Herbal Medicine

Seara woke up feeling uncomfortable all over her body.

It wasn't a sharp pain, more like severe fatigue—as if every muscle had been squeezed dry and had not yet fully returned to its place. Her head was dizzy. Her throat was dry. Even opening her eyes felt like an effort.

The stone ceiling of the Lycanisius Pack clinic greeted her. Pale gray, cold, with ancient carvings nearly hidden among its cracks.

He took a slow breath.

“Finally awake.”

The voice came from the right.

Seara turned her head—and found Austin sitting casually in a wooden chair, one leg crossed, his hands resting on the backrest. He didn't look like someone who had just led a bloody battle. His black hair was still messy, yes, and there was a thin bandage on his temple, but his expression was too... relaxed.

Too relaxed for someone who had almost lost half of his pack.

“You’re looking at me like I stole your blanket,” he said lightly.

Seara blinked, then frowned. “How long was I unconscious?”

“Six hours. Longer than I expected, shorter than Lionra feared.”

“Six hours?” She tried to get up—and immediately grimaced as her head throbbed.

“Don’t,” Austin said quickly, standing up and approaching her. “You can’t get up yet.”

“I’m fine.”

“You passed out after nearly burning the battlefield with life energy,” he replied calmly. “Our definitions of ‘fine’ are different.”

Seara clicked her tongue in annoyance, but let herself lean back. Austin picked up a cup from the small table beside the bed. A greenish-brown liquid steamed gently, its aroma bitter and sharp.

"Drink," he said, handing her the cup.

Seara stared at the contents suspiciously. "What is that?"

"Medicine."

"That's not an answer," Seara said with an annoyed click of her tongue.

"A healing potion. It's safe. Non-toxic. It won't turn you into a frog."

She narrowed her eyes. "You seem to be enjoying this too much."

"I'm an Alpha. It's one of the perks."

Seara reluctantly took the cup and sipped a little. Her face immediately scrunched up. "It's bitter."

"Yes." Austin replied casually.

"And it smells bad," Seara said with a grimace.

"Yes, it does."

Austin's casual response made Seara suddenly angry. "You could at least lie a little."

Austin smiled slightly. "I'm not good at lying."

"That's a lie," Seara replied quickly with a sharp gaze.

She sighed, but still drank the potion until it was finished, holding back her nausea. After she finished, Austin immediately took the cup.

"Good," he said. "Lionra will be proud."

As if called by name, the clinic door opened and Lionra entered carrying several rolls of cloth and small bottles. His silver hair was braided simply, his eyes sharp as usual.

"Oh, he's awake," he said. "I won the bet."

"Bet?" Seara raised her eyebrows.

"Austin said you would wake up in a bad mood," Lionra replied casually. "I said you would be confused first."

Austin shrugged. "One at a time."

Seara snorted. “You guys bet on me?”

“A little,” Lionra admitted without guilt. “It helped ease the tension.”

Seara turned to Austin. “You’re too relaxed for someone who’s supposed to be an Alpha.”

“That’s because I am an Alpha,” he replied lightly. “If I panic, who will calm everyone else down?”

“By teasing me?” Seara asked with a frown.

“That’s a bonus,” Austin answered, holding back a smile.

Seara rolled her eyes. “I don’t need an Alpha who likes to joke around.”

“Unfortunately, you got one,” Austin said, tilting his head.

Lionra cleared his throat softly, placing the bottle on the table. “Alright, before you guys start arguing, let’s focus on recovery. Seara, you need to drink this three times a day. And—” he glanced at Austin “—you need rest too.”

“I’m fine.”

“You were bleeding yesterday.”

“A little,” Austin replied quickly.

“You fainted standing up.”

Austin opened his mouth—then closed it again. “That’s a technical detail.”

Seara almost smiled, then stopped.

“What really happened to me?” she asked softly.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Lionra looked at Austin, then back at Seara. “Your body reacted to the release of too much energy. You healed, strengthened, and bound dozens of wolves at once. That’s… not normal.”

“Is it dangerous?” Seara asked.

“If you do it again without control, yes.”

Austin leaned back against the table. “That’s why you can’t be alone for a while.”  

Seara glared at him. “I’m not a baby.”

“I know.”

“But you treat me like one.”

“I treat you like someone who almost shook the entire region.”

Seara stared at him sharply. “I didn’t ask for that power.”

“I didn’t ask for the Rogues to attack either,” Austin replied, his tone still calm but heavier. “The world doesn’t care who asks for what.”

Lionra raised his hand. “Hey. Take a breath. You two are stubborn.”

Seara looked away, hugging the blanket. “I just want to go back to normal.”

“Normal is boring,” Austin muttered.

Seara turned sharply. “What?”

  

“What? I said ‘normal is relative,’” Austin lied.

Lionra held back a smile.

A few moments later, a pack servant entered carrying simple food—warm soup and bread. Seara ate slowly, her body beginning to feel lighter.

Austin sat back down in his chair, this time without excessive comment. He just watched her, occasionally asking if her head was still dizzy, or if she wanted to sleep again.

And that somehow made Seara even more annoyed.

"You're looking at me like I'm going to fall over at any moment," she said.

"Maybe because you almost fall at any moment," Austin said, reminding Seara.

"I'm fine."

"You keep saying that." Austin pointed his finger at her with an annoyed expression because Seara kept denying his words.

"Because you don't believe me."

"I believe you," he said lightly, lowering his hand. "I'm just not careless."

Seara clicked her tongue, but Lionra chuckled. “You two are going to be a big problem.”

“Why?” Seara asked.

“Because you both hate being controlled,” Lionra replied. “And you both feel responsible.”

Austin glanced at Seara. “I’m responsible.”

Seara met his gaze. “Me too.”

Silence fell, this time without awkwardness.

Outside, the sun began to rise, bathing the clinic in soft light. For a moment, there were no Rogues, no prophecies, no ancient legends.

Just a stubborn girl, an overly relaxed Alpha, and a Seer tired of being the mediator.

Somehow, to Seara, it felt... normal.