After finishing dinner, Luke arranged everything he needed.
Thankfully, he didn’t forget the other two essential ingredients for the potions and collected them on his way back ho.
Now, he currently contemplates whether to actually do it inside the room or not. Given that he would need flas to boil the potion, it might trap the smoke within the confined space.
However, doing it in the kitchen wouldn’t be convenient. He would need to bring everything there and work while standing up since there wasn’t much space.
Bringing the big grinder and all the equipnt would take too much space. Not to talk about, inhaling the smoke rising from burning poison could be harmful to the others.
That was problematic. He didn’t think of small details until now.
"Hmm? Luke? Is there a problem?" Monica asked as soon as she entered.
The way he had been standing there cluelessly, she knew that he was stuck sowhere.
Luke scratched the back of his head before confessing his trouble, "I need to boil the dicine but creating fire here would be dangerous and in the kitchen, there isn’t any space."
There wasn’t any tool in the shop too that could help him either. There was a boiler but it was too small to contain the fluid and not to talk about, it still doesn’t solve the problem of the flas.
Monica humd in curiosity, "So you need to boil the dicine, huh? Well, how much space do you need to prepare the ingredients?"
Luke crossed his arms, "To put a grinder, and so space from the flas since I couldn’t have heat reach anywhere near during the blending of herbs."
Monica understood vaguely how much space that would take, that’s why, she thought for a few monts and said, "You can use the spare cooking hearth."
Luke blinked in surprise, "Is there sothing like that?" He didn’t know or maybe didn’t rember.
Monica chuckled, "Of course, there is. Every house has several hearths since a single hearth only lasts for about twenty or so days."
Earthen hearth tends to burn in three weeks, causing it to slowly crumble. That’s why people make several hearths in advance during the days when the sun remains high and hot.
Luke tilted his head, "Then...where can I use it? Outside, it’s too windy." There was too much open space in the village, allowing the cold breeze to travel freely. Igniting flas would be a problem.
Monica suggested, "The bathhouse? The outer periter is already prepared, no? Won’t that much space be enough?"
Luke thumped his fist on his other hand’s palm in realisation, "Right," he inched closer and gave his mate a bear hug, "Thanks a lot. You solved all my problems so easily."
Monica giggled at that before telling him, "Now, let’s go and prepare everything."
Luke nodded, "Tell where the hearth is and I will go bring it."
Monica showed him the way. It was kept in the spare room where Ginna slept and a few on the backside of the house, covered with several layers to protect it from rain.
Then she went to prepare the other things like the firewood, lantern, and water in case of ergency.
When she entered the kitchen to collect the firewood, Laila also followed her and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Just sothing...what about you? Can’t sleep?" The lady asked as she got up and turned to look at her daughter.
Laila’s cheeks flushed slightly as she said, "I was wondering where I should sleep...you know..."
Monica nearly burst into laughter seeing how awkward her daughter was when it ca to Luke.
She didn’t tease her for long and told the silly girl, "He is working on sothing tonight so sleep wherever you want."
"Working at this hour?" Laila grew curious, "What is he going to do? Hunt?"
Monica shook her head, "Preparing so dicine. Anyway, if you have ti, go and help him arrange the hearth."
The earthen hearth they use might be portable but it takes three people to handle it.
Luke said he could manage it on his own, but she was still worried.
Laila asked where he was before heading toward the backside of the house.
As she opened the door, the gentle breeze of the night greeted her.
She moved the strands of her hair behind her hair before she turned to look at Luke.
He was carrying the hearth on his back, not fully comfortable but not struggling either.
Her heart sank...he was that strong?
But then again, he fought a monster that was actually larger than a whole section of the village.
"Why are you out here at this hour?" Luke asked as he slowly lowered the structure inside the periter.
It was covered from three sides, so it was convenient for him
"Mother said that you might need my help." Laila muttered before approaching him, "Why do you need a hearth in dicine preparation?"
Luke heaved a sigh as he stood up and rested his hands on his waist.
"So she told you about it as well, huh?"
Laila blinked in surprise, "She wasn’t supposed to?"
Luke crossed his arms, "Considering the reactions I have gotten so far at this, I would rather keep this fact a secret. Don’t want to draw attention anymore, you know."
Laila slowly nodded, already aware of her brother’s tendency to avoid recognition.
"I won’t tell anyone," she promised, "...though I am curious, who taught you this?"
Luke humd, "You can say this is a gift I received alongside the magic. An ability of mine." He lied, of course. He couldn’t tell her that this was a gift he received from the system as a reward.
Laila was clueless about this whole magic thingy but people tend to grow curious about what they don’t understand...or wary. Laila was from the first category.
"What exactly can you do with your magic? Maybe fly or make flas?"
She has only heard from people that magic can do things that are humanly impossible.
Luke wryly smiled at that, "Nothing like that but I can use a few other tricks. Like my senses are sharp...really sharp."
He raised his hand toward the door and said, "Like I can hear Dalia and Ginna talking. Father’s snore and Monica’s approaching footsteps."
Laila blinked in surprise and as he said, Monica actually appeared from the other side of the door, holding a large pitcher in one hand and a lantern in the other.
Luke instantly approached her and took the pitcher from her, earning a sweet smile from his mate.
He rested the things beside the hearth and said, "Well, Laila...you should go inside and sleep now."
The woman blinked in surprise, "What about you, mother?"
Monica instantly said, "I will be staying here, watching him or maybe helping him if I can."
Laila was sohow expecting this...that’s why, she turned towards Luke and asked, "Can I...stay as well?"
Luke sighed and shook his head, "Do whatever you want just don’t disturb ."
He then took out the things necessary and got to work.
His goal; at least five healing potions.
°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- I hope you liked the Chapter. Please leave a review and comnts since they help keep going.
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