Page 28 of Charmed By Apollo

“Well, my tummy is very happy,” she said before spearing the last piece of meat and popping it into her mouth.

He noticed their empty plates, and a sense of urgency washed over him. He racked his brain for something they could do next, desperate to keep her mind occupied and away from the weight of their current situation. Then, a spark of inspiration struck him.

“Hey,” he began. “You know, this island is known for its potions. What if we went to see if there’s someone who might have a potion that could help with your grandma?”

Her eyes widened at the suggestion, hope flickering in her gaze. “Do you think that could work?”

“We’re already here anyway.” He shrugged. “It’s worth a shot, right?” he replied. “We won’t know unless we try.”

“Let’s do it. We do have some time before we have to come back to meet Lola Conching.”

“Exactly.”

“Let’s take a stroll through the town,” Geri suggested as she glanced at him. “I want to see more of this place.”

Apollo nodded in agreement, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Sure thing,” he replied, falling into step beside her.

As they wandered through the lively marketplace and quaint alleyways, he watched Geri take in everything around her with keen interest. She paused to admire colorful displays of fruits and vegetables, exchanged pleasantries with local vendors, and marveled at the intricate architecture of the buildings lining the streets.

He watched her with fondness, a sense of pride swelling within him as he witnessed her curiosity and enthusiasm for their surroundings. Despite the weight of their worries, her spirit remained unbroken, her determination to find a solution for her grandmother driving her forward.

They ventured outside the town square, and then they were surrounded by sprawling farms, the fields stretching out before them under the warm sun. Geri’s eyes sparkled with fascination as she took in the sight, her admiration evident in her expression.

“Wow,” she breathed. “Look at all these farms. It’s amazing.”

He glanced around. “I guess,” he replied. “It’s just fields and crops.”

She stepped closer to one of the fences, running her fingers over the leaves of a nearby plant. “It must be so easy to grow things here,” she remarked, “with all the sunlight and the weather being warm and humid all year round.”

Apollo shrugged, his attention drifting elsewhere as he scanned the horizon. “I suppose,” he muttered. “I never really thought about it. I don’t know much about growing rice.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be the god in charge of protecting the crops and plants?”

“Why, Geri, I didn’t realize you’d been asking about it,” he teased.

“It was something Persephone mentioned before. In passing. But you really don’t know anything about farming?”

“I don’t need to know how something grows to keep it safe,” he said. “Say, how come you know so much about plants and stuff? Did you learn from Demeter?”

“No, I’ve always been interested in plants, ever since I was a little girl. My grandmother loved them. We had a greenhouse back home—I mean, it was basically all hers. She taught me everything I know, and we would spend hours there. In the short summertime, the entire pack estate was our garden.”

If it wasn’t already obvious that her grandmother meant the world to her, it was evident from how she spoke that she truly loved her. Apollo supposed that was natural, since she was family, but he wondered where the rest of her family—or was it pack—had been? Where were her parents? Her mother?

The questions were on the tip of his tongue, but before he could ask them, Geri cleared her throat. “Excuse me,” she called out to get a man’s attention. “We’re looking for a potion maker. Do you happen to know if there’s one nearby?”

The farmhand paused in his work, wiping the sweat from his brow before turning to face them. “Yeah, there’s one not too far from here,” he replied, gesturing in front of them. “Just head that way, and when you see the second tree, turn right. You’ll find a potion maker named Kulas there. He should have what you need.”

“Thank you so much,” she said warmly, offering him a smile.

Apollo nodded in agreement.“Thanks. We’ll head there right away.”

They followed the vague directions, and Apollo was surprised that they actually managed to stumble upon Kulas’s bamboo hut. The hut was nestled in a grove of towering bamboo trees, its walls woven from sturdy bamboo stalks that seemed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding foliage. A faint wisp of smoke curled from a chimney at the hut’s peak, carrying with it the scent of exotic herbs and spices.

They could hear the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hum of wildlife, adding to the sense of enchantment that permeated the air. The path leading to the hut was overgrown with lush vegetation as if nature itself was reclaiming the space and weaving it into its embrace.

Despite its rustic appearance, there was an undeniable air of magic about the hut, as if it were a portal to another realm where ancient secrets and hidden knowledge lay waiting to be discovered. They walked into the open door, and Apollo was struck by its size and the air of mystery surrounding it. The main room of the hut was spacious, with walls lined with shelves upon shelves of various potions, creating a kaleidoscope of colors that danced in the dim light filtering through the windows.

The shelves were made of intricately woven bamboo, each one sagging under the weight of the countless bottles and jars that adorned them. The potions themselves ranged from vibrant hues of green and blue to deep shades of purple and red, each one emitting a faint glow that illuminated the room with an otherworldly aura.

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