Red roses fell from the sky, drifting like flakes of snow under a soft wind. Yet that wasn't the end. From the holes where the roots had burst out, something began to form.
Petals of red began to materialize, using Leonidas's Insenium as fuel for their existence. Thousands of petals formed, moving toward each hole, forming gigantic roses.
A few seconds later, the barren field was full of vibrant life, flowers on the ground and in the air, life pulsing and blooming with his every breath.
Damn...this took a lot.
He seriously needed to learn how to manage and control his Insenium. At the rate he was going, he would be drained in a matter of minutes.
"Now, my dearest Willow, as grand as this looks, you must have realized that a theatrical spectacle wasn't what I was trying to demonstrate."
She nodded at his words, but it looked more like a mountain of metal moving rather than a delicate—murderous lady.
Willow's sword had transformed into its liquid state and wrapped around her body like a living armor the moment flowers had started growing. With its eight-horned helmet and impenetrable carapace of moving shadows, it made her look like a fearsome demon.
"Yes, I was answering your questions. I can fight perfectly fine, as for the others..." A mischievous smile appeared on Leonidas's face, "You'll know soon enough."
Leonidas assumed that Willow had opened her mouth to object, but he couldn't really tell beneath her mask.
"Now, before you object, know that I have a perfectly normal, sane, and achievable plan...probably."
He raised his thumb up to make a point...only that it held a huge sword, making it look like he was threatening the metal warrior that had just kicked his ass.
Thankfully, Willow didn't seem to mind the wildly swinging blade near her neck and spoke in an impatient tone.
"I see...do tell me of this...plan. Whether or not it's possible, however, is yet to be seen."
Willow nodded like a sage at her words, then touched her hand to the ground. The colorful stone rippled beneath her hand like a lake disturbed, then slowly melted, turning into a river of rainbows.
With her other hand, she grabbed the liquid and shaped it into a rough-looking throne. Her first hand moved once more, touching the deforming throne, turning it back into solid rock.
Leonidas gazed at the process with wonder. She had turned solid into liquid, shaped it into a chair, and then turned it back into a solid again.
Simply amazing...
Leonidas knew how hard it was to make things. He needed in-depth knowledge about a dozen different things. How they grow, what they look like, their general size, what they need to grow, among others.
He had only been able to use his Edict without proper training because, in his previous life, Art had studied botany in order to grow perfect roses for Reis.
Glory be to you, Art.
Now for the other problem...
He glanced at the throne Willow was sitting at...but calling it a throne seemed like a stretch. Although it was at least 3 feet high, its legs were mismatched, some too thick compared to others. The color scheme was a match; the top was a mesmerizing gold, but immediately underneath was murky brown.
Definitely not the best piece of work, but it did its job. It made Willow seem taller and more intimidating. And they both knew that was not something they could afford to lose out on.
A power play, how annoying. But I guess I gotta do something cooler and better than her.
It was, in essence, a silent challenge. If Leonidas failed at building a better throne, Willow would never listen and probably leave...or stab him. Still, he had gained valuable information about the identity of said woman.
An aristocrat, either from the Circle of Chain, Amber, or Dawn. Well, I'll just ask her later, for now though, gotta focus.
"Was it so hard to make a seat for me? Now I gotta do work."
That earned him a hard stare through her helmet, but Leonidas ignored it; stares, especially those of hatred and contempt, were something he was long used to.
"First, I gotta get rid of this thing, it's getting too annoying."
The thing in question was Seridius's sword, which, as usual, was getting in the way instead of actually being useful.
I swear this thing would have been amazing if I had both hands...That reminds me, I'm hungry.
He shoved his sword with quick movement, tip embedded deep. It stood there unmoving, and Leonidas focused on his next task.
In the world of the Labyrinth, everything required a vivid imagination. Seeing something when nothing was there was an essential tool. But seeing nothing while something was there was even more important.
He was essentially tricking his mind into thinking nothing existed around him. He imagined the world being black and his flowers being the only source of light.
Soon enough, crimson lights bloomed into existence. In the sky, on the ground, floating and fallen.
Leonidas beckoned them forward. The feeling was similar to moving his arm after not using it for a while. Mix that feeling with mental strain and his draining Insenium, and it wasn't exactly pleasant.
The ruby flowers moved towards, some flying, on invisible waves of Insenium, riding them like a surfer would the ocean, while others slithered across the ground in a flood of chittering crimson.
As the flowers reached his feet, Leonidas snapped out of his daze. Before him stood a plethora of crystal roses, some massive, spanning across several feet, while others were small, no larger than his fist.
Now, how do I make a throne out of this?
He glanced around himself, trying to take inspiration from something, and soon arrived at a verdict.
Another eureka moment.
With a smile, Leonidas set to work again. He focused on moving the largest flower first, making it serve as a base of sorts, then he grabbed the middle-sized ones, weaving them to make the four supports for his throne of flowers.
Now the back.
For the top, Leonidas used the smallest roses. He first opened them up, making them resemble sunflowers, with their flat backs. He layered dozens of those flattened out flowers, then overlapped them with some vines, which he formed using a chain of rose petals.
"Voila! How perfect a chair this is, and it took me no longer than a minute to make."
Willow, who had taken off her helmet, stared at him with an impassive gaze, flames still flickering in her void-like eyes.
"You did...wonderful Art. Passed with flying colors, really, now sit and tell me of this plan of yours."
Leonidas heeded her words without complaint. His body was far stronger than a normal human; as such, jumping a mere distance of half his height was no problem. He landed with a soft thud, settled into the comfy chair, and let out a contented sigh.
"Ahh, so much better than stone would have been. Oh my! Dearest Willow, isn't your back hurting? From you know...your misformed ugly...chair, though calling it that seems like an insult."
Leonidas feigned hurtful expression, all the while snickering behind his hand.
"It truly is, but alas, at least I can fix it with my own two hands. Oh my! I didn't realize you don't have an arm, my...forgive me, Art."
This vixen...she dared to use my words against me! How insufferable.
It mattered not that he had started it, nor that everything she had said was true. The only thing that mattered was that she was mocking him, with a smile at that!
"Your concern is flattering...really, but let's move on to the important stuff."
"You're going to love what I have planned."