Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
For the next few days, I left the aquatics conservatory before the sun made its way over the ocean, before most of the other researchers rose, and took the boat to the water hemlock patch.
The defensive plants along the hidden path to the conservatory seemed to show off for me, and I noticed new species each time I went through.
Spending time at the defensives conservatory was like an extended and more immersive version of my field studies. Each day, I interacted with a selection of the unique defensive plants before Petra and I set in to work on my powers.
We tried several recipes that included rose petals from Rosie, but so far, none had released the poison that was stifling my powers.
“Did you feel anything?” Petra asked after I’d ingested our third recipe of the day.
She had included a pressed-oil version of the petals in the most recent experimental antidote, which was more concentrated.
It made the hut we were working in smell like a perfume store that only sold rose-scented formulations.
I tilted my head to the side, deciding how to explain what I was feeling.
“Yes. It’s like the time in the cabin on Mt.
Shasta when I felt like we were getting close.
The petals from Rosie seem to almost be…
relaxing my system. I’m not sure if it’s a placebo, but I feel calmer than when we usually do this. Almost like I took a muscle relaxant.”
“That’s interesting,” Petra said. “Even if it is just a placebo, like you say, you are obviously very used to the scent of Rosie, and that may naturally be calming your body down.”
“I don’t think I’m going to have any luck cutting through the bonds on my magic when I’m this relaxed. It might even be having the opposite effect of what we want.”
Petra studied my face as if I were a complex puzzle.
“The opposite effect of what we want… Perhaps we do want you relaxed. If you were fully relaxed, others could attempt to undo the bonds on your magic. I wonder if we could try to… What do they call it? Tag-team it? This conservatory houses the most defensive botanists you’ll find at any one place in the world.
If we all worked on undoing the magic of the defensive founder, perhaps here, in this other place she built, the effects of the Floracantus will finally come loose. ”
“Let’s do it,” I said, sitting upright. I wasn’t sure whether it was my relaxed state or the eagerness to try something new that told me we should do it, but either way, we were running out of time to keep tweaking the antidote.
I couldn’t return to the academy with a book of unsolved riddles and nothing else to show for it.
Petra nodded, and I waited in the hub while she gathered eight other magical botanists.
“That makes nine of us in total. The same number as there are affinities. Seems like good luck, I think.”
“Magical botanists operate on science, not luck,” one botanist chastised her in a voice that sounded practical rather than reproachful.
“Perhaps you’re right, Yew, but thanks for joining, regardless,” Petra replied.
“On the count of three, I would like you all to target the founders’ poison in Briar’s magic.
If you sense it, try to counter it with your own magic.
Briar, make sure you don’t block any of us.
Hopefully, Rosie will help with that. Let our magic work and help us if you can. ”
I nodded, bracing myself as questions ran through my head. Will this hurt? Do I care? I had poisoned myself to get here. Could this be any worse than that? I inhaled the fragrant scent of the roses in the hut and let Rosie work her relaxation magic in my bloodstream. “I’m ready.”
“One… Two…” Petra began. On “Three,” I felt a cool liquid sensation as other defensive magic began to search my body for Jean-Claudia’s curse.
Thankfully, it wasn’t painful, and I tried to give in to the calm I was already feeling, guiding their magic toward where the poison had a hold on mine.
Soon, I could sense the other botanists’ magic beginning to work on the poison, tugging and slicing.
I focused on breathing and letting their defensive affinities work.
After about two minutes, I felt something snap, and I gasped as tension released like a pressure valve, the feeling of the poison’s effect on my magic completely gone.
“I think… I think it worked,” I breathed. Immediately, I felt the other botanists back off, the coolness of their magic leaving me.
“Test it out,” Petra said.
Another botanist handed me an angel’s trumpet the size of a desk lamp as a test subject.
I said the first Floracantus that popped into my mind. “Flos flori.”
Before the words were out of my mouth, I knew it had worked. My power was humming through my veins again, and I felt intimately connected to each of the plants in the surrounding area. The lemony smell of the angel’s trumpet filled the entire hut, responding to the Floracantus I had used.
“I’d say it worked,” Petra said with satisfaction in her voice.
“Thank you all.” I looked around the group. “This means the world.”
A few people gave me smiles, but most were already heading back to their research.
“Congratulations, Briar,” Petra said. “And just in time. I’m sure you’ll find a way to solve the riddle and use the book.”
“I really hope so.”
Petra studied me for a moment before speaking again.
“When I discovered my relation to da Vinci, I began to research his history, as I know you have also done. I found there was a phrase he used to describe how he approached the world. He called it saper vedere. It means ‘knowing how to see.’ He wanted to know everything about the world, and his incredible achievements in art and science can be attributed to this.”
“Saper vedere,” I said slowly, trying out the words.
“You have that vision, Briar. I think it’s been instilled in you since you were born.
I suspect that it’s not a coincidence you grew up in Weed.
Perhaps your family—your ancestors—could subconsciously sense the school’s magic, even though their own magic was locked away.
That may be what kept your mom and aunt there too.
I have a feeling they experienced a connection to the place that they couldn’t explain.
Even though da Vinci tied up our family’s powers in his journals, that spirit of curiosity about the world passed through your blood. ”
I glanced at Leucie, who was resting on Petra’s shoulder and gently flapping her wings as I considered Petra’s words. The idea was so beautiful that tears pricked my eyes.
“You think I have what he had? He was one of the greatest artists and inventors in history.”
“Perhaps anyone can have that, whether or not they are related to him. You told me you are an artist, that you’ve been seeing the world through your art since you were a child.
Your art—and exploring the images in da Vinci’s book—is how you ended up activating your powers without even realizing it.
I know magical botanists are people of science but…
” Petra paused, seeming to consider how to phrase her next words.
“We also know that there’s more mystery and wonder to this world than humans can even imagine.
Everything I’ve come to know about you tells me that the wonder and curiosity within you will lead you to discover the secrets of da Vinci’s riddle and much more. After all, it’s brought you this far.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I couldn’t form any words of protest, because I desperately hoped it was true.
“Thank you, Petra. For everything. Will I see you back at the academy?”
Petra shook her head sadly. “With the departure of Professor East, I think it’s best that I stay away for now.
Besides, my reason for being there is now accomplished.
You have access to your powers. You’re more skilled in defensives than most botanists I’ve met.
I think your field studies were a success, don’t you? ”
I nodded, but I fought back a wave of sadness, as I wasn’t sure when—or if—I would see Petra again.
Seeming to read my mind, she said, “It’s been my pleasure working with you, Briar, and I hope our paths will cross again. I have a feeling that life will lead you back here one day.”
“I hope so, too, Petra. Thanks for everything.”
“No matter what happens next, you’re always welcome here. We’re family.” Petra smiled then nodded toward Leucie, who was hovering over the boat, ready to lead me out of the conservatory.
I climbed into the tiny vessel that had been transporting me the past few days and used my powers on every passing plant as I said farewell to the defensives conservatory.