Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos

Chapter 44. Cinderielle and Verdantia Meet

When they looked at each other, Verdantia raised her hand and called her. "Miss Cinderielle, it is a surprise seeing you here." Cinderielle saw her eyes going to her back and smiling. "Is this your first time going on an adventure?"

Cinderielle blinked and blushed a bit. "I-Is there something wrong with my setup?"

Verdantia shook her head with a smile. "Some of the things you have are a bit excessive unless you are going on a long exploration. But it's mostly correct."

Cinderielle nodded, her eyes moving toward the staff from time to time. Verdantia naturally caught her eyes and asked. "Something wrong with my staff?"

Cinderielle coughed and shook her head. "No... It's just... What materials did you use to make it?"

Verdantia's eyes gained a touch of wariness. "That's a strangely specific question, no?"

Cinderielle laughed, scratching the back of her head. "Is it? Hahaha. Sorry, it was just stunning and eye-catching. I was honestly curious."

Verdantia's eyebrow raised. "Oh...? 'Stunning and eye-catching,' you say. Miss Cinderielle, this staff is nothing but a brown-colored staff with a branch coiled around it."

Cinderielle waved her hands and changed the subject. "Ah, don't worry about that. Also, you seem like you come here often."

Verdantia squinted for a few seconds, but after a while, she let it go and answered her. "I do come quite often. While I usually go solo, there are times when the forest is too dangerous and I need to gather in groups."

Cinderielle nodded and looked at Verdantia's backpack. "What do you carry there?"

Verdantia paused for a second before answering. "Books."

"Huh?" Cinderielle asked again, confused. "I meant in the backpack."

Verdantia nodded with a smile. "You heard it right."

"Why are you carrying books to the wild!?" Cinderielle was flabbergasted.

Verdantia shrugged. "I like to read them."

The red-haired Sylvan looked at the green-haired one with an incomprehensible face. 'Is this the difference between a veteran and a newbie? I prepared with care, yet she currently looks as if she is going on a picnic.'

Verdantia placed a hand over her mouth and laughed. "Don't look at me like that. As a Sylvan related to Nature, very few creatures are hostile to me. If I had fire affinity like you do, I would've needed to be as careful as you."

Cinderielle found the explanation reasonable but not so much. "I see."

While they were talking, someone approached them by calling them.

"Verdantia, where are you going out this time? I thought you would remain at home, making potions and reading again, hahaha."

The green-haired woman turned to look and saw her usual companions. She had changed groups after what happened in the past, and honestly, Verdantia was quite satisfied with them.

She smiled, her aura gentle and nature-like. Even between Sylvans, it was clear that her closeness to nature was extraordinary. "I'm going to the Golden Sap Forest. I need a few fungi that only grow over there, but if I'm lucky, I might find new plants or other interesting flora."

Cinderielle's ears perked up. 'Golden Sap Forest? Isn't that the place I decided to explore this time as well?'

"Oh? Well, you should be able to defend yourself in that area. However, be careful."

Cinderielle blinked and gave Verdantia a deeper look. 'What Level is she?' She wanted to check, but doing so with close people felt a bit too invasive. As an example, it was similar to seeing someone bare in one of those magazines compared to seeing a friend of the opposite sex naked in front of you.