A month later, on the outskirts of Magnolia, deep in a rarely visited dense forest, sat a simple little cottage. This was where Tike was now.
Inside the cottage, the little brown-haired boy carefully poured the transparent liquid from a test tube slowly into a beaker set over an alcohol lamp. Then he took out various tools and began tinkering.
A short while later, a rich aroma wafted from the beaker, instantly filling the entire room.
Tike couldn't help swallowing. He picked up the beaker and walked quickly toward Porlyusica, who was sorting medicinal herbs in the next room.
"Grandma Porlyusica, taste the instant noodles I cooked!"
Porlyusica slowly raised her head, looked at the spirited boy in front of her, took a bite without changing her expression, and then placed the beaker on the table.
"Have you finished the homework I gave you?"
Tike immediately straightened his back and answered loudly, "Grandma Porlyusica, I've memorized all the scents of the medicinal herbs you asked me to remember!"
Porlyusica nodded slightly and praised faintly, "Not bad."
When Tike first arrived here, Porlyusica spent seven days teaching him some simple reading and writing, then had him learn how to distinguish medicinal herbs.
Relying on his keen sense of smell far exceeding ordinary people, Tike memorized the scents of thousands of medicinal herbs in just over half a month.
Thus, Porlyusica began the next step of teaching—mixing various medicinal herbs in specific proportions and sequences to ultimately concoct potions with miraculous healing effects.
Tike only watched once from the side before the entire concoction process was firmly imprinted in his mind. He perfectly replicated every step of Porlyusica and successfully concocted the same potion.
Porlyusica gave him a positive evaluation again.
Receiving consecutive praises from Porlyusica, a bright smile bloomed on Tike's face.
Besides Mom Ur, he wanted to hear praise from her mouth the most.
Just as Tike was immersed in joy, Porlyusica suddenly brought up something from a month ago.
"Tike, do you remember you treated Rob before?"
Tike tilted his head slightly, a trace of doubt flashing in his azure eyes, then nodded affirmatively: "Of course I remember. What about it?"
"He was suffering from Magic Deficiency Syndrome at the time." Porlyusica spoke slowly, explaining further, "This is an extremely stubborn disease. The potion I prepared for him should theoretically require long-term consumption to gradually show effects, but he was completely cured after taking just one dose. The reason for this is due to the treatment you gave him beforehand."
"Huh? There's such a thing? Grandma Porlyusica, could you be mistaken?"
Regarding the point that his magic couldn't cure diseases, Tike had known it as early as when he passed through other worlds.
It wasn't that he hadn't tried using Healing Magic to assist treatment while Alice administered medicine to people. It was the case when Kagura and Yukino caught a cold before, but at most it played a role in replenishing the patient's physical strength; they still ended up lying in bed recuperating for a whole day.
"This matter is not groundless speculation, but a deduction I made based on my examinations of Rob over these past days."
To verify her inference, Porlyusica took two sickly hamsters from a cage in the corner, fed them the freshly prepared potion, and then turned to look at Tike.
"Use your Healing Magic on one of them."
"Oh!"
Tike extended a finger, gently touched the top of one hamster's head, and injected healing magic power into its body.
A moment later, the hamster infused with Tike's magic power began to run happily in the cage, looking around, appearing exceptionally lively. The other hamster, which had only taken the potion, although improved, still seemed somewhat weak compared to the former.
Porlyusica nodded, the appreciation in her eyes deepening.
"As expected, regardless of the order, your magic can effectively enhance the efficacy of the potion. Tike, this is an extremely rare talent. You must make good use of this ability in the future."
(Is it really so?)
Although Tike was still somewhat doubtful, he heeded Porlyusica's teaching. After pondering for a while, he proposed a bold hypothesis: "Grandma Porlyusica, if I can directly infuse my Healing Magic into the potion, would it achieve the same effect?"
Porlyusica raised her eyebrows slightly. Instead of denying Tike's idea, she analyzed calmly:
"Theoretically feasible, but this requires an extremely profound understanding of both magic power and pharmacology. Even if successfully infused, it may not guarantee the persistence and stability of the medicinal effect."
"I think... it shouldn't be difficult."
Saying this, Tike began to prepare a new potion. Unlike before, this time he dripped water droplets containing Healing Magic into the potion.
After preparations were complete, Tike took out a new hamster from the cage and fed it the potion fused with Healing Magic.
Soon, this hamster that took the fused magic potion also became full of energy, just like the one Tike had cast Healing Magic on directly.
Seeing this, Porlyusica thoroughly acknowledged Tike and liked him even more in her heart.
Of course, on the surface, she remained expressionless, only offering faint praise.
"Not bad, but never become arrogant and complacent. You still need to continue working hard."
"Yes, Grandma Porlyusica, I will definitely continue to work hard!"
In the following time, Tike followed Porlyusica's guidance, constantly trying various combinations and concoctions of medicinal herbs.
Time quickly reached dusk. Tike looked out the window, knew it was getting late, and turned to bid farewell to Porlyusica: "Grandma Porlyusica, let's stop here for today. I'll come back tomorrow to learn from you."
Porlyusica thought for a moment and asked, "As a reward for your hard study during this period, is there anything special you want?"
"Yay!"
Hearing there was a reward, Tike immediately started thinking seriously.
What would be good? Something delicious? Something fun?
Various thoughts flashed through Tike's mind, but he rejected them one by one.
Finally, the little boy chose to open his arms.
"Grandma Porlyusica, I want a hug!"
As soon as the words fell, Porlyusica's calm pupils contracted suddenly. For a moment, she was somewhat at a loss and didn't respond for a long time.
Watching Porlyusica's stiff expression, Tike lowered his head in disappointment, asking in a low voice with a hint of grievance, "Is it... not okay?"
Porlyusica shook her head, composed herself, bent down, and hugged Tike.
It was a very brief hug, carrying a hint of awkwardness, yet containing an imperceptible warmth.
After the hug, Porlyusica straightened up quickly, returning to her usual serious expression.
"Alright, it's getting late. Go back early."
"Mm! I know, Grandma Porlyusica, see you tomorrow!"
With that, Tike turned and walked out of the cottage with satisfaction and joy.
Porlyusica stood at the door, watching Tike's retreating figure. Her eyes were filled with complex emotions—relief, expectation, and gentleness.
Suddenly, a faint and dissatisfied voice rang in Porlyusica's ear.
"Who?"
Porlyusica frowned slightly and looked around but found nothing.
"An illusion?"