As the first rays of sunlight gently streamed through the window, I was surprised by how quickly time had passed. The night had been spent crafting a variety of potions. In my hands, I held an assortment of healing potions, alongside potions to combat exhaustion and fatigue, to counteract the strains of the previous day. I had opened one of the old cabinets, finding the necessary ingredients that I carefully arranged on my workspace. Though the components had aged and lost some of their freshness, my magic breathed new life into them. To ensure their effectiveness, I tested them on myself. To my relief, I felt my strength renewing and exhaustion slipping away.
As I let my gaze wander around the room, it fell upon Isabella, still asleep with her head resting on the table. Her tousled hair and sleepy expression gave her an almost comical look. I gently woke her up and she slowly opened her eyes. "What time is it?" she asked, as she sat up and tried to improve her appearance. I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh and replied, "It's still early in the morning."
In that moment, I handed her and Raven one of the potions against exhaustion. They regarded the bottles skeptically, but finally trusted me and drank them without hesitation. Suddenly, I could practically see the exhaustion melting away from them, replaced by a refreshed sparkle in their eyes. Isabella was positively radiating with energy. "I haven't felt this regenerated in ages," she exclaimed, astonished.
In that moment, I expressed the desire to meet the Duke. "Could you arrange that for me?" I asked Isabella, filled with delight. A smile spread across her face. "Of course, I will take care of it immediately," she assured me, and I watched as she energetically rose from her chair and set off. As she made her way to the Duke, I began to pack everything together. The potions were carefully stored in a sturdy crate. However, when I attempted to lift the crate, I noticed how heavy it already was. My own strength wasn't enough to handle it.
Suddenly, I felt Raven's presence behind me. He had remained silent and discreet, but now he reached for the crate and effortlessly held it in his strong hands. I looked up at him in surprise. "The crate is quite heavy. I can remove a few bottles to reduce the weight," I offered. But he simply shook his head and smiled softly. In his hands, the crate seemed to become feather-light, as if it lost weight in his mere presence.
Isabella returned with lively eyes and a radiant smile on her lips. Her hair gleamed in the morning light as she excitedly reported the current situation to me. Her words reached my ears like an appealing melody, awakening my curiosity. So, the Duke was at the morning knight's training, and I was given the choice to either visit the training grounds or, later, after a hearty breakfast, visit his office. This decision was not easy for me, as I was equally fascinated by the idea of seeing the knights in action and eager to meet the Duke in a more private setting. After brief contemplation, I decided to seize the opportunity and explore the training grounds.
We embarked on an exciting journey through the majestic corridors of the castle. The paintings on the walls seemed to observe us with their sublime depictions of past times. Every step echoed, lending our journey a certain magic. Finally, we reached the garden that stretched out before us. The first rays of sunlight peeked through the treetops, bathing the scenery in a warm, golden light. We stood in front of the massive gate that enclosed the training grounds. The stone wall bestowed a sense of grandeur upon the place and revealed the centuries-old history hidden within its walls. Isabella opened the gate with a skillful motion. A faint creak accompanied the gate's opening, and suddenly an atmosphere of excitement filled the air.
An outdoor area and an indoor area lay before us. While nobody was visible outside yet, sounds of weapons and male voices emanated from the interior of the training hall. The metallic clash of swords, the muffled roar of the knights, accompanied by instructions from experienced fighters, brought a vivid dynamism to the scene. I could feel my heart beating faster with anticipation, and my curiosity grew.
As we opened the door to the training hall, a strong smell hit us. The pungent odor of sweat, combined with the metallic scent of cold steel, invaded my nostrils, causing me to instinctively take a step back. My stomach tightened as I entered the room filled with muscular, sweaty bodies. The knights engaged in fierce duels, their muscles tensed, and beads of sweat glistening on their foreheads. They were immersed in a world of combat and determination.
On the edge of the hall stood the Duke and Sir Valerian, the renowned Knight Commander and close confidant of the Duke. The two men observed the fights attentively, their eyes revealing both recognition and a certain sternness. When Sir Valerian noticed me, he cast a quick glance at the Duke and then spoke in a deep voice, "It seems we have a visitor today, Tatsuya". I could perceive the subtle undertone of surprise in his voice. Astonished that he referred to the Duke by his first name, I dared not divert my gaze from them. The presence of the Duke bestowed an aura of significance upon the room, and I felt the responsibility to present myself appropriately.
As we advanced further into the hall, the intense smell of sweat, metal and dust grew stronger. I couldn't bear it any longer. Suddenly, a bright light filled the room, and I could feel my magic permeating the surroundings. A refreshing breeze swept through the hall and the knights' armors began to gleam as if freshly forged. The heaviness of the beastly smell was neutralized by a fresh gust, and finally, I could take a deep breath.
A moment of silence filled the hall as all present fixated their questioning gazes upon me. Sir Valerian finally broke the silence and his loud laughter filled the room. It was a hearty laughter filled with recognition and a hint of astonishment. I blushed slightly, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the situation. "Good day, Duke Drakonov and Sir Silverstar", I said, bowing slightly. They returned my greeting kindly. Suddenly, the knights lined up in a row and also bowed. "Hail to you, Your Holiness!" they exclaimed in unison. Surprised and bewildered by this reverential reaction, I was taken aback, while Sir Valerian concealed his laughter behind his fist. I bowed again and responded uncertainly, "Greetings to all of you." I didn't know how to behave appropriately in such a situation. The knights looked at me in astonishment, and I quickly turned away from them to focus on the Duke, Tatsuya. Isabella and Raven stood behind me, and I turned to them to retrieve a healing potion from the chest. Then I asked Raven to set down the chest and turned back to the Duke and Sir Valerian, proudly presenting my potion to them.
"As promised, I have crafted a healing potion," I announced proudly. Tatsuya regarded me skeptically, and I could understand his doubts. After all, only a day had passed since I began working on it. I immediately noticed his skeptical looks and looked around in search. That's when I noticed a few of the wounded knights. One of them had a fresh cut on his arm, another wore an eyepatch, and yet another was missing his left hand.
My gaze focused on the knight with the bleeding wound. "Would you dare to try the potion?" I asked him as I handed him the vessel. He hesitantly took the potion but did not object. He looked around, and Sir Valerian nodded at him. With a single gulp, the knight consumed the potion. Everyone looked at him expectantly, eager to see if the healing potion would take effect.
The tension in the air was intense as we all anxiously awaited the wounded knight's reaction. After a brief moment of silence, a bright glow suddenly enveloped the knight's arm wound. The cut began to close gradually, as the pain subsided and the bleeding stopped. Amazement and relief spread across the faces of those present. The knight himself looked incredulously at his healed arm, running his fingers over the smooth, unblemished skin. A radiant smile appeared on his face, and he looked up at me. "It worked! Thank you!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with deep gratitude. His words were accompanied by applause from the other knights, who were impressed by the effectiveness of my potion. Even the Duke and Sir Valerian couldn't hide their astonishment and nodded approvingly.
"I can hardly believe it," he began, his voice tinged with disbelief. "My stuffy nose and agonizing sore throat are actually healed!" His words were filled with deep gratitude and astonishment as he looked at the other knights around him. It wasn't just his cut that had vanished into thin air. An almost ecstatic expression of relief illuminated his face, and he seemed to radiate happiness.
With a touch of embarrassment, I acknowledged the knight's gratitude. I hadn't even noticed that he was suffering from a cold, and now I was overwhelmed by the effect of my potion. I replied with a timid smile and a slight bow. "I am extremely pleased that the potion is working and has brought you relief," I humbly replied.
The Duke, who had been attentively observing the scene, now smiled with delight. His smile was enchanting and captivated me. I could feel my heart pounding wildly in my chest, and my cheeks grew warm. Tatsuya turned his gaze towards me and asked with a satisfied voice, "What do you need to explore the exact effects of the remedy?"
He had taken a bottle from the crate and examined it closely. I seized the opportunity to express my wish. "So far, I only know that it works on cuts and colds, but I would like to find out how it affects other injuries. It would be an honor if I could test it on multiple individuals, Your Highness."
A broad smile spread across Tatsuya's face, and his gaze rested approvingly on me. It was a magical moment as our eyes met. I could sense that he recognized my dedication and commitment. "I'm sure no one will have a problem with you testing your potion on them," he replied firmly.
Sir Valerian, representing the knights, immediately agreed and turned to the injured. "All the wounded, step forward," he proclaimed with an authoritative voice. Six men stepped out of the line, including the man with the eyepatch and the one-handed knight. They lined up, ready to contribute to the exploration of my potion.
While Isabella hurriedly fetched a pen and a sheet of paper, I approached the first knight in the line. I looked at him intently and asked compassionately, "May I know what ails you?" The young man was at least two heads taller than me and three times as broad. He took off his shirt to reveal his injury, and my gaze traveled over his muscular torso. As he turned around, I caught a glimpse of his massive burn scar disfiguring his back. A shiver ran through my body, and I was startled by the sight.
Then the knight turned back to face me, and I handed him the bottle of the potion. He took it and drank it in one gulp. A moment of silence fell over the room, and we watched his reaction with anticipation. Suddenly, the miracle happened—his skin began to change, and within a few moments, it returned to normal. Enthusiasm and astonishment filled the attendees. Within me, a wave of relief spread. The effect of my potion had once again shown its astonishing effectiveness.
Meanwhile, Isabella returned with a clipboard and a pen, handing them over to me. Gratefully, I accepted the items and immediately began to write down my observations and findings. I carefully noted the different illnesses and injuries, making annotations on whether the potion had been effective or not. It was important to record all this information to learn from it later and make possible improvements.
Now, I stood before the knight with the eyepatch, who had lost his eyesight after being hit by an acidic fluid during a fight against a monster. I handed him the small bottle, and as he drank the potion. His milky, clouded eye regained color, and he could see again. A mixture of joy and emotion overwhelmed him, and I could see him trying to hold back tears of relief. He didn't want to show weakness in front of his comrades, and I admired his courage and strength.
The last in line was the one-handed knight, and the tension in the room was intense. So far, my potion had only healed wounds and illnesses, but never had it dealt with entire body parts. With nervous hands, I handed him the bottle, and all eyes were eagerly fixed on his missing hand. However, to our disappointment, nothing happened. All other wounds had healed, and even the stump had regenerated, but the hand did not grow back. Disappointed, I recorded the result and could see the disappointment reflected in the eyes of the knight and the other attendees.
Suddenly, a desire overwhelmed me to try something else. I took his left arm in both of my hands and looked deep into his eyes. "I would like to make another attempt," I said to him. He nodded in surprise, eagerly awaiting what was about to happen. I closed my eyes and focused entirely on my magic. Uncertainty and doubt filled me because I wasn't sure if my abilities were capable of healing such a severe injury.
Suddenly, I felt the nature spirits gathering around me, sharing their energy with me. In my mind, I visualized the hand, the bones, the nerves, the tissues, the flesh, and the skin. A bright light radiated from his arm. The light grew more and more intense until it finally faded away. Before our eyes, a new hand became visible, perfectly formed and healthy.
An amazed whisper filled the room, and both the one-handed knight and the other attendees could hardly believe what they saw. A sense of euphoria filled me, and I could feel the weight of disappointment lifting from my shoulders.
My healing powers now revealed themselves in an impressive strength that far surpassed that of the healing potion. As I observed the result of the experiment, an idea sprouted within me. What if my potion was capable of reattaching freshly severed limbs to the body? Or even curing the mysterious illness that had befallen Ryota? The possibilities seemed endless, and I could hardly contain my curiosity.
Determined, I turned to Tatsuya, who was favorably disposed towards me. "Your Highness, I would like to continue testing my remedy, this time on individuals who have the same illness as Ryota," I explained with an excited voice. Tatsuya nodded thoughtfully and agreed to my plan. "I will arrange a carriage and an escort for you. They will take you to the city, where you will surely find some willing test subjects," he said confidently. The prospect of being able to apply my abilities on a larger scale and potentially help more people filled me with great anticipation.
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