The very next morning with a re-invigorated mind and body, I woke to an already prepared breakfast as Victoria was busying herself about the shop. I saw her holding a large roll of wax paper and tearing off palm sized pieces. Much of the processing counter where I normally studied and assisted her with various customers was already densely packed with those torn papers. Based on my earlier request, I already suspected but wanted to confirm the purpose of her actions.
Looking up from her work she cheerfully greeted me. “Good morning, Andrew! It’s not going to be ready for a while, but I’ve already collected the samples which you asked to study in person.” Nodding to the many scraps of paper she added. “The samples will each have their own place to prevent confusion and aid in identification.”
Seeing a large portion of the counter already covered in paper, triggered a bit of a personal revelation of sorts within me. Many times, I had to write research papers on various topics in school for class. I would dedicate a large amount of time to parse through thousands of pages of data, fact check multiple sources for inconsistencies, and reduce my findings down to a mere several page report. Upon submission, it would take the teacher a few minutes to glance through it and too often stamp a low B or high C for my extensive efforts. To see your many days and weeks of hard work rendered down to such a mundane letter was disheartening for me, to say the least.
Here though, seeing the many ragged edged placemats laid out across the counter in preparation for the many samples I had studied, gave me a sense of cathartic release. Here was a visual representation of what I had learned and would continue to learn. The sheer amount of plant life I had studied so far, was enough to propagate a robust ecosystem. A smile tugged at my lips as I imagined being able to actually design said ecosystem upon a land of my choice.
Despite my imaginings, I knew that there was still much work to be done to truly achieve my lofty goals. Giving a profuse thank you to my master for going above and beyond her duties, I wasted no time in cleaning up after myself grabbing the necessary tools and rushing off for some rigorous morning work at the falls. . .
Chipping away at the ever-growing cave, or rather indent within the stone wall, I began mentally reviewing the plants I had studied so far. A bittersweet grimace with more than a little self-suffering humor formed on my lips, as I had several noteworthy memories associated with a variety of those herbs.
If it was Victoria’s goal to cement those herbal lessons learned, she had most assuredly achieved that. Itching powders, libido enhancers, numbing agents, as well as numerous other symptom-causing herbs were tested on me. Considering more carefully, I had to correct my thoughts. These were no mere tests. I could feel myself embedding the hard-won knowledge deep within the recesses of my mind. There were no teacher-assigned tests in reality, which had been as memorable and impactful as that which Victoria paced me through. My continued studies were exceptionally impacted. As my very wellbeing was at risk rather than a simple letter grade, external distractions and frivolous concerns fell by the wayside. Even in reality, my mind would frequently be drawn to parallels which reinforced that which I had learned.
Frequently, I would see plant-life on the side of the road, a hiking trail, or even out front of my own apartment, which tickled at my thoughts. The shape of a leaf, color of a flower, or patterned network of branches which subtly reflected the imagery and description of the studied herbs, would send my thoughts on a journey of recollections and musings. I would often wonder what mundane counterparts I might find, were I to recognize enough concrete markers in both sets.
My experiences in virtual reality had even begun bleeding more heavily into my workplace. That was mostly curtesy to my master’s tests and frequent interactions with her clientele. In her shop and world, she was the undeniable master who I still had much to learn. Here in reality though, with no one nearby to offer up superior experience in her field, I couldn’t help but feel that I was holding a precious vault of knowledge which was being grossly underutilized.
In passing, when hearing of the various symptoms felt by the elderly nursing home residents on my work unit, I find myself having to bite my cheeks to keep from offering an herbal remedy which didn’t even exist in reality. In these instances, my mind would wage a theoretical war within. Institutionally acquired and externally sourced knowledge fought for supremacy with the many in-person applications and subsequently witnessed recoveries of Victoria’s clientele. Being an integral part of the entire process of research, creation, and successful implementation of various treatments, did much to instill a sense of confidence in what I had learned.
What most of it boiled down to, was I simply wanted to do more for my patients than what their current medication list and treatment plan was able to accomplish.
I was particularly empathetic to the many bouts of constipation my charges experienced. This came as a result of the dehydrating side effect of prescription pain killers, which they routinely took to allow them a less pained and more enjoyable experience in the nursing home.
Shaking my head to free myself of that unproductive train of thought, I returned to my split focus of cutting out the cave passage and recalling my previously memorized herbs.
It was odd. I know at some point I would need to begin widening the deeper passageway into the starting stages of a cave, but there was something non-verbal and more of a feeling, telling me to keep on my current path. And so, I continued on. Additionally, I felt that if anything needed to be changed, Monroe would likely inform me of such, as I believe he made occasional visits to see my work when I wasn’t there.
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Finally at around noon, I returned to my master’s shop. It was almost as I had imagined it with the entire counterspace being filled with samples of herbs. Victoria was lounging against the front end of the counter as if to passively guard that which she had set up. Unless they were a visitor from out of town, I doubted there would be a soul within the city that dared to mess with anything in her shop. That would be lest they desire to experience her wrath.
“Andrew!” She called out to me in greeting. “I considered many ways to test you with this physical aid, but I think that what I could do best would be to let you find the correct herb which corresponds to the page you studied it on.” Nodding her head to the single tiny space that wasn’t covered in plants she added. “I have placed little strips of paper containing the names of the plants which I want you to match up. You may use the book on herbs as necessary. Once you have completed this task, we can have lunch.”
“Master.” I inquired. “Is there any restriction to my handling of these herb samples?”
A smile lit up her face as she shook her head. “Do with them what you will. Just make sure that they are still recognizable by the end of the test as I’ll be comparing the names with the samples.”
“Alright, I’ll get started. Thank you for this.” I said before getting to work.
With book and paper strips in hand I began from the first plant I studied to hunt it down and label it. . .
Although it was unnecessary for many of the plants for the purpose of identification, I took the time to fondle, smell, and taste almost every single sample. I felt as if such familiarizing with them in such a way would be more beneficial down the line.
Admittedly, I refrained from tasting a few that I knew to have strong effects which might inhibit the efficiency of tasting the others. Additionally, the majority of the ones I did taste were so very similar in just a general bitterness that there was frequently little discernible difference. I likely would not have been able to taste any difference at all were it not for my recently heightened senses. Smelling them however was far more productive in my opinion.
To me smell is a powerful inducer of memory recollection. Some of my most favorite childhood memories are tied to various smells. Most were in relation to the few times my parents took my sister and me camping or on nature hikes.
The smell of a pine wood fed campfire whose smoke is then chilled on the night air tops the list as my favorite. On the rare occasion in the midst of fall and winter when I catch a whiff of that scent on the air, I am flooded with nostalgia. Other things can also stimulate similar feelings of euphoric nostalgia. The feel and smell of the pages in a new paper book, as well as that of certain foods, and other scents can figuratively and literally stimulate my saliva glands in anticipation of what is to come.
I feel that a life which is lived becomes far more worthwhile when the stimulus around you becomes saturated with triggers of positive emotions and memories. It bespeaks of a stronger and more positive outlook on life and a resiliency, as well as refusal to let the terrors that so often come knocking tear you down for long. There is both good and bad in our lives, and yet it is our actions and reactions to such that determines the kind of person we become.
We are not defined by that which is done to us, but by that which we do in response and how we treat others.
Amidst my sampling and assigning of names to the herbs, I was interrupted by the arrival of the two singular individuals who I least wanted to meet again.
The very air seemed to thicken with lofty pride and arrogance as I saw Paladin Eckhart and Steven the demi-lion trainee patroller, enter my master’s shop. The few other patrons who were respectfully browsing the available wares, upon seeing who had entered, quickly returned their unpurchased merchandise to the shelves and departed the shop with haste.
Victoria, apparently drawn by the change in atmosphere had paused her actions of cooking up lunch in her kitchen and re-entered the shop. I had already paused my work and moved to place myself between the shop counter and them, treating it as a barrier which appeared unsatisfying in its intended purpose in these circumstances.
The Paladin oozed with authoritative aloofness as he stared ahead at Victoria’s approach, completely ignoring my nearby presence. Steven, whom I had associated with as being a bit of a slouch and opportunist lacking in integrity, seemed to have adopted a similar aura as the Paladin. Gone was the frequently crafty and sleezy expression, while in its place, there was a silent haughtiness and professional calm that he had certainly lacked before.
“Greetings apothecary Victoria!” The voice whose memory still somewhat haunted me to this day echoed out within the confines of the shop. My muscles reflexively tensed up at its tone as I beheld this powerful being taint the previously cozy atmosphere with his overbearing presence. Following my recap of that fateful night’s encounter with him to Gertrude and Victoria, I had made several educated guesses that I had somehow escaped from a fate quite possibly worse than death when I rejected this man’s invitation. Steven, who seemed to have undergone an unnatural transformation, appeared right at home at his side, as if sprouting like an offshoot of the original plant.
Turning to my master who had stopped by my side, she gently but firmly shouldered me away as she confronted this man. I watched as her lips curled up in a clear sign of disgust before she spoke up. “To what do we owe this dubious honor of your presence today, Paladin Eckhart?”
A sneer flashed briefly on his face before disappearing beneath that mask of aloofness as he appeared to process what Victoria said in greeting. “We are here on military business to procure two healing elixirs of the highest quality and three tier four general antivenoms for my apprentice here.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she heard his request. I wasn’t sure, but I thought I felt a slight stiffening of her body which was still pressed lightly against mine as if to protect me against this man.
Here voice took on a steely tone as she responded. “May I ask by whose authority you are requesting these precious potions?”
The paladin appeared prepared for such a request as he slammed down an official looking writ on the counter. In the process he disrupted several the samples including knocking a few onto the ground.
I felt an angry warmth well up within me at this brazen carelessness for others, as well as the materials for my ongoing test which he interrupted. Neither he nor his new apprentice spared a glance at the mess they caused. The paladin simply doubled down with his glower and stared hard into my master’s eyes.
I felt a pang of fear cross my heart as I watched this development. The memory of the tone of voice by which my master had spoken, regarding the paladin, rose up in my mind, bringing with it an overwhelming concern for her own safety in this undesirable confrontation. I had to do something to re-direct his ire. I was immortal while my master very much so was not. A single death and she would be gone, never to return. The deep dread of such a possibility short-circuited any sense of self-preservation as I made my stand against this monster of a man.
“Paladin Eckhart!” I called out forcefully as I maneuvered my body to be in front of my master’s. “You have no right to speak to my master in such away. I believe that my master’s feelings are mutual when I say that you are not welcome here!” My body was already shivering at the intensity of the confrontation that I just instigated.
Eyes that had previously remained aloof of me instantly came to bare down with a vengeance.