51 The Elixir 3

Finally!

Everything had come together, and Teo was finally able to cure the ailment of his friend.

After receiving the valuable Elixir of healing from Mr. Trismegistus, Teo had not wasted a second and rushed immediately towards the secret clearing in the woods where Beast was still resting, and he had been awaited.

'Master! Hungry!' the black hound barked in expectation as he saw his human companion approaching him.

"Easy, Beast. I did get you a snack, but I also brought something far more important today," Teo said and gently leaned the small backpack, which he always carried around, against the improvised shelter.

He did not have terribly much to discuss with his canine friend, so Teo just sat in silence as Beast gobbled down the large piece of ham that he had brought for him.

"It's best applied right after a meal..." the boy mumbled silently and reached out for Goliath with his mind.

'Goliath, can you—' he tried to say but was interrupted by a certain wooden box materializing in his hands.

'Way ahead of you,' Goliath remarked as he had long anticipated Teo's question.

The young boy carefully opened the contraption and looked at the vials inside, then he said, "This is it. Look, I've brought a special medicine for you, Beast! Swallow this and you will be up and running again in no time!"

'Medi-cine?' the Magical Beast looked at him, its confusion openly visible. It seemed this was a new concept for it.

"Relax, just open your mouth and drink this," Teo tried to persuade him to cooperate and moved towards the snout of the wounded animal.

As soon as he unplugged the cork, a strong herbal aroma diffused into the surroundings. Beast was still skeptical but did as he was told and opened his mouth.

Without hesitation, Teo splashed the full content of the vial into Beast's gaping maw, which was forcefully shut soon after as the wounded Barghest rolled around on the ground and emitted low growling sounds.

Judging from the intense reaction, the Elixir was not blessed with a particularly pleasant taste. But what did his mother always say? The bitterer the medicine, the better it worked.

After a few moments of heartbreaking howling, his canine companion had quieted down again and now lay limply on the ground like a wet towel. Teo tried to approach him again.

"Are you feeling better? Did it work?" he asked while taking a closer look at his wounds — and what he saw shocked him.

Barely a few seconds after drinking the potion, there were already visible effects! The exposed flesh around the wounds sizzled, and his blood seemed to start boiling. Simultaneously, a few of the shallower scratches closed up at visible speed — It was working!

Now, recovery was only a matter of time.

*****

At the same time, at a different place, another boy was working on his own agenda.

"Father, please let me come with you! I promise I won't cause you any trouble!" Jack begged. The duo of father and son were at home right now, but the mood was anything but relaxed.

"You know that is impossible. Just stay here and rest, I will be back in no time." His father, however, was an obstinate man, and not that easy to persuade.

"I always dreamed of going to the capital one day. Please just take me along!" Jack kept on insisting, though.

"Do you think this is for amusement? I have no choice but to respond to the summons, but I will certainly not take you along for a joyride through half the continent in your state." Allvar had made up his mind and transmitted his decision firmly.

"I am feeling much better already! You won't even notice that I am there, I promise!" However, the red-headed boy was still not ready to accept the outcome.

"This matter is not up for discussion, young man! Your wounds may have healed, what about your obligations? What about school? Do you expect me to excuse you for two months? Stay here and look after your sister!" The captain of the Town Guard Brigade repeated himself for the last time and stepped out of the room.

A while back, he had been summoned by the administrative office of the Magic Association in the capital and was preparing to take a trip there in person. It was time for the quadrennial conference of continental security, and it would be the second time for Allvar to attend.

It was something like a national fair where all the brigade heads of the major cities gathered to discuss the recent developments on the continent and the necessary measures to tackle them. Additionally, there would be lectures, presentations, and even a tournament. Primarily, it was a political event concerning public order and security, though, and it was nowhere near as much fun as it sounded. Who could enjoy being locked in a room full of two-fisted warhorses that did nothing but blare at each other for days?

To be honest, Allvar did plan on bringing Jackson with him initially... yet could not help but change his mind after the recent events. The boy had had enough action for now, and he would rather know him safe and bored for the time of his journey than to drag a wounded child onto the road with him. 

Much to his regret, he had given Jack a few hints in regards to his plans several months ago, and the boy was not the type to forget about a potential adventure...

"Haa..." Allvar sighed. When would he be able to get some sense into this son of his? Somehow he seemed to be much more interested in adventures and becoming a guard than studying... but that was also a good thing. Having dreams to aspire was just natural, and there could be much worse things going on in his mind after the recent occurrences.