As Perry and Alaric's water and earth elements intertwined, a subtle balance began to form. Their magical energies flowed like two invisible streams, circling the Star Fern and nourishing its roots, supporting its growth. Perry's water element, like a gentle stream, brought life-giving vitality, while Alaric's earth element provided the stable foundation of solid ground. The merging of the two elements emitted a soft halo of light that surrounded the Star Fern, creating a protective barrier as if shielding it from any harm.
Perry felt an entirely unfamiliar spiritual connection. His consciousness seemed to brush against the essence of the Star Fern, sensing a faint yet steady flow of life energy coursing through the plant's body.
Under their guidance, the Star Fern began to grow slowly. At first, its leaves were silvery-green, slightly curled, with edges shimmering faintly like a hazy star in the night sky. As time passed, the leaves gradually unfurled, their color becoming more translucent, and the delicate glow flickered like starlight. Each expansion seemed to pulse with energy, a transformation so mesmerizing and mysterious that Perry momentarily forgot his surroundings.
Professor Edward stood nearby, his eyes fixed intently on every subtle change in the Star Fern. His voice was low and grave. "Not bad. Now comes the most critical moment. You must focus your minds on the starlight. These are the Star Fern's seeds. They are highly sensitive to energy fluctuations, so be extremely careful not to harm them." He paused briefly, then added, "I need these seeds to retain their glow. If the light dims, it means the energy is dissipating."
Perry nodded, though a hint of nervousness stirred within him. This was his first attempt at such precise magical manipulation, and he was working directly with the seeds themselves. Almost instinctively, he tried activating his innate skill——Hand of Cultivation.
"Focus. Feel its breath, sense its pulse," Alaric said softly, his tone calm and composed. Closing his eyes, he appeared to shut out all distractions, channeling his entire awareness into the Star Fern. His earth element flowed steadily, laying a firm foundation for the plant's growth.
Perry tried to emulate Alaric's focus, gradually attuning his mind to the pulse of the Star Fern. He could feel a subtle energy coursing through every leaf, like a gentle power emanating from the stars, soft yet formidable. When the Star Fern's leaves trembled faintly, Perry even sensed a delicate resonance, as if a hidden rhythm echoed within him.
Just as Perry was adjusting to this unique spiritual connection, he suddenly felt an unfamiliar gaze upon him. The sensation was like an icy needle piercing his skin, jarring his concentration. He instinctively turned to locate the source of the gaze.
"Henry, focus!" Alaric's urgent voice snapped him back to the task. His expression had turned unusually serious as he fixed his eyes on a slightly dimmed leaf of the Star Fern. "Don't let the light fade, or the seeds won't survive!"
Professor Edward chimed in with a sharp reminder. "This is the critical moment. Any distraction on your part will affect the Star Fern's condition. Adjust your energy flow immediately, or the seeds might be destroyed!"
Perry took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and redirect his attention to the Star Fern's seeds. Closing his eyes, he ignored the icy sensation of being watched and tried to immerse himself in the plant's rhythm once again. His consciousness seemed to pierce through the faint halo of light, establishing a subtle connection with the seeds themselves.
At that moment, Perry felt a warm touch enveloping his awareness. It was soft like a spring breeze, warm like sunlight, wrapping around his mind. To his astonishment, this wasn't just the energy of the Star Fern, there was a deeper presence responding to him.
"What is this…" Perry muttered to himself, his brows furrowing slightly. He instinctively focused on this sensation, trying to decipher its source. The starlight of the Star Fern intertwined with the warmth, forming an extraordinary resonance. This resonance sent ripples through Perry's mind, as if an unseen door he had never encountered was slowly opening.
"Good. Keep going!" Professor Edward's voice carried a hint of satisfaction. He seemed to sense the unique connection forming between Perry and the Star Fern but refrained from interrupting, choosing instead to observe patiently.
Perry worked hard to steady his mind, immersing his emotions into the starlight.
He dared not let himself be distracted again. He knew that every action at this moment was crucial, and even the slightest mistake could spell failure. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his inner turmoil and locked his focus on the Star Fern's seeds. The seeds trembled faintly, emitting a glow reminiscent of light from the depths of the cosmos, beautiful yet fragile. It felt as if even the slightest deviation in energy flow could extinguish them in an instant.
Perry felt as though his mind was being drawn into the starlight emanating from the seeds, every faint gleam like an intricate web of threads pulling at his consciousness. These threads seemed to forge a deep connection between him and the Star Fern, creating a resonance that was at once mesmerizing and overwhelming. The light grew stronger, its radiance filling the space around him, but with it came an increasing pressure. It pressed against his mind, his focus stretched taut like a finely tuned string, ready to snap at the slightest misstep.
Out of the corner of his eye, Perry noticed Alaric's condition deteriorating. Beads of sweat rolled steadily down Alaric's temple, his face pale under the strain. Yet, despite the obvious toll, his hands remained steady, hovering above the Star Fern with unwavering precision. The earth elemental energy flowing from his fingertips pulsed in perfect harmony with the plant's roots, as if mimicking the heartbeat of the very ground beneath them. Though his expression was calm, the slight tremor in his hands betrayed the immense effort he was exerting.
"Good, maintain this rhythm," came Edward's deep and authoritative voice, grounding them like an anchor in a storm. The mentor's piercing gaze never left the Star Fern, his sharp eyes tracking the faintest changes in its glowing leaves. "The seeds are incredibly sensitive. Even the smallest disruption in your mental flow could destabilize their growth. Stay focused."
Perry swallowed hard and nodded. The glowing seeds shimmered more intensely now, their light flickering unpredictably, as if mirroring the stars in a restless night sky. It was breathtaking, yet perilously fragile, a beauty that demanded his absolute attention. He steadied his breathing, forcing his racing thoughts to slow.
"Henry," Alaric's voice came softly but urgently, breaking through his concentration. "The seeds on the left leaf, something's off. Their light is faltering. I need your help to stabilize them."
Without hesitation, Perry shifted his focus to the leftmost leaf. Its movement was erratic, trembling like a flame caught in an unseen breeze, and its glow dimmed in uneven bursts. Perry stretched out his hand, his palm hovering just above the leaf. He closed his eyes, extending his senses toward the seeds. Slowly, he felt the faint pulsations of life within them, a rhythm so delicate it seemed to dance just out of reach.
Drawing a deep breath, he aligned his mental flow with the seeds' faint pulses. Each beat felt like a quiet echo of a heartbeat, a subtle rhythm that grew clearer as he matched his energy to it. A strange warmth began to spread through his consciousness, an ethereal connection that resonated deeply within him. For a moment, it was as if he could feel the seeds breathing, living, thriving.
"Excellent. Keep at it," Edward's voice carried a rare note of approval, breaking through the haze of focus. "You have an exceptional gift for this level of precision. Such sensitivity is rare and invaluable in cultivating magical flora."
Perry allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction but quickly suppressed it. He knew the task was far from over. Any lapse in concentration could unravel the delicate balance they had worked so hard to achieve. Beside him, Alaric maintained a steady stream of earth energy, his unwavering support acting as the foundation for Perry's intricate adjustments.
As the two of them worked in silent synchronization, the Star Fern began to undergo a breathtaking transformation. Its leaves unfurled fully, turning diaphanous and glistening like sheets of spun crystal. The faint starlight embedded within them intensified, solidifying into shimmering constellations that seemed to hold the essence of the cosmos itself. The seeds at the heart of the fern shone brighter still, their light taking on a pure, radiant quality that suggested a boundless reservoir of power.
Professor Edward raised his wand and gave it a gentle wave. In an instant, the growth of the star fern stopped, and all the light surrounding it froze in place. At that moment, the star fern resembled a still starry sky painting, flawless and perfect.
"Very good," Professor Edward nodded in satisfaction, his voice carrying a hint of praise. "Your teamwork was excellent, and the seed of the star fern was completely unharmed. You both performed very well in this practice."
Hearing these words, Perry finally let out a sigh of relief. He lowered his gaze to his palm and found it soaked with sweat. He glanced up at Alaric, who also appeared exhausted, but a hint of a satisfied smile could be seen in his eyes. The two exchanged a silent look, understanding each other without the need for words.
However, at that moment, Alaric furrowed his brows and couldn't help but speak up. "Professor, why do we need to learn this now? Shouldn't the cultivation of star ferns be part of a more advanced training?"
Professor Edward paused for a moment, his gaze drifting towards the window. It seemed as though his eyes were piercing through the walls of the training room, looking far beyond, carrying a deep and profound meaning. "Because time waits for no one. Recently, there have been increasing reports of abnormal phenomena concerning magical plants, especially high-level plants like the star fern. Their numbers are rapidly declining. No one knows the reason, but one thing is clear, those who master this knowledge will become an important force in our fight against the impending crisis."
His tone grew even more serious. "And you two are among the most promising students I've chosen. I don't want you to just complete your studies passively. I need you to become true experts."
Hearing this, Perry and Alaric fell into deep thought. A complex emotion surged in Perry's heart. He knew that he would not become a botanist, and his goal was to become a chef. He felt a little guilty.
"Professor, we'll do our best to complete it." Upon hearing the explanation, Alaric's voice was firm, his eyes filled with unshakable determination.
Edward showed a satisfied expression but did not soften his tone. "Good. Starting tomorrow, the new training begins. But tonight, you still have one task."
"A task?" Both of them asked almost simultaneously.
"Take this star fern to the storage room at the Magical Research Institute," Edward pointed to the plant glowing softly. "It needs a stable environment to continue growing. Remember, it is very fragile, any slight vibration or unstable magical fluctuations could cause it to wither completely. Be careful on your way."
Perry and Alaric exchanged a glance, both seeing the slight tension in each other's eyes. Although they were simply delivering a plant, it was much more difficult than they had anticipated. Professor Edward didn't provide any more instructions but waved his hand, signaling that they could leave.
The two carefully placed the star fern into a special protective container, and the entire process took over ten minutes. Perry could still feel his hand trembling slightly. The responsibility weighed heavily on him, making him almost afraid to take a breath.
The academy was unusually quiet that night, with only the distant sound of wind softly whistling. Perry, holding the container, whispered, "The storage room is in the east wing, right? There's rarely anyone there."
"That's right, but that area might be a bit problematic tonight," Alaric replied with some wariness in his voice. "I heard the academy recently set up new magical barriers near the east wing to guard against those out-of-control magical creatures. If we're not careful, we might trigger the alarm."
Perry widened his eyes in surprise. "There's such a thing? Why didn't the professor warn us about it?"