Alternative Healing

The Markets had looked normal when I arrived, at least I thought it did. Maybe the first scan over the place had been too terse, because how the hell did I miss that? A bright yellow banner with shining lettering hung over a small wood door. There were two small windows in what was a very crammed storefront in the middle of two others that barely seemed to fit before the roads cut them off. Everything was densely packed like this.

A rather garish gold and purple tapestry hung under the windows with a bottle image at the center. Small vine or antler flourishes looked stitched into the sides, but that seemed the final confirmation that I needed. ‘They really didn’t want to be missed.’

I stepped inside to be assaulted by an overpowering smell that I couldn’t place more than grass-like and several spinning displays of lights and potions. Part of it felt like a circus or festival trying really hard to get bought. And yet behind the flash, I saw some common rows of wood crates or shelves with bottles of every single color that I could dream of and even a couple I didn’t have a word for. Definitely seemed like the ‘Potion Maker’, but this Miss Heia had some unique tastes.

Though deeper into the narrow store, I didn’t see anyone immediately. But I also didn’t see a counter, shouldn’t they be watching for theft? “Hello?” Suddenly a sign lit up on the wall with writing in their language again, not helpful. Though I found it strange that the sign looked almost like an LED display down to a slight digital pixel effect. As I got closer to it, the text changed to English and I could see that it wasn’t some monitor like it seemed. I honestly didn’t know what it was, but it was trying really hard to pretend to be one, was it magic?

After it flipped through three more languages, it finally was in Japanese saying, “Please wait, I’m finishing a brew.” Hopefully, it wasn’t a long wait. Browsing around the store everything was listed in their language, so I hadn’t a clue what any of the potions might have done. But I did find that she had more than that available.

A few devices and pots laid in a corner, for potion making if I had to guess, along with neatly arranged and dried flowers, grass and something in between. If someone wanted to get their start she could set them up. Something to keep in mind. I did wonder if there was a crafting and gathering class or skills. This was a clue to that.

I started to go through my menu, but footsteps interrupted me. “Hello? Are you needing a special order?” Her voice was soft and felt quiet even though it carried clearly through the whole store. I spun around thinking that she was behind me, but didn’t see her. Then I tried tracing the footsteps to see her nearly in the back of the store giving a small wave.

The shop counter was way in the back with even more displays crowding out more of the well loved wood surface. To my surprise, she was in a simple black cloak and half dead eyes looking like she had been pulling at least two all nighters, drunk on energy drinks and delirious from writing a thesis. She really didn’t match with the front.

“Not quite. I’m new and heard you might need some potion ingredients that you would pay for.”

“You have some with you?” Now before me, she had a slightly slow speech, like each word had to be pulled down for use.

“No, I’m going out and figured I’d pick up some side work while I trained.”

“Ah, I can always use more silver clovers and rose weeds. Did you need a reference?”

“Please.”

She moved a hand below the counter and retrieved a worn leather bound book. With practiced ease, her fingers found the page and opened to an image with a lot of unreadable text. “These are silver clovers, they grow in the shade of trees or larger plants the bluer the better.” It was a rough, but clear enough illustration in ink and simple paints. A cluster of clovers that had white veins through the blue tinted leaves.

Another swift flip, she hit on the rose weed. “If you can get the root with the plant that is the best, but I can pay for just the plant if that’s all you can manage. Don’t pick the pink tipped ones, they’re poisonous and the bright orange will make your tongue numb. Pure white leaves are the best, but around here all you’re going to find are the grey and brown type. Look for animal trails or decay.”

That was far more information that I expected and less safe. I tried to commit it all to memory, but I didn’t even know if I’ll be able to find it. But a payment was a payment, I needed the money.

“Keep in mind these are common materials, so you’re not going to get a lot for them.”

“If I can live to the next day for now that’ll be enough.”

“Then you should be fine.”

“Thanks!” This gave me two objectives I could follow. There was a fair bit of testing I needed to do to still. Gathering would give me some clues. Which reminded me I had another matter for Miss Heia. “On a separate note. I saw what I thought might be tools. Is that something I can do?

“I do sell a variety of potions for your type.”

“Yes, I do appreciate that, but I’m pretty sure given my situation that’s not a financially sound decision to make. I think being able to make my own is going to be better in the long run. After yesterday I want a little more insurance.”

“Insurance?”

“I had a bad case of getting stabbed to death.”

“Given you’re alive and standing state, the death didn’t seem to stick.”

“No, I shooshed the reaper off with razor wit.” She nodded to me and I coughed a bit, ending the bit. “Besides, I got the impression that things made by us might have a demand.”

“You’re not wrong.”

“So we can make things you can’t?”

“No, everything that you can make we can though replicating it can be difficult without instruction. But your different experiences do give you a new perspective we lack leading to new innovations.” That made sense. It was probably why her shop had so many potions now. It seemed a little crazy to have so many. I figured it’d just be healing and mp restoration, but this implied a vaster array of possibilities. That gave me some hope and ideas. “It’s not a cheap kit.”

“How much?”

“Two gold.” That made me wince. I wanted to keep a poker face, but that wasn’t working for her. I could afford it, but that’d be most of my money. Today would have to be successful or this would be a bad idea.

I glanced around the room of potions. “Do I need a book or something to know how it works?”

“I can show you the basics, but you have the benefit of your blessing. I have to experiment and learn different recipes. If you can imagine it, it’ll tell you what you need to make it.”

“That’s a little scary.”

“And dangerous, you’ll still have to find the materials in question. It won’t tell you that. So it’s not certain.” That made things a little less worrisome for me. So it would be less about experimenting and more a hunting game. I could deal with that, but I didn’t think I could afford a book of plants that would probably make that easier.

This seemed like a good decision with what I had planned. “Do I need a gathering tool as well?”

“Some can be just gathered by your hands, but yes there are some that I would suggest having a tool to make a clean harvest. I can sell you a cheap one for a silver.” That didn’t hurt as much, but that would be good. I needed to confirm things with it. Troubling as it all was, I should make the spend.

I dug into my purse and pulled out the necessary payment for her. “If it’s not much trouble. Teach me what you can and I will promise to bring you some interesting potions, eventually.” It was going to be a long road.

For a healer without a healing spell, I put a lot on this panning out. In my mind, it could make soloing achievable. An apparently weak boar snake monster nearly killed me yesterday. Until I got some levels, everything was going to be a huge risk to my life. I needed a replacement for my healing.

Becoming a Potion Maker didn’t seem like a great choice for a party setting. I couldn’t toss potions to heal like I would if I had a spell. If it worked as I hoped, my life as this Cursed Healer wouldn’t have to end so soon. ‘You’re not done with me yet!