Blooming from the Ashes

Ch 13: A Garden of Dreams

"Wait, so now you're rich?" Elma exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Yes, if the Marquess doesn't sponsor any of us, then we can pay for our education ourselves!" I say as Aiden and Elma listened with mouths agape, their astonishment mirrored in their expressions.

"But we have to keep it a secret right?" Aiden asks as I nodded.

Today marked the day the Marquess would be visiting us. Although I no longer need his sponsorship, Father says that we will be treated with more respect if he is the one sponsoring us and it will be easier to enter the academy.

All three of us are in our best attires, and waiting for him to arrive, which he would, any minute.

Elma seems overly excited, Aiden is nervous while I just think of my previous memories with him. He always saved me from the Marchioness and her mistreatment. The only noble who truly cared for me among all the rumors and my commoner background.

The sound of Sister Rosell's hurried footsteps heralded his approach.

He then enters the room with Father accompanying him.

"These are the children, Marquess Hawthorne. All very talented. This is-" the Marquess interrupted his speech.

"They should introduce themselves." he said, his voice full of authority.

Sister then urged Elma to start introducing herself first.

"I am Elma White, and I possess Telepathic magic. Even though I have not progressed much, I can see one's darkest secrets after touching them." She says as the Marquess nodded in approval, clearly intrigued by her unique talent.

Next comes Aiden.

"I am Aiden Stark, and I wish to be an imperial knight in the upcoming future. I have been working hard for many years to improve my skills."

"Why don't you show your skills then?" he asks as Aiden agrees.

Then Father takes us all to the back garden where Aiden spars with one of his knights. Even though he doesn't win, the knight says that he has a very good potential.

Aiden demonstrated his skill in combat, drawing impressed nods from everyone present.

Then it was my turn. With a deep breath, I step forward and bow to greet him respectfully

"I am Liliana Frostvine, and I possess the magic of Floral Mastery."

The Marquess's eyebrows lifted in surprise at the mention of my magic, his curiosity evident.

"I have never heard of Floral Mastery, it must be a useless power." His attendant, I remember his name being Cyan, criticizes.

"Why don't you show your useless magic?" he further continues as the Marquess insists.

Vines unfurled from the soil of the pot in front of us, their tendrils reaching out eagerly. With graceful movements, they wound their way around the table, weaving a delicate tapestry of greenery and blooms. As the vines spread, they carried with them an array of flowers, each blossom bursting forth in a riot of color and fragrance.

With each passing moment, the transformation intensified, until the entire table was adorned with a lush carpet of blossoms, their sweet fragrance filling the air with an intoxicating scent. But the magic didn't stop there.

The vines continued to climb, reaching upwards towards the ceiling with determined fervor. As they ascended, they carried with them a cascade of flowers, adorning the room with their beauty.

Soon, the entire ceiling was blanketed with blooms, creating a breathtaking canopy of color and fragrance that stretched out overhead.

The Marquess's smile widened as he acknowledged our talents. "All three of them are talented," he declared, "I will sponsor them all."