The White Seed
951 Words
Amy stood up, intending to drape a blanket over the young man, but she noticed a bracelet that shouldn't have been on his previously bare right wrist.
After Dennis's failed attempt to escape, Amy began explaining the day's tasks to him.
To be precise, she had to start with the room bursting with items, a storage space filled to the brim.
"What do you see?" Amy asked Dennis.
"Uh, plants?"
Much like the greenhouse at his home, the warehouse was filled with potted plants, but these appeared bizarre and unlike anything he had ever seen.
"And what else?" Amy prompted.
"Stacks of documents?" Dennis gestured towards the papers scattered among the plants.
Amy nodded, "These documents correspond to each plant." She murmured a spell, and one document, along with a plant, floated towards them.
"What is this?" Dennis asked, pointing to the strange plant before them. "A tomato? Or a pumpkin?" The vines reminded him of a pumpkin vine, yet the fruit seemed more like a tomato.
Amy's answer was both unexpected and logical, "It's a 'Tomkin.'"
Dennis suspected she had invented the name on the spot, "I've never heard of such a thing."
"That's because it was created by a wizard using magic," Amy explained, "We call these creations."
Dennis was still bewildered, but Belinda stepped in to clarify further, "Dennis, remember the Ghost Flower at your home? I created that by infusing magic into a white seed. The plants here follow the same principle—they all started as pure white seeds before being transformed by magic."
Dennis finally understood, having heard his parents mention white seeds before, though he still didn't understand what that had to do with the work they were to undertake.
Belinda read Dennis's thoughts from his expression.
"Every decade, the academy compiles a visual catalog of creations. These are entries for consideration," Belinda explained. "Our job is to review them, eliminate half-finished works, ideas lacking originality, and those overly derivative. The pieces we select will be sent to the academy library. There, Miss Peggy will conduct a second review. Those that pass will be included in the new catalog, granting the creator a certificate and a monetary award from the academy."
With Belinda’s explanation, Dennis had a clearer picture of his job's complexity and the challenges ahead.
Meanwhile, Carter seemed unfazed. While Dennis was familiarizing himself with the job, Carter had already reviewed fifty entries, including the 'Tomkin' before them.
"Professor Belinda stated that creations merging existing plants lack innovation."
With a wave of his hand, Carter muttered the incantation, sending the 'Tomkin' documentation to the rejection pile. Although Carter’s levitation spell was imperfect, his dedication conquered the room.
Belinda’s eyes radiated her admiration as she watched Carter.
As for Dennis, interpreting Carter's mindset was a different battle altogether. Shaking his head, he joined Amy to dive into the work.
---
Dennis lost track of time, succumbing to exhaustion.
The alarming part was that he seemed to be the only one tired. Everyone else continued working tirelessly.
Carter, astonishingly, upon hearing of another warehouse holding ten thousand more creations, eagerly volunteered to go for another round of assessments.
Moved yet again, Belinda decided to accompany him.
Left with a relatively lighter load of seven thousand creations, Dennis, nonetheless, found himself drained.
"This is brutal," he complained, "Do we always have to work like this?"
“Please hold on a bit longer,” Amy encouraged, “Once this task ends, Lady Belinda will grant us a few days off for a camping trip.”
Camping? Dennis didn’t expect Belinda to arrange such recreational activities for her subordinates.
This fleeting moment of joy was crushed when two intern assistants whispered discontentedly, “Miss Amy, you promised the same last month.”
“Very soon,” Amy replied emotionlessly, “I assure you there will be a break this time.”
Inwardly, she knew: Tasks at the academy were eternally unfinished, leaving them with no time even to investigate the magical wolves.
Dennis seemed to intuit Amy's thoughts and exclaimed, "This is exploitation!"
Amy continued her work, without lifting her head, "If you’re unsatisfied, you’re free to lodge a complaint with the Magic Tower. I doubt they'd follow up. It’s likely the only issue involving Lady Belinda that wouldn’t warrant action."
Dennis caught the hidden implication, "Are you suggesting she has other reportable offenses?" He was curious about Belinda’s relationship with the Magic Tower and wondered if the professor had any vulnerabilities.
After a prolonged silence, Amy finally spoke up, "Mr. Dennis, if you truly wish for a break, feel free to browse the previous catalogs. It can offer a fascinating look."
Dennis, curious after inspecting so many rough works by novice mages, walked over and picked up one of the catalogs.
Amy noticed the cover of the book he chose, “You’re in luck. That one is from the last compilation and includes a work by Lady Belinda.”
“What?”
“Page 374,” Amy directed him.
Dennis turned to page 374, discovering an entry on the Ghost Flower.
---
Yawning, Belinda waved another creation into the rejection pile.
She looked back to gauge Carter’s progress, only to find the young man asleep on the desk.
Tonight, he had tackled the most work. Despite being a Level II novice sorcerer, his diligence outshone even Amy's.
Belinda was pleased, more convinced than ever that recruiting him had been wise—a blessing she owed to the Magic Tower.
That he still harbored unresolved mysteries only made him more valuable.
---
Standing to get the young man a blanket, Belinda’s gaze caught something peculiar—a bracelet on his wrist, one that hadn’t been there before.
- Writer
