Page 51 of Evergreen Academy (Society of Magical Botanists #1)

Chapter Forty-Nine

A fter a grueling Biological Applications of Physics class, where we worked on speeding and slowing the process of stomatal closure to study plant hydraulics, I met Nevah at the pond for an aquatics affinity session.

My head was still spinning with recorded values and the strain I’d felt as the xylem tension approached an important threshold.

“You look peckish,” Nevah said, tossing her hair over her shoulder in a cascade of dark ringlets.

“We were doing hydraulics testing today in Plant Phys,” I said, using the common nickname for the course.

“Aw, enough said. Let’s start with something easy, then. How about a Floracantus to scatter the floating plants so we can study the submerged ones?”

I braced myself to switch gears to Latin, trying to remember the Floracantus that would move the water plants along the surface of the pond. “ Per aquam labatur ,” I said finally, and the plants gracing the top of the water moved a few millimeters.

“Remember to connect with the plants. You have to feel them before you utter the Floracantus.”

I tried again, reaching out to sense the tissues and then cells of the plants before uttering the words again. This time, they spread a little farther from one another, forming a small open circle on the water’s surface.

“Better. Now collect some of the water. We’re going to practice running a few tests.”

We worked near the pond for nearly an hour before Nevah shifted gears. “Let’s get some tea and go to the Perilous Grove.”

Relieved at the prospect of a short break, I followed her into the academy building, and we brewed a strong concoction that should restore my energy and tighten my focus.

By the time we walked out to the Perilous Grove, travel tea mugs in hand, I felt my brain begin to rev up and stood a little straighter, ready to give my studies a fresh start.

“Forewarning, Callan put the pressure on to up your training in this area,” Nevah said once we entered the grove.

“Apparently, the Scopolia incident really freaked him out. He is right, though. If you were far enough along in your training, you’d have been able to recognize the Floracantus that had magically altered the plant’s properties and counteracted it immediately. ”

“We’ve been training as fast as we can,” I said quickly, trying not to let feelings of being overwhelmed return.

“Agreed, but we may need to work harder. There is so much ground to cover with the number and level of affinities you have. And you’re already years behind most magical botanists.

Our time here is limited, and we have to make the most of it.

I’m going to push you harder to memorize the core Floracantus.

” She flipped open her notebook and took a seat on a nearby tree stump, ready to observe my work. “Let’s hope that tea has kicked in.”

I nodded and slightly clenched my hands, letting my senses open to a nearby nightshade plant. “Let’s do it.”