my heart." Carrying this hard-to-vent emotion, he tossed and turned for a long time, finally thinking he could vent these feelings through poetic stories.

Thus, various stories with Sylutia as the main character and image were created by him and promoted.

'When Lady Sylutia's fame spreads throughout the continent and the Hidden Grove Alliance, that will be the time I advance to Fourth Tier.' He later vaguely came to this conclusion.

Therefore, this 'half-baked' bard often lingered around the Sunblaze Garden garrison, narrating the various stories he composed to visiting apprentices and travelers.

And because he was the sole survivor besides Sylutia from that trial, he strongly corroborated Sylutia's explanation and also witnessed the birth of this garrison. Occasionally, important figures would ask him about the experiences of that time. Thus, he was a 'special permanent resident' of Sunblaze Garden. Even Rachel, as the patrol knight captain, couldn't forcibly drive him away. She could only give him a small punishment each time she caught him.

Back and forth, gradually learning the bottom line of Rachel and the other patrol knights, Gallas's courage slowly grew, and he began composing stories that were even more novel and captivating.

The story templates also evolved from the initial 'Savior Maiden Sylutia' to tales like 'The Princess Watching Over the Flower Sea for a Thousand Years,' 'The Eternal Maiden Beloved by the Cornflower,' and 'The Flawless Flower Born from Desperation.'

These stories never explicitly stated Sylutia's name in the end, but always used somewhat ambiguous images and concepts to connect with her, highlighting Sylutia's mystery and beauty, and adding various virtuous qualities. Some of the flattery was even too much for Sylutia herself to bear, repeatedly asking Rachel and others to keep a close eye on this guy.

"...So, this is your newly composed story?" After hearing Gallas's explanation, Rachel felt this guy was incorrigible.

"Well, I am actually creating these stories with a lofty sense of reverence for Lady Sylutia." The red-haired youth began a new round of explanation.

"Everyone likes stories with 'novel' elements. To spread and promote them, some necessary embellishments are inevitable. Only this way can Lady Sylutia's reputation spread."

"However, Ti Ya has been quite troubled lately because visitors always ask her if those circulating stories are true, and even wonder if they should introduce a suitable partner to her." Rachel shook her head.

"Although Ti Ya believes you mean no harm, I still have to warn you: don't make things too fantastical. She might be soft-hearted and won't truly punish you severely, but I don't have that kind of extra kindness. If you're not well-behaved, I have plenty of methods, hehe." As she spoke, Rachel looked the bard up and down, her gaze sending a chill down Gallas's spine.

"Okay, okay." Gallas raised his hands in surrender.

"I will definitely pay attention in the future, trying my best to ensure Lady Ti Ya in the stories isn't associated with strange romantic entanglements, and striving to maintain Lady Ya's glorious, pure, and positive image." Gallas swore.

Seeing him vow and swear, Rachel lectured him some more before finally letting him go.

Watching the bard leave, a knight beside her asked curiously, "Did he really take it to heart?"

"He will take it to heart." Rachel indicated that even if he didn't, she would make him take it to heart.

"Although this guy causes a lot of trouble, overall, if he weren't here, it would seem less lively. Occasionally playing this cat-and-mouse game is quite fun, isn't it?"

After the Sunblaze Garden garrison was established, personnel quickly filled the place. Most were members from Lantern Town, but many members from other organizations within the Hidden Grove Alliance also moved in. Now within the garrison, Third Tier formal practitioners were already a common sight, along with many scholars and wizards who came for study tours and research on the local environment.

They would gather in the garden's open spaces to discuss, debate, and exchange academic issues. This place had already become a rising star garrison within the Hidden Grove Alliance, known to many of its members. And the creator and discoverer of this region, Sylutia, her name gradually spread within the Hidden Grove Alliance, formally becoming a representative of the new generation of members.