Gardener of Eden

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Demonstration

As the applause from the combat exhibition subsided, the central arena shifted. Heavy steel anvils, alchemical hearths, and plots of raw, nutrient-rich soil were brought forth, setting the stage for the academy’s non-combat faculty to demonstrate the foundational disciplines that sustained the realm.

Blacksmithing Demonstration

A veteran blacksmithing professor stepped forward, channeling dense mana into a subterranean forge array. With rhythmic hammer strikes echoing across the stone tiers, he worked glowing enchanted metal directly on the anvil.

Sparks of compressed mana flew with every hit, rapidly shaping a crude ingot into a gleaming, runically aligned breastplate in a matter of minutes.

He finished with a sudden flash of quenching frost magic, locking the protective wards into the metal and proving how craft-masters could supply front-line squads in record time.

Alchemy Demonstration

Next, the senior alchemy professor took center stage, surrounding herself with floating, temperature-controlled glass vessels and glowing reagent vials.

Without touching a single stirring rod, she wove streams of elemental liquid through the air using fluid mana manipulation.

In seconds, raw volatile herbs dissolved, purified, and condensed into mid-tier multi-recovery potions that shimmered with radiant amber light, demonstrating high-efficiency field synthesis without waste.

Farming & Herbology Demonstration

Finally, the head herbologist and domain cultivator stepped onto the soil plot at the center of the arena.

Channeling a wave of vitality magic into the earth, she planted a single dormant seed.

Within moments, thick emerald shoots broke through the dirt, rapidly swelling into a towering, fruit-bearing medicinal vine that bloomed under the artificial sunlight arrays.

She demonstrated rapid soil purification and accelerated germination, highlighting how vital domain cultivation was for sustaining outposts and healing blighted lands.

Squad 07’s Reaction

From Staging Area Seven, the squad watched closely as the specialized demonstrations concluded.

”Now that’s proper metallurgy,” Caelen said with an appreciative nod as the blacksmithing display ended. ”Hard to appreciate how much punch a piece of armor can take until you watch someone forge the barrier wards right into the steel.”

”Her temperature control during the distillation phase was nearly instantaneous,” Seraphina remarked, eyes fixed on the remaining alchemical vapors lingering in the air. ”She bypassed two purification steps by using a pre-heated mana catalyst. That could cut field brewing time in half.”

Rowan tilted his enchanted straw hat back slightly, watching the newly grown medicinal vine gently sway in the center ring. He appreciated the professor’s technique, though he could feel the faint strain in the soil from the forced, artificial push of mana.

”A clean display of growth magic,” Rowan said with a calm smile, leaning lightly against his hoe. ”Though accelerating germination like that drains the ground’s nutrient baseline pretty fast. Once the real trial starts and we’re out in the actual field, proper soil care and steady cultivation are what keep a squad standing long after the flash fades.”

***

Following the grand demonstrations, the arena’s magical public-address arrays hummed as the primary host stepped up to the high announcer’s dais. A sweeping, amplified voice bathed the stadium in rich sound as the light arrays dimmed slightly, casting the arena in a solemn, golden glow.

The host embarked on a grandiose, sweeping speech chronicling the rise of the Empire:

The Dark Era: He recounted the tragic decades before the Great Awakening, when shattered land and untamed monster tides threatened human civilization with total extinction.

Unification & Leyline Epoch: He detailed how the founding Imperial Dynasty rallied the first Awakeners, carved out fortified layers, and established the Tower’s safe havens to guarantee humanity’s survival.

The Present Glory: He extolled the sacrifices of the pioneer guilds and military academies, framing the day’s trial as the next proud Chapter in the realm’s enduring defense.

Throughout the tiers, high-ranking nobles beamed with pride while sections of cadet squads shifted restlessly, eager for the formal speeches to wrap up so the real competition could begin.

As the speech reached its crescendo, the host raised a gloved hand toward the highest tier of the arena, where a lavishly draped sky-box overlooked the central ring.

”And now, presiding over today’s grand trials in the name of the Imperial Throne—join me in greeting His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince, and Her Highness, the Youngest Imperial Princess!”

Spotlight arrays flared across the upper stadium, illuminating the gilded balcony.

The Crown Prince stepped forward in sharp, pristine ceremonial armor, offering a composed, regal salute to the roaring crowd.

Beside him, the Youngest Imperial Princess smiled brightly, waving graciously to the cheering tiers as broadcast drones swept in close to project her image onto the arena’s massive illusory displays.

A thunderous ovation erupted across the stands, flags waving and mana banners flashing across every sector.

Down at Staging Area Seven, Rowan and his team shielded their eyes slightly against the glare of the upper spotlights.

”That’s a heavy security detail,” Caelen muttered, glancing up at the shadowy figures of Elite Imperial Guards standing like steel statues along the royal box’s perimeter. ”You couldn’t slip a needle through the defensive mana fields on that balcony if you tried.”

”Notice the Princess’s cloak,” Seraphina added quietly, her analytical gaze picking out subtle details on the floating projections. ”It’s woven with high-grade spatial-displacement thread. Even standing in a public arena, she’s outfitted with instant emergency-extraction gear.”

Rowan rested his hands on the haft of his hoe, looking up at the high balcony with a thoughtful smile before turning his attention back toward the main gates.

”It’s quite a show,” Rowan said calmly, adjusting his straw hat. ”The crown gives the people something to cheer for, and the academy gives them something to rely on. Now that the speeches are out of the way, the real trial shouldn’t be far behind.”

As the echo of the opening ceremony began to settle across the grand arena, a series of low chime tones reverberated through the staging areas. Elite academy stewards and uniformed guides stepped forward from the perimeter, moving systematically to disperse the gathered squads and escort them toward the residential quarters.

Squad 07’s assigned guide—a sharp-eyed senior cadet wearing the navy silver trim of the administrative liaison office—approached Rowan and his team with a polite salute.

”Squad 07, please follow me,” the guide instructed, gesturing toward the reinforced archway at the western edge of Staging Area Seven. ”The public festivities are officially concluded for the evening. All cadets are required to proceed directly to their assigned dormitories for mandatory rest prior to tomorrow’s trial.”

As the squad fell into step behind the guide, navigating the wide, ward-lit corridors of the academy’s inner residential ring, the guide outlined the evening’s security protocols.

”To ensure maximum physical recovery and prevent pre-trial interference or inter-squad friction, all team members will be assigned individual, ward-locked rooms,” the guide explained. ”Movement between cadet quarters is restricted after dusk. Your evening meals have been prepared according to high-grade restorative standards and will be delivered directly to each of your rooms via automated courier slots.”

”Makes sense,” Caelen noted softly, eyeing the heavy containment runes etched along the doorframes of the dormitory wing. ”No one can sabotage another squad’s prep work if everyone is locked down under isolation wards.”

Seraphina glanced lingeringly at the subtle mana flux along the corridor walls. ”It also minimizes the chance of details leaking about our field sample before the official analysis report is filed,” she remarked quietly to Rowan.

”Rest is just as important as preparation,” Rowan replied with a calm smile, adjusting the brim of his enchanted straw hat as they reached their sector. ”Take the time to clear your minds tonight. Tomorrow won’t be forgiving.”

The guide stopped in front of a cluster of numbered private suites, tapping a master key rune to unlock the doors sequentially. ”These are your quarters for the night. Your meals will arrive shortly. Ensure you are fully suited and ready for call-time at dawn.”

Exchanging brief nods of solidarity, the members of Squad 07 stepped into their respective rooms.

Inside his private chamber, Rowan set the Hoe leaning carefully against the weapon rack. The room was quiet, insulated by thick acoustic wards that muffled the distant roar of the stadium crowds outside. Moments after the heavy door sealed shut behind him, a small brass compartment on the side wall chimed softly as a covered tray containing a steaming, mana-enriched dinner was smoothly delivered into the room.

Removing his hat and resting his hands on the edge of the dining table, Rowan looked down at the hot meal, his mind already shifting to the artificial toxicity in the leylines and the trial that awaited them at first light.