With gratitude, I bowed before Tatsuya. "Thank you very much, Your Highness. I am deeply grateful for your support," I replied, a radiant smile on my lips. In that moment, I felt a flutter of excitement in my stomach, and my heart skipped a beat. The intensity of our gaze and the warmth that seemed to hover between us made my inner being tremble. But quickly, I reminded myself to calm down and tried to suppress my budding emotions. "Compose yourself," I whispered to myself in embarrassment, and turned back to my task.

With that thought in mind, I approached the chest to hand Tatsuya a potion for exhaustion. As he examined the potion, he noticed that it looked different from the previous ones. There was a certain interest in his gaze as he addressed me about it. "This potion looks different," he observed, holding the container in his hands. A smile played on my lips as I explained the functionality of the potion to him. "This is a potion for exhaustion," I proudly explained. "It is meant to restore strength and energy to counteract states of exhaustion." The recognition in Tatsuya's eyes created a warm feeling within me.

"Thank you", he replied with a sincere smile that touched me to the core. My thoughts began to wander. I took a deep breath and refocused on the upcoming journey.

Together with Isabella and Raven, I made my way to the magnificent dining hall where a delicious breakfast awaited us. However, Tatsuya, the Duke, asked me to go ahead as he had some matters to attend to. As I entered the hall, I sensed that the atmosphere in the estate had changed since my arrival. Both the staff and the Duke and his knights seemed to be well-disposed towards me. It was a feeling of safety that I hadn't experienced in a long time, and it motivated me even more. While I was aware that their kindness wasn't solely based on pure mercy, it didn't bother me. If they wanted to use me, then I could use them just as well for my own purposes. After all, I relied on their protection as much as they depended on my magic.

As we entered the hall, I spotted Ryota already sitting at one of the tables. A warm smile appeared on his face, and I joyfully returned it. Sometimes, he reminded me of my little sister from my previous life. In that moment, thoughts of my family overcame me. How was my sister doing? What was she up to today? If time here progressed similarly to my old world, she should be in her thirties by now. Perhaps she had already started her own family? And how were my parents? These questions and thoughts captivated me deeply, and I almost got lost in them until I suddenly felt a touch on my arm.

Ryota had gently placed his hand on my arm, looking at me with concern. "Is everything alright?" he asked caringly. The sorrow I still felt for my previous family must have been reflected on my face. I had long been aware that I would never see them again, but even after all these years, it sometimes felt as if we had breakfasted together yesterday and as if all of this was just a dream.

I forced a smile and placed my hand on Ryota's. "Everything is fine, Ryota. I was just momentarily lost in my memories," I replied with a hint of melancholy in my voice. Ryota nodded understandingly and slowly let his hand slide from my arm. It was touching to see how empathetic he was and how much he cared about my well-being.

We took our seats and began to savor the delicious breakfast. The dining hall was bathed in a warm light, and the aroma of fresh rolls and steaming coffee filled the air. It was a true feast for the senses. As we enjoyed ourselves and discussed our plans for the day, I realized that we had an important task ahead of us. We needed to find people suffering from the same mysterious illness that had afflicted Ryota before. It was of great significance to determine if my medicine could be effective in other cases and how many lives we could save with it.

After finishing our breakfast, we rose from our seats and left the dining hall. Ryota bid farewell as he had to attend his classes, and I returned to my alchemy laboratory to continue brewing more potions.

Having gotten the hang of it, the production process proceeded quickly, and soon I had completed several more crates of healing potions. In that moment, Wolfram knocked on the door. He informed me that everything was prepared for my journey to the city, and I could depart at any time. I glanced briefly at my laboratory. By now, I had about three crates filled with potions, and it wasn't even noon yet. "Then I would like to leave now," I said decisively. Wolfram looked slightly surprised. Apparently, he had expected me to need more time. But a smile appeared on his lips, and he nodded in agreement. "I will have the crates loaded immediately," he stated.

Together, we made our way to the courtyard of the estate, where a magnificent carriage awaited us. Raven and Isabella joined me inside, while the three knights accompanied us. There was the one-handed knight, the knight who had suffered from a cold, and the knight with the eyepatch, although it was no longer necessary since they had all been healed thanks to my potions.

The carriage door opened once again, and Tatsuya silently entered, taking a seat beside me. Isabella and Raven, who sat across from us, looked at him with astonishment. It was the first time they had seen him ride in a carriage. Normally, he always rode on his horse, considering carriages to be too cumbersome and a disadvantage in case of an attack. Once the crates were loaded at the back of the carriage, we set off.

I couldn't help but keep my gaze on Tatsuya, but as we left the estate behind us, I turned my gaze out the window. I wanted to memorize the surroundings. The road was bumpy and covered with a thick layer of snow. The journey took a little over forty minutes. With a horse, the distance would probably have taken only half as long.

Finally, we reached the city, which was surrounded by a massive stone wall. Two knights stood in front of a large gate, guarding the entrance. When they saw the carriage and the knights, they opened the gate without any resistance. The city itself was not very large and had a rather rustic charm. Most of the houses were made of wood and had a simple construction. There wasn't really much to see. Some people stood around a campfire, engaging in conversation. They were all armed and appeared to be hunters. Even the women were muscular and wore trousers. It was evident how their tough lives had shaped them.

I was impressed by the strength and determination of the people here. It was clear that they were prepared for a harsh and dangerous environment. I was eager to get to know them and see if I could help them with my healing potions.

The carriage stopped in the city center where an old, withered tree stood. At first glance, it appeared lifeless, but there were several nature spirits buzzing around it, piquing my curiosity. Tatsuya was the first to step out, followed by Isabella and Raven. As I stepped out of the carriage, Tatsuya extended his hand to me, and I gratefully accepted it. His hand felt rough and bore scars, likely from many years of sword fighting. By now, some residents of the city had gathered, curious about why the Duke had suddenly arrived in town.

An older man with gray hair and fox ears approached us, bowing with deep respect. "Greetings, Duke Drakonov. How may I be of assistance?" he said with reverence in his voice. Tatsuya glanced at me briefly, and I felt all eyes on me, with whispers spreading through the crowd. "Tell all the wounded and sick to come forward," Tatsuya replied curtly. The man nodded in astonishment and immediately set about carrying out his words.

While the knights unloaded the crates, I tried to divert my attention from the curious gazes and approached the tree. It was an impressive ancient tree. I placed my palm on its rough trunk. From the outside, it seemed dried up and lifeless, but there seemed to be a flicker of life remaining within its core. I took a deep breath and tuned out the skeptical looks that still rested on me. My magic flowed through my palm and into the tree. The tree began to creak, and its previously dry and dark brown bark turned into a luscious brown. The branches straightened, and the snow melted off them. Green leaves bloomed. But I didn't stop there. The tree continued to grow, and juicy apples started to grow on its branches. It was an ancient apple tree. However, the apples were not green or red but a radiant dark blue.

The People were in awe as I plucked the blue apple and took a satisfying bite. The sweet juice mingled with my smile as I savored the delicious taste of the apple. The crowd watched my every move eagerly as I picked more apples and held them in my hands. The beauty and uniqueness of the blue fruits radiated in the cold winter air.

Amidst the spectators, I noticed a little girl whose hungry gaze was fixed upon the apples. She anxiously bit her lip, finding it hard to take her eyes off the tempting fruits. With empathy, I approached her and extended the apple towards her. At first, she hesitated, as if she could hardly believe that she was about to receive one of these wonderful blue apples. But eventually, curiosity and joy won, and she accepted the apple with a radiant smile. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she took a bite and felt the sweet flavor on her tongue. It was a moment of happiness that spread like a wave of contentment through the crowd.

The initial skepticism and reservation of the people began to fade slowly. As they saw that the shimmering blue apple was not only unique in appearance but also had an extraordinary taste, their faces lit up with enthusiasm and wonder. Bravely, they started approaching the tree, one by one, to also take an apple. The crowd grew livelier as people relished the blue apples. Words of praise and surprise echoed through the streets of the city.

During the commotion, I also handed a blue apple to Tatsuya, Isabella, Raven, and the knights. Tatsuya's gaze lingered on the blue apple, filled with profound curiosity. Instead of immediately eating it, he delicately placed it in his pocket, as if preserving its uniqueness for later contemplation. It was evident that this blue apple meant more to him than just a fruit.

The scene resembled a fairy tale. The people savored the delicious fruits and celebrated the miraculous transformation of the once withered tree. As the crowd grew larger, and the injured and sick gathered before me, I sensed the tension in the air. The knights remained vigilant and concerned, as the gathering crowd posed a potential threat. Finally, the first person stepped forward, and I began the healing process. Isabella diligently documented the symptoms and treatments, while I distributed the remedies.

The influx of people seeking assistance continued to intensify. There were sprains, broken bones, bite and scratch marks, and various other injuries. However, those affected by the mysterious illness caused unrest among the crowd. Many were afraid of contagion, and some were in a severely weakened state, requiring support to walk. The anticipation was intense as they hoped for the healing potion to work its magic on them.

To my great surprise, my healing potion proved to be extremely effective. It surpassed my expectations by far and seemed to heal everything I treated with it. The only exception was the regeneration of limbs, which appeared to be impossible. I began to wonder if my potion was too powerful, as if it rendered the role of other healers completely useless. I questioned the effectiveness of traditional healing potions and whether my solution was too potent.

In that moment, I turned to Tatsuya, hoping that he could provide me with some answers to my questions. He had a wide grin on his face, and it was evident that he was more than satisfied with the results. His gaze emitted a mixture of pride and greed.