"Big brother Jello, are you heading out on a mission?" After school, back at ho, Mick watched the group preparing to leave with curiosity.
"Yeah. You probably can't co this ti, it's pretty far, over by Waterditch Town."
During the recent break, Mick had joined Jello's adventuring party on a task, and his marked improvent surprised the team.
In the mission, his combat, detection, analysis, and planning all improved dramatically.
"No wonder he trained under Scholar Hyde," everyone said.
With the mission pay from the break, Mick had managed to replace his sword and saved up so money.
'Too bad I'm still a long way from forging a sword made of black steel,' he regretted that the break was too short. If he'd had more ti, he might have gone with Jello to Waterditch Town.
"What kind of mission is over at Waterditch Town?" Mick asked casually before they left.
"Actually there was a notice about it last year. Seems so unnad monster attacked a caravan," one team mber who was packing ropes and nets replied.
"An adventurer party did get sent there then, but the beast didn't show up, so they ca back empty-handed."
"A few months later it reappeared, and since we have the ti now, Jello took the job."
"Is that thing strong?" Mick leaned against the wall and asked, resting his head on his arm.
"Who knows, but there were no signs of major destruction at the site, so probably not very powerful." With that, the others finished packing.
"Alright, we're heading out. Mick, stay with Scholar Hyde and keep studying hard while we're gone, haha."
Although Mick's presence would be missed as a frontline fighter, with one fewer person to split the pay, nobody fussed over it; they treated it like a routine, simple job.
"Okay, co back early, you guys." Mick noticed a faint sll of tobacco from Jello's pack and couldn't help reminding him.
"Don't smoke too much. I heard from the innkeeper elders that it's very harmful in excess." This tobacco called scorched-day herb could beco addictive.
"Heh, kid, mind your own business and scram." Jello waved him off.
Mick could only shrug and move aside. He planned to practice swordplay, reviewing the 'Leaping Step' he had recently learned from Scholar Hyde.
...
Lady Franne's manor, the lady returned after a few days away.
"Tia, how is your Flower Blooming thod coming along?" After she returned, she had Lining fetch the girl to ask about her progress.
"I've learned the basics," Sylutia answered honestly; there was no point hiding it now.
"Oh?" Lady Franne raised an eyebrow, a touch of skepticism showing.
She had always believed in Sylutia's talent, but regarding the Flower Blooming thod, it was hard to accept that the girl could learn it so quickly.
In truth, Lady Franne had not told Sylutia everything. Normally a gardener can only cultivate plants up to their own tier: a First Tier gardener apprentice can cultivate First Tier plants at most, a Second Tier cultivates Second Tier, and so on. Sylutia being able to cultivate a First Tier Swan Orchid while still at Zero Tier was entirely unexpected, and that surprised Lady Franne.
Because of that, when teaching Sylutia, she deliberately accelerated the pace and curriculum. She could not treat this girl as an ordinary student; she saw her as a genius on par with herself.
As for the Flower Blooming thod, gardeners typically do not encounter it until Second Tier. Even then, learning it demands considerable effort, and sotis requires auxiliary materials to achieve the desired effect.
Letting Sylutia learn early was partly faith in the girl's talent, and partly faith in her own teaching.
Still, Sylutia's progress exceeded expectations.
Even though Sylutia had practiced before the winter break, retraining had delayed her. Learning it properly now took no more than two months, surprisingly fast.
"Let's go check the greenhouse." She and Sylutia went to the small conservatory where Sylutia kept her cultivated plants.
"Place your hand on that White Callia and test the effect." Better to try here first; if it goes wrong it won't damage more valuable specins.
"Alright." Sylutia obeyed, coming to the compact callia sapling, lightly pinching a shoot, then closing her eyes to sense.
After a few seconds she located the callia's rhythm and channeled her Verdant Nectar into it.
The not-yet-grown callia's new bud sprouted, the tender leaves unfurled, and a small bud appeared, slowly opening to reveal pure white petals.
As it blood, a faint clean fragrance spread, filling the greenhouse and growing steadily stronger.
"Good, that's enough." Lady Franne nodded.
It seed Sylutia had genuinely learned it, not just boasting.
"Since that's the case, it's ti to give you that thing."
"For the ti ahead, you will focus on cultivating the Fire Glow Orchid to prepare for the Hidden Grove assessnt. Don't neglect your swordsmanship either." The folding fan in her hand turned, as she considered what else to remind her of.
"That's all for now."
"Yes, teacher."
...
Beyond distant mountain ranges, a black carriage slowly rolled along a mountain road. The carriage body looked iron-like, painted black, with corners carved into vine-shaped curves—beautiful yet ancient, as if it had been in use for centuries.
A black horse drew the carriage, its mane handso, red eyes scanning occasionally, scaring many forest animals away.
"The scent of ogres? This should be interesting." A lazy, magnetically charming voice ca from inside the carriage.
"Since there are ogres here, we'll set the assessnt location in this place."
After speaking, the carriage halted. A snow-white wrist like a spirit serpent extended from the window, its slender fingers gesturing toward the distant mountain forest like pulling at a canvas. The entire mountain's trees and grass began to warp and twist; so great trees tore open into distorted faces, becoming grotesque, terrifying forms.
...
A black stork flew into Scorchstone City, its blood-red long beak tapping on the Viscount's bedroom window.
A few days later, Viscount Xuefeng gathered the trainees at the training grounds, with Scholar Hyde by his side today.
"The assessnt to the Hidden Grove is set. Three days from now we'll be near Waterditch Town. There is a dangerous forest there that will be your trial ground."
"There will be three stages, three objectives. If you complete the first objective, I will reward you each with a well-crafted steel weapon worth about one hundred silver." For ordinary people, that sum might take five years of work to accumulate.
"If you complete the second objective, I'll have a craftsman tailor a set of armor or uniform for you, worth about six hundred silver coins." That was also very substantial.
"If you complete the third objective—" His gaze swept the crowd and paused.
"I will grant you a special badge and present you with a residence in the West District." This was wealth many commoners couldn't earn in a lifeti, and more importantly, a symbol of status—residing in the West District ant you were either rich or noble.
After Viscount Xuefeng spoke, Scholar Hyde stepped up and offered a few words of advice: asure your capabilities, life and safety co first. Finally, everyone was dismissed to prepare; they would depart for Waterditch Town together the next day.
"It's finally coming." Countless trainees ward up, full of ambition.
Solyn glanced at Mick and made a taunting gesture, and Mick responded in kind without backing down.
Elsewhere, Iona looked toward a black-haired girl in the distance, then returned with Viscount Xuefeng to the castle residence.
It's beginning. Tia, I hope you don't let
down, she silently resolved, determined to use this chance to prove herself and firmly grasp the key that opens the gate to her future.
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