Cornflower Witch

Chapter 8 Girl under the Moon
The iron bells hanging from the carriages swayed and jingled as the caravan slowly moved forward along the road up the hillside.

"That must be Jiaoshi City."

Hiltiya looked out the window at the city built against the mountain. Just like its name, the stone bricks on it had many scorched marks, as if they had been through a fire.

“That’s right, we’ll be at Jiaoshi City soon.” Merchant Van der Hee rode past the carriage carrying Hiltia.

"After arriving in Jiaoshi City, we will rest for a long time, replenish our goods, and sell the acquired items to the city's merchants."

"Didn't Mr. Van der Hee sell them to the citizens of the city himself?" Hiltia asked, somewhat surprised.

“This is different from the situation in the village.” He shook his head.

"The market space in the city is expensive, and it would take a long time to get rid of so many goods, so it's not worth it at all."

"Finally, the merchants' associations in the city are very powerful, and I, a wandering merchant, cannot compete with them. To avoid conflict, selling the goods directly to them is the best option."

"I see."

As the group talked, the caravan gradually arrived at the city gate and was inspected by the guards.

The process didn't take long. The guards simply noted down the number of vehicles and the approximate cargo, and quickly let them pass. As for the carriage where Hiltiya was, they didn't even bother to look at it.

"Go!" The driver shook the reins and urged the packhorses forward.

As they entered the city's cobblestone streets, the carriage became smoother, and Hiltiya peered through the cracks in the window to observe the scenery along the way.

The town was quite lively, with many villagers and vendors from the surrounding area walking along the street, selling daily necessities and some local food.

At this moment, Hilti also noticed several special people. They were wearing short cloaks and carrying weapons on their shoulders, including double-edged axes, broadswords, spears, and bows and arrows. Compared to ordinary passersby, they were obviously more confident and flamboyant, and they were also very generous when buying things.

“Those are adventurers,” Taliel said, noticing the group of people Hiltiah was looking at.

“My grandfather used to be an adventurer. He would take on quests issued by the local guild and then complete them to earn rewards.”

"How strong are these people?" Xilutiya blinked slightly. Her discerning eyes told her that although these people had not yet reached the first level of the Qi Realm, their strength was much stronger than that of ordinary guards. One of them even had reached the second level of breathing techniques.

“Adventurers vary greatly in strength. The more powerful ones can reach the first tier, but those who are even more powerful are very rare,” Taliel replied.

"But my grandfather was a second-tier adventurer, very strong." No wonder that old man had a bad temper, and Frien didn't dare to talk back to him.

Having the strength of a second-tier expert in his youth, he was a rare and formidable figure in this region. It was only natural that he could be on good terms with the previous Baron Hollin.

Upon arriving at the large hotel in the city, after a brief conversation with the owner, the carriage drove into the backyard and parked. At this point, Thaliel and Hilti also got out of the carriage.

The stables were filled with the smells of damp hay, animal manure, and livestock. Fortunately, being outdoors, the smells weren't too strong. After getting off the carriage, Hiltiya covered herself slightly with her sleeve, then her eyes, hidden under her hood, curiously looked around.

As soon as I stepped out of the backyard and into the hotel lobby, members of the caravan came over.

"Miss Tia, Lord Vanderhey invites you to dinner."

"Where is it?" Judging from the other person's tone, it seemed they weren't dining at a hotel.

“I’ll take you there to the Gloria Restaurant in town,” the other person said, bending down to gesture.

After that, Hilti and Thaliel followed each other along the street, and after about two minutes, they arrived at a restaurant on the street.

The arched windows are decorated with stained glass, and the main door is also made of glass and curtains, making it look exceptionally elegant.

Upon entering, several maids standing guard by the door stepped forward to guide Hilti to a private room on the second floor. Several tables by the window were separated by curtains, creating a tranquil environment. Meanwhile, Taliel and the young caravan members stayed on the first floor to dine.

Entering one of the cubicles, Van der Hee was already seated. He had taken off his felt hat and placed it aside, leaning back in his chair like a grizzly bear, exuding a rare sense of relaxation.

"Miss Tia has arrived." He rose slightly to greet her, then sat down again.

Over the past few days, he and Hilti have become somewhat familiar with each other, and he is no longer as reserved and ingratiating as he was at the beginning.

"Please sit down. The food here is delicious and will definitely not disappoint you," he assured him.

"Then I'll have to look forward to it." Hilti smiled and bowed slightly in thanks.

Seeing the silver-haired girl across from him smile, Van der Hee paused for a few seconds, then shook his head.

"Miss Tia's beauty is truly irresistible," he exclaimed.

In truth, he wasn't sure if the other person was truly a noble, but her demeanor and appearance were probably unmatched even by some heirs of great noble families. This was why he was willing to invest his friendship in this young woman.

"Thank you for your compliment." Hiltiya had heard countless compliments about her appearance these past few days, and even though she was mentally prepared, she still felt slightly shy each time.

It's true that being good-looking is a blessing, but it can also bring some trouble. She's already considering whether she should start wearing a veil when she goes out in the future.

The two chatted briefly about their experiences over the past few days. Van der Hee said he would stay in the city for a while, knowing that Xilutia had just arrived in Jiaoshi City and would definitely need help in many ways.

"What are your plans for the future, Miss Tia?"

"Me? I'll probably find a place to live in the city first, then find a job, then learn some skills, and then plan for the future." Who can predict the future?

Upon hearing this, Van der Hee did not immediately offer any suggestions, but instead stroked his beard and pondered for a while.

“I am a merchant and have no power in the city, but I can arrange a place for Miss Tia to stay. It is a place I used to use, but I rarely stay in Jiaoshi City, so it has been vacant.”

"Thank you so much, I will remember this kindness." Even though she knew that the other party was investing for profit, Hilti still felt grateful. Otherwise, given her current situation, it would be very difficult for her to settle down in the city.

"Haha, these are all minor matters." Seeing Xilutiya's attitude, he was quite relieved, at least he could see some hope of a return on the investment.

If Shilutia had the indifferent, somewhat arrogant and picky attitude, he probably wouldn't have dared to invest too much help to avoid losses.

Shortly afterward, the waiter brought the prepared dinner, placed it on the table, and opened the lid, releasing a fragrant steam.

On the silver plate is a roasted goose with a golden-brown, crispy skin, surrounded by red berries and roasted parsley.

"Sir, would you like it cut open now?" the waiter asked, bending down.

“Let’s watch a little longer. I always think that Chef Martin’s food is like art.” He praised the restaurant’s head chef.

The waiter understood the meaning of their words, so he carefully rotated the plate, trying to let the two of them admire the golden-brown roasted goose from various angles.

Even for Hilti, who possessed memories of her past life, this was a rare feast. A hint of curiosity shone in her eyes, and information about the dish surfaced in her mind. [Roasted White Goose] (Quality: Excellent): After removing the internal organs, the goose's belly is stuffed with bread, orange segments, and spices. Then, butter is spread on the goose skin, and it is roasted. Finally, pepper is sprinkled on top, and a small amount of sauce is applied. The flavor and texture are excellent.

After the viewing was complete, the waiter took out a knife, cut open the goose's belly, took out the bread inside, cut it into pieces, and paired it with small pieces of goose meat, then placed them on the two people's plates.

"Please enjoy your meal." After finishing with the roast goose, the waiter respectfully left.

Hirutia used her fork to pick up a small piece from the plate and put it in her mouth. The heat mingled with the sweet aroma of butter. After biting into it, the first taste was of pepper and meat, followed by the softness of breadcrumbs. All of these flavors blended together, and the overflowing juices spread throughout her mouth, instantly activating her taste buds.

call……

After finishing the piece, she took small breaths to cool her burning tongue.
Upon seeing the girl's adorable appearance, Van der Hee had to look away again, otherwise he felt he would melt into her strange charm.

The kingdom's princess could not be more lovely and charming than this, he thought. If this young woman were to enter the upper echelons of nobility, she would probably attract countless young talents vying for her. If he were ten years younger, he would probably join the group of suitors, even if the chances were slim. But now... his early ambitions had long since vanished.

……

While enjoying the delicious food, Van der Hee talked about Hilti's age.

"Around 15 or 16 years old."

She deduced her own age based on Taliel's age, who is currently only in her early 16s, and the two are not much different in height.

"16 years old?" Van der Hee glanced at Hiltia's appearance. Her facial features were somewhat soft, and she hadn't fully grown up yet, so she did look about the right age.

"At 16, it won't be easy for Miss Tia to find a job," he pondered.

"There will always be a way." In her previous life, Hiltiya had already worked at the university for several years, so she wasn't too worried about this.

At worst, one can live a simpler life and save money. In this world with extraordinary powers, the more important thing is to improve one's strength.

"Does Mr. Van der Hee know of any place where one can learn about the advancement of transcendental abilities?"

"I happen to know a little about this, or rather, anyone with a bit of ambition would ask about it, hehehe." He laughed, raised his glass, and gently swirled it.

"For ordinary civilians, the most common way is to join the army or the guards of nobles. They will teach them knowledge related to 'castles' and various combat skills. If you are exceptionally talented and can reach the second tier before the age of forty, even if you come from a humble background, you will gain a lot of respect."

"But for the truly high-ranking officials, I mean the rulers and upper echelons of this country, reaching the third tier is just the beginning."

"With the third-tier 'castle' attribute, you are eligible to pledge allegiance to a monarch or nobleman, become a knight under their command, and obtain your own fiefdom, at the very least a village, and if you perform well, a town is also possible."

"Kings often have a powerful armed force of knights under their command, each of whom is a knight of the third rank or above. They can single-handedly slaughter villages and towns, and fight powerful monsters in the mountains. They are also stars and powerful forces on the battlefield."

"Each knight is paired with 3-4 'Castle' Tier 2 knight attendants, forming an iron legion of thousands, which can sweep across the entire battlefield, break through any defense line, and be invincible."

"The founding monarch of the Kingdom of Regas, where we are now, was known as the 'Knight King'. Hundreds of years ago, he led the 'Fir Knights' in twenty-seven battles. The swallowtail banner with ice crack patterns fluttered, and thousands of lances tore through the cold mist like thunder, defeating countless enemies and local tribal forces. Finally, he established his capital in White Cliff City and opened up his own kingdom in these mountains."

"However, all of that happened a long time ago. The Kingdom of Regas is not as powerful as it used to be, and it has been downgraded from a kingdom to a duchy." He shook his head slightly.

"Besides this most common way, the next way is to join various guilds and organizations. Small ones include the 'Gourmet Guild,' 'Gardener Guild,' and 'Stonemason Guild,' which have knowledge and secret techniques of the relevant job ranks 1-2. Larger guilds include the 'Apothecary Guild,' 'Forging Guild,' and 'Thief Guild,' which have knowledge and secret techniques of the relevant job ranks 1-3."

"Is that all? I've heard Thaliel mention the 'Candlehold School'," Hilti asked, puzzled.

“Oh, right, yes, her sister Winnie studied under Mathematician Hyde,” Vandersh replied, stroking his beard.

“The ‘Candlecastle School’ is different from the other guilds I’ve mentioned before. They are a powerful organization that transcends national boundaries, and even many kingdoms rely on them to solve problems.”

"I don't know much about the 'Candleburg School,' after all, I'm just a small businessman. The only thing I know is that many of the nobles' advisors and strategists in the Kingdom of Regas are from this school. Those scholars who have been certified with the Candleburg Badge are highly respected in this country, and even nobles treat them with courtesy."

"Thank you for letting me know."

The meal for the two gradually came to an end.

After enjoying the rare delicacy, Hilti and Van der Hee went downstairs and, together with Thaliel and the young caravan members who were waiting, boarded the waiting carriage and returned to the inn.

The night passed peacefully.

The next day, Van der Hee had the long-unoccupied house cleaned and a new bed prepared for Hiltia to live in.

After getting the key, Hilti and Thaliel wandered around the house for a while, looking around and taking in the sights.

“This is the East District. Although it’s not as wealthy and luxurious as the West District, it’s still a very good location,” Talil explained to Hilti.

"The North District is where Viscount Schefeng's castle is located, and ordinary people cannot enter there. The West District is inhabited by the wealthy and a small number of nobles. The East District is generally inhabited by free people and some professionals. The South District is also called the Lower District, where many poor people live."

The house is not large. The first floor is suitable for normal living, with a total of five rooms, including a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and two bedrooms. The upstairs is an attic, which can be used for storage, but the space is not large.

There is a small yard about five meters wide behind the house, where some flowers and plants were planted, but most of them are now withered and there are many weeds.

It wasn't very big, but Hilti was very satisfied; it was much better than the house she used to live in when she worked in the big city.

The next day, the people that Van der Hee hired helped clean the entire house, and then Hiltya settled in. Thaliel will also be staying here temporarily, so the two can keep each other company.

At night, after washing up, the two sat in the small courtyard behind the house in their pajamas. The cool evening breeze dispelled the remaining moisture from their bodies, and a sense of comfort washed over them.

Hiltiya leaned back in the tall wooden chair, her ankles swaying gently beneath her pale nightgown. She looked up at the night sky, where she could see the moon, a rare sight tonight.

The pale moon has some faint dark marks and patterns, like flaws in jade, but these flaws make the moon appear more real and clear, no longer giving it an illusory feel.

Bathed in the moonlight, the girl felt a faint sense of lightness, as if she could float up to the moon after relaxing her whole body.

Unfortunately, upon opening my eyes, I realized it was just an illusion.

“Tia, it seemed like you were covered by a light veil just now, the color of which was like moonlight.” Talil’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

"No, maybe it's just my imagination, I can't see it now."

“Hmm.” Hiltiah shifted her gaze back to the ground and looked at Taliel beside her.

Perhaps I do have a peculiar connection with the moon.

　Thanks to Beta Molan, Book Friend 20220702105837328, and Attacking Anmuxi.

　　u夜汐u, 咸鱼料理, book friend 20250905225138389, 等闲莫别离, book friend 20230723021456974, and other book friends are waiting for your donations~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)