[The Next Morning]
Sunlight gently filtered into the bedroom, brushing against Luna's face as she slept. She let out a small yawn, stretched her arms, and slowly rose from bed. After washing her face and combing her hair, Luna descended to the first floor, still dressed in her simple yet elegant white nightgown.
"Good morning, Lu!" greeted Lusserina cheerfully.
"Good morning to you, too, Lusserina," Luna replied with a smile.
She stepped out onto the back terrace, where the tranquil view of the lakeside greeted her. The crisp morning air filled her lungs as she inhaled deeply. Dew still clung to the leaves and trees, glistening under the soft light of dawn. Luna sat quietly, soaking in the peaceful atmosphere, until Lusserina returned with a cup of hot chocolate.
Slurp.
"Ah~ that's just perfect."
"..."
"Shall we start brewing after breakfast, Madam?"
"Yes, let's do that."
[The Night Before, at the Dinner Table]
"So, Elrik, how long have you two been married?" Luna asked suddenly.
Elrik blinked in surprise. "W-we've been married for five years," he answered, slightly flustered.
"And children? None yet?"
"Not yet, but—"
TUG!
"Uh… we're focusing on our careers and enjoying time together for now," Rania quickly interjected.
The others exchanged glances, clearly hiding something.
"Why are you all looking at each other like that? Are you hiding something?"
"N-no, of course not, Mom," Rania said quickly. "Right, Brother?"
"Y-yeah, what she said," Radhimar added.
"Hmm..."
"Anyway, aren't you going to give Elrik and me a wedding present?"
"A gift?"
"Yes, a gift. Surely you wouldn't forget to give your only daughter a wedding present," Rania pouted.
"Well... it was all so sudden, I didn't have time to prepare anything."
"It doesn't need to be anything fancy. Just something meaningful."
"So what do you want?"
"Elrik..."
"Miss Lunaria—um, I mean, Mother-in-law—please teach me how to make potions!" Elrik blurted.
"Huh? Potions?"
"Elrik is a professor at the Nuzantra Magic Academy and well-versed in alchemy. He wants to learn your methods."
"If he's so skilled, why does he need to learn from me?"
"Because... Elrik?"
"B-because the potions made by Miss Lunaria—sorry, by you—use lost techniques and are far more effective than anything we have today. I want to study and develop them further to create breakthroughs in magical medicine. It could save countless lives."
"Hmm..."
"..."
"I'm sorry, but Rania has forbidden me from making or distributing them."
Elrik's face fell instantly. Rania looked panicked.
"Ah, um… wait here for a second," she said, then rushed upstairs.
Everyone stared after her, confused.
A few moments later, Rania returned, carrying several potion bottles from her storage room. Each bottle contained a differently colored liquid: red, orange, yellow, white, light blue, blue, deep blue, light green, and dark green.
Everyone looked bewildered—except Elrik, whose eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Brother? Bartasz? Do you remember what Mama Rima taught us about potions?"
"Yeah, I remember."
"Me too."
"Everyone here probably knows this already, except for Elrik. Let me explain. Most people think potions are magical instant cures that can heal any wound, even regenerate lost limbs. But that's not how they work. They don't magically create miracles out of nowhere. What they do is accelerate mitochondrial activity in the body exponentially. This boosts the function of white blood cells, speeding up the healing process. Healing magic works similarly. But keep in mind, overusing them can strain the body—especially for those with poor natural regeneration. The stronger a person's body, the faster the regeneration."
Everyone fell silent. Elrik looked especially thoughtful.
This... is just like what I've seen in games...
"The technique to make these potions has been lost. Only Mama Rima and Mother still know it. You probably saw the empty display cases in the front room. This shop used to be famous for selling rare and powerful items."
"Back to the point—these potions were made by Mother. I did tell her not to sell the white potion anymore since it's considered an elixir by today's standards. But the red one is less potent. I think it's safe to sell. It could change the face of modern medicine. What do you think, Brother? Bartasz?"
"ABSOLUTELY! The world will once again witness our greatness and glor—"
Bonk. Bartasz smacked Radhimar on the head.
"I think the red one should be fine," Bartasz added.
"See, Mom? They agree, too."
"So, how does this relate to a gift? Do you want the potions as your present?"
"No, not the potions. I was thinking of your old recipe catalog—the one with all the ingredients and brewing instructions. You've probably memorized it by now, right? It's better to put it to good use than let it collect dust."
"Oh, that? Sure."
"MOM?! Thank you!" Rania squealed before kissing Luna's cheek and dashing upstairs.
"Mom, I want a gift too."
"You're not even married yet."
"But I still want something from you."
"And what do you want?"
"Anything-as-as—as long as it's from you," Radhimar said with a wide grin.
"Bartasz, do you want something too?"
"No, I'm good, Mom."
[Upstairs]
Luna found Rania rummaging through a storage chest.
"Did you find the book?"
"Yes, Mom. I got it. Thank you so much."
"I'm glad you like it."
"What are you doing here, Mom?"
"Looking for a gift for your brother."
"Hey! That's not fair! I want one too!"
"Didn't you just get one?"
"But that was a wedding gift, not a personal one."
sigh
"What do you want, then?"
"Whatever you choose, hehe."
Luna looked into the chest.
If I only give something to Radhimar, Bartasz might feel left out. Better to give all three of them something.
After a few minutes of searching, Luna made her selection and returned to the first floor with Rania.
[Back at the Table]
Luna noticed Radhimar sitting upright, neat, and full of anticipation.
He looks like a kid waiting for a surprise from his mom.
"First, this is the potion recipe book for Elrik."
Elrik immediately grabbed it and began flipping through with enthusiasm.
"Elrik!" Rania scolded.
Snapping back to his senses, Elrik bowed in apology. Lusserina gave him a brief disapproving look.
Next, Luna placed three crystal necklaces on the table—one amethyst purple, one sapphire blue, and one emerald green.
"These are for Rania, Radhimar, and Bartasz."
She handed the amethyst to Rania, the sapphire to Radhimar, and the emerald to Bartasz.
I was going to give them different things, but this way, there won't be any jealousy.
For a moment, the three stared at their gifts in awe before wrapping Luna in a heartfelt hug.
"Oh, Mom—what if you bring the potions as gifts to the upcoming meeting with the king? It's not just an opportunity to introduce something new, but also to announce the reopening of the Moonshine Shop."
[Back to the Present]
After breakfast, Luna entered the kitchen with steady steps, though a hint of doubt lingered in her heart. On the table lay long-necked glass bottles, sheets of dried herbs—red, yellow, green, and blue—and a large iron pot once used by her mother.
Rania wants me to bring potions to the tea party tomorrow... but how do I make them? I used to just click, and they were done. Without the system... can I do it?
She took a deep breath and opened the old notebook beside her, gently running her fingers over the handwritten notes.
First, she poured water into the pot and lit a low flame beneath it. The soft bubbling soon filled the room. Luna took several red herb leaves and ground them in a stone bowl. Her movements were steady and careful. A warm, bitter scent began to spread.
As the water reached a simmer, she added the crushed herbs. The liquid shifted from clear to deep crimson, pulsing faintly like warm blood. A thin steam rose, laced with the earthy scent of herbs and a faint metallic aroma from the pot.
After a few minutes, she strained the brew through a piece of cloth. Once it had cooled, she poured it into a glass bottle. The liquid shimmered faintly under the sunlight.
As she scanned it with a bit of magic, glowing text appeared in the air:
"Red Potion: Successfully Crafted."
Luna gazed at the bottle. "I did it," she whispered, half in disbelief. Her doubts slowly faded, replaced by a restored confidence.
With Lusserina's help, Luna repeated the process for the other herbs—green for poison detox, yellow for energy restoration, and blue for mana recovery. Each mixture had its aroma, color, and consistency, as if each contained a secret of nature.
Hours passed. Four wooden crates were filled with rows of glass bottles—fifteen for each color.
"This should be enough for samples. Fifteen of each," Luna said, wiping sweat from her brow.
Lusserina nodded. "Will you include the yellow ones too, Madam?"
"Not just yet," Luna replied, closing the final crate. "I made them while I was at it, but we'll wait until the red ones are more common. If Rania finds out I released them all at once, she'll scold me for sure."
Lusserina chuckled softly as she tidied up the crates. The kitchen was filled with the scent of herbs, the glint of glass, and the quiet warmth of a small, meaningful success.