Miracle Tea Lady

I snatched the chopsticks from Kanon's hands. "I can feed myself, thanks."

I wolfed down the rice in record time, partly to prevent any more force-feeding attempts, partly because I didn't realize how hungry I was.

I then tried pushing myself up, but pain shot through every muscle.

"Oh dear! You're in quite a state. We should take you to see Gran Gran!"

"Gran Gran?"

"She brews the most amazing barley tea. It'll fix you right up. Though..." Kanon's nose wrinkled. "It tastes pretty awful."

"Whatever will take the pain away."

Kanon helped me to my feet. The moment we stepped outside, a blur of dark hair crashed into her. Kanon pitched forward with a yelp. But before she could hit the ground, Jiko's hands shot out, catching her by the shoulders.

"I'm so sorry!" Kanon straightened up, smoothing her dress. "I wasn't looking where I was going at all!"

"N-no, it's fine!" Jiko's face flushed red as he yanked his hands back.

Watching him stammer, a memory bubbled up:

"Listen up, Kuro-chan!" Inorin had declared one night, sake bottle in hand. "Wanna know how to spot someone's in love? Watch their hands! If they can't figure out what to do with 'em, like they're wringing 'em or waving 'em around like a drunk octopus, that's your sign right there!"

And there was Jiko, hands darting from his sides and to his hair, looking exactly like Inorin's drunk octopus.

"Oh, so you like-"

Jiko's eyes went wide. He slapped a hand over my mouth.

"You two know each other?" Kanon tilted her head.

I peeled his fingers off my mouth. "Oh yeah we go way back. Bow boy here tried to shoot me yesterday."

Jiko's eye twitched. "I thought you were a Rust."

"Jiko would never hurt anyone without reason," Kanon said. "He's actually quite gentle. Did you know he helps me rescue snakes from the fields?"

Snakes? I raised an eyebrow at Jiko.

"He talks to them too! It's the sweetest thing."

"Kanon, please don't tell her that!"

I tried prying his fingers off again, but this time his palm pressed harder against my lips.

Fine. Have it your way.

I dragged my tongue across his palm. The metallic taste hit my tongue. Still better than that mystery meat Matsuda back home tried feeding me last month.

Jiko yanked his hand. "What the hell was that!?"

Kanon's laughter rang out. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone catch Jiko that off guard before!"

"My pleasure." I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. "Though I wouldn't recommend tasting archer hands. They're a bit rusty."

Jiko's fingers twitched toward his bow but then his gaze drifted to Kanon. The tension melted from his shoulders.

"Look, we may have gotten off on the wrong foot. I was patrolling for Rust and jumped to conclusions. Let's start over?"

"Sure, if you give back what you stole first."

"Stole?" Kanon's eyes widened.

"Peng's arrow." I held out my hand.

With obvious reluctance, Jiko pulled the arrow from his quiver. Peng waddled over, snatched it with surprising speed, then rolled away.

"Peng!" I called after it. "At least say thank you."

"Peng" came the deadpan reply.

Kanon's laughter bubbled up again. "Such a funny little creature! Where did you find it?"

"It found me, actually. Right after I fell through the-" I caught myself. Best not to mention the whole 'transported via game cartridge' thing again. "After I arrived."

Peng rocked back and forth, trying to get up. Its flippers flailed uselessly in the air. Kanon laughed again and Jiko couldn't suppress a smile this time.

"Oh!" Kanon clapped her hands together. "I nearly forgot. We need to get you to Gran Gran!"

Right, the miracle tea lady.

"I should get back to my rounds." Jiko bowed slightly to Kanon, blatantly ignoring me, and strode off toward the fields.

"Does he always act like he's got a bow stuck up his-"

"Only around new people," Kanon said quickly. "He's actually quite sweet once you get to know him."

"If you say so."

***

Kanon slid open the door of a small hut near the edge of the village.

"Sorry for the intrusion!"

Dried herbs hung from the ceiling in neat bundles, their earthy scent mingling with barley and wood smoke. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with jars of various sizes: some crystal clear, others murky with mysterious contents. A collection of teacups sat beside a black kettle, each cup bearing the marks of countless brews.

"Gran Gran?" Kanon called out.

A muffled mumble came from behind a faded screen.

Kanon's face drained of color. She rushed to the sound of the voice. "Gran Gran! Are you alright? Please say something!"

"For heaven's sake, child!" The screen flew back. Gran Gran sat up, silver hair sticking out at odd angles. "Can't an old woman get some sleep around here?"

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! But you weren't answering and I thought-" Kanon bowed repeatedly. "But there's a good reason! My friend Kuroha needs your healing tea. She's quite hurt."

Gran Gran's eyes narrowed as she turned toward me. "Are you certain she's not a Rust, dear?"

"Gran Gran! How could you say that?"

The old woman shrugged. "Just saying. She's got that look about her."

My fists clenched. First bow boy, now her? "Listen here, you-"

"Please, both of you!" Kanon stepped between us, hands raised. "Gran Gran, can you help her as a favor to me?"

Gran Gran's wrinkled face scrunched up as she considered. "Fine. But you'll be washing my clothes for the next week."

"…All of them?"

"Every last panty."

Gran Gran pushed herself up with a grunt and hobbled over to her kitchen. She began plucking herbs from their hanging bundles and measuring precise amounts into a worn clay pot.

I couldn't tear my eyes away as she worked. She added ingredients I'd never seen before: powder that sparkled like snow, leaves that seemed to whisper when crushed, roots that pulsed with a dim blue light.

"How much pain are you in, child?" Gran Gran asked without looking up.

"Just numbness all over, really."

The old woman's hands froze. "Numbness? That's all?" She whirled around, brandishing a wooden spoon. "And here I am wasting my Lobak powers on something so trivial!"

"Lo...bak?"

"Useless child." Gran Gran shook her head. "Watch and learn."

She turned back to the pot and closed her eyes. A soft golden light began to emanate from her hands, flowing into the tea. The mixture started to glow from within, casting shadows on the walls.

"Careful now, it's hot." She pressed the steaming cup into my hands.

I took a tentative sip and nearly spat it out. The bitterness was overwhelming. Worse than Jiko's hands somehow, and that was saying something. But before I could complain, I realized the numbness had vanished completely. My muscles felt fresh, like I just woken from the best sleep of my life.

"That, child, is the power of Lobak."