Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos

Chapter 27. Woodcrafting Books.

While Verdantia returned, her rapidly beating heart calmed down and her mind also slowly exited her previous strange state. She was confused, extremely so. 'Is a branch really enough to make me like this?'

Verdantia had heard in the past that some Sylvans feel close connections with particular flora, making them very attracted to a certain kind of plant. However, World Trees are special. While all Sylvans do feel attracted to World Trees, it's different.

Unless the World Tree initiates it, Sylvans look at them reverently. It's like seeing someone to be praised and respected, not as potential mates. Of course, if the World Tree chooses any Sylvan as a partner, the Sylvan would probably happily accept unless they were already engaged or something similar.

Verdantia's case was strange no matter how you looked at it. 'What would've happened if Flor agreed to bring me to see that World Tree?'

Verdantia shuddered a bit in a mix of excitement and fear. 'I would've followed, right? With how I felt at that time, it is impossible that I wouldn't have followed.'

For her, who had lived a steady and planned life, the sudden realization that she had almost thrown everything away to find that World Tree made her feel strangely elated yet also fearful.

As a long-living race, most Sylvans were much more conservationists than humans would ever be, which added to the list of reasons why, while there was enough knowledge, the cities, technology, etc., were still not that transformative.

Society's objective was not to "develop as fast as possible," but to "integrate with nature while developing."

It was a cultural thing, mostly driven to the front by the long-living dominant race, the Sylvans.

Naturally, some humans who sought advancement rebelled and created many groups to fight for those ideals, throwing the world into a constant state of conflict. But, for the most part, this conflict happened in other, more isolated places.

Furthermore, the grand majority of both races respected World Trees, which made them not only an anchor for life but an anchor that prevented a full-blown world war.

Hence, Verdantia, who knew all of this, was surprised with her own reaction, which went against everything of who she thought she was. 'Ah... Let's bring out the wood shaping and material science books and give them to Flor. I'll then return and go to sleep to clear my head.'

While some people would think that metal was the best way to create weapons, wood was actually a material that could rival and even surpass metalcraft. This comparison was not alluding to common wood but to higher-level wood.

Moreover, unlike metal, which couldn't be grown and just found, wood was a resource that could be planted and harvested.

When Verdantia arrived at the Fortuna First School library, she walked toward the material science bookshelf. As she browsed books, she heard a voice from the side. "Oh? Verdantia, are you here to read something as well?"

Verdantia looked sideways and then down. With her tall stature, most human women only reached around her chest level. She smiled softly and nodded. "Yes. I've become interested in wood weapon crafting, so I wanted to search for books that cover the basic techniques and material science. Can you help me?"

The human woman blushed and smiled shyly. While Sylvans were popular with men, human women were also attracted to them. "O-Of course, I'll help! Ah! Wait, let me as a friend of mine; her mother works in wood shaping and equipment building; I'm sure she can recommend something really nice!"

Verdantia smiled. "That's a happy surprise, thank you."

The woman's face gained a deeper shade of red, and she scurried away while stuttering. "W-Wait here, Verdantia."