"Fir Black Forest"
After passing the shaded pool beneath the trees, Sylutia followed the obvious path down the hillside. Before long, she rounded a bend in the mountain road, and a small town with cooking smoke curling into the air came into view. Scattered houses dotted the slopes, linked by narrow paths paved with stone bricks.
Compared with the "Golden Radiance Plain" in the central region, the Fir Black Forest had a small permanent population of only 2,000 people, scattered across its various areas. Berg Town, the central settlement, had nearly 800 permanent residents.
Along the way, Sylutia occasionally saw young students passing by. Judging by their badges, most were between the First and Second Orders. She saw only one person above the Third Order, probably the town's resident Pharmacist. The other woman wore a deep green robe embroidered all over with intricate patterns of flowers and leaves.
"Dian, you're back." A middle-aged woman drying herbs in a roadside shop greeted the young man as he walked past.
"I'm back, Aunt Herlin." The young man, carrying a broad sword on his back, walked over and exchanged a few words with her before leaving.
"Lusha, you're here too. Did you just come from the teacher's herb cottage?"
After walking only a little farther, Sylutia heard another voice. The young man named Dian had waved to a young woman passing by.
"Yeah. I was busy for ages today before I finally finished preparing the base for the Margeline potion the teacher needed." She yawned as she spoke.
"Right now, I just want to sit in the tavern, have a good meal, and then go to sleep."
"Heh, things will settle down once you get through this busy spell. Next time we go to Gravel Shoal, do you want to come along?"
"Oh,