Recaps

Sylutia learned from Scholar Heide that she needed an Emerald Eye Potion to study the Swan Orchid’s condition, and he arranged for her to obtain its ingredients. Meanwhile, Mick borrowed a gold coin from Jero to buy Blood Wine and prepare for his class exam.

• Sylutia found that the Swan Orchid was growing at only good quality and realized she needed a way to understand its condition.
• Scholar Heide explained two approaches to cultivation and gave Sylutia the Emerald Eye Potion recipe to copy.
• Scholar Heide gave Sylutia a note for Manson so she could obtain one set of potion ingredients for free.
• Mick asked Jero for help buying Blood Wine so he could improve his Breathing Technique before the exam.
• Jero gave Mick a gold coin, and Mick bought a bottle of Blood Wine at the Adventurers Guild, resolving to repay him.

Yero guessed who would place in the upcoming assessment, but Scholar Heide hinted that he had overlooked a low-key student. As the assessment drew near, Mick trained and sparred with Ray while Baron worried about competing with Solin, and Mick left the Training Ground reflecting that this life might not be so bad.

• Yero predicted that Iona would take first place and Solin and Baron would likely take second and third, but Scholar Heide said he had misjudged a low-key student.
• Yero considered the students and decided Mick was the likeliest dark horse because he had been training hard.
• Baron defeated a noble student and worried that Solin’s special ability could cost him second place and hurt his standing with Iona.
• Mick and Ray sparred repeatedly, with Mick dodging Ray’s hammer and landing a thrust that knocked him down.
• Mick and Ray left the Training Ground after another evening of training, and Mick thought that his life might not be so bad.

Students gathered at Viscount Xuefeng's Training Ground for the first-month assessment, where they would compete in sword-and-weapon matches. Mick defeated Ray in the opening bout, and the assessment continued with the remaining students awaiting their turns.

• Noblewomen and young ladies chatted in the stands while the students arrived for the assessment.
• Comia told Karen she had a secret plan to win, and Sylutia arrived to compete as well.
• Viscount Xuefeng introduced the assessment and assigned a guard knight to oversee the matches.
• Ray and Mick fought evenly at first as spectators watched and placed bets.
• Mick used an unexpected approach to strike Ray's shoulder and press his sword to Ray's back.
• Ray conceded, and Mick won the first match.

Comia used her Illusion Spell Eye to defeat Solin after he injured Karen, but the effort left her exhausted. Scholar Heide explained Comia’s Mist Shadow talent, while Yero revealed his plan to travel until he reached the Second Order and then seek entry to Candle Keep.

• Yero told Sylutia that Scholar Heide had excused her from the matches and would count her Dew Prayer Technique progress toward her score.
• Solin defeated Karen by breaking her spear and kicking her off the stage, leaving her injured.
• After Iona won her match, Comia drank a potion and faced Solin, then used her Illusion Spell Eye to make him collapse unconscious.
• Comia won but fell to her knees from the strain, and Scholar Heide explained that he had taught her Meditation Technique after discovering her talent for Mist Shadow Aspect Power.
• Yero told Scholar Heide that he planned to continue traveling until he reached the Second Order, then apply at Candle Keep for permission to pass through the gate.

Iona won the competition, while Baron’s hidden ability helped him defeat Mick before Solin broke his arm and took his place. Solin then lost to Toss after exhausting himself, and Toss placed second behind Iona.

• Iona, Baron, Mick, and Solin advanced to the second round alongside Toss.
• Baron used an unseen power from his chest to suppress Mick’s Breathing Technique and defeat him.
• Solin ambushed Baron with Strength Burst, broke his arm, and won their match.
• Toss defeated an exhausted Solin, then offered Iona a rose instead of fighting her; Iona left the platform.
• Iona finished first, Toss second, and Solin third.

After the assessment, Sylutia placed fourth overall and accepted Comia’s invitation to dinner with Karen at her family’s home. Comia confided her worries about her parents, and Sylutia comforted her before reflecting on her own unknown family.

• Yero explained Sylutia’s converted combat points for mastering the Dew Prayer Technique, along with bonus points awarded to Mick and Solin for their cultivation breakthroughs.
• Teacher Heide announced the combined rankings, with Iona first, Solin second, Baron third, and Sylutia fourth; Comia invited Sylutia to celebrate at her house.
• Iona learned that Sylutia had earned full marks in Secret History Class and became curious about the quiet commoner girl.
• Sylutia and Karen joined Comia’s family for dinner, where Comia’s parents asked about her studies and welcomed her friends.
• Comia told Sylutia she worried that her parents had stayed together for her, and Sylutia reassured her that their choices were not her burden.
• After saying goodbye to Comia, Sylutia wondered whether she still had family in this life and resolved to search for them.

After Scholar Heide announced a week of countryside classes, Sylutia used the Emerald Pupil Potion to study her Swan Orchids and discovered how to improve their growing conditions. She prepared to leave with Comia and Karen, arranging for Talia to care for the garden while she was away.

• Scholar Heide told the students they would spend a week in a village outside the city, and Comia, Sylutia, and Karen planned what to bring.
• Sylutia packed for the trip, then used the Emerald Pupil Potion to examine her plants and gain insight into the Swan Orchids.
• Sylutia identified problems with the orchids’ humidity, temperature, soil, and nutrients, recorded possible fixes, and adjusted the soil.
• Talia came home and took Sylutia out for a celebratory meal at the Gelia Restaurant, where they ate braised oxtail.
• Sylutia told Talia she would be away for a week and promised to prepare a watering schedule so Talia could tend the flowers.

Sylutia, Comia, and Karen traveled with their class from Scorched Stone City to Luan Tree Village for a field visit. Scholar Heide taught the students about the village’s crops, flax, and wheat yields as they walked toward their lodgings.

• Sylutia rode to Luan Tree Village with Comia and Karen, and they discussed their hopes for the future.
• The students arrived near the village, left their luggage for the drivers, and gathered around Scholar Heide.
• Scholar Heide explained that Luan Tree Village was known for its golden-flowered rain trees and described how villagers grew wheat and flax.
• Scholar Heide taught the students about crop rotation and the dangers of food shortages during the Seasons of Sinking Fog.
• Scholar Heide examined wheat from a harvested field, estimated its yield at sixty to seventy pounds per mu, and led the students into the village.

Iona wandered alone through the village, fearing that her family’s ruin would leave her trapped in a dull life, while Sylutia, Comia, and Karen spent the afternoon fishing. As the girls returned with five fish, they approached a village bonfire where villagers danced and sang.

• Scholar Heide told the students to explore near the village and return to the square by dusk.
• Iona sent Valenie away, walked alone, and reflected on her family’s losses and her fear of being forced into an ordinary life.
• Sylutia taught Comia and Karen how to fish, and the three girls caught five fish together.
• Iona watched the girls enjoy themselves, rejected the idea that their simple happiness could satisfy her, and walked back toward the square alone.
• Sylutia, Comia, and Karen headed back at dusk with their fish and heard drums and folk songs near a bonfire, where villagers danced in a circle.

Sylutia and her companions joined a bonfire ritual that soothed their minds and old injuries, then Scholar Heide explained how legends could be reenacted as rituals. He introduced the students to the ancient ritual Bonfire and Dance Steps and pointed those drawn to history toward the Secret Speech Aspect Power.

• Sylutia and her companions were drawn into the villagers’ bonfire dance, where the ritual’s rhythm dispelled their weariness and eased old injuries.
• The students and villagers shared a feast, slept soundly, and awoke feeling refreshed.
• Scholar Heide led the students to a grove and taught them that rituals reenacted legends and drew power from how accurately they followed those stories.
• Scholar Heide identified the bonfire gathering as the ancient ritual Bonfire and Dance Steps, tied to King of Ancient Barbarism Mureto’s journey.
• Scholar Heide told students interested in studying history and legends that they could seek the Secret Speech Aspect Power at Candle Keep.

As rain confined the students to their shared house, Iona challenged Sylutia’s knowledge of a book about the Winter Kingdom and was impressed by her detailed answer. Iona retreated to her room, while Sylutia worried that she had drawn unwanted attention.

• Scholar Heide taught the students about the Bonfire and Dance Steps ritual and assigned them to copy its music.
• Rain kept Sylutia, Comia, Karen, Valenie, and Iona indoors, where Comia wandered around looking for something to do.
• Iona noticed Sylutia reading a history of the Winter Kingdom and questioned whether she could understand the old text.
• Sylutia accurately described the founding of the Winter Knights and the Winter Kingdom when Iona quizzed her.
• Iona returned to her room in anger, and Sylutia realized that her answer might have made Iona resent her.

After the rain, Sylutia explored the mountains with Comia and Karen, gathering valuable herbs, mushrooms, and a rare Bubble Flower seedling instead of hunting. When Scholar Heide resumed lessons, Sylutia reported her impressive haul, and he praised her talent for gathering as the students prepared for another day off before returning home.

• After Scholar Heide let the students explore in groups, Sylutia found a poisonous Blue Rain Mushroom and several useful herbs with Comia and Karen.
• Sylutia suggested that the three friends search and split their findings, and they discovered and collected many plants, including a Bubble Flower seedling for her to grow.
• Over the next two days, Sylutia, Comia, and Karen gathered herbs and mushrooms around the mountains, riverbanks, and valleys.
• When Scholar Heide resumed lessons, Baron and Mick described their successful hunts, while Sylutia reported gathering hundreds of herbs and dozens of mushrooms.
• Scholar Heide confirmed Sylutia's haul and praised her gardening talent, then gave the students another day off before their return two days later.

Sylutia found Mick injured and suffering from heatstroke while he struggled back from the mountains, then went to get help. As Solin and the others carried him toward the village, Mick felt grateful for the people around him.

• Sylutia questioned villagers about farming and examined the local soil before practicing her swordsmanship in the woods.
• Sylutia spotted Mick limping toward the village and found him injured and unconscious from heatstroke.
• Sylutia gave Mick water, moved him into the shade, and checked his condition before leaving to get help.
• Solin and the others found Mick and carried him down the mountain, teasing him for going alone.
• Mick heard their voices as they carried him and felt relief and gratitude.

Scholar Heide explained to Sylutia why he wanted her to tutor Mick, connecting small acts of care and cooperation to the ancient Aspect Power Mycelial Thread. Sylutia understood that he hoped she would build friendships and support her classmates, and wondered whether she was destined to follow Mycelial Thread’s path.

• Scholar Heide treated Mick’s broken bones and asked Sylutia to tutor him during breaks in her afternoon training.
• Scholar Heide told Sylutia that he trusted her to help Mick because she was considerate and easy to get along with.
• Scholar Heide explained that Mycelial Thread’s gradual erosion shaped the world and that society depended on many people’s small contributions.
• Scholar Heide shared his regrets and warned that Mick might go astray if he focused only on money and strength, then explained why he wanted Sylutia to help him make friends.
• Sylutia reflected on her solitary nature and wondered whether she was destined to follow the path of Mycelial Thread.

Sylutia sold the herbs she had gathered and arranged with Scholar Heide to help find buyers for her rare mushrooms. After organizing a month of study material, she invited Karen and Comia to join her afternoon tutoring sessions.

• Talia explained where Sylutia could sell herbs, and Sylutia checked the improved Swan Orchid in the backyard.
• Sylutia sold Sickle-Thorn Vines through Mailin at the Adventurers Guild and sold other herbs to several merchant houses.
• Sylutia asked Scholar Heide about selling rare mushrooms, and he gave her glass vials to store them for his friends to inspect.
• Sylutia organized her lessons and invited Karen to begin tutoring in Secret History Class the next afternoon.
• Comia joined the conversation and agreed to try the tutoring as well.

Sylutia tutored her struggling classmates, learned archery, and cared for her Swan Orchids as they neared their first bloom. After she improved their growing conditions and prayed for them, one bud began to open.

• Sylutia assessed Comia and Karen's studies, taught Karen the basics, and asked Karen to show her how to shoot a bow.
• Sylutia practiced with a short bow and gained Basic Archery proficiency, improving her aim over several shots.
• After Baron and Mick recovered, Sylutia tutored Mick and later Ray, while organizing what she knew from her previous life into a broader framework.
• Sylutia settled into a routine of lessons, tutoring, archery, and gardening, and her carefully tended Swan Orchid began to bloom.
• Sylutia bought glass cloches and used them to improve the temperature and humidity for three Swan Orchids, then added Emerald Dew Water.
• As Sylutia silently prayed beside the flowers, a Swan Orchid's petals slowly began to part.

Iona collected the last supplies Steward Ethan could provide for her attempt to enter the Secret Forest, while Scholar Heide announced an upcoming secret history exam. Sylutia reviewed her students’ preparation and asked to observe their combat training.

• Iona met Steward Ethan in the woods outside Scorched Stone City and received the supplies he had prepared from what remained of Lord Callen’s possessions.
• Steward Ethan told Iona he could no longer help her, offered his grandsons as potential allies, and wished her success in entering the Secret Forest.
• Scholar Heide announced that the students would take a secret history exam the following week, with prizes for the top three.
• Students discussed the exam and speculated that Iona and Tia would lead, while noting that Iona had been absent from lessons and training.
• Sylutia questioned Mick, Karen, and Ray about their readiness, then asked to see how their combat training was progressing.
• Mick challenged Sylutia’s ability to judge combat, then agreed to demonstrate his skills during sparring.

Sylutia analyzed Mick and Ray’s swordsmanship and gave them tailored lessons that helped them make fresh progress, then coached Karen in spearmanship. That evening, she discovered a Swan Orchid had bloomed and condensed the Aspect Power Emerald Nectar, but decided to consult Teacher Heide before advancing her Fate Card.

• Sylutia studied Mick and Ray’s sparring, identified their shortcomings, and offered to teach them privately.
• Sylutia diagrammed Mick and Ray’s movements and gave them advice that improved their swordsmanship; she then called Karen over to adjust her spearmanship.
• Sylutia returned to her lodgings and found that one of her Swan Orchids had bloomed and produced a First Order · Emerald Nectar flower.
• Sylutia realized she could draw the Swan Orchid’s Emerald Nectar into her Fate Disk to advance [Sleeping Maiden], but chose to wait and ask Teacher Heide.
• Sylutia tended all three Swan Orchids and read by lamplight beside the first flower, whose faint golden glow filled her with contentment.

Sylutia learned how advancing with Aspect Power plants could affect her abilities and received advice about visiting Lady Falan. After Valenie took Sylutia’s notes, Sylutia and her friends decided not to provoke her and went together to Comia’s home for dinner.

• Sylutia asked Scholar Heide whether she could advance with a First Order Aspect Power plant, and he explained how gardeners gained abilities and could preserve weakened effects as Ability Cards.
• Scholar Heide advised Sylutia to visit Lady Falan after cultivating her plants and to dress neatly, explaining that Lady Falan was a powerful Third Order Transcendent.
• Sylutia joined Karen, Comia, Mick, and Ray for lunch and training, enjoying their company while helping them review their lessons.
• Valenie demanded Sylutia’s notes, and Mick and Ray confronted her before Sylutia let Valenie borrow them.
• Sylutia guessed that Valenie wanted the notes for Iona, promised to help Comia study from memory, and agreed to join her friends for dinner at Comia’s home.

Sylutia won the difficult month-end assessment with a perfect score and kept her Blood Wine prize. At home, three Swan Orchids bloomed and strengthened her Dew Prayer Technique to its third stage, bringing her close to advancing to First Order - Emerald Nectar.

• Sylutia finished the month-end assessment early and placed first with 100 points, ahead of Iona’s 84 and Comia’s 81.
• Scholar Heide awarded Blood Wine to Sylutia, Comia, and Iona; Comia sold her bottle to Baron, while Sylutia kept hers.
• Sylutia returned home and found that three Swan Orchids had bloomed with First Order - Emerald Nectar Aspect Power.
• Sylutia touched a Swan Orchid, and its aura strengthened her Dew Prayer Technique to Lv.3 and brought her close to advancing.
• Sylutia decided to visit Lady Falan now that the Swan Orchids had finished growing.

Sylutia restored her silver hair and dressed in her original white outfit before visiting Lady Falan with Talia. Lady Falan received her in a garden filled with powerful Blazing Suns and greeted her warmly.

• Sylutia washed the black powder from her hair, dressed in her white outfit, and tied her silver hair with a blue-and-white ribbon.
• Sylutia and Talia rode by carriage to Lady Falan's estate, where they presented Scholar Heide's recommendation and Mailin's note.
• A maid let Sylutia enter the estate and directed her to carry the covered potted plant to the back garden while Talia waited in the reception room.
• Sylutia walked through a field of First Order Blazing Suns and Second Order Blazing Suns, whose warmth restored her vitality.
• Lady Falan turned to greet Sylutia beneath a parasol and welcomed her as the girl Mailin and Heide had told her about.

Sylutia met Lady Falan, who gave her a Blazing Sun Petal Bracelet and agreed to teach her Horticulture. The chapter ended with Sylutia accepting work at Lady Falan’s manor, where she would tend the flowers and handle visitors in exchange for lessons.

• Lady Falan made a Blazing Sun Petal Bracelet for Sylutia, and Sylutia accepted the gift.
• Lady Falan examined Sylutia’s Swan Orchid and praised how well she had cared for it.
• Sylutia explained why she had come, and Lady Falan offered to teach her Horticulture in exchange for help at the manor.
• Sylutia accepted Lady Falan’s offer and learned she would water and prune the sunflowers and receive visitors on Lady Falan’s behalf.
• Lady Falan arranged for Lining to take Sylutia’s measurements so she could have new outfits made.

Sylutia went hunting in the mountains with Karen, Comia, Mick, and Ray to practice her archery and gain practical experience. The group rested in a forest clearing after a successful day, with Sylutia's skills improving and no major danger encountered yet.

• Sylutia practiced archery and agreed to go hunting with Karen, Comia, Mick, and Ray the next day.
• The five left Scorched Stone City and followed Karen and Mick into the mountain woods, while Ray carried their supplies.
• Sylutia shot a running rabbit on her first try, and Mick retrieved it for dinner.
• As they went deeper into the forest, Sylutia practiced shooting and learned more about tracking and using her Breathing Technique.
• The group stopped at a clearing to eat and rest, and Karen explained that the Hunters Guild regularly cleared the area of dangerous animals.

Sylutia struck the giant boar in the eye and escaped with Mick, then reunited with Karen, Ray, and Comia as the group fought Ti Wolves on their way down the mountain. Back in Scorched Stone City, the others learned about Sylutia’s hidden skills and appearance, and Karen and Mick planned to report the danger and seek more training.

• Sylutia shot the giant boar in the eye while Mick drew its charge, and the two fled until they were safely ahead of it.
• Sylutia recovered with her bracelet, and she and Mick reunited with Karen, Ray, and Comia half an hour later.
• Five Ti Wolves attacked the group on the way down, but the five friends killed them, and Sylutia bandaged Karen’s wrist.
• Comia questioned Sylutia, who revealed that she knew the Breathing Technique and could fight, while the others noticed her striking appearance after her glasses were lost.
• The group returned to Scorched Stone City with the wolf pelts, and Karen planned to report the giant boar while Mick planned to visit the Adventurers Guild.

Sylutia and Talia moved into Lady Falan’s mansion so they could tend her flower fields, and Lining showed them their rooms and explained the household rules. Sylutia settled into her new home after learning that Lady Falan had entrusted her with some responsibility for receiving guests.

• Sylutia and Talia packed their belongings and traveled from the East District to Lady Falan’s mansion in the West District.
• Lining showed Sylutia her luxurious second-floor bedroom and Talia her simpler room in the adjoining building.
• Lining explained the bathing and meal arrangements and warned Sylutia not to invite guests or let them enter the flower fields without permission.
• Lining told Sylutia when she could handle visitors’ requests on Lady Falan’s behalf and praised her for growing flowers that condensed Aspect Power.
• Sylutia settled into the mansion.