136: Have You Ever Come Across Black Magic?

Have You Ever Come Across Black Magic?

After Arlan left the Palace of Thistle, Oriana once again went to the Palace of Oak. This time, she carried the stalk of black nightshade with her. Her nerves had been stretched taut from the moment she stepped out of the prince's residence, nervous that a knight on patrol or a royal guard would suddenly inspect her pocket.2

However, just like the previous day, no one checked her.

When Oriana reached the guest residence, only then was she able to breathe freely.

The old physician and his second apprentice were inside the workroom, preparing medicine for the King as usual. Once they finished the first batch, Erich looked at the younger man."Adam, this list of herbs, go to the royal pharmacy and have them bring these here as soon as possible."

Adam accepted the list and quickly left. 

Erich turned his attention to the young woman who was tasked to clean and disinfect the vessels used in preparing medicine. "So, have you brought that herb today?"

"Yes, Master Erich." 

She pulled out a bundled cloth from the inner pocket of her coat. She carefully unwrapped that cloth and showed the single dried stalk of black nightshade to the physician. 

'It's authentic.' Erich studied the gutsy youth sitting in front of him. 'This child really dared smuggle a prohibited item inside the royal palace.' 

Only now did he remember why he grew fond of her in the past. Not to mention she was smarter and braver than her peers, Oriana was also a fellow who dared to disobey rules for the sake of saving people's lives. That last quality was what Erich looked for when taking in apprentices.

For someone of his status, hundreds of people clamored to receive his teachings, but he only had accepted a handful of students. Some had left their apprenticeship and became full-fledged physicians, and only two remained—now three, with Oriana being his newest and youngest apprentice.

As a physician, it was his belief that the most important quality of healers was not intelligence—it was their heart. Their desire to save their patient's life should be the most paramount, even if that meant being criticized by the world.

Erich picked up that stalk and observed it. "It's a good quality one, perfectly dried and the efficacy well-preserved."

His words made her happy but the next ones greatly shocked her to the core.

"What a brave young woman you are."

"M-Master?" Oriana felt all her senses go numb. 'Did he just say young woman?'

Seeing her shocked, Erich chuckled as he moved towards the platform designated to prepare ingredients. "What are you so surprised about?"

Her throat went dry, but she forced out a "Since when…?"

"Do you really think I never noticed it? I am a skilled physician, if you didn't forget. My eyesight is so sharp, I can distinguish most illnesses with a single glance."

"I…" She felt speechless as well as worried. 

"I have known the truth since the first day we met. I did wonder why you are hiding it, but it is none of my business. Though, that is also one of the reasons I can remember you even after two years."

"Apologies for—"

"Lying? You don't have to. You must have your reasons, but I don't care," he interrupted her. "Come here and don't waste time. Let me see what you did. The other ingredients you need are already here."

Oriana went to his side and started measuring the ingredients.

Erich then said, "Since the core ingredient is only a single stalk, don't use it entirely. Use only a fourth. Adjust the other ingredients as well."

Oriana followed his instructions. After putting a clean pot on the furnace, she started adding everything one by one as the recipe was engraved in her mind. From time to time, Erich would instruct her on the side—after all, because the quantity of ingredients was lessened, the duration of heat and the speed of putting them in had to be adjusted as well. 

Just before the last step of adding the crushed black nightshade, she looked at her master. He nodded, "Everything you did till now is correct. Go ahead."

She took a deep breath before adding it to the pot. 

'Please do not turn black.' She then stirred the concoction with a wooden ladle, waiting for it to turn green but….it gradually darkened, until it was once again a slush of black. 

With a sad expression, she turned towards the old man who was staring at that failed product, his expression serious. 

"Put out the fire."

"Yes, Master."

With his brows furrowed, he then took the ladle from Oriana, scooped a little, and after letting it cool a little, he rubbed a droplet in between his thumb and forefinger. 

"M-Master? What do you think?"

"Let me do everything this time," he said and Oriana stepped aside. 

Erich repeated the same steps Oriana did, also only using a fourth of a nightshade stalk. He stirred the boiling concoction, yet in contrast to the slush of black that Oriana produced, his was a vibrant green. 

Oriana was further confused.  "How…? I did the same…" 

Utter disbelief was painted on her face while Erich had a calm look of ponder. 

After a short silence, Erich spoke, "You should try again, Orian."

Hesitantly, Oriana nodded and got a third pot over the furnace. This time as well, the result was the same. With a hurt expression, she looked at her master. Her eyes turned moist.

"I am not sure… What wrong am I doing here, Master?"

"Try making a different medicine."

"Master, I am able to successfully prepare the other medicines Grandpa needed, like the pain reliever for his joints, the medication for inflammation of his old injuries…"

"I will dictate to you how to concoct a cure for initial stage smallpox. The ingredients are the same as the one for dementia, though the order and amount of ingredients vary. Black nightshade becomes a secondary ingredient and you only need to add a pinch."

Oriana forced herself to regain her composure as she listened to the old physician's instructions. She prepared a fourth pot.

"...after opening the lid, the color of the concoction ought to be yellow with a sharp tangy scent," Erich said.

To her surprise, the color of the thick liquid was black once more.

Erich wordlessly stared at the pot and then finally looked at Oriana. His gaze observing her was bewildered, as if he didn't want to believe what he saw. 

"Master? What did I do wrong?"

Erich first handed her over the remaining part of the herb. "First, clean this place." He turned to leave. "Once you are done, come to my study."

She obeyed and finished cleaning up the workroom. As she was told, Oriana went to Erich's study where he was pacing inside the room, looking all serious. 

The old man only stopped upon noticing her arrival.  "Come here."

Hesitantly, she walked towards him and stood facing him. 

"Master?"

"What I will ask you, you need to answer me honestly. Only then we can figure out what is happening. Unless you want to be forever unable to concoct dementia medicine for your grandpa, then you have to answer."

She felt worried and nervous as to  why her master acted as if he discovered that she had committed murder. 

"Yes, Master."

"Have you ever come across black magic?"

Of all the possibilities Oriana cooked up in her head, this was a question beyond her expectation. She looked at the man in front of her with a puzzled gaze. 

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