Domineering Dark Aura

The journey back to Sun Haven was smooth and uneventful, thanks to Gary's expertise in navigation. Both Gary and Kylian were thrilled to hear that Ethan is a pharmacist, regardless of his junior apprentice status. Their happiness was evident, and they welcomed Ethan with open arms.

As they arrived at the shore, the villagers, along with the village chief, gathered to welcome them back. However, there was a noticeable increase in worry and concern etched on their faces. Devin furrowed his brow, sensing that something was amiss.

Concerned, Devin approached the village chief, eager to understand the cause of the villagers' distress. The village chief reciprocated the greeting and shared the troubling news. "Welcome back. We've had to burn most of the crops in the field. The infection was spreading, threatening more of our lands," he solemnly explained.

Devin let out a sigh, realizing that this act was merely a temporary measure to control the spread of the infection. To truly solve the problem, they had to address the root cause.

Introducing Ethan to the village chief, Devin informed him, "This is junior apprentice pharmacist Ethan, our teammate and friend."

Showing respect, the village chief greeted Ethan warmly. Time was of the essence, and Devin knew they couldn't afford to waste any more of it. He immediately urged the village chief to help prepare a room they could use to concoct potion.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, the village chief swiftly dispersed the villagers, giving Devin the assurance that if he needed any assistance, it would be readily available.

Devin and Ethan agreed to finding a clean, undisturbed room for their work. Understanding their need for, the village chief readily agreed to their request. Meanwhile, Alex, feeling that he couldn't contribute much to Devin's immediate task, decided to assist the villagers with whatever help they needed.

Devin instructed Ethan to accompany the village chief to inspect the prepared room, saying that he needed to gather additional material from the forest before they could begin their work. Ethan nodded, acknowledging the instructions.

Curiosity burned within Ethan, eager to understand the gloomy aura that enshrouded Sun Haven. However, he chose to withhold his questions for the moment and turned to Alex for answers instead.

As Ethan asked about the situation, Alex explained the plague that had befallen Sun Haven and the sealed entity within the forest. He revealed that the potion they were about to create would be the village's salvation.

Shocked by this revelation, Ethan couldn't help but question why the village hadn't sought help from the adventurer guild and the pharmacist guild. "Didn't they contact them for assistance?" he asked.

"They did, but unfortunately, no adventurers were willing to take on the task. As for the pharmacists, they were too preoccupied with lining their pockets and basking in their reputation to lend a hand," Alex replied, frustration evident in his voice.

Ethan let out a sigh, disheartened by the degraded state of the medical profession. "It wasn't always like this," he lamented bitterly. "The old teacher used to tell stories of how pharmacists were healers and would come together to share knowledge and findings. But now, it seems most are only interested in personal gain. It's one of the reasons I refused to join a faction," Ethan confessed, his disappointment palpable.

Understanding Ethan's frustration, Alex nodded sympathetically.

Alex patted Ethan on the back, offering him words of encouragement. "You have the power to bring about change in your own unique way," he advised, showing his support for Ethan's ideals.

Meanwhile, as Devin ventured into the forest, he unexpectedly encountered Jeremy, who appeared to be waiting for him. Concern etched on his young face, Jeremy asked about the well-being of his brother. Devin reassured him, promising to do his best and stay strong for his brother. Patting Jeremy's head gently, he urged him to return to the village.

Without wasting any time, Devin swiftly proceeded to harvest enough plants affected by Hyde's aura. Carefully, he bled a little of his blood into a bottle, capturing the essence needed for the potion.

Making his way back to the village, Devin crossed paths with Ethan, who was waiting outside the room prepared by the village chief. Ethan shared his observations, noting that he had not seen the strange symptoms before but believed that Devin's method was worth a try.

Realizing the need for writing materials, Devin asked Ethan if he had any. Ethan quickly provided him with a pen and paper, although the paper was rough and not as smooth as one from the real world.

Curious about the cost of the paper, Devin inquired, "Is this the best paper in the kingdom?"

Ethan nodded, replying, "Yes, and 10 stacks of this paper cost 50 copper coins."

Devin was taken aback by the seemingly high cost. "That's quite expensive," he exclaimed.

Ethan explained the unfortunate reality, "That's why there are more illiterates among the poor than among the nobles."

Devin smiled at Ethan's remark, realizing that there was an opportunity for him to introduce more affordable, eco-friendly paper like the ones found in the real world.

Devin, fully focused on the task at hand, wrote down the prescription for the cure, sharing it with Ethan. He instructed Ethan to study it while also working on making the potion.

Not providing Ethan with his own blood, Devin reserved it specifically for the potion that he would make himself, intending to administer it to the chronic patients. Ethan was taken aback by Devin's trust in sharing his prescription, realizing the importance of such a gesture.

"I understand the significance of prescriptions. Thank you for trusting me. I promise to do my best and assist you in helping the village," Ethan expressed his gratitude and commitment.

With a reassuring pat on Ethan's shoulder, Devin replied, "With you by my side, I have no worries."

As Devin continued his work on the potion, he faced unexpected challenges in balancing the domineering dark herbs affected by Hyde's aura. Feeling a need for a break, he decided to gather his thoughts and relax his spirit.

Observing Ethan deep in thought, muttering to himself, Devin approached him, recognizing that Ethan too was struggling with the potion-making process, particularly in balancing the overpowering dark herbs.

"You're also having issues with the potion, especially the balancing of the dark herbs?" Devin inquired.

Ethan nodded, responding, "Yes, I've been trying to devise a solution."

Realizing that they were both facing similar difficulties, Devin proposed, "Let's work together and brainstorm ideas. Two minds are better than one, and together we can find a way to conquer this challenge."

With their determination and shared expertise, Devin and Ethan formed a formidable team, ready to tackle the obstacles before them and bring healing to the village of Sun Haven.