Second Lead Syndrome (1-187) | ✓

• 106 •

K’xug blinked in confusion, looking at the two of them. 

“Oh god, that scared me.” Cecil breathed out, her hand on her chest. “When did you wake up?”

“That was scary! You didn’t make any sound at all!” Hana exclaimed before frowning to herself. “Why does this feel so familiar?” 

K’xug shrugged with an impassive face as he scooped a bowl of stew for himself. Hana hurried over to help him since he was still injured, and K’xug glanced curiously at the small pot beside the big pot. 

There were different flowers and herbs in it, simmering as the fragrance of herbs wafted past his nose. 

“Oh right, the herbal mixture,” Cecil gasped and she reached forward, starting to mash the herbs in the pot with the spoon, using her left hand. “You need to drink this while you eat the stew.” 

“Cecil, do you want me to help you instead?” 

“No, it’s fine, I can do this with my left hand,” Cecil shook her head, crushing the herbs in an awkward manner since she wasn’t used to using her left hand. “Besides, you have been cooking the entire time, and you even fed me.” 

K’xug snapped his head towards Cecil as he heard those words, and he looked at Hana. 

Hana cooked this? Hana can cook?! 

K’xug stared at Hana wide wide eyes, and the two ladies were just talking casually in contrast to his shock. 

“It’s okay, I’m not tired!” 

“Even if you aren’t, just take a break, Hana.”

“You should too! And you are injured compared to me, look, your right wrist!” 

K’xug noticed Cecil’s bandaged right wrist, and he put down his bowl, reaching forward.

“Wha…” Cecil trailed off, the spoon snatched out of her hands as she stared at K’xug.  

K’xug waved his hand at her. 

Something simple like that, I can do it myself. 

Besides, seeing you use your left hand like that to crush the herbs is hard to look at. 

Cecil looked at Hana, smiling slightly. “I guess that means he will do it instead?” 

“Mhmm!” Hana nodded.

K’xug noticed the helpless expression on Cecil’s face and she sighed in resignation. 

“Alright,” she said, inching closer to K’xug as she started to direct him. “You have to mix them well, since you will be the one drinking it. Mash them and...” 

K’xug nodded, following Cecil’s words with an imposing demeanour. One would think he was making a concoction that would change the balance of the entire world. 

Soon enough, it started to resemble a proper herbal mixture, though its colour was rather...revolting to look at. 

Hana, who decided to scoop the stew for K’xug instead, peeked at the herbal mixture and recoiled back in disgust. 

“Cecil...is that really...safe to drink?” 

“Of course.”

Even K’xug was grimacing as he observed the mixture. 

“That should be fine,” Cecil advised. “This amount should be enough for you, drink it along with your meal or after it, your choice.”

K’xug and Hana looked at the mixture once again. It was a greenish-black and it was emitting a strong herbal scent. The herbs had been mashed and mixed well together, giving it a gooey texture.