The Cornflower Witch

Chapter 68: Garden Swordsmanship

Lady Franne returned home, and not long after arriving she learned about the contract Sylutia signed a few days earlier.

"Only sold three hundred bottles? I thought you'd be bolder than that." She wasn't bothered, she teased Sylutia instead.

For this veteran Third Tier gardener, truly precious things were those rare items above Third Tier. As for Sunflower Seed Oil, it was just the oil from casually planted sunflowers. Even among sunflower oils, she had higher-quality Second Tier Blazing Sun specimens stored in her cellar, so she didn't care much about useless First Tier stock.

When Sylutia officially became her student, she gave the girl the key to the first storage room. It wasn't carelessness, she simply had no use for those items anymore.

"Since you learned how to make deals for the first time, leave that to you from now on." The teacher seemed genuinely unwilling to handle such chores.

"Don't sell them at a huge loss. Sometimes you can give them away, trade them for what you want." She offered Sylutia a tip.

"Yes, teacher." Sylutia then mentioned the three chests of gold coins received that day.

"Gold coins? I understand. Put them in the storage room, they aren't useful for now." The lady considered it.

"As for that Tree Jade Spirit Sword you mentioned, I'll probably have to find a suitable craftsman to make one for you. But people with that skill don't live in Scorchstone City."

"I used to want a weapon like that, but after I advanced to Third Tier I stopped needing to fight in close quarters, so I never searched for one." Lady Franne recalled."At your current stage, many abilities of the Verdant Nectar Aspect can't yet be learned or activated, so you'll have to rely on external items for now."

"Since you chose a sword as your personal weapon, let Lining teach you some sword techniques, she is very skilled." Saying that, Lady Franne called the maid.

"Lining, do you remember the garden swordsmanship I taught you early on? Tia wants to learn too, so you'll teach her."

"Yes, madam." Lining bowed respectfully and accepted.

…

That afternoon Lady Franne attended a friend's tea party, leaving Sylutia and Lining at the manor. Lining used the time to instruct Sylutia in garden swordsmanship.

"This sword art is a gardener inheritance. It's used to trim excess branches and leaves in a garden, and it can also be combined with Verdant Nectar abilities for self-defense."

"Overall, it's a sword style focused on defense and counterattack. Its offensive power is limited." Lining drew a black longsword and demonstrated in front of Sylutia.

Her movements weren't fast. Most of the time she held the sword with both hands, the overall style smooth and rounded, with no stuttering or major motion flaws.

('Garden Swordsmanship' proficiency +16)

Garden Swordsmanship Lv.0: Skill under learning, current progress (16/100)

After watching once, Sylutia picked up the wooden sword and followed along. The style was balanced and steady. As Lining said, it had few gaps, but its attacks were weak compared to military swordsmanship designed to kill on the battlefield.

While observing Lining's moves, Sylutia's attention couldn't help but drift to the maid herself.

In fact, Lining's strength was probably greater than that of the instructor Sylutia had trained with before; Sylutia even felt that a Third Tier knight might not have a huge advantage over this maid.

Name: Lining

Race: Human (mortal body)

Condition: Healthy (no anomalies)

Talent: High Speed [Outstanding], your reactions and movements are extremely fast, beyond ordinary people.

Fate Card: [Sword-Wielding Maid] (Second Tier · Bloodline)

'Sword-wielding maid, guardian of the residence, a dashing and swift attendant.'

- Effect [Agile Physique Lv.4]: After adjustments using Breathing Technique and Power Burst, your body has adapted considerably to Bloodline flow, granting greater speed and reaction.

- Effect [Anti-Demonic Blade Lv.2]: A special ability formed by fusing Steel Sharp Blade and Demonic-Breaking Blood, can be applied to weapons to break barriers constructed by supernatural power.

Ability Cards: [Breathing Technique Lv.5][Swift Shadow Footwork Lv.4][Wind-Listening Spatial Discernment Lv.3]

Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship Lv.6][Blood Leech Swordsmanship Lv.5][Maidcraft Lv.5][Garden Swordsmanship Lv.4][Secret History Knowledge Lv.4][Gardening Skills Lv.4]

——

No wonder the madam felt so at ease going out. With this maid at home, ordinary people simply couldn't defeat her; even in all of Scorchstone City, few could beat Lining.

Five-stage Breathing Technique — now Sylutia understood why she'd never seen the maid sweat or gasp for breath; the daily chores must feel like child's play to her.

Under Lining's instruction, Sylutia spent most of the day and initially mastered the usage of this sword art. Lining, somewhat surprised, examined her from head to toe for a long time.

"You might be a promising sword student." Even Lining had taken three days to learn it back then, which had earned Lady Franne's praise.

Tending the fields, mastering the Flower Blooming Method, practicing swordsmanship — Sylutia's life was full and orderly, and the days flew by.

By the end of December, a few snowflakes finally drifted down, though they melted as soon as they touched the ground, never forming a vast snowy scene.

In other years this season would bring heavy snow sealing the mountains, making travel and transportation inconvenient.

"Tia, I want to go home for a bit." One day Talier brought up the idea.

Because Lady Franne was often away, Sylutia was essentially in charge of the household now.

"It has been about half a year since we came out, hasn't it?" Sylutia suddenly remembered waking up in the forest.

"My sister told me to bring some winter supplies. I also want to check on my grandfather." Talier mentioned the old village chief.

Hearing that, Sylutia felt tempted too. She had mostly stayed at the manor for the past month and wanted to get out.

"I'll ask Lining. We'll go together." She also wanted to visit the old man and then search where she had woken up for clues.

When Sylutia's request reached Lining, the maid nodded faintly in agreement.

"Miss Tia can certainly go out, but please return within a week. If you stay away too long the fields and the plants you personally cultivate may have problems."

"Okay, I understand." A week was enough; she wouldn't be living in Lindenwood Village permanently.

With the decision made to visit the village, Sylutia and Talier first went to the market to buy supplies. Following Winnie's list, they bought smoked meat, sausages, salt, jam, thick winter clothes, blankets, soap, candles, medicinal wine, gauze, and the like.

After preparing these, they hired a cart and set off.