Page 62 of Quest

“If it were only about me I would simply refuse his demands…but the situation is more complicated—he’s involving you too.”

The words tumbled out in a rush as I explained about the missing items and Kael’s subsequent threats. Darcel’s jaw clenched more with each revelation, his posture tensing in barely contained fury. When I finished, he needed a few moments and a few well chosen expletives to compose himself before he could respond.

“Thatscoundrel.” Darcel’s displeasure surfaced in a string of several colorful expletives. He pulled me into his arms once more, his embrace tightening around me, as if by holding me closer he could shield me from Kael’s manipulations. “You mustn’t give him what he demands. I don’t care about the potential fallout for me; I will not allow your skills to be exploited for his selfish benefit.”

“But your reputation—“ I began.

“—is of little importance now that I’ve discovered what I truly value.” His gaze was tender as he cradled my cheek. “You’ve shown me what it truly means to be a prince—it’s about doing my best with the legacy I have, just as you have with yours.”

My heart warmed at the sentiment. “Since I’m determined to turn everything into a competition, you too have become the most important part of my life and more. Therefore, I’m willing to make the potion he needs…especially since the nature of this particular elixir suggests there’s more at play here than we initially thought.”

His brow furrowed. “Are you suggesting there is a valid reason for his betrayal?”

I nodded. “The potion he’s demanding suggests he’s caught up in something risky, likely before this journey began. But I’ll leave the judgment of the situation to you.”

For the first time in our tense discussion, a hint of a smile lifted the corner of Darcel’s mouth. “Handing the decision over to me, rather than charging ahead on your own? What’s happened to my headstrong Mei? Has she been replaced by an imposter?”

I laughed lightly. “No, she’s still here. She’s just...learning to share the burden.”

“That’s perilously endearing; I might just fall even more in love with you.” He sealed the promise with another kiss to my forehead that slowly found its way to my lips for a deep, lingering kiss that took my breath away.

I allowed myself to savor him a blissful moment before I reluctantly pulled back, my breath still mingled with his. “You can’t distract me like that. There’s work to be done.”

“And I’ll be right here to help,” he promised.

I knew he meant more than simply assisting me on this single project. The assurance of having him by my side, through challenges and triumphs, filled me with a profound joy richer than any enchantment could offer—one I knew would sustain us through a lifetime together.

I clasped his hand again, feeling our unspoken promise flow between us. The road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, yet his presence by my side instilled the kind of courage that had always seen me through even my most challenging herbalist endeavors. Together, we were more than just companions thrown together by fate; we were allies, our bond tempered by trust and deepened through love.

With Darcel close beside me, I began the meticulous preparation of the elixir. My knowledge of this rare concoction stemmed from the ancient herbal manuscripts my father had collected throughout his life. He had always emphasized the profound connection between nature and magic, instilling in me an understanding that the rarest ingredients were often crucial to unlocking the most powerful magical effects. My father had always cautioned that powerful elixirs—especially those crafted from such rare ingredients—should be used with utmost respect and caution, their potency not to be taken lightly or bestowed indiscriminately.

His teachings guided my hands as I carefully measured and mixed, his wisdom echoing in my mind with each step of the process. Despite being coerced under threat to brew this particular concoction, I chose to rely on the instincts that had been sharpened by years of experience and deepened through the connections forged on my quest. I trusted in what I had learned about myself and the lessons of responsibility and discernment that had come with it.

As promised, Kael provided the necessary ingredients, each a rare souvenir from the regions he had explored during his work as a tracker, a testament to his extensive travels. Carefully I opened his pack and withdrew a dried clump of twilight moss, a species found only in the deep shadows of ancient ruins, valued for its ability to absorb and neutralize dark enchantments. Laying it on the smooth rock Darcel had set up as a makeshift apothecary table, I next took out a chunk of dragon’s breath root, a potent herb known to burn through curses, often used in purification rituals; then he added a clump of precious starlight berries. I narrowed my eyes when I saw the last ingredient—a sprig of wraithleaf, a translucent leaf that shimmered under moonlight, known for its properties to reveal things concealed by magic—a discovery he appeared to have acquired from the moonlit garden atop the highest peak.

I began by pouring the vial of duskwater Darcel handed me into a small cauldron, heating it over warm embers until it simmered gently. To this, I added finely chopped twilight moss, letting it infuse until the water transformed into a deep violet hue. Next, I carefully incorporated thinly sliced dragon’s breath root, observing as the mixture started to bubble with a fiery glow, stirring continuously to prevent the potent root from scorching.

As the potion cooled, I mixed in wraithleaf, allowing its translucent essence to permeate throughout, transforming it into a shimmering silver. Finally, I finished by crushing starlight berries in a mortar, then straining their luminous juice into the brew. The potion emitted a faint, star-like twinkle, indicating its readiness.

To complete the process, I whispered an ancient chant as the potion settled, the liquid within the bowl shifting with an almost sentient shimmer. But my task was far from over. This wasn’t just a simple infusion—the potion had to be placed in precise alignment with a particular constellation, one whose light would refine its properties and ensure its effects were true. If I miscalculated even slightly the mixture could morph into something dangerous, its magic reversing upon itself in unpredictable ways.

I carefully positioned the bowl on the flattest section of rock I could find, adjusting its angle until the liquid reflected the celestial pattern overhead. But the earth was always moving, however imperceptibly, and so I would have to remain vigilant, constantly shifting the bowl’s position to keep it in alignment for the three hours remaining until dawn. If I lost my focus for even a moment, its effects could rebound, harming not only Kael but myself as well.

This chance of failure caused a dark part of me to momentarily hesitate. Why should I take such a risk for a man who had forced my hand, leaving me no choice but to help him? The idea of suffering any consequence on his behalf was infuriating, but I reminded myself that he was equally trapped by his condition.

Swallowing my frustration, I steeled myself for the night ahead, hands hovering near the bowl, ready to adjust it with each shift of the stars. I could only hope my precision would hold, and that by dawn, I wouldn’t have reason to regret my choice.

Even with Darcel keeping me company, the long hours throughout the process of mixing and preparing the components for the potion left me an opportunity for uninterrupted reflection. What had started as a coerced task slowly morphed into a profound realization about my identity as an herbalist. This journey had unveiled the true essence of my craft—not just a means to uphold my father’s legacy or to benefit those who sought my elixirs, but as a deep expression of my own growth and understanding.

Each ingredient I handled brought memories of every moment my potions had sustained us throughout our quest—healing wounds, warding off darkness, crafting disguises, and sometimes revealing truths. Each experience had deepened my respect for herbal lore, transforming my practice from a pursuit of personal accolades to a genuine passion rooted in compassion and discovery.

This potion, though born from necessity, was the cumulation of my evolution. I was no longer merely mixing substances; I was weaving together the lessons of courage, trust, and resilience that had been the real gifts of my journey. In crafting this brew, I was not just following a recipe—I was affirming my commitment to use my skills for greater purposes, embracing the role of an herbalist who healed and revealed, who protected and empowered. This realization filled me with a sense of purpose and pride that went beyond any recognition—it was a fulfillment of my truest self.

I carefully poured the completed brew into a glass vial, sealing it and carefully dispensing a drop of sap extracted from a toumeisei vine on the cork. Darcel gave me a curious look. “Why wasn’t that ingredient mixed in with the others? Isn’t toumeisei vine used for…” He trailed off, a puzzled frown on his face as he observed the vial.

I tapped on the cork to be sure it was secure. “This will activate it as soon as I hand it to Kael.”

With this security measure in place, the concoction was finished. A profound sense of accomplishment surged through me and I couldn’t hold back my smile of satisfaction as I held the completed potion aloft, the bottle glistening beneath the light of early dawn.

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