Chapter 38: Herbs and Havoc

Luca carefully brought home the herbs and began preparing them according to the book's instructions. He ground the herbs separately, boiled them, and mixed them together, following each step to the letter. The air in the kitchen filled with a strong, earthy aroma as he stirred the simmering mixture.

After some time, the liquid finally reached the colour described in the book—a rich hue that seemed to shimmer under the soft light. Luca observed it carefully, swirling the mixture gently in the pot. The colour shifted and deepened, like the first hints of dawn on a summer morning.

Although he had followed the instructions precisely, Luca remained cautious. He knew that even natural remedies could be dangerous if not handled properly. Using a clean spoon, he took a few drops and tasted the bitter concoction. The flavour was sharp and intense, almost overwhelming. He winced but swallowed it down.

Luca waited anxiously for about an hour, paying close attention to any reactions in his body. There were no signs of harm—no dizziness, nausea, or discomfort. Relieved and emboldened by the lack of side effects, he decided to consume a little more.

As the warm liquid went down, a comforting heat spread through his chest. Soon, a powerful surge of energy coursed through his entire body, filling him with a sense of vitality and strength.

Excited, Luca stood up and began practicing the movements as described in the book. His body felt lighter, stronger, and more responsive. He could feel the energy building with each step and motion. His physical strength, which had been stagnant for a while, began to grow rapidly. Joy and accomplishment filled his heart as he could feel himself once again becoming stronger.

After finishing the herbal mixture, he continued training until he was satisfied with his progress. Wiping sweat from his forehead, Luca smiled. Even though he had postponed breaking through to the harmonization stage, he realized he could still grow stronger using the herbal mixture.

Seeing the mess made by him, he gathered the utensils he had used to prepare the herbs and carried them to the back of the house to wash. The sun was casting a warm golden glow over the yard. Luca scrubbed the pots and bowls diligently, determined to leave no trace of his experiment behind.

Halfway through, he remembered he had left a small spoon inside. He went back into the house to fetch it. When he returned, however, his heart sank—one of the chickens his mother had raised was standing by the washing area, pecking at the residue left in a pot.

"No, stop that!" Luca shouted, waving his arms frantically. "Shoo! Get out of here!"

The chicken, seemingly energized by the herbs, flapped its wings wildly and let out a strange squawk. It dashed across the yard and into the vegetable garden, kicking up dirt and tearing through the neatly planted greens.

"Ah! No, stop!" Luca yelled, chasing after the frenzied bird. The chicken, however, was too fast, darting between rows of vegetables and leaving a trail of chaos in its wake.

Luca's heart sank as he surveyed the destruction. Leaves were shredded, stems were broken, and the garden looked as though a storm had swept through it. He managed to corner the chicken and shoo it back toward the coop, but the damage was already done.

Quickly, he finished cleaning the utensils and did his best to tidy up the garden, though it was clear that much of the damage was beyond repair. His mother had spent months tending to those vegetables, and Luca felt a heavy guilt upon seeing the damaged garden.

When his mother came home from work, Luca tried to act natural. "Mom, I'll do the cleaning," he offered quickly, hoping to distract her. "You can go ahead and prepare the ingredients for dinner."

His mother raised an eyebrow but smiled. "Thank you, Luca. I appreciate your help."

As they sat down to eat, she suggested, "Why don't we sit at the back and enjoy the scenery after dinner? The moon is full tonight."

Panic gripped Luca. The last thing he wanted was for his mother to see the garden. "Mom, it's not a good idea," he said quickly. "You might catch a cold."

His mother looked surprised but nodded. "Alright, if you say so."

Relieved, Luca breathed easier as they finished their meal and went to bed.

The next morning, he was jolted awake by his mother's distressed voice. "Ahh! What happened to the vegetables? They're all torn and destroyed!"

Luca groaned and pulled the bedsheet over his head, wishing he could disappear. He knew he had to face the music, but he wasn't looking forward to it.

When he finally emerged for breakfast, his mother was still fuming. "I don't know whose group of chickens got into our garden and ruined everything," she grumbled. "If I catch them, I'll make them into chicken soup!"

Luca's face flushed with guilt. He hesitated before speaking. "Mother, it could be our chicken too, right?"

His mother gave him a sceptical look. "We only have two chickens, Luca. How could they have done this much damage? I've been growing these vegetables for months, and our chickens would only nibble on a few leaves. This kind of destruction must have been caused by a whole flock of wild chickens. Oh, my precious vegetables!"

Luca swallowed nervously. He dared not tell the truth.

Before leaving for work, his mother turned to him. "Luca, can you keep watch on the garden today? If you see a group of chickens, catch them. I'll see whose chickens they belong to."

Luca could only nod like a guilty child caught red-handed. "Yes, Mother. I'll keep an eye on the garden."

As his mother walked away, Luca sighed heavily. He knew he had gotten lucky this time, but he couldn't help wondering what would happen if the chicken ever had another taste of the herbal concoction.