Cornflower Witch

Chapter 90 The assessment is coming
"Brother Jero, are you going on a mission?" Mick asked curiously as he returned home from school, looking at the group of people who were all ready to go.

"Yes, you probably won't be able to go this time. It's quite far from Jiaoshicheng, it's in Shuigou Town."

During the recent holiday, Mick participated in a mission with Gerald's adventure team, and his significant improvement in strength surprised the team members.

In missions, there have been significant improvements in combat, reconnaissance, analysis, and planning.

"No wonder he studied under Hyde," was everyone's assessment.

With the rewards from his holiday missions, Mick successfully bought a new sword and even saved up some money.

'Unfortunately, it's still far from enough to forge a sword made of black steel.' He regretted that the vacation was too short; if there had been more time, he could have gone to Ditch Town with Jero.

"What kind of mission is it in Shuigou Town?" Mick asked casually before leaving.

"Actually, it happened once last year. It seems that some monster whose name we don't know attacked the caravan," a team member who was tidying up ropes and nets replied.

"At the time, some adventurer teams were also assigned to go there, but the monster never appeared, so they came up empty-handed."

"Several months have passed, and now it has resurfaced. Since there was time this time, Jero took it on."

"Is that guy good?" Mick asked, leaning against the wall and resting his head on his pillow.

"Who knows? But judging from the lack of signs of severe damage, it shouldn't be too strong." After saying that, the group had almost finished cleaning up.

"Alright, let's go. Mick can stay with Maester Hyde and study hard for now, haha."

Although Mick, an important combatant, was gone, there were also fewer people to share the spoils, so everyone wasn't as conflicted. It was just like a simple, ordinary mission.

"Yeah, come back soon." Mick noticed the slight smell of tobacco emanating from Jero's backpack and couldn't help but remind him.

"Smoke that stuff less often. I heard from the adults at the hotel that it's very harmful if you use too much." This tobacco called 'Huangri Grass' is addictive if you use it for a long time.

"Heh, you little brat, you're meddling in my business. Get lost." Jero waved his hand, telling him to go aside.

Mick could only shrug and walk to the side, preparing to practice his swordsmanship some more, recalling the 'Leaping Steps' he had recently learned from Maester Hyde.

……

Madame Franz's residence, the lady who had been away for several days returned.

"Tiya, how is your learning of the Flower Blooming Technique going?" After she returned, she asked Lining to bring the girl over to inquire about her progress.

"I've already learned the basics," Hiltiya answered honestly, as there was no point in hiding it now.

"Oh?" Mrs. Fran raised an eyebrow, slightly skeptical.

She had always believed in Siltia's talent, but she still found it hard to believe that the girl could learn the Flower Blooming Technique so quickly.

Actually, there were some things she didn't tell Tia. Generally speaking, gardeners can only cultivate plants of the same rank as themselves. In other words, a first-rank gardener apprentice can only cultivate one-rank plants at most, and a second-rank apprentice can only cultivate two-rank plants. So, it was completely unexpected that Hilti could cultivate a first-rank 'Swan Orchid' at the zero-rank level, which surprised her quite a bit.

So later, when teaching Hilti, she deliberately sped up the pace and progress, because she could not treat this girl as an ordinary student, but as a genius on par with herself.

As for the Flower Blooming Technique, this ability is generally only accessible to second-tier gardeners. Even if one were to learn it, it would require a great deal of effort, and occasionally other materials would be needed to assist in its execution in order to achieve the desired effect.

Letting Siltiya learn ahead of time was partly due to confidence in her talent, and partly due to confidence in my own teaching abilities.

Even so, the girl's progress still exceeded her expectations.

Even though she practiced before the winter break, she wasted time due to retaking the course, and it has only taken her less than two months to learn it now.

“Let’s go take a look at the greenhouse.” She and Siltia arrived at the small greenhouse, where Siltia kept her cultivated plants.

"Place your hand on the 'White Camellia' over there and see how it works." Let's take a look first; if it's not right, we won't damage other more valuable plants. "Okay." Hiltiya did as she was told, went to the small camellia sapling, gently pinched a branch, and then closed her eyes to sense it.

After a few seconds, she found the rhythm of the 'White Camellia' and then transferred the power of the 'Emerald Honey' within her body.

The camellia tree, which has not yet grown, sprouts new buds, then unfolds its tender leaves, and then a small flower bud appears, slowly blooming and revealing its pure white petals.

After blooming, a faint fragrance fills the entire greenhouse, growing stronger with each passing day.

“Okay, that’s fine.” Mrs. Fran nodded.

It seems that Hilti has truly learned it, and is not just talking big.

"In that case, it's time to hand that thing over to you."

"In the time that follows, you should focus all your efforts on nurturing 'Fire Orchid' to prepare for the assessment in the Hidden Forest. Don't neglect your swordsmanship either." She twirled the folding fan in her hand, seemingly considering what else needed to be prepared and reminded.

"Let's do this for now."

"is teacher."

……

Beyond the distant mountains, a black carriage moved slowly through the mountains. The carriage body was made of iron and painted black, with the edges shaped like vines, which was quite beautiful, but it also looked very old, as if it had been used for hundreds of years.

The cart was pulled by a black horse with a beautiful mane and red eyes that occasionally swept across the area, keeping many forest animals at bay.

"The aura of an ogre? This is interesting." A lazy yet magnetic voice came from inside the car.

"Since there are cannibals here, let's set up the assessment location here."

After she finished speaking, the carriage stopped, and a snow-white wrist, as nimble as a snake, emerged from the window. The slender fingers gestured towards the distant mountains and forests, as if tearing a cloth. The trees and grass of the entire mountain began to deform and twist, and some large trees even tore out distorted features, turning into terrifying shapes.

……

A black stork flew into Jiaoshi City, its long, blood-red beak tapping against the viscount's bedroom window.

A few days later, Viscount Scheerfeng summoned all the students to the training ground, with Maester Hyde also by his side.

"The assessment to go to the Hidden Forest has been scheduled for three days from now, near the town of Shuigou. There is a dangerous forest there, which will be the place to test you."

"The trial has three stages, which are three objectives. If you complete the first objective, I will reward you with a handy fine steel weapon, worth about 100 silver." This reward is something an ordinary person might have to work for five years to accumulate.

"If you achieve the second goal, I will have a craftsman tailor-make a suit of armor or uniform for you, worth about 600 silver coins." That's quite a good item.

"If we achieve the third objective..." He looked at everyone and paused.

"I will bestow upon you a special badge and a residence in the West District." This is an asset that many ordinary people cannot earn in a lifetime, and more importantly, it is a symbol of status, because those who live in the West District are either rich or noble.

After Viscount Xue Feng finished speaking, Scholar Hyde went up on stage and offered a few words of advice, the gist of which was to act within one's capabilities and prioritize personal safety. Finally, he told the trainees to go back and prepare, and to set off together for Shuigou Town the next day.

"It's finally here!" Countless students were eager and full of confidence.

Thorin glanced at Mick and made a provocative gesture, to which Mick responded defiantly.

On the other side, Iona glanced at the black-haired girl in the distance, then returned to her residence in the castle with Viscount Schefeng.

"It's about to begin, Tia. I hope you won't let me down," she secretly resolved, determined to seize this opportunity to prove herself and firmly grasp the key to the future.

(End of this chapter)