"Aren't Spitthorn Blooms inherently capable of spewing toxins, rooting, propagating, consuming corpses, and forming spores? "
"There's no corpse around right now, and the spore abilities require a higher level, so I opted for propagation. Whoa, why are you gripping my shirt so tightly?"
Eddie exclaimed, taken aback as Sophia seized his collar with an intensity that matched her surging emotions.
"Do you actually understand propagation? Did I hear you correctly?" Sophia's face flushed with excitement, her grip tightening on Eddie's shirt as she looked at him with eyes wide with disbelief and curiosity.
In the world of summoning, most plants, particularly flowers, vines, and fungi, possess the ability to propagate—a standard feature seldom discussed outside advanced training sessions.
Even though it's a common ability among these types of plants, only a few, like trees and bamboos, might lack this capability.
Typically, instructors at the academy focus on teaching rooting and toxic spewing, but propagation remains a treasured, almost secretive skill. Sophia, through her extensive reading and relentless curiosity, had stumbled upon the concept of plant propagation.
She had once sought guidance from her instructor, who hinted at a prohibitive price for such knowledge. With all the family's funds recently invested in acquiring the Beast Spirit Enlightenment Pill for Eddie, she had no choice but to decline.
Now, the realization that her brother, often dismissed as inept, possessed such a skill was nothing short of a revelation to her.
"Eddie, you must teach me how to perform this propagation with plant summons!" Her voice quivered with urgency and hope, her hands still clutching his shirt.
"Calm down, Sophia. Let's start from the beginning, okay?" Eddie said soothingly, trying to pacify her. "It's quite simple, really. It all starts with establishing a mental link, ensuring complete synchrony with the summoned creature.
Once you feel that you're in total control, that's your cue to command it to propagate. But keep in mind, you'll need a substantial amount of spiritual energy to execute it properly.
The process will create a dual image in your mind, like having two Spitthorn Blooms. You'll need to keep the original intact while summoning its clone. You can produce several clones if you've got ample energy, but be warned—it's mentally exhausting and can become quite chaotic!"
As Eddie elucidated, Sophia's grip loosened, her expression morphing from intense excitement to focused concentration, eager to master this valuable technique.
Eddie relayed the intricate nuances of plant summoning directly from the insights bestowed upon him by the Bronze Codex, enriched with his own interpretations. He understood that this knowledge was merely foundational, particularly for someone at his novice level.
Possibly, it was his unique Innate Disembodied Sword Qi that unveiled the concealed capabilities of the Spitthorn Bloom, skills that even Sophia, a genuine prodigy and veteran student, had yet to acquire.
"Alright, I'll attempt it right now," Sophia asserted, her face radiating with eagerness and determination, nodding earnestly as if to absorb every last word like a sponge.
"Proceed with caution, no need to hurry," Eddie gently reminded her. But before he could offer further guidance, Sophia was already deep in meditation, her fingertips lightly caressing the summoning codex.
Time seemed to stretch on with no tangible result, causing Eddie to second-guess the efficacy of his instructions. Suddenly, Sophia's expression twisted into one of discomfort; her complexion faded to a ghostly white as her hands began to shake uncontrollably.
After a tense minute, golden light oozed from between her fingers, and two Spitthorn Blooms materialized before them.
The one on the left stood marginally taller and more robust, but beyond size, the twin blooms were identical in color, shape, and stance.
A sheen of sweat coated Sophia's forehead as though she had just weathered a tremendous battle. Opening her eyes, she wiped away the sweat beads while catching her breath. Despite the obvious fatigue, her eyes danced with the vibrant light of success.
"I succeeded, I really did! Thank you, Eddie! I've longed to master propagation, but my instructor kept it from me. Your help means the world to me!" Sophia's voice trembled with a mix of relief and joy.
Perhaps recalling the adversities she faced back at the academy, her eyes misted over with emotion, a testament to the struggle and the newfound triumph.
In a moment of deep respect, Sophia managed to stifle her tears, offering Eddie a profound bow.
Uncomfortable with such reverence, Eddie quickly dismissed the formality, "No worries, Sophia! Without your gift of the Spitthorn Bloom, I'd never have uncovered such abilities!"
Realization hit Sophia. How did Eddie, a recent novice in the world of summoning, unravel the secrets of propagation? Catching her perplexed gaze, Eddie quickly spun a story about his unique talent for unveiling hidden skills.
"My talent is 'Concealment.' It allows me to discover the hidden skills or attributes of things. But it's level one, so the secrets I uncover are quite basic."
Sophia's eyes widened with awe, her young mind easily swayed by Eddie's convincing tale. "That's incredible! I didn't know such a hidden talent existed. Your secret's safe with me," she pledged earnestly.
Eddie, preferring to keep a low profile, internally reveled in his cunning success. As Sophia continued her inquisitive pursuit of the Spitthorn Bloom's other capabilities, such as necrophagy and spore release, Eddie realized his ad-hoc knowledge might even outshine that of an academy veteran.
He could almost strut around like 'Professor Eddie,' responding to the eager inquiries of his little sister.
But Eddie's playful side couldn't resist holding back some details. "The Spitthorn Bloom's necrophagy allows it to consume deceased creatures for gradual evolution," he began, deliberately using the distasteful example of consuming a rat to dampen her enthusiasm.
As expected, Sophia's face blanched, her appetite for knowledge momentarily overshadowed by revulsion. Eddie, enjoying his little deception, kept the true complexity and grimness of the plant's ability to himself.
Despite the unsettling mental image, Sophia's commitment to learning didn't waver, her eyes locked on Eddie with unwavering focus. Eddie, for his part, relished in maintaining an air of mystery and intrigue, ensuring he always had an edge in their conversations.