Part 4
Xellma was quite happy with the amount of food they brought along, it was about as much as Rebecca usually ate before doing something unreasonable, and was overjoyed that they found 5 students to watch as well.
"Wonderful, it appears everyone is here. I am quite sorry in advance for this, Scissor Leaf. It's quite painful the first time and you won't be able to stop." Xellma said, giving Taenya a pitying look.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Taenya asked, but it was too late.
"Taenya, eat all of the food in front of you on the table. Do not stop until you are finished." Xellma stated, and the geis carved itself into Taenya's soul.
The Professors and students watched with concern, and Xellma watched with mild amusement, as Taenya began to gorge herself on the mountain of food in front of her. Easily enough to feed 8 people, she tore through it in less than an hour and looked quite sick afterwards.
"You fiend, that was horrible." Taenya moaned.
"In time you'll learn where to store the excess mana in your body. Rebecca chose her breasts much to her husband's amusement, figure out your own." Xellma said, continuing the lesson. "Now then, you definitely have enough mana stored for some divine creation magic. Give it a try."
"Give what a try?" Taenya asked, as she stumbled to her feet.
"That seedling tree near us." Xellma said, gesturing at the small knee high tree planted on its own. "Make that grow into the giant oak it wants to be. Picture it in your mind."
"That's impossible, creation magic doesn't work that way!" Taenya protested.
Xellma glared at her. "You are capable of it, remove the barriers in your mind."
Taenya huffed some more at Xellma, who lost her patience.
"Taenya, picture a giant oak tree in your mind, and project that image into reality with a snap of your fingers." Xellma said, quite sternly.
Taenya, unable to disobey, did as Xellma commanded, and with a snapping of her fingers the seedling suddenly grew to be more than 30 feet tall, much to everyone's amazement.
"Did I do that?" Taenya asked, dumbfounded.
"You did." Xellma said, smiling. "How do you feel?"
"Quite hungry, actually." Taenya said, confused.
"That's the fuel part." Xellma said, nodding. "You've consumed vast quantities of mana to create a miracle right before your eyes. The secret behind divine creation magic isn't having a divine casting affinity, it's having a large mana pool."
"Hold on, that means any creation mage could do that?" Lutz asked, gesturing at the large oak tree.
"Without exception." Xellma answered. "Unlike the traditional schools of magic which are based on skill, creation is based entirely on the size of your mana reserves. Any creation mage could do exactly what Empress Ashe did all the time if they had the same mana pool she did."
"You're remarkably well informed about the late Ashen Empress." Walter Gibbs said.
"None of you even recognize the face I'm wearing." Xellma answered, slightly disappointed. "But do you want the horrible awful truth in all its glory, a disgusting lie, or a polite lie?"
"The truth." Taenya said immediately.
"The truth." Lutz added.
"A lie is fine." Gibbs said, to which the 5 students all nodded.
"And you, Miss Shotbolt?" Xellma asked, looking over at Sarah. "But, you already know the truth, don't you?"