Chapter 7: Spitthorn Bloom
Little Frost, with mischief sparkling in her eyes, peered around the corner, plotting her next escapade.
Her plans were quickly thwarted, however, as the woman scooped her up and administered a gentle but firm reprimand to her behind.
Sophia, with grace and precision, extended her hand to summon her tome.
Unlike Eddie's, her Bronze Summoning Tome gleamed with an intense luster and a richer, more substantial texture, a testament to her years of rigorous training and numerous battles.
While Eddie's tome was still in its nascent stage, Sophia's had evolved into a distinguished high-tier, its surface etched with intricate, animated mystic patterns.
In the world of summoning, Bronze Tomes represented the foundational tier, with Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Tomes ascending above them in prestige and power.
"I'll transfer the Spitthorn Bloom to you. Just mentally agree," Sophia instructed gently.
As her advanced Bronze Tome made contact with Eddie's, a cascade of radiant light danced between them.
Eddie internally consented to the transfer and observed as his tome's pages turned of their own accord.
The previously blank third page now hosted the distinct image of the Spitthorn Bloom, complete with detailed descriptions and classifications.
He felt an odd, silent connection to the plant, an intuitive pull that drew his hand to its depiction.
As he touched the image, streams of golden light pirouetted through his fingers, seeping into his flesh and imparting him with an intimate understanding of the unique beast.
Sophia's gaze widened in astonishment.
Without any verbal guidance, Eddie had managed to bond with the plant beast.
Even more curiously, he had done so without the typical recitations or chants usually necessary for such a bond.
Was this brother, long dismissed as incompetent, actually capable of advanced, silent bonding?
With her curiosity piqued and her previous notions slightly upended, Sophia resolved to keep a discreet but attentive watch over him.
The young man, once relegated to the margins of the family's expectations, was proving to be an enigma, quietly shattering the misconceptions that surrounded him.
Sophia regarded Eddie with a blend of skepticism and intrigue.
Perhaps the family's perceived underachiever was actually a hidden gem, a true genius in disguise.
"Summon the Spitthorn Bloom," she instructed.
Despite the bloom's reputation as one of the more straightforward beings to summon, the nuances of plant summoning remained distinct and often challenging without proper guidance.
"Alright," Eddie responded, unaware of Sophia's subtle test.
He gently touched the image of the Spitthorn Bloom in his tome, connecting his thoughts to the plant.
A gentle glow emerged from the tome, and before him, a green-stemmed, purple-flowered plant gradually ascended from the earth, reaching a height of about one and a half meters.
The Spitthorn Bloom, with its large, gaping, tooth-lined petals, appeared almost monstrous, resembling a carnivorous plant from a fantasy game.
Eddie retracted his hand, wary of its intimidating demeanor.
Sophia watched intently, her eyes widening in astonishment.
Eddie, without any formal training or guidance, had successfully summoned the plant.
Could this "worthless" brother actually possess an innate talent for summoning?
As Eddie looked towards her for what to do next, Sophia quickly masked her surprise, adopting an air of nonchalant expertise.
"The summoning was somewhat sluggish, but for a first attempt, it's acceptable," she remarked coolly.
A hint of embarrassment washed over Eddie, making him question his adeptness in summoning.
He scratched his head and inquired, "What comes next?"
With the poise of a seasoned instructor, Sophia promptly summoned her own Spitthorn Bloom, effortlessly and swiftly, further impressing Eddie with her skill.
Pointing to a distant wall, she instructed, "Let's see the Spitthorn Bloom in action. It's capable of spraying a toxic saliva at its targets."
Yet again, she intentionally withheld the method for guiding the bloom's attack, curious to observe Eddie's instinctual approach.
For anyone unfamiliar with the subtleties of plant summoning, urging a Spitthorn Bloom to attack typically resulted in the creature inching toward its target to inflict a clumsy, physical bite with its tooth-laden maw.
Commanding it to unleash its venomous assault was a refined skill requiring precise control, a fundamental part of the curriculum in any respected summoning academy.
If a student specializing in botanical summoning couldn't coax the Spitthorn Bloom to spew its venom or move it more than three meters within ten minutes, they'd unequivocally fail the test.
Mastery of such a technique was a basic yet crucial skill for every plant summoner.
Now regarding Eddie as something more than a mere novice, Sophia decided to challenge him as if he were a fellow academy peer.
"Attack the wall with your venom!" Eddie instructed.
Yet, the Spitthorn Bloom stood inert, a silent witness to his ineffective command.
Despite any latent talent, Eddie felt a sharp sting of limitation.
Sophia's stern, unyielding gaze only magnified the urgency of the situation, reminding him of a strict classroom setting and compelling him to concentrate harder.
In a moment of clarity, Eddie realized that like a trained attack dog, the Spitthorn Bloom needed a clear, visible target.
He hurried over to the wall, quickly drawing a muddy circle with a bold cross at its center.
Returning to the plant's side, he cautiously placed his hand atop its spiny crown, forging a mental link.
Through this connection, he sought to relay his own visual perspective to the bloom, guiding it to focus on the makeshift target.
A sharp hiss filled the room as the bloom's mouth gaped wide, releasing a stream of pale green liquid that arced through the air and splattered against the wall, landing a disappointing two meters away from the intended mark.
Eddie's heart sank with the realization of the bloom's dismal accuracy.
"I can't believe how off-target that was," he murmured, his embarrassment palpable in the heavy air.
On the other side, Sophia watched intently, her outward composure belying the astonishment churning within.
Eddie's instinctive and innovative approach to guiding the Spitthorn Bloom, though unorthodox, hinted at a deeper, perhaps untapped potential.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone