The Herbalist's hospitality

As the sun began to set

Strixx and I returned to Ms. Finecia’s home. She was sitting outside, watching the sky with a peaceful expression.

This time, Strixx didn’t hide behind me when she saw her. I guess she was starting to feel comfortable around Ms. Finecia, and that made me happy. Though… she still clung to me the entire walk through town.

 Ms. Finecia noticed us and greeted us with a warm smile.“Oh, you two are back welcome back

 I nodded and handed her the small pouch. “Yes, Ms. Finecia. Here are the Herbs.”

 She smiled as she reached into her pouch, ready to give us our payment. But at that moment, something didn’t feel right. At first, we took this job because we needed money while traveling. But now… we just wanted to help her.

 I glanced at Strixx, and she nodded.

 I smiled and shook my head. “It’s fine, Ms. Finecia. At first, we did it for the money, but now… we just want to help you.”

 Ms. Finecia’s gaze softened. “That’s kind of you, but you both went all around the mountain to collect herbs for me. It’s the least I can do. Please, take it.”

 Just then, Strixx’s stomach growled.

 She stiffened, her face turning red as she quickly pulled up her cloak and hid behind me.

 Ms. Finecia chuckled. “Strixx, Luca… you two must be hungry.”

 I scratched my cheek. “Ah… Well, um, Ms. Finecia, you’ve already helped us with all sort of things.

 We can’t trouble you any more than this.”

 She waved her hand dismissively.

 “Oh, nonsense. I happened to make extra servings today.

I wonder why .” She gave us a knowing smile before standing up. “Come in, you two. Let’s eat while it’s still warm.”

 

Strixx peeked up at me. “Luca… Strixx is hungry.”

 I sighed, defeated. “…Fine.”

 Ms. Finecia smiled warmly. “That’s the spirit. Come on in.”

 We stepped inside Ms. Finecia’s home, and as we sat at the dining table, I took in the cozy atmosphere. The interior felt similar to the old man’s cottage , lived-in, and filled with the scent of dried herbs. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with jars of medicinal ingredients and neatly bundled herbs.

 Ms. Finecia soon brought over plates, and my eyes widened the moment I saw what was on them.

 “Oh! The meat patty!” Strixx exclaimed, scooting closer to me.

 I chuckled, nodding. “Yeah, it’s the same one.”

 Ms. Finecia smiled as she placed the food before us. “Oh? So you two have had the Vael hamburger before?”

 I looked up at her, smiling. “Yes, Ms. Finecia. On our way here, we met a traveler in Lysendrall ranges. He told us he was from this town, Vaeliris. His name was Riko. He shared this same meat patty with us… It was really delicious.”

 Strixx, already taking a bite, mumbled between chews. “Strixx loves the patty very much.”

 Ms. Finecia’s expression softened with warmth. “I see, so you met Riko. I’m glad to hear he’s doing well.”

 Strixx and I exchanged glances before looking back at her. “You know Riko?” I asked.

 She let out a small chuckle and nodded. “Of course. Vaeliris isn’t a big town—we all here know each other well. And Riko… he’s a good person, always helping those around him. He used to gather herbs for me from time to time. Never accepted any money—just asked for a Vael hamburger instead.” She laughed gently. “He loves them that much.”

 She gestured to our plates. “Come now, eat up while it’s still warm.”

 Strixx and I took a bite, and immediately, the familiar taste melted on my tongue. It was just like the one Riko had shared with us. Strixx, clearly enjoying it even more.

 “Strixx loves… this so much… just like the one Riko gave us…” she murmured between bites, her voice filled with pure delight.

 Ms. Finecia watched us with a fond smile. “Eat as much as you want. I’ve made plenty, so go ahead and fill yourselves up.”

She then joined us, eating at a slower, relaxed pace.

 As I continued eating, I suddenly remembered something—the herbal seed pouch the old man had given us.

 “Umm… Ms. Finecia,” I spoke up, glancing at her.

 She looked at me with kind eyes. “Yes? What is it, Luca?”

 I reached into my pouch and placed the small bag on the table. “While we were gathering herbs in the mountains, we met an old man. He gave us these seeds and told us—”

 Before I could finish, Ms. Finecia smiled, her expression turning nostalgic.

 “Mr. Vic,” she said softly. “His name is Mr. Vic.”

 Strixx and I both smiled. “He told us a lot of stories about you, Ms. Finecia,” I said.

 She let out a quiet sigh, her gaze distant as if lost in old memories. “It’s been a long time since I last visited him…

I became a herbalist because of him.

Mr. Vic taught me so much.”

 I hesitated for a moment before asking,

 “Ms. Finecia… how did you—”

 But before I could finish, Strixx suddenly stood up from her seat, her eyes full of curiosity.

 “Strixx wants to know… how Ms. Finecia… wanted to become… a herbelise.”

 I chuckled, looking at her. “It’s ‘herbalist,’ Strixx. Not ‘herbelise.’”

 Strixx immediately turned red, her ears peeking out from under her hood as she quickly sat back down, avoiding eye contact. But I couldn’t help but smile—she wasn’t as shy around Ms. Finecia anymore.

 Ms. Finecia laughed softly. “You really want to hear the story?”

 She glanced at both of us, warmth in her eyes.

 We nodded eagerly.

 She smiled, setting her utensils down. “Alright then… I’ll tell you.”

 

 “When I was small, my mother was very frail and weak. She often needed medicine because she had trouble breathing.

 Since my father passed away when I was very young, I had to take care of her on my own.

 Back then, I would go up Vaeliris Mountain to visit Mr. Vic—he was the only herbalist in town. I went there very often to get medicine for my mother, sometimes making the trip multiple times a week. Each time, I would watch him work, turning simple ingredients—things that could be found all around us—into medicine that could heal people. I found it oddly fascinating.

 But then… my mother passed away. And suddenly, I was all alone.

 I had to find a way to earn a living.

 Mr. Vic… he was really kind. He took me in as his apprentice, and when he saw how interested I was in herbs, he taught me everything he knew. To me, he became like a father figure.

 As time passed, I opened my own herbal shop with the knowledge he gave me. And now… here I am.

 But during the war, I injured my leg. I couldn’t walk the mountain paths anymore, so I stopped visiting him.

 Even then, Mr. Vic would come to see me from time to time, bringing me medicine. He really is a kind person…

I admire him so much.”

 “Then, after some time… I stopped seeing Mr. Vic around town. He used to visit my shop from time to time, bringing herbs or just checking in. But as the years passed, his visits became less frequent… and eventually, they stopped altogether.”

 She smiled sadly.

 “I knew then that he must have grown too old to make the trip down the mountain anymore.”

 But even though he couldn’t visit me anymore, I never forgot everything he had done for me.

 Moreover, I really, really appreciate everyone who helps me.

  I’m truly grateful for all the kindness around me.”

 She smiled warmly at the two.

 “You two as well. Thank you.”

 Finecia let out a small chuckle. “So… that’s the story of how I became a herbalist, Strixx, Luca.”

 Strixx tilted her head slightly, looking at Finecia.

 “Mr. Vic is like… Ms. Finecia’s father?”

 Luca smiled at her. “Yes, yes. It means that Mr. Vic was someone who took care of her when she was all alone.”

 Strixx nodded, a small smile forming beneath her hood.

 “Strixx is happy… Ms. Finecia became a herbalist.”

 Finecia’s chest warmed at her words. She looked at the two of them, her smile growing even softer.

 “I’m glad I could share this story with you two as well.”

 After finishing dinner, I looked at Ms. Finecia with gratitude.

 “Ms. Finecia, thank you for the meal. It was delicious. And… also, thank you so much for sharing your story with us.”

 She smiled warmly. “It’s my pleasure.”

 Then, with a gentle tilt of her head, she asked, “So, you two will be leaving?”

 I nodded. “Yes. Strixx and I need to find an inn. Thanks to you, we might be able to afford a room for the night.”

 

Strixx, with a bright smile, chimed in, “Thank you for the dinner!”

 Ms. Finecia looked at us thoughtfully before saying, “I have a better suggestion.”

 

I glanced at her, already sensing where this was going. “Ms. Finecia, I can’t possibly accept any more kindness from you. We don’t want to trouble you further.”

 

Strixx nodded in agreement.

 

Ms. Finecia simply chuckled. “Alright, but listen to me first, Luca.”

 She folded her hands together, speaking with gentle certainty. “I have a room that used to be a storage space, but I recently had it cleaned out. It’s empty now, and I happen to have extra bedding materials. Instead of searching for an inn, why don’t you two stay here?”

 She smiled. “The Flower Festival is still two weeks away, after all. You can stay for as long as you want.”

 I hesitated. It was a kind offer—too kind. We hadn’t done anything to deserve this level of generosity.

 “Ms. Finecia, but…”

 She cut me off with a knowing smile. “Of course, you two will be helping me around here.”

 I blinked.

 “Wasn’t it you two who said you wanted to take my request for as many days as possible?” She chuckled. “You help me, and I help you. That’s all there is to it.”

 Strixx suddenly perked up.

 “Yess… Luca! Strixx loves the food Ms. Finecia makes! It’s sooo good! Strixx wants to stay here!!”

 I turned to her. “Uh… Strixx, you too?”

 Ms. Finecia gave me a knowing look.

“Isn’t it more convenient? You’ll be helping me anyway, so why not stay here and make things easier?” She smiled. “No need to be shy, Luca. Even Strixx wants to stay. Now, what do you say?”

 I sighed, looking at Strixx.

 She smiled at me, her excitement clear.

 I finally gave in with a small chuckle.

 “Alright.

Thank you again, Ms. Finecia. We’ll do our best to help you around.”

 “Strixx, Luca, come on, let’s see the room.”

 Ms. Finecia led us to the empty room, opening the door with a gentle creak. Inside, the space was surprisingly well-maintained—clean and neat, despite being unused. The wooden walls carried a faint herbal scent, likely from the rest of the house.

 I looked around in surprise.

“It’s cleaner and better maintained than I expected.”

 Ms. Finecia chuckled. “Of course, I have it cleaned once in a while, even though it’s empty. I was actually planning to turn this into a little mushroom farm, but for now—at least until the Vaeliris Flower Festival—this room is for the two of you.”

 

I turned to her, grateful. “Thank you, Ms. Finecia.”

 Strixx chimed in softly, “Thank you… Ms. Finecia…”

 Ms. Finecia let out a small laugh. “Here you go again. Enough with the thanking already. I told you, we’re just helping each other.” She smiled warmly as she said it.

 After that, we moved the bedding materials into the room. Once we were done setting up, Ms. Finecia stood by the door.

 “Alright, thank you for helping me out so much today. Strixx, Luca, rest well, okay?”

 I looked at her and said, “No, no, we should be the ones thanking you. Thank you so much, Ms. Finecia.”

 Strixx joined in, “Thank you… Ms. Finecia…”

 Then, with a gentle smile, she said,

“Good night, you two,” before walking to her room and closing the door softly behind her.