Chapter 23: Herbology

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Herbology

Following the announcement, the vast lecture floor hummed with movement as students shuffled across the hall, taking seats directly in front of their respective department heads.

Barney gave Rowan a friendly nudge on the shoulder, giving his tool pouch a quick tap. "Duty calls at the forge! I’ll see you at noon in the dining hall, Rowan!"

"See you later, alligator," Rowan replied with a slight smirk. Barney let out a booming laugh before hurrying over to the group gathering before Master Kaelen.

Rowan made his way to the front row of the Agronomy section, taking a seat directly across from Professor Vane. The master gardener looked down, his sharp eyes softening into a warm, approving smile as he recognized Rowan. As the student who had secured the top practical score in the entire non-combat department this year by harvesting a near-hundred percent pure E-Grade tomato, Rowan was easily the agronomy department’s brightest prospect. Professor Vane gave him a firm, welcoming nod of acknowledgment before turning back to address the full cohort.

Once every student had found their place and the four cohorts were neatly separated, the four leaders stood in unison.

"Very well," Professor Vane announced, raising his wooden staff. "Agronomy students, gather your things and follow me."

With synchronized efficiency, Master Kaelen, Master Sylphina, Dr. Oakes, and Professor Vane led their respective student divisions out through four separate exit doors, guiding them directly toward their specialized departmental buildings for their first official hands-on training.

***

Professor Vane led the quiet line of agronomy students across the eastern arcade, where the paved walkways gradually gave way to rich terraced gardens and sprawling glass domes. At the end of the stone path stood the Agronomy Building—a towering structure of dark timber and white stone, its exterior walls covered in shimmering ivy that pulsed with gentle mana.

Inside, the grand hall smelled of damp earth, fresh pine, and crushed mint. Glass displays lined the walls, showcasing preserved root networks, rare soil samples, and living specimens of high-tier flora.

Professor Vane walked to the center of the hall, turning to face his new students. He rested both hands on his wooden staff, his sharp gaze sweeping across the front row before settling briefly on Rowan.

"Welcome to the Agronomy Department," Vane began, his voice echoing clearly off the high timbered ceiling. "In public discourse, people call us gardeners, farmers, or cultivators. But within the academy—and across the realm—our true discipline is classified as Herbology."

He raised his staff, tapping its base lightly against the stone floor. A faint wave of green light swept across the room, illuminating the floating diagrams of plant life etched into the glass panels above.

[THE THREE PILLARS OF HERBOLOGY]

[ALCHEMICAL HERBS]

Catalyst roots

Reagent flowers

Toxin neutralizers

[ESSENTIAL SUSTENANCE]

Mana-enriched crops

Famine prevention

Cellular recovery

[NATURAL RESOURCES]

Soil stabilization

Runic fiber & cloth

Iron-bark timber

"Our purpose is the fundamental cornerstone of civilization," Vane continued, his tone solemn and measured. "Without Herbology, Master Sylphina’s alchemists have no raw reagents to brew healing potions. Dr. Oakes’ medics have no natural poultices to stabilize critical wounds. And our vanguard knights on the front lines have no mana-enriched food to sustain their physical strength during prolonged siege warfare."

He stepped closer to the students, looking each of them in the eye.

"We do not merely plant seeds and wait for rain," Vane emphasized, nodding slightly toward Rowan. "We control soil composition, govern elemental resonance, and breed plant life capable of thriving in the harshest environments. You are here to learn how to cultivate life itself—to feed, heal, and rebuild humanity and society."

***

Professor Vane turned and led the class through a set of heavy, brass-bound oak doors at the rear of the hall, entering a long, climate-controlled glass corridor that linked the main building to the academy’s outer research complex.

Beyond the glass stood Dome Alpha through Dome Delta—four colossal, climate-shielded domes shimmering under runic dampening fields.

"This is the Central Research Greenhouse Complex," Professor Vane said, his boots clicking rhythmically against the stone tiles as the students followed. "Each dome is calibrated to a specific elemental ambient density. Dome Alpha houses high-moisture aquatic flora, Dome Beta simulates high-temperature volcanic ash, and Dome Delta is dedicated to toxic and carnivorous species."

He stopped at the massive archway leading into Dome Gamma, tapping his wooden staff against the arch’s central rune stone. The heavy glass doors slid open with a soft hiss, releasing a rich wave of warm, mana-dense air that smelled of fresh loam and ozone.

Inside Dome Gamma, the space was arranged into neat, numbered square plots bordered by polished stone channels through which liquid mana-infused water flowed continuous irrigation.

"Every student in this track will be assigned an individual cultivation plot for the term," Vane announced, stepping onto the central walkway. "Your semester grade will depend on the yield quality, soil health maintenance, and environmental control of whatever species you choose to cultivate."

He pulled a slate scroll from his belt, calling out names and assigning each freshman to their designated station.

"Student Clara, Plot 04. Student Jaxon, Plot 12."

As the students scattered to inspect their assigned square yards of dark soil, Professor Vane walked toward the very center of the dome, stopping beside Plot 36—a plot positioned directly above the dome’s central mana conduit valve, where the soil glowed with a faint, healthy dark emerald hue.

"Student Rowan Vance," Professor Vane called out.

Rowan stepped forward, coming to a halt beside the master gardener.

"Because of your exceptional performance during the practical entrance assessment," Vane said softly, ensuring his voice remained private between the two of them, "you have been granted Plot 36. This plot rests directly on the primary conduit branch, yielding a C-Grade soil matrix density. It will test your ability to regulate high-velocity elemental flow without burning the roots."

Rowan looked down at the plot. To an ordinary student, managing such high-density mana flow without scorching standard crops would be a massive headache. But to Rowan—whose personal domain already possessed Grade-C soil capabilities—it was the perfect cover for his work.

"Thank you, Professor," Rowan replied respectfully, giving a slight nod. "I’ll make full use of it."

"See that you do," Vane smiled, tapping his staff once more. "You have thirty minutes to calibrate your plot sensors and familiarize yourselves with the irrigation controls before our afternoon lab!"