Chapter 19 - Deshia

The smell of herbs hits Geraldine's nose as they got nearer to the place where herbal plants grow in the wild, green leaves softly fall from the trees as the wind guided them as they lay on the ground

Geraldine lifted her face, letting the light and shadow dance across her skin. Bees hummed in and out of the wildflowers, gathering the sweet nectar from them. She inhaled the minty smell of the forest and continued on walking, delighting in the sound of her feet through the leaves.

Alexjin couldn't help but stare at his master's face as it's the first time he sees her smiling sincerely as she was always smiling forcefully in front of other people.

"Alexjin, do you know any healing magic?" Geraldine asked as she swings her basket at the back while facing him.

"Master, I don't know anything about the elements," Alexjin said while scratching his head, he grows up only knowing what his mother teaches and it was just about the swordsmanship and how to use his mana in his sword skill.

Geraldine nodded and didn't ask anything else as she continued walking, when they reached their destination, a wide plantation of hempers spread on the clearing.

"Do you know what are hemper's Alexjn?" She asked as she looked at the tiny long triangular leaves with five white petal flowers on the ground.

"Hemper's are used to heal wounds, it needed to be crushed until its juices can be extracted and it is best to use when it's fresh," He answered based on the book he memorized.

"Good, it was a common plant used to heal wounds and you can get it for free in this forest, so get as many as you can and don't forget to get their roots too so we can start our own plantation, also dig some Kringer along the way. I'll be looking for something else," Geraldine waved him goodbye as she went to the other side, "We'll meet here at sundown."

Venturing on the other side of the forest, she was searching for a certain plant. The Deshia, a poisonous flower that represented death. A person who inhaled its pollen represents symptoms such as the constriction of blood vessels which makes that person feels chest pain especially in daily activities, shortness of breath and it retains the body heat, making the skin turned pale.

It can only be seen inside grotto's which is rare in Bagyoo town, so before going to the forest, Geraldine bribed the person again at the town's pharmacy for a map, showing all the plant locations.

Arriving at the exact spot, she saw a grotto that is surrounded by shrubs, looking outside, it was seen as a common grotto but a trap to those people who seek shelter at night, as they would instantly inhale the pollens.

Putting a cloth over her nose and mouth, she parted the shrubs and went inside. At the darker part of the grotto is where the Deshia's are growing as it hates sunlight. Geraldine crutched down and wrap her hand in a thick cloth and slowly picked the nearest flower.

"You're such a pretty flower, too bad, you're poisonous," She mumbled while looking at the black-colored flower similar to rose in appearance. She put it in her basket and grabbed some more including the roots as she planned to add them to her collections. After securing all the flowers in the basket she carried, she immediately went to the nearest stream and removed her outer clothes, and washed it as they might have pollens sticking on the surface which can endanger Alexjin and Aurelie's health.

Bathing on the stream, she looked around for any possible people wandering in the forest and when she's done, she was about to head back to the place where they're supposed to meet when Azure-colored eyes met her own.

"Ah!" Geraldine couldn't help but scream in surprise, seeing Alexjin behind her who's carrying a basket full of plants and dirt sticking around his arms and clothes.

"Master, I've been looking for you everywhere?" He said and went to the stream to wash the dirt on his hands.

"I told you to wait for me at that place," She massaged her forehead and thanked that she had extra clothes she wears or else, Alexjin would see her naked, which is a very bad idea.

"You've been gone for hours master and I'm worried that something might happen to you," He smiled innocently and was about to grab the basket in Geraldine's hand, "Let me carry it, master."

"No," She quickly pulls the basket away from him, afraid that he might get poisoned, "Lead the way, we'll go home for now." She stated and gestured him to walk first which he followed.

Geraldine was walking behind him, looking at his body feature's and noticed that he had grown a bit taller than her as they were at the same height of 170 cm (5'6 ft) when they met. She also noticed that his body has grown bigger from work and practice swords.

Just then, she remembered the time she didn't feel his presence at the stream, she used to know if a person is nearby by sensing their mana but for Alexjin, there's none, even his steps are so light as if he's walking on air. This makes Geraldine wonder what skills he's hiding and what can she do to improve it, to make him the best weapon of destruction.

"Master, what do you want to eat? I'll cook tonight," Alexjin looked back at her with a small smile with his eyes twinkled in anticipation.

"Anything will do," She replied flatly and looked at the side to avoid his gaze.

*I wonder how long will you be able to keep up that character you're playing, Alexjin.*