What is my name?
Sylutia.
This was clearly not her name from her past life, but after waking up this time, some vague memories told the girl that she was now called Sylutia.
Could there really be something like reincarnation? When she was born, she had no memories of her previous life, and it was only now that they suddenly resurfaced. As an unexpected side effect, she had lost the memories of her earlier years in this life, retaining only a few fuzzy fragments.
Looking at the clothes she wore, the simple white dress didn't appear overly complex in style, but certain details, like the cuffs and hem, were exceptionally exquisite, as if reminding her that its price was not low. Continuing to examine her palms, their smooth and delicate appearance didn't seem like they had engaged in labor.
Her background should be quite good. If she could find her family and relatives in this life, she could probably live without worries about food and clothing? The girl pondered the origins of her current self in her mind.
Although she didn't understand her personality in this life, judging from some vague memory fragments and inner feelings, it didn't seem much different from her previous life. There was no strangeness or discomfort, as if she were the same person.
While scavenging for information in her fuzzy memories, a sudden realization arose, and certain information appeared in her mind.
————
Race: Human (※※※)
Status: Healthy (No Abnormalities)
Talents:
Stars [Unknown Tier]: You are blessed by the stars. You are not a native of this place but an existence descended from a foreign star. Yet strangely, you have already been accepted by this world and become a part of it. Cherish this blessing, for the meaning behind it far exceeds your imagination.
Cornflower's Affection [Rare Tier, Can Be Upgraded]: When you use all secret arts and creations related to cornflowers, their effects are enhanced. A talent flowing in the bloodline, this is an inheritance from the family bloodline, allowing each generation's inheritor to receive the blessing of a specific flower's affection.
—One who glimpsed the Monarch of Fairies, the Spring Season's Ruler 'Funaixini'. Their bloodline descendants, according to an ancient covenant, receive a predetermined blessing.
Fate Card: [Slumbering Maiden] (Aspect Phase Rank: None)
A peculiar card surfaced in Sylutia's consciousness. Its frame was entwined with silver metallic vines. In the center of the card, a silver-haired girl lay sleeping amidst a field of blooming light blue cornflowers, her eyes closed. The sky in the distant background was dim, with occasional meteors streaking across and vanishing, as if they never existed.
[Slumbering Maiden]
'You have lost the Aspect power you once possessed. Only from the silver vine frame can you guess that this Aspect power might be related to 'Luminous Moon' or 'Verdant Nectar'. The memories of the past lie deeply asleep. If you wish to awaken those slumbering memories, start from 'Luminous Moon' and 'Verdant Nectar'.'
Effect:
[Discernment Eyes Lv.2]: Originating from a special talent and physique, you can perceive colors undetectable by ordinary people, as well as part of the essence of things. (When you upgrade the Fate Card's rank, this ability will also improve accordingly.)
Ability Cards: [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot]
————
In the center of the intangible thread-outlined Fate Plate, the [Slumbering Maiden] card with its silver vine border was placed. Below this card, there were three empty slots, likely meant for inserting other cards.
One Fate Card representing the self, three empty Ability Cards. This world possessed strange supernatural powers, and they seemed to manifest in a card-like form, intrinsically linked to individuals. If one learned special secret arts and skills, they could be transformed into Ability Cards and placed into the Fate Plate of the soul and consciousness, allowing them to take effect.
Walking step by step towards the village at the foot of the slope, Sylutia saw fiery red sunset clouds appearing in the distant sky and couldn't help but quicken her pace, afraid she wouldn't make it before dark.
Her snow-white hair fluttered, and the hem of her dress billowed. The village that seemed not far away was actually not that close to reach. By the time Sylutia arrived, the sky was almost dark. Fortunately, unlike usual, the village wasn't quiet with everyone resting early. Several carriages were parked in the village square, surrounding a central bonfire. The rear doors of the carriages were open, displaying some transported goods, and many villagers were gathered around them.
"It's gotten more expensive again, Vanderhey."
"This clothing style looks a bit ugly too. Are these ones others didn't want, and you bought them cheap to sell here?" The villagers discussed among themselves, their voices clearly heard by the girl.
The language was vastly different from her previous life, but she could understand it naturally, probably because she had learned it in this life.
Using the cover of night, the girl walked along the road towards the village square, thinking about how to explain her origins to others and find a simple job here to settle down temporarily.
It seemed she hadn't brought any money with her. As she walked, the girl again felt the clothes on her body. Unfortunately, apart from this beautiful plain white dress and undergarments, there was nothing else.
Wait, there was one more thing. She reached towards the back of her head, touching the hair tie fastened within her hair.
Undoing the hair tie, her tied-up hair fell to the sides of her neck. Sylutia held a light blue silk hair tie, intricately patterned with overlapping and interwoven threads forming beautiful cornflower designs, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.
She had something to exchange now, but... the girl touched her cheek. Although she didn't know the exact appearance of her current body, based on fuzzy memories and the feel, it should be very beautiful?
Being overly beautiful yet lacking strength was actually quite dangerous, because you possessed something others coveted but lacked the power to protect it.
Thinking this, her steps slowed as she began to consider how to handle the situation. In a large city, public security would likely be much better, but this was a small village. She had no way of knowing the local customs, but currently, she truly had no better choice. If she spent the night outside, she might encounter other difficult situations. Going to a place with more people would always be better, offering some degree of public restraint.
After pondering for a moment, she resumed her pace and walked towards the brightly lit area.
"There's no helping it, Old Man Ponde. This trip hasn't been easy for me either. You must know it's the Tili Wolf Festival period now. There are plenty of powerful beasts on the road. I have to spend more money hiring people to protect the caravan, and we can't travel at night. See, we arrived late this time too. Under normal circumstances, why would I pass up such a money-making opportunity, right?" The bearded merchant clasped his hands, placing them inside his sleeves, explaining the current situation to the village chief beside him.
"Alright, alright, I've heard these excuses countless times. You businessmen always have reasons for making money." The old village chief waved his hand, indicating he wasn't concerned about the other's costs.
"Oh, right, did you bring the iron nails I ordered last time?"
"I brought them, but those things are quite heavy. I placed them under the carriage. Probably won't be able to unload them until tomorrow. Why, are you in a hurry to use them?"
"Not really urgent. I bought the iron nails to reinforce the house. The Rising Wind Season is in two or three years. It'll be too late to do it then."
"You're preparing so early for something two years later? You really think far ahead."
"Everything gets more expensive during the Rising Wind Season. I'm just preparing in advance to save a little money." The village chief shook his head and answered casually.
"Rising Wind, Sinking Fog... I wonder if this old body of mine can last until the next Trade Wind Season arrives."
"It will. You're so healthy, you'll definitely see the dawn of the next Trade Wind Season."
"Hahaha, that would mean living over twenty more years."
...
More clamorous voices reached the girl's ears. In this life, her hearing far surpassed that of her previous life. Even if ten people spoke simultaneously, she could easily distinguish them, understanding and remembering everything at once.
Such an ability was truly somewhat terrifying. If it were her previous life, she probably could have gotten into the university she once dreamed of.
From the conversations between the villagers and the merchant, Sylutia learned a fair amount of information. This carriage team was a trading caravan that traveled between villages. The lead merchant was a regular visitor here, and the atmosphere seemed quite harmonious, which eased her worries a little.
Facing the burning orange bonfire, the girl gradually approached until she stepped across the boundary between firelight and shadow, suddenly becoming visible.
Snow-white silk clothing wasn't something ordinary people could afford, especially maintaining such pristine whiteness. Even nobles would only wear such things on certain formal occasions. When Sylutia entered the village square, she immediately attracted much attention.
"Excuse me, you... Your Ladyship?" When a member of the caravan got a clear look at her appearance, his words quickly switched to honorifics.
Someone who could stroll about so leisurely, wearing luxurious clothing and possessing such peerless beauty, must be a noble young lady, perhaps even the daughter of a prestigious great noble.
The caravan member hurriedly reported to Vanderhey, who also turned around, bid farewell to the village chief, and quickly walked towards this silver-haired, white-dressed girl.
"Greetings, esteemed young lady. How may I assist you?" He tried to imitate the etiquette he had seen before to greet the girl.
The slightly comical and clumsy movements made the girl feel like laughing, but she politely restrained herself and lightly lifted the hem of her dress in response, as if by some instinct.
"Hello." Her clear voice was like a mountain spring stream, delicate and pleasant, causing everyone present to pause for a few seconds.
The girl also paused slightly, surprised by the sound of her own voice now.
"Hello, may I ask where this is?" She spoke again, lightly touching her cheek near her ear, tucking back a few strands of hair to ease her nervousness.
"This is..." Merchant Vanderhey was also taken aback by such a question, hesitating for a few seconds before responding.
"We are currently in the southern part of the Reygas Duchy, Lindenwood Village."
Reygas Duchy... The girl carefully recalled but felt no sense of familiarity. It seemed she hadn't been to this place in this life. If that were the case, to recover her identity, she could only rely on elevating the related Aspect Phase ranks to restore her memories. Otherwise, wandering around aimlessly like a headless fly would yield little result.
Seeing the girl fall into thoughtful silence, the people in front of her grew somewhat nervous, unsure if they had behaved improperly. Fortunately, the village chief also heard about the situation and slowly walked over.
When Chief Ponde arrived before the girl, this change pulled her out of her thoughts. Her eyes moved slightly, meeting the old man's gaze.
Her pupils were a light blue, pure like cornflower petals, as if never tainted. Such temperament surprised the well-traveled village chief; he had been an adventurer in his youth and visited many places.
"Young lady, might you be lost?" He cautiously inquired, likely discerning the problem the girl faced.
"Yes, I experienced an accident and got lost in the forest not far from here. Currently, I need some assistance." The girl bowed politely once more.
"I see." Hearing this, Chief Ponde and Merchant Vanderhey exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat relieved.
This noble young lady seemed quite easy to get along with, her temper much better than those spoiled young masters and ladies they usually encountered in Scorchstone City.
This was a world with supernatural powers, and nobles possessed abundant resources, knowledge, skills, and strength unattainable by commoners. Therefore, ordinary people generally feared conflicts with nobles unless absolutely necessary.
"If that's the case, perhaps I could arrange accommodation for you tonight, young lady? We still don't know your name?" The village chief offered hospitality proactively.
"My name is... Tia. Thank you for your trouble." Out of caution, the girl only gave the shortened version of her name.
"Of course, Miss Tia." The village chief chuckled, stroking his beard. In his eyes, this girl was the type who stayed long hours in manors or castles, living a secluded life—a simple girl, and one of the easiest kinds of people to get along with.
Ordinary minor nobles couldn't cultivate such temperament either; she was probably the daughter of some great noble family. If they could build a good relationship with her, there might be some benefits. After all, even the scraps that fell from the hands of those great nobles were treasures commoners could hardly obtain in a lifetime.
The conversation among the three gradually concluded. While they spoke, many villagers and caravan members had quietly gathered around. Although they didn't get too close, the convergence of those gazes made Sylutia feel somewhat uncomfortable. It wasn't that she was afraid, but her nature in both this life and the previous one wasn't very adept at handling social situations; she preferred being alone quietly.
Fortunately, this situation was soon broken. A girl who looked about the same height as Sylutia ran over upon the village chief's call. She had reddish-brown hair messily tied into a braid at the back, wore a flaxen-colored short shirt, was somewhat thin and tanned, her exposed calves showing a slight oily sheen, and her straw sandals looked tightly woven and durable.
"Talier, take this young lady home. Tidy up the room your sister used to live in properly, change to clean bedding, and let the young lady stay the night."
"Got it, Grandpa." Talier answered casually, but her gaze remained fixed on Sylutia's face, as if trying to see and recognize her clearly.
"Come with me."
She reached out, grabbed Sylutia's wrist directly, and led her through the crowd towards the interior of the village.
This action startled the village chief and Merchant Vanderhey, but it was too late to stop her. Fortunately, Sylutia just followed along without showing displeasure, so the two wiped their cold sweat and relaxed.
"It's my fault. This child is used to being wild normally; I haven't taught her properly." The village chief remembered that his usual energy was focused on the village; the only one he paid a bit more attention to was Talier's older sister, who had recently married.
Compared to the wild and stubborn Talier, her older sister Winnie was much more virtuous, steady, and well-liked, which was why she married into a decent family in the city.
Moving through the crowd, Sylutia slightly lowered her head, avoiding the various curious stares, feeling the hand gripping her wrist. Talier was about the same height as her, and the inner side of her fingers had some rough marks, probably from cuts not long ago that left hardened skin from scabbing.
Even though this was their first meeting, Sylutia guessed the other girl was the type who liked to run around and play everywhere.
Just as Sylutia was wondering what the living conditions here would be like, a rapid sound of horse hooves came from the distance. She couldn't help but look back and saw a line of cavalry holding torches speeding along the road in the night.
They held the reins, their bodies rising and falling with the horses' gallop, their expressions anxious. Reaching the village entrance, they almost didn't stop at all, leaping over the low fence. A few cavalrymen behind even failed to jump in time and directly crashed through the fence.
The dry wood of the Rising Wind Season snapped with a crisp sound, and then this line of cavalry, holding torches, charged straight into the square.
"Everyone, prepare for defense!"
A rough roar exploded in the square. Before many villagers could understand what was happening, they heard another panicked scream.
"Wolves! It's wolves!"
Outside the village, in the darkness, chilling howling sounds continuously approached. Nothing could be seen in the pitch black, but the constant rustling noises indicated a group of living creatures was drawing near.
Finally, some villagers reacted. Some rushed home to find weapons, while women hurriedly searched for their children to bring them inside. The caravan members also grew tense, drawing their short swords and axes, while some leveled spears, preparing to face the unknown danger.
Over ten seconds later, a group of running, blurry outlines appeared outside the village, but even more eye-catching were those pairs of oily green eyes.
Wolves, a wolf pack. About forty-plus wolves charged out of the night. The leading giant wolf leaped directly, clearing the ineffective fence. Only then did everyone see the wolf's appearance clearly by the firelight.
It had sleek, entirely orange-red fur, long hair swaying slightly like flames. Even on all fours, it was taller than a person, larger than a common ox. As it approached, a scorching aura spread, its narrow eyes revealing ferocity. An intangible pressure instantly intimidated everyone present.
Gazing at the giant wolf in the square that resembled flowing fire, numerous pieces of information surfaced in Sylutia's mind.
———
Race: Forest Wolf (Aberrated)
Status: Healthy (Ferocious)
Talents:
Keen Smell [Good Tier]: Acute sense of smell, capable of distinguishing and tracking various creatures. A common talent among wolf-type creatures.
Fate Card: [Crimson-Stained Wolf] (First Order - Blazing Sun)
'Baptized by the 'Blazing Sun' Rising Wind, the wolves roaming the mountains and forests gradually take on an orange-fire crimson hue. When their transformation completes, they step into the first stage of the supernatural Aspect 'Blazing Sun', transcending the beast category to become fang beasts feared by ordinary people.'
Effect:
[Boiling Blood Lv.2]: The Aspect power of 'Blazing Sun' flows within the blood, granting the creature powerful vitality, enabling it to run day and night without fatigue, while slightly strengthening its physique, enhancing strength and speed.
Ability Cards:
[Fangs Lv.2] (Beast Fang): Possesses sharp teeth far surpassing ordinary beasts, capable of tearing through some metals, and can self-sharpen and repair. (Most beast-type creatures acquire abilities related to teeth/horns/claws, stemming from the innate 'Beast Fang' Aspect instinct flowing in their bloodline.)
———
So that's it. After understanding the information, the girl realized why these cavalry couldn't shake off the wolf pack. With the enhancement of the 'Blazing Sun' Aspect, these Tili Wolves' endurance became exceptionally long. Ordinary people and animals simply couldn't outrun them. If you couldn't defeat them, you could only be run to exhaustion and killed.
Thinking this, she couldn't help but feel a wave of relief. If she had chosen to run all the way during the day, she would likely have been caught by that Tili Wolf due to exhaustion on the road, becoming its meal.
"Let's go!"
While Sylutia was still observing and thinking, Talier beside her urgently pulled her towards the stone buildings deeper inside the village, which could be used for defense. Currently, many villagers were also running that way. At that moment, the battle in the square also erupted.
"Steel Sharp Blade!"
Intangible light converged onto the drawn broadsword. Then, the blade slashed towards the giant wolf's open, fang-filled maw, clashing and producing sparks and blood splatters.