Chapter 59: A Roadside Stray
A Carefree Stance
Wenger didn’t care much. She wasn’t a local, and dynastic changes were commonplace in her world’s history. What difference did it make who ruled? Admittedly, such a judgment was hasty, but she truly didn’t mind. If war came, she’d be the first to… Fight back, of course! Who wouldn’t react when attacked? Cowardice was unforgivable!
Yet, thinking of Vick’s oath made her uneasy. It felt ominous… As if she were flagged for doom, ready to fall at any moment. No way did she want that! There was no need to drag a minor character like her into history’s grand wheel, crushed like a roadside stray…
Worries for Viyi
Putting Vick aside, her concern shifted to Viyi. Aranold’s return had placed them a month after the temple’s fall. Uncertain if the stone forest’s time flowed differently, Wenger couldn’t imagine how she’d console Viyi if she’d survived that harsh place alone for so long. Her first visit to the stone forest had also shown time discrepancies. Doubts piled up like endless quest markers in a game.
Perhaps time travel was inherently difficult. Returning at all was fortunate; demanding a precise time point seemed harsh. For now, it was beyond her understanding. Having witnessed two higher-tier powerhouses, she felt her own insignificance on the transcendent path more keenly. Thus, she needed to grow stronger to farm in peace. Wait, had she mixed things up? No matter.
A Restless Night
Unable to sleep, Wenger sat cross-legged. Reaching the fourth tier had boosted her mental strength, with room to grow through training. So, she calmed her mind and meditated. Subtle ripples oscillated in another dimension. At dawn, morning light broke through the misty glass. She exhaled deeply. Meditation’s efficiency was low—perhaps she needed another method.
Unaware Viyi had stirred, she checked the guest room again. The girl lay quietly. Saying she wasn’t worried would be a lie. Wenger touched her hand, probing again. No major issues, yet a faint unease lingered, as if something lurked. Her mental strength couldn’t detect it—just intuition. Could it be the deathly aura? It was her weakest area.
A Visit to the Church
She decided to visit the church. Leaving the treehouse, she flew straight there. Some villagers passed by, their glances noted, but she didn’t pause. Landing outside the church’s walls, she respected divine taboos. Displaying extraordinary power in sacred places was seen as arrogance—one of the seven sins. Moreover, Reila had warned her the two statues enshrined were real deities.
Placing two gods together was already offensive, but in a remote town, it seemed normal. In her original world, her hometown was similar. The Church of the Silent Lord was monotheistic. Having seen the might of the hero’s era, she had reason to believe in gods like Agamemnon. Whether deemed heretical or unrecognized wasn’t her concern. She came only to borrow items.
In the warehouse, she found some holy water—useful or not, she took it. Some enchanted herbs, though yellowed and wilted despite preservation, caught her eye. Hmm… She had an idea. Not forgotten, just a backup plan. With little gained at the church, she’d try multiple approaches. Closing the door, she flew back to the treehouse.
Tending to Viyi
At home, she prepared potions in the alchemy room, then returned to Viyi’s room. [Shared Burden] could grant Viyi 50% debuff reduction via [Sanctity], combined with potions and holy water. If that failed, further solutions would take time. Fortunately, as the blessing touched Viyi, she reacted instantly. Her eyelashes trembled slightly. Was she waking, or caught in a dream?
Wenger helped her sit, feeding her potion. Now, it was a matter of waiting. Waiting was her forte. She had endless patience. So, please wake up properly, Viyi… She lingered, hoping for a quick response. But after reading several magic scrolls, her student showed no further signs beyond the initial reaction. Still, her condition was improving bit by bit. Waking was only a matter of time.
She set up a familiar magic circle in the room and left. Staying to do other tasks might disturb Viyi’s rest. It was still early, not yet past morning.
The Flower Field Mystery
She decided to check the flower field by the mine. Walking slowly, she took the valley path to the mine. The road had been repaved, smooth up to the camp. This boosted efficiency for transporting ore. Hunters could enter the mountains faster and safer. There was even space for cavalry in emergencies.
After a long stroll, she reached the small cabin she’d built. The front was untidy, but inside was fine—few items cluttered it. She cleared dust with mana, checked the candies in the cabinet, and put them back. Cotton candy could wait. Truthfully, she wasn’t in the mood to sit still.
The flower field lay behind the cabin, down a narrow forest path to a clearing. Checking the growth, she wondered if she’d taken a wrong turn. What was this giant lantern-like flower, taller than her? A single, elegant white bloom hung, but far too large. Scanning around, she confirmed this was her field.
Never mind whether lilies bloomed this month—she hadn’t planted ordinary flowers but potion seeds. How had it grown in just months? Even if a variant lily, it shouldn’t grow so easily. She hadn’t tended it. Yet, the surroundings fit. Neglect left only this giant potion plant. Wenger pouted, eyes wide with confusion.
The other seeds hadn’t sprouted, and she’d planted more than one lily. It was tied to the colorless crystal. The question was how to use it and whether it was safe—experiments were needed. Dosage, method, potion compatibility… She wasn’t in a rush. Compared to other matters, this was good news. Another field could be reclaimed for new ideas.