Cornflower Witch

Chapter 316 The Red-Haired Bard

Beside a sea of ​​flame flowers covering the mountains and plains, a beautiful white round tower stands.

"Legend has it that a princess of unparalleled beauty lives within that white tower. She never ages, wandering alone within the tower, waiting for someone..."

On the pristine white stone steps of the corridor, a red-haired bard played his harp, recounting beautiful yet slightly melancholic poetic stories, attracting many students to watch and listen.

"Tell me quickly, what are you waiting for?" one student couldn't help but ask.

"Is he waiting for a prince wearing a swan crown?" a girl couldn't help but fantasize and speculate.

"He must be her dream lover. The two were forced to separate because of their parents and the country," another aristocratic student guessed, adjusting his glasses.

“I think it should be a more tragic story, probably about the princess’s beloved being buried in that sea of ​​flowers…” another student with a literary flair wrote down his ideas.

Just as everyone was speculating, a patrol of knights passed by. They were dressed in white cloaks and armor, with golden vines entwining and adorning the hilts of their swords at their waists, and the scabbards were decorated with the emblem of the bright flame cornflower.

"Don't block the way, please make way." A capable female knight walked ahead, dispersing the students. When she saw the red-haired youth in the crowd who was trying to hide and escape, her gaze sharpened.

"Galas, are you spreading some strange rumors again?"

"Hehe, I'm just 'practicing' as a bard. After all, only by singing moving stories can one gradually achieve the three-phase balance of a 'bard' and advance on the path of the class." He argued slightly.

"Really?" The female knight walked over with disbelief in her eyes, grabbed the other person's shoulder, and her fingers, covered in silver scale armor, were like steel clamps, squeezing the other person's shoulder bone.

"Ouch, ouch! Lady Rachel, Sister Rachel, please spare me!" the red-haired youth pleaded hastily.

"Do you think I'd believe what you're saying?" Rachel winked at the team members behind her, signaling them to ask the remaining trainees what they had just heard.

"You made up strange stories about Lady Tia before, and I caught you red-handed, but you still refused to admit it."

"I really don't understand why Tia saved you in the first place. Also, I'm not your sister, nor your senior. On the contrary, I should call you Senior Galas, don't you think?" As she said the last few words, she increased the pressure on her wrist, causing the red-haired youth to wince in pain.

"I understand. Please let go, Rachel."

"Heh, now you know how to call me junior. You should call me Knight Rachel or Captain Rachel, that would be more appropriate."

"Alright, Captain Rachel, please let me explain in detail."

After some kind words, Rachel finally let go, giving the red-haired youth a chance to speak.

Although Galas is a third-tier monster, his combat power is not high because he is a 'bard'. Several months ago, he fought a rather dangerous battle against a 'second-tier' monster in the Trial Labyrinth. If he hadn't been lucky enough to obtain a powerful item and then encountered the merciful Sylvia, he probably would have died in the Trial Labyrinth long ago.

He was naturally filled with gratitude towards his savior, Hilti, and also with an indescribable reverence and admiration.

'Miss Hilti is so perfect; no words can express the amazement and admiration in my heart.' With this overwhelming feeling, he tossed and turned for a long time, finally thinking that he could express this emotion through poetry and stories. Thus, he created and promoted various stories featuring Hilti as the protagonist and image.

'When Miss Siltiah becomes famous throughout the Continental Woodland Alliance, that will be the time for me to advance to the fourth rank.' He later vaguely learned of this conclusion.

Therefore, this 'half-baked' bard often lingered at the Sun Garden residence, telling the students and tourists who came to visit and tour the various stories he had written.

Furthermore, as the only person besides Hilti to survive that trial, he strongly corroborated Hilti's explanation and witnessed the birth of this settlement. Occasionally, important figures would ask him about his experiences. Therefore, he was a special permanent resident of 'Sun Garden'. Even Rachel, as the captain of the patrol knights, could not forcibly drive him away. She could only give him a small punishment each time she caught him.

As they gradually learned about Rachel and the other patrol knights' bottom line, Gallas grew bolder and began to write more exciting and captivating stories.

The story template has also changed from the initial 'Savior Girl Hilti' to stories such as 'Princess Watching Over a Sea of ​​Flowers for a Thousand Years', 'Eternal Girl Beloved by Cornflowers', and 'Flawless Flower Born in Despair'.

These stories never explicitly mention Hiltya's name, but they always connect her to her through ambiguous images and concepts, highlighting her mystery and beauty, as well as various admirable qualities. Some of these stories are so exaggerated that even Hiltya can't stand them and repeatedly tells Rachel and the others to keep a close eye on her.

"...So, this is the new story you made up?" After hearing Garas's explanation, Rachel felt that this guy was incorrigible.

"Well, I actually created these stories with the utmost respect for Lady Siltia," the red-haired youth began a new explanation.

"Everyone likes stories with 'fantasy' and 'novelty' elements. In order to spread and promote them, some necessary processing is necessary so that Lady Siltia's reputation can be spread."

“But Tia has been very troubled lately because the people who come to visit her always ask her if those stories are true, and they're even thinking about whether to introduce her to a suitable lover.” Rachel shook her head.

“Although Tia believes you mean no harm, I still have to warn you not to do anything too outrageous. She might be soft-hearted and won’t really punish you severely, but I don’t have that kind of extra kindness. If you’re not honest, I have plenty of ways to deal with you, hehe.” As she spoke, Rachel looked the bard up and down, and that gaze sent a chill down Gallas’s spine.

"Fine, fine." Gallas raised his hands in surrender.

"I will definitely pay attention in the future and try my best to keep Lady Tia from getting involved in strange emotions in the story, and strive to maintain Lady Tia's glorious, pure, and positive image," Galas vowed.

Seeing him swear an oath, Rachel gave him another lecture before letting him go.

Seeing the bard leave, the knight beside him asked curiously.

Did he really listen?

“He will listen,” Rachel said, adding that even if he doesn’t, she will make sure he does.

"Although this guy has caused a lot of trouble, overall, it seems a bit less lively without him. Playing this cat-and-mouse game once in a while is quite fun, isn't it?"

After the 'Sun Garden' base was set up, it was quickly filled with people, most of whom were members of 'Lantern Town'. However, many members of other organizations of the Woodland Alliance also came to settle in. Now, there are Tier 3 professional players everywhere in the base, as well as many scholars and wizards who have come to study and research the local environment.

They would gather in the open space of the garden to discuss and debate academic issues. This place had become the home of rising stars within the Woodland Alliance, known to many members of the Woodland Alliance. The creator and discoverer of this area, Hilti, had her name gradually spread within the Woodland Alliance, officially becoming a representative of the new generation of members.

(End of this chapter)