Blooming from the Ashes

Ch7: Petals of Potential

I remember, in the past when Father had given me the pass, I had searched in this section and had not found any books related to my magic.

But I hadn't had enough time to look at this section, did I?

I started looking again, but nothing caught my eye. Then, out of nowhere, I heard a thud. A book had fallen from the uppermost shelf. I picked it up, ready to put it back, but the title made me pause.

"Magic in Bloom: A Guide to Floral Enchantment"

Could this be about my power?

I quickly dusted off the dirt from it and took a seat as I opened the pages.

It was full of information about different kinds of flowers and how they could be used to make potions. But there was more—half the book was dedicated to–Floral Mastery. How did I miss this before?

Excitedly, I started reading the first chapter about floral mastery.

I soon realized I had underestimated the depth of Floral Mastery, believing it to be solely about coaxing blooms from buds. How naive I've been.

As per the book, floral mastery encompasses a myriad of sub-powers:

Floral Telepathy

Floral Healing

Floral Manipulation

Scent Manipulation

Pollination Control

Floral Regeneration

Floral Alchemy

Floral Empowerment

Yet, it seems most practitioners can only grasp two or three of these abilities at best.

Floral Telepathy seems interesting, it is the easiest of all. However, right now, I can only do Floral Manipulation, and even then, I'm not very good at it. I can only make flowers bloom; I can't do anything fancy like making barriers. I scour the book for any insights that might aid my development.

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Floral Manipulation:

Explore the boundless potential of controlling and shaping the growth, movement, and properties of flowers. With Floral Manipulation, one can command blooms to unfurl instantaneously, manipulate their growth to form formidable barriers or weapons or animate them to execute the user's bidding. The mastery of Floral Manipulation empowers practitioners to wield nature's beauty as a formidable force.

The key to effective Floral Manipulation lies in forging a strong bond with the flora surrounding you. Spend time in nature, observing the growth patterns and behaviors of various plant species. Develop a sense of empathy and reverence for the plant kingdom, recognizing the inherent beauty and power within each bloom. Before attempting any manipulation, visualize your desired outcome with clarity and precision. Envision the flowers responding to your commands, bending and shaping according to your will. Focus your mind on the intended result, channeling your energy into the manipulation process.

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Indeed, connecting with nature seems to be a fundamental aspect of mastering Floral Manipulation.

I looked around to see a flower pot sitting on the windowsill of the library. I walked there and touched the bud.

I imagined it growing petals and then felt it bloom. But I could do this before too.

I wish to do more...

As Elma's voice broke my concentration, I turned to acknowledge her presence.

"Li-Liana?" she stuttered.

"Yes, Elma? Do you need something?" I replied, shifting my focus to her.

"N-No, it's just that the library will be closing soon. It's afternoon already. We can return in the evening if you'd like," she explained nervously.

Realizing the passage of time, I nodded in agreement. "Oh, I hadn't realized. I'll borrow this book quickly, and then we can go. What about you?"

"I've already borrowed mine," Elma replied as I rose from my seat and headed towards the librarian's desk.

"Liana," Elma called out again as I reached the desk.

"Yes?" I turned to face her once more.

"Aiden will be waiting for us by the lake. His classes must have ended by now. Shall we go?" she suggested.

"Of course," I responded, confirming our plans as I completed the book borrowing process with the librarian.