Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series - Chapter 112

Chapter 112: Missing Four Students
Aiden and Adrian sat near one of the large flowering trees in the Botanical Garden, the morning sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting dappled shadows on the ground. The scent of fresh blooms filled the air, but neither of them was paying much attention to the scenery.

Professor Ylang-Ylang stood atop her usual stool, her golden eyes sweeping across the gathered students as she prepared to start the lesson.

Professor Ylang-Ylang tilted her head slightly, her golden eyes flickering with curiosity as she swept her gaze over the gathered students. A soft hum escaped her lips, and she glanced at one of her Divatas, who twirled midair as if sensing her thoughts.

“Oh my,” she mused, tapping a small finger against her chin. “The class feels a little… smaller today, don’t you think?”

At her words, a few students looked around, their expressions shifting as they, too, noticed the gaps in the crowd.

Aiden frowned. “Sevan’s not here,” he muttered under his breath, though that wasn’t surprising. They already knew he had gone to the restroom and said he’d catch up.

But then Adrian scoffed beside him, crossing his arms. “Yeah, but neither is Shiloh or his little lapdogs.”

That made Aiden’s frown deepen. His gaze flickered toward the entrance of the Botanical Garden, as if expecting Sevan to casually stroll in at any moment. But the longer he stared, the more uneasy he felt.

Professor Ylang-Ylang paused when she noticed Sevan was missing.

“Where is Mr. Wasterfall?” she asked, tilting her head slightly. One of her Divatas flitted around her, glowing faintly in the daylight.

Before Aiden could even open his mouth to give a reasonable answer, Adrian leaned forward with a completely serious expression.

“Professor, he may or may not have taken a massive dump after eating too much breakfast…”

The entire class went silent for a second before a few students stifled their laughter. Jarek and Rupert snorted at this, while Ivara stifled her laugh by covering her mouth.

Aiden shot Adrian a glare, but Adrian just smirked, clearly pleased with himself.

Professor Ylang-Ylang blinked a few times, her small frame remaining completely still as if processing what she had just heard. Then, slowly, she let out a soft, amused sigh.

“Dead, while I appreciate your… creativity, I do hope that is not truly the case.” She smiled sweetly, her hands clasping in front of her. “Otherwise, I may have to introduce him to some digestive-aiding herbs.”

Aiden shook his head, running a hand through his hair. “He just said he’d catch up. He had something to do real quick.”

Professor Ylang-Ylang nodded, satisfied with that explanation. “Very well. Let us begin, then. Mr. Wasterfall will have to join us when he is ready.”

She observed the missing students with mild curiosity once again but ultimately sighed and turned back to the class. “Well, I’m sure they’ll turn up eventually. For now, let’s not waste time.”

With a tap of her stick against the ground, the flora around them seemed to breathe, leaves rustling and flowers blooming a little wider as if responding to her presence. Her three Divatas flitted around the gathered students, their soft luminescence casting a dreamy glow over the garden.

Professor Ylang-Ylang waved her hand, and a vine gently curled upward from the soil, revealing a flower in full bloom.

The flower was large and star-shaped, with six delicate petals that shimmered faintly as if dusted with crushed gemstones. Its colors shifted depending on the light, moving between soft lavender, deep indigo, and a brilliant golden hue at the edges. The center of the flower pulsed with a faint glow, a sign of the magic it absorbed from its surroundings.

Professor Ylang-Ylang touched it lightly with her stick rather than her hand, careful not to accidentally enhance its magic.

“The Hiraya flower is one of Soleil’s most treasured magical plants. It naturally draws in stray magical energy and refines it into a purer form. This makes it invaluable for energy restoration, and it’s often used in healing elixirs and magical medicine.”

Aiden, though half-distracted by Sevan’s absence, studied the flower with interest.

It didn’t seem extraordinary at first glance, but the way it pulsed faintly with energy hinted at its magic. He had read about it briefly in their textbook, but seeing it up close was a different experience altogether.

Professor Ylang-Ylang smiled, clearly pleased with the students’ focus. “Now, who can tell me why the Hiraya flower holds such significance in Soleil’s history?”

A few hands went up, and Amihan was the first to be called. “It was used during the Solari Rebellion to help injured warriors recover faster,” she said calmly. “It also played a role in stabilizing Magi whose magic had gone out of control.”

“Very good, dearest!” Professor Ylang-Ylang praised. “Indeed, during the Solari Rebellion, the Hiraya flower was often the difference between life and death. It was infused into elixirs, woven into battle garments, and even placed in pockets to regulate unstable magic.”

She walked around the students, allowing them a closer look at the flower. “It was especially important for the Soleians, whose power was immense but often unstable. A single mistake or strategy in using your magic could turn the tide of a war, so the Hiraya flower was woven into their cloaks, placed in their weapons, and even burned as incense before battle to ensure their magic remained under control.”

The class murmured among themselves, some taking notes while others simply observed.

“Even Egan the New King used it,” Professor Ylang-Ylang continued, her voice calm but carrying an air of importance. “After the rebellion ended, it is said that his injuries were so severe that traditional healing spells would have failed. However, an elixir infused with Hiraya flower was what allowed him to recover. From then on, it became a staple in the royal court’s medicine and is still used today.”

Aiden leaned forward slightly, watching how the flower seemed to breathe, its glow dimming and brightening in a steady rhythm. He had heard of magical plants before, but seeing one up close, especially one this beautiful, was something else entirely.

Adrian, on the other hand, tapped his chin. “So if I eat one, will I become super powerful?”

Professor Ylang-Ylang sighed but smiled. “If you want an upset stomach, then by all means, try it.”

She tapped the stick against her palm thoughtfully. “It is one of the rare few plants that can both suppress magic and enhance it. If used correctly, it can be a powerful tool.”

Adrian, still half-distracted, leaned toward Aiden and muttered, “If Sevan’s in trouble because of Shiloh and his goons, I swear, I’m going to set off every single trap in their dorm room.”

Aiden exhaled sharply, eyes flicking toward the entrance. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t need saving first.”

“Perhaps you’d like to answer a question?” Professor Ylang-Ylang asked the two, who had caught the both of them whispering.

Adrian grinned, unbothered. “Sure, professor.”

“If a battle mage were to infuse their weapon with Hiraya flower, what effects would it have?”

Adrian blinked. “…Uh, it’d probably glow?”

Aiden sighed.

“It would allow them to cast stronger magic without as much energy loss. It stabilizes magic, meaning they’d be less likely to lose control in the middle of a fight.”

Professor Ylang-Ylang smiled patiently, clearly amused by Adrian’s antics rather than annoyed. “Well, I’m glad you’re at least half-listening,” she said lightly. “But I do hope you’ll pay better attention. Understanding how magic interacts with nature might just save your life one day.”

Adrian grinned. “That sounds ominous, Professor.”

She chuckled. “It’s simply the truth.”

With a graceful wave of her hand, she gestured for the students to gather closer. “Now then, let’s take a look at the structure of the Hiraya flower and how it channels energy. You may be familiar with common magical amplifiers like crystals and enchanted metals, but plants- especially this one- are much more intricate in how they interact with power.”

She spoke with a warmth that made even the driest topics interesting, her passion for botany evident in every word.

Still, despite the engaging lesson, Aiden kept glancing toward the entrance. Sevan should have been here by now.