24 :Testing the Tonic
Li Mei feels a mixture of excitement and nervousness as she takes a small glass vial of the tonic and uncorks it. The liquid inside is amber, its surface swirling with the faint light of the mystical water. She cautiously takes a sip. The taste is earthy, slightly bitter, but smooth. The herbs work together harmoniously, and she can feel the strength of the Ginseng and Sage combining.
At first, there is no immediate change. But within moments, she begins to feel a warm sensation spreading from her chest. A surge of energy flows through her veins, and her muscles, which had been slightly sore from her earlier work, begin to relax. It's a feeling of warmth, but not from the outside—rather, it feels as though the tonic is filling her body from within.
She writes down her observations in the small leather-bound journal she found in the hut. The tonic works—perhaps even better than expected. She feels more alert, more capable, as though she could work for hours without tiring.