Chapter 68. Two Sylvans Meet.

Walking down Fortuna City's streets, a red-haired tall Sylvan with orange eyes ambled toward the Academy with a gloomy face. 'This Verdantia… She is really sly. No wonder I was attracted to her staff. It has Tiantian's branch used as material!'

Speaking of which, Cinderielle couldn't help but be in awe. 'Just one of her branches managed to increase the staff's level by quite a lot. Honestly, I would love to have one myself, but…'

Cinderielle remembered that Verdantia was a potion maker, so she was proficient in weapon enhancement. The embedding of the branch was probably done by herself or with the help of one of the Academy's teachers, whom she trusted.

She didn't really believe that someone as clever as Verdantia would make the low-level mistake of showing a branch as special as Liu Shu's to a random person. Who wouldn't react about someone bringing the branch of a World Tree, after all?

It was with great consideration that Cinderielle refrained from asking for a fallen branch for her own equipment. 'Crafting something like that requires a master's touch… Hm?'

Cinderielle's mind was suddenly illuminated with the thought of the majestic World Tree. 'Wait a minute… Isn't she a master wood crafter?'

She felt like falling on her knees and smacking her forehead against the ground. 'I should've asked her when I had the chanceee! I'm so stupid; I could've used this chance to become closer to her. Ahhh!'

While her mind was lamenting, outwardly, she didn't show much. Anyway, she was happy because of one thing that appeared right after the war: she fought to defend Liu Shu.

[Quest Completed!]

[You've been given the following items straight into your pouch: Sylvanium Shards (2), Etherium Shards (10), and Ascendium Shards (10)]

She couldn't help but feel elated. 'I can create another Aether Basic-ranked Flawed Equipment~. I can even create an Anima one!'

Using one Sylvanium Shard to stabilize and ten of another was helpful in creating F- Rank items. However, Cinderielle was doubtful. 'Since Liu Shu is an expert, isn't it better if I share them with her and ask her to create my equipment? I can even use this chance to ask for the branch and interact more with her!'

The gloomy Sylvan became cheerful again, feeling that the future was filled with flowers. 'Hehe, wait for me Tiantian!'

"Oh? Cinderielle, long time no see!"

Cinderielle's recently improved mood dropped again. 'Why is he here?'

She turned to the side and saw a charming and tall, muscular man with blue eyes looking at her with happiness. However, for Cinderielle, those characteristics were nothing much. After all, compared to one leaf of her Liu Shu, they felt lacking. 'Tsk, tsk. He hasn't given up?'

Cinderielle answered flatly. "Theodore, what are you doing here? Didn't you go to that sect or power to do an internship?"

Theodore scratched his head. "Honestly, a senior brother sent me here. He took a caravan to go unnoticed, but his group was attacked in the middle of his journey back. Of course, with the guardians by his side, no one managed to put a hand on his body. Still, when he spoke about it, he couldn't help but mention a Sylvan that controlled Fire Aether in the group because of how rare they are."

Cinderielle frowned, and suddenly, the face of another handsome man and the muscular guard smashing a bandit into a pulp flashed in her mind. 'That person!?'

Cinderielle was cautious because she knew that when that man approached her at first, his thoughts were not that pure. Theodore continued, "Well, he seemed to know that a Fire Aether Sylvan was in my class, and he wanted me to confirm if you were the one who traveled at that time."

The Sylvan looked at the human, asking her this with a smile, but she could see further. While he looked nonchalant, Theodore was a bit nervous. Humans underestimate the senses of a Sylvan by a lot, and one of the senses they underestimate the most is the sense of smell.

As creatures that descended from plants who didn't have a sense of sight in the most natural way, their sense of smell was spectacularly sharp. Which was another reason the human-sylvan bond was so rare.

Humans generally had strong body odors that differed significantly from flora and fauna, and many Sylvans with sensitive noses didn't like that.

The point was that Cinderielle could smell nervousness coming from Theodore; it was a particular scent released when a person was not comfortable with what they were doing.

The body language was perfect, hiding this face. With such a brightly smiling face, one would never guess that he was nervous. Moreover, his tone was normal, and his voice had no significant changes that could be discerned to tell that something was wrong.

Considering these signals, Cinderielle went alert and answered with a tilt of her head. "Well, that's not really possible. I've been in the forest for weeks, so meeting with that senior of yours is impossible for me."

Then, she smiled. "Anyways, Theodore. I need to go and see Verdantia because I have urgent matters to speak with her. See you later."

Theodore opened his mouth and closed it. He smiled and nodded. "Sure. Go and be careful."

With a wave of her hand, she calmly walked away while thinking about what had just happened. 'It seems that I'll need to be alert around him. Who knows if he will develop into one of those crazy people?'

Cinderielle went to the Sylvan's dormitory and walked toward Verdantia's room.

On the way, she received many shy looks from other Sylvans, but Cinderielle ignored everything. She was tall, slim, elegant, talented, intelligent, cheerful, and friendly. While she was not perfect and had faults, Cinderielle knew how to hide them, appearing even more charming than usual.

It was not done to attract anyone but to maintain a reputation that might come in handy in the future. As she walked, she spotted one petite Earth Sylvan walking by. 'Hm, if I remember it correctly, this woman must be close with Verdantia.'

"Excuse me."

The petite Earth Sylvan with earthen yellow hair turned around and was welcomed by an elegant and perfectly curvy chest, making her blush. Her eyes raised upward and met with the smiling face of a fiery woman, making her little heart pound. 'She is so pretty…'

"You are close with Verdantia, right? I've seen you around her before."

The Earth Sylvan scratched her cheek. 'I wish I was closer… B-But I'm close enough to be considered a friend, right?'

"I-I am close, yes!"

Cinderielle paused at her reaction, lifting one eyebrow. 'Perhaps I was confused? Well, asking doesn't hurt.'

"Do you know where she is? I want to speak with her, but I don't know where she is."

The Sylvan's eyes glittered. "Yes! She is in the library!"

Cinderielle raised her eyebrows, a thought flashing through her mind. 'Right, Flor told me that they got books before to help Liu Shu learn Woodcrafting…' Her face became gloomy. 'Tsk. This Verdantia is a problem!'

Then, after a quick thanks, she quickly left toward the library.

The Earth Sylvan was stupefied, not knowing why Cinderielle's face suddenly became so gloomy. 'D-Did I say something wrong?' She couldn't help but pray. 'Oh, great branches above, give Miss Verdantia strength!'

When Cinderielle arrived at the large library, she couldn't find her at a glance, so she approached the librarian. "Hello."

The librarian was a middle-aged man with glasses. He lifted his head and nodded. "Welcome. What may I help you with?"

Cinderielle asked. "Has a green-haired, tall, and voluptuous Sylvan entered? I'm searching for her and can't find her."

The librarian laughed. "Quite a way to describe a person. However, yes, I know who you are speaking about. She must be on the second floor, section WT."

Cinderielle nodded and walked to the stairs. The section "WT" was clearly an acronym for World Tree. It was not a reliable place for proven facts about World Trees because each of their existence was quite unique, even when they were from the same World Tree races.

One of the few things that World Trees, and only World Trees, developed was that peculiar female-like trunk shape. Moreover, it was so characteristic that even when other people wanted to fake that and trim other trees as one, it was easy to see how it was fake.

Throughout history, many people have tried faking World Trees for profit or other reasons, even as a cause for a declaration of war. However, at least during recorded history, most, if not all, fake World Trees were eventually discovered.

First, that sense of incongruity was prevalent, and then, using the system to check a typical tree was quite fatal. World trees had a lot of protective measures against them from being analyzed, while typical trees lacked them, not to mention the inherent strength and size of World Trees, which was the most challenging part to replicate.

An average World Tree at Level 20 already measured around 100 meters in height. 

Cinderielle arrived at the place and saw the beautiful and gentle Sylvan sitting on a chair with a few stacks of books around her. Even when she was reading, the staff she always carried was hugged between her arms. 

Cinderielle, who had come to confront her, felt a bit lost. At the side, she could see a thick notebook full of scribblings, probably complete with information about World Trees that she had been researching.

Inevitably, a frown appeared on her face, and Verdantia saw that facial expression when she raised her face. She had felt a gaze but ignored it for a while, thinking that the person's gaze would eventually move away.

Still, when that didn't happen, she lifted her head to look over and saw Cinderielle looking at her with a complicated look. She was confused and asked. "Is there something wrong, Miss Cinderielle?"

Cinderielle walked forward, sitting across Verdantia. "Well, I wanted to ask about that branch you showed me the other day, or well, the one you are currently holding."

Verdantia squinted. "Why? Miss Cinderielle, are you coveting my staff? It is not for sale."

Cinderielle shook her head. "Just recently, I went on an expedition into the Golden Sap Forest. As you might know, there were signs of Beast Tides. I investigated that for the Explorer Guild."

Verdantia's clever mind spun as her heart suddenly jumped. 'Did she meet her?'

Cinderielle commented. "The Beast Tide was true, and I reported as such this morning. However, it was solved by itself when there was an internal fight between forest creatures."

Of course, Cinderielle didn't technically lie. She said the truth about what happened, but vaguely. Verdantia lifted one hand and asked. "Would Miss Cinderielle want to come to my house this evening? I don't have any plans, but I would love to invite you to drink nectar and speak further."

Cinderielle paused and got thoughtful, then she nodded. "Sure. Let's go and talk."