Strange Medicine

Peanut woke up hearing the chirping sound of birds above his bed.

He went out to get fresh air and wash his face using the nearby tap while observing the snow-capped mountains around him.

Aunt Tsering came out with a few grains in a small vessel and spoke with an amused tone, "Why did you wake up late today? Usually, you were already up and ready by now to feed your birds. Since you did not feed those birds at your usual time today, instead they went to greet you in bed to wake you up."

"So, that's why they disturbed my sleep and I was even having a bizarre dream today.", Peanut commented.

Aunt Tsering inquired, "What kind of dream did you have?"

Peanut replied, "I was fighting a bunch of orangutans. I was more powerful than them but they always escaped and annoyed me. Somehow, I stole their star-colored fruit and bananas. After I ate those fruits, I became even stronger."

"Yes, if you eat a lot of fruits, you will definitely become stronger. I will ask your uncle to bring more fruits when he goes to the town market.", said Aunt Tsering.

"You should not worry about dreams and nightmares after you're awake because they are not real." Aunt Tsering said nonchalantly.

"Quickly finish feeding your birds and get ready for school. I don't want to hear complaints from your teachers about late attendance."

"Yes, Aunt Tsering."

He quickly finished his activities and went to school.

The school was just near this home within a ten-minute walking distance.

The school was maintained by the local community with governmental aid.

It was a simple two-story cemented house, the only one of its kind throughout the village.

There were about twenty rooms in the building which was not enough for the number of children in the village so some of the classes could be seen happening in the open areas beside the building around a few big trees with spread-out branches.

Peanut was in one of those classes. He was always bored with the teachings as he could easily remember and understand the topics that he read once in his life. The reason he was not skipping school was because he did not want to hear an earful from his Aunt Tsering.

After the closing bell rang, he immediately packed his bag and ran home this time instead of going out to hang around and play with his friends which he usually did.

Stuffing a few cookies and a glass of milk from the Himalayan Yak that his Aunt Tsering prepared, he took his new smartphone and ran up the hill to check this 'internet' thing.

He started browsing and watching videos searching for various questions that he had that those academic books could not fulfill. He understood many interesting facts using this information but some of this knowledge further made him confused and increased the questions in his head.

He realized the battery of this smartphone was going down and the day was growing darker so he walked back to his home for dinner.

His aunt Tsering was preparing food in the kitchen, while his uncle Samuel was chopping some firewood for the fire.

He charged the phone and sat beside his uncle and aunt in the kitchen.

Suddenly, Peanut asked, "Uncle, Aunt, I'm very different from all other children. There must be a reason behind this, right?"

His uncle ignored him but his aunt spoke, "Of course you're different, Peanut. Well, that is because you are a gifted and unique child. See, some people in this world are born with several deformities like missing hands, or legs, and not being able to see or hear. Similarly, you are born with your unique gifts which enhance your abilities instead of limiting them."

Peanut pressed further, "Could it be due to genetic mutation that I was born like this?—Or could there be any artificial factors, like some people changing due to being exposed to radiation or accidents? I've read some proven facts on the internet about a guy developing musical talent after being struck by lightning, another turned into a mathematical prodigy after suffering a serious concussion, and one even became a master sculptist after a traumatic brain injury."

This time, his uncle Samuel spoke in a low voice as he chopped vegetables.

"The human body and its mechanism is very complex and the current science and technology is very far from understanding many things about it. I have also heard of some of those cases—unnatural injuries unlocking certain capabilities in a person—but they're extremely rare. These cases can be called coincidences, really. Nobody got it through normal or systematic means and no one has been able to replicate them. And, if you are asking if you had any such unfortunate incident that triggered your abilities, then the answer is no. I remember you as a healthy child with no prior injuries or record of accidents when your mother left you as a one-year-old child with me. And we've taken care of you since then."

Peanut's curiosity deepened, "Uncle Samuel, what was my mother like?"

Uncle Samuel suddenly stopped chopping the vegetables, looked far into the mountains through a window, and spoke reminiscing, "Your mother… she was the most prettiest woman in the world. Brilliant too—she excelled in every academic and extra-curricular activity but unlike you, she was considered a normal genius by current standards. Perhaps, you inherited her excellence, albeit in a more… enhanced way."

He sighed deeply, "She has already disappeared for more than 7 years so chances are, she might have already left this world."

Peanut's brow furrowed as he thought about what his uncle had said, "Since people can develop such abilities through accidents, then, isn't it possible for people to develop capabilities through some systematic methods?"

After hearing the question, Uncle Samuel's eyes suddenly narrowed and his facial expression changed for a brief moment, before returning to normal. Neither Peanut nor his aunt had noticed these changes.

He became silent for a few minutes and spoke again, "Who knows what sort of mysterious things there are hidden in this world? As of now, there is no public record of anyone having such techniques or methods that develop certain new capabilities. But, there have been normal people who trained themselves to extraordinary levels—enough to become capable of winning gold medals in the Olympics."

Peanuts smiled faintly, "So, you think I should chase after medals now?"

Samuel chuckled. "If that's what you're aiming for?"

Peanut shook his head, "No. I just wanted to understand why I'm so different from all other children. And, if possible.. help them become like me.", he replied.

"Seems like an ambitious dream, isn't it?", Samuel teased.

"I know. But I want to try at least.", Peanut replied with quiet determination.

Their conversation then drifted to other interesting things that Peanut found on the internet. Before long, Aunt Tsering brought them food.

It was simple but hearty food with cooked rice and vegetables along with some soupy lentils, salads, and hot pickles.

After the meal, he immediately went to sleep tossing and turning in the bed lost in thoughts for a while, until he started drifting into another dream.

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Despite the slowly building snow due to snowfall, a 15-year-old boy was running through the meadows, searching for a rare medicinal herb locally known as 'Yarsagumba' meaning 'vegetable caterpillar'. This was a rare medicine considered the fusion of animal and plant life which also depicted the balance of yin and yang in traditional beliefs.

The lifecycle of Yarsagumba in itself was a bizarre marvel. It begins when a parasitic fungus named 'Ophiocordyceps sinensis' infects the larvae of the ghost moth in the winter months. The fungus then slowly spreads itself across the body of the larvae consuming the host from within. After it gains control of its body, it travels toward the surface of the soil and eventually sprouts from the caterpillar's head in the spring season which spreads its pores targeting new host larvae. Its collection season is very brief, found only under the severe environment of the Himalayas, making it a prized and elusive commodity often priced higher than gold. But, peanut was not here for its monetary value but due to its mysteriousness.

In the Himalayan villages and towns, collecting Yarsagumba was considered a communal and ritualistic process, treated with reverence and respect. Peanut had heard about its mysterious healing properties from the villagers so many times that he finally decided to join them in the hunt this year as he recently finished his secondary school examination and had free time till high school which was not available in this remote village.

He was using a small hoe and went about picking the soil in the ground to find any traces of the sprout of Yarsagumba. Eventually, he found three sprouts and went back home happy with his harvest.

"Aunt Tsering, see what I got today?", Peanut announced loudly before he entered the house.

Aunt Tsering looked into his hand. There was a slender, twisted, root-like substance, a few inches in length—a dried caterpillar in light brown color having dark brown stalk sprouting from its body.

Identifying the expensive medicine, she asked, "Who gave you such precious medicine?"

Peanut happily replied in a proud tone, "I was searching for them in the upper Himalayas and finally got three of them. Aren't they magical, both a fungus as well as an insect—a fusion of both plant and animal? And they can be stored for a long time."

He was hoping to get a few praises from his aunt. But..

Aunt Tsering reprimanded him, "You went on a Yarsagumba hunt all by yourself in the upper meadows. On top of that, it was snowing despite the arrival of spring season. Do you know how many people lose their lives every year going after the Yarsagumba? You didn't even ask me before going."

"What would I have done if anything would have happened to you?"

This time he had run off without telling her because she always rejected him when he wanted to go search for it saying his age was not appropriate for such activities.

Peanut's excitement faded as he hung his head low and apologized, "I'm sorry."

"From now on, you will not go anywhere without my permission, you get it?", demanded Aunt Tsering in an angry tone.

Peanut replied in a small tone, "Yes, Aunt Tsering."

Aunt Tsering's face softened and she said, "Now, go change your clothes and sit near the fireplace. I'll make some fire. You must be cold walking in the snow."

He obediently changed clothes and sat by the fireplace.

Then, his aunt Tsering brought a plate full of fruits including star-shaped fruit and berries kept it in front of him, and started the fire.

"Whoa, did uncle bring these fruits from the town?", his face lit up full of joy.

He had always wanted to taste many of these fruits since he saw them in his dreams.

"Yes, your uncle Samuel just returned from the town. He's getting freshened up.", Aunt Tsering replied as she stoked the fire.

Soon, his uncle Samuel joined them at the fireplace.

"There was a lot of ruckus going around the village about some foreigners coming for recreational activities.", Uncle Samuel said eating a red-colored berry.

"Yes," Aunt Tsering added, "I heard, it's some group of foreigners planning to climb Mt. Sagarmatha, the highest peak in the world. They did not want to go through the usual route so they came here to get acclimatized to high altitude and do some mountain climbing and recreational activities while they're at it."

"Villagers think this will bring a lot of hospitality business and are hoping to entertain many such guests."

She looked at the boy eating his fruits and solemnly warned him, "Peanut, I'm telling you again. Don't ever show your abilities in front of these people."

Peanut replied as usual, "I understand, Aunt Tsering."

Uncle Samuel chuckled, "Why are you still calling him, Peanut? He wrote his name in official examination documents as 'Ayan'. So, we can call him by his official name now."

Aunt Tsering replied, "It does not matter what others call him. He will always be my cute little 'Peanut'."