Several battles occurred after that day, with Marina mostly lying low and watching Lira fight. Soon she began to realize the power that had wiped out several competent mages without even a scratch.
Between the downtime, Lira started to actually approach Marina and try to guide her in the ways of creation magic.
At first, Marina had initially wanted to bring up the fact that she had not asked for help; however, she chose not to, believing that taking the free advice without asking questions was probably the wiser decision.
"You've likely seen how I draw power from myself in order to conjure plants." Lira had initially begun by answering Marina's biggest question about creation magic.
"It's quite hard, but it has to do with understanding. Just like how the more you interacted with plants in the garden, the more your efficiency in using magic increased with extracting life force from those specific plants. The more I'm able to grasp the nature of myself, the more I'm capable of using myself for power."
Lira then demonstrated changing her life force into a pink flower that appeared in her palm; she then continued speaking.
"Now this does not only include my physical nature. It's about having a good grasp on my body and mind. But despite the fact that this life force is coming from myself, a human, the ability to conjure is only limited to plants for now. Or at least not other humans and animals. However, although I mention only plants, any lifeforms that are considered less complex than plants, I have been able to conjure. Bacteria, for example, are useful for managing my own immune system and preventing sickness, but it's hard to control them en masse due to our inability to see such bacteria. I have to focus quite hard to sense them."
Marina had controlled bacteria before to help speed up the fermentation of wine, causing it to turn sour, but she only found out about this capability when she had visited a winery during the initial months of her journey.
She had tasted bad wine and had unconsciously used her magic to sense countless bacteria within the liquor. With that, she then tried summoning the bacteria and amplifying their strength with life force.
Pausing to think for a second, Lira placed her hand on her chin before finishing her thought.
"But... Although I'm incapable of producing a form of life besides plants... I'm able to create organic material that can almost repair and heal life."
To demonstrate this, Lira cut off her right index finger with some sort of leaf blade. Her finger regrew almost immediately after; however, a large portion of the grass around her died, turning grey.
"As you can see, unlike creating plants, this should not be done with your own life force. Since using your own life force is taking away power from yourself to create plants, you are equivalently burning your lifespan in order to use magic. Obviously, when you conjure plants with your own lifeforce, you can take that lifeforce back after you dismiss the plants. Healing yourself and others does not work like this, though, because you can't just dismiss a healed finger."
"So, make sure you have a competent understanding of plants around you in a battlefield. This healing technique is likely easier than using your own lifeforce, but again you need to have an understanding of what you're healing."
"One must know the building blocks of a structure before starting to create it. This is the same with creating life."
After hearing this advice, Marina tried to replicate the healing on herself. She would give her thumb a small cut and try to heal it.
Sadly, over the days, she saw no progress.
It must be because I don't have enough "understanding" of myself.
Although she seemed to know the root cause of the problem, she couldn't figure out how to fix it, and her group eventually closed in on the border.
"Everyone! Our destination is only days ahead of us. We've almost made it to the border."
Lira started to make an announcement to the people.
"But it's quite obvious that from the attacks we've received, they were never a serious offense, but instead a means of funneling us towards this area of the border."
"This may seem scary. However, we don't have a choice. We are walking towards the biggest fight so far. Even Valter himself might appear. Nonetheless, I believe we can do it!"
"Because unlike those slimy bastards up in royalty fighting for more power. We are fighting for a better future for our kingdom!"
The men then all began to cheer.
"YEAHHHHH! Fuck em all!"
"WE'LL KILL THOSE BASTARDS!"
"GLORY TO OUR FUTURE KING!"
Marina watched as her "Master" aroused the spirits of the soldiers.
Well... that's a skill in itself, isn't it? She basically said that we're walking into a trap, yet everyone is all excited. Does creation magic create false feelings of excitement in others too?
It's not like I can run away currently... That ship has sailed.
Unless... there will probably be a giant commotion during the battle, so I might be able to escape.
But... I already know that I'm one of the targets, so that's unlikely.
Lira had already told Marina about how she was being held alive and captive by the enemies after she was knocked out. Marina was able to quickly infer the reason behind that to likely be her own older brother.
I don't know why they want me alive. Still not great nonetheless... I have a target on myself in a situation where I want to run. It might be a better decision to try and help Lira win somehow.
Damn it.
There's no turning back, is there...
And so, Marina followed along quietly as the group continued their march, presumably towards the biggest battle of their lives.
***
Trey rode his horse across a beaten path. To his left, riding alongside was Trey's new brother-in-law, Edric.
"How far out North are we supposed to go from the border?"
Trey inquired about directions as he turned right at a fork in the road.
"Shouldn't be more than an hour more until we—"
Edric cut off as he glanced out into the distance.
Trey matched his gaze, looking off far into the direction they were traveling.
Far out, he saw the grass around him end, and the path was not visible. The entire area looked like a chunk of ash and grey.
It was a burn site.
The traces of arson were evident, but it covered the entire landmass, and its width was not visible from such a distance. Trey could definitely tell that if he rode from one side to the other, it would probably take a day, or even more.
"That's the sign that we're closing in."
Edric spoke as he snapped the reins on his horse, making it speed up.
"Wait, how did this even happen? Why is it all burnt?"
Trey questioned Edric as he also sped up his horse to stay by his side.
"You and Valter plan on wiping out the final fragments left of those who oppose the council. Well, that also means you must face off against Lira the Undying."
"The Undying? I've never heard of them..."
"Of course you wouldn't. You'd have to do some research to find out about them. They're quite old now and lay low for the most part. But they are known for being the strongest creation mage to ever exist. Almost one hundred years ago was the last main event where she was present."
"She helped defeat a dragon that escaped from Mythrend. However, she was recently put on a wanted list. They figured out that one of the largest underground information networks was led by her. And since it gave a substantial amount of aid to anti-council groups, Valter hastily rushed to deal with it."
Trey took the words in, then posed his own question.
"How do you know all of this information?"
"I read up on the situation before departing. Anyways, to get to the main point. The reason she was called 'The Undying' was because of her magic. She has the capability to regenerate almost instantly by taking the energy from surrounding lifeforms. Apparently, it's so fast that even her head has been sliced off and regenerated instantly."
"That last comment was just speculation, though. The reason why the entire area is burned is to prepare for a fight against her. Destroying all plant life around the area limits her ability. Since they were able to contain her position with attacks, they know that she will be coming here. On top of that, I believe there are many of Valter's spies in her ranks."
"Why do you think?"
Trey asked.
"How do you think they know that Thalen is still with the group? They would need good enough confirmation to want to attack. A spy is obvious. It's also likely how they found out about your sister and the fact that Lira is even the one in charge."
"Alright then. I don't need to focus too much on that anyway. Just need to win my fights."
"And I'm confident that you can do so diligently."
Trey then dove into thought about his sister and the situation at hand.
Creation magic... I'm pretty sure that has to do with plants. So that's the same magic type as Marina.
Can that really be a coincidence?
Trey and Edric continued galloping forward for an hour, eventually crossing into the ashen plains and then finally spotting other life.
There were two horses pulling a sizable carriage.
Trey pulled up quickly to the side and stared at the coachman.
"Greetings, Sir Trey. Lord Valter is resting in the back. Knock on the window, and he will be right with you shortly"
The coachman politely spoke as Trey got off his horse and banged twice on the carriage window. Edric was waiting patiently on his horse, watching the situation unfold.
Trey then backed away and stood there for a few seconds, coughing a bit due to the lingering smoke and ash, before Valter opened the door.
To Trey's surprise, Valter was in lavish bed robes as if he had just woken up from his bedchamber instead of a carriage in the middle of a prepared battlefield for warfare.
"Hello, Trey. Edric."
Valter bowed slightly when he addressed the latter.
Trey then fell to one knee.
"My lord. I humbly return to your service for one last battle."
Valter watched Trey express himself but waved his hand.
"Enough of that. Edric, are you ready to enjoy the most important event to ever occur in this kingdom? The weeds will finally be picked out, and this fantastic kingdom will become a beautiful garden. Here, have some wine!"
Valter backed up into the carriage and poured a glass of wine. He handed it to Edric, who had just dismounted from his horse.
"Lord Valter. Excuse my impertinence. But where is your army?"
"Well, Edric, I know you have just met Sir Trey, but I didn't think you were only this knowledgeable. This man is the army. He and I will fight the rebels."
"You will fight?"
"Hah... Does that surprise you?"
"But how about Lira the Undying? Can you and Trey deal with her on top of the army?"
"Oh, I won't be fighting Lira. Sir Trey will capture her alive all by himself. I, on the other hand, will deal with the rest of them. Except for a certain sister of my valuable knight. I wouldn't dare take care of her myself. That can be left for him."
"Then Lord Valter, I've never actually heard of how powerful you are? What magic type do you hold?"
Trey then spoke up.
"That's enough, Edric! There are lines even someone like you should know cannot be crossed."
"My apologies, I got carried away!"
Edric bowed his head down quickly.
"No matter. We can relax for now. There is still time before the storm begins."