Chapter 86: Dandelion is Still Going Strong
It was the same dryad who had just been looking for Dandelion.
"Can we help you with something?" Arthur's tone was casual. His intuition told him this dryad was not here on Eithné's command.
"I came to check if Master Dandelion is feeling better." The dryad craned her neck, completely unfazed that her pretty face was being pressed and distorted by the tree branches acting as a railing.
Arthur stepped aside to reveal Dandelion, who was still resting: "He's fine, just a little overworked recently. A bit of rest will sort him out."
The dryad nodded earnestly, her red-and-green hair flying: "Then, is there anything I can help with?"
"Water! My throat is dry as smoke! I need water!" Zoltan clamored, moving forward and blocking Dandelion's view. The dryad's small face immediately crumpled in annoyance.
Arthur pulled the Dwarf aside. The dryad's expression instantly brightened, and she smiled: "The Queen is furious. I really shouldn't be helping outsiders like you. But she did say to take care of Master Dandelion. If there's anything he needs, I can help."
"Hey, you little " Before Zoltan could finish, Arthur pulled him back.
Arthur pointed at Dandelion, saying earnestly: "Dandelion is thirsty and needs water. Also, his body feels very hot, so he needs to be wiped down with a wet cloth… In short, we need a lot of water."
"Master Dandelion needs a lot of water. Understood." The dryad blinked, then instantly vanished from the window.
Arthur quickly walked to the window and saw her figure climbing and leaping among the branches. In just a few seconds, she reached the ground.
"Heh, that little girl is quite sharp," Zoltan scratched his bald head, letting out a peal of laughter like a barbell clanking.
But Geralt frowned, murmuring: "Something's not right. This is strange."
"What's wrong?" Kolgrim pointed at the soundly sleeping minstrel: "It's obvious, isn't it? Our great poet is exceptionally charming and has won over a smitten dryad, which is why she's coming to help at this critical juncture."
"That is precisely the problem," Geralt shook his head, looking out the window. There, the red-and-green-haired dryad was carrying a bucket made of leaves, lightly scrambling back up: "Dryads sometimes keep men who are in good health and possess reproductive ability to help expand their population size."
"But this behavior…" Geralt glanced at Ciri and silently swallowed a few words: "It is purely utilitarian the kind that is even more purely functional than… a…"
Ciri stomped her foot angrily: "Why are you looking at me? I'm not a child anymore! I know the words you didn't say are 'harlot' and…"
The little princess was cut off mid-sentence when Zoltan shoved a piece of dried meat into her mouth: "So you know. Saying it out loud won't make you grow any taller."
Arthur shrugged: "There are exceptions to everything. Maybe Dandelion has some extraordinary talent in this area?" He still remembered how the Countess of Maribor had instantly granted Dandelion ten letters of pardon.
"Ha! I can vouch for that."
Fisstech sat up in bed, accidentally pulling at his wound: "Ugh. Your companion, he really is very popular with those dryads. Just yesterday, that black-haired dryad and the one from just now were arguing over him."
A mischievous grin spread across Fisstech's face: "Although I couldn't understand their language, I'd bet five crowns they were arguing over whose place Dandelion would visit first."
"You are quite mistaken about that." Before Fisstech's voice faded, a narrow slit suddenly opened in the wall of the tree house, and the black-haired Sîrsa stepped out, holding a water cup: "Fafv and I were only arguing about whether or not to teach these arrogant outsiders a lesson before they entered Duén Canell. It had nothing to do with Master Dandelion."
Despite her words, her subsequent actions were completely unconvincing.
Sîrsa gracefully walked up to Dandelion, lifted his upper body, and took a small stick from her chest. She carefully pried open his teeth, then held the cup in her hand, letting the liquid inside slowly flow down the stick.
"What is that? It smells so pungent!" Ciri wrinkled her face, sniffing.
Sîrsa didn't look up, focusing entirely on her task, only answering softly: "This is a magic potion made from onion, ginger, and pepper. It's good for his health."
The potion clearly tasted terrible. Dandelion frowned painfully and woke up from his slumber.
"You…" He was still hazy and instinctively rubbed his face against the dryad before recognizing her: "Sîrsa, why are you here?"
"I came to give you medicine." The dryad smiled faintly: "If I hadn't come, those foolish sisters would have exhausted you completely. Come on, since you're awake, don't make me hold you anymore. Finish the rest of the potion yourself."
Dandelion made a face, trying to push the cup away from the dryad's hand: "Leave it here. I want to drink it later."
Sîrsa was about to persuade him further when a sudden shout rang out outside the tree house. The red-and-green-haired dryad rushed in like a whirlwind, kicking away the cup that was being pushed back and forth between the two of them.
She seemed utterly furious, her finger trembling as she pointed at Sîrsa: "You… you dared to give Master this to drink!"
Sîrsa released Dandelion and asked in a gentle voice: "Master Dandelion has clearly been low on energy these past two days. Is there a problem with me giving him a vitality potion to replenish his strength?"
The red-and-green-haired dryad seemed tongue-tied. She slammed the bucket onto the floor, yanked Sîrsa, and started dragging her out: "You take care of Master Dandelion. You, come with me!"
Four heads immediately rushed to the window, but Ciri and Zoltan were at a height disadvantage, so they had to listen to the two Witchers' 'live commentary' from inside the room.
As for Arthur, after his promotion to Ancient Nord, his senses were on par with a Witcher's, and combined with the enhanced sensory ability provided by [Dungeon Explorer] in the dark, he could hear the exchange even clearer than the two Witchers while sitting inside:
Sîrsa: "Fafv, are you trying to defy the Queen's will? If he doesn't drink the vitality potion, how is he supposed to complete his seeding duties?"
Fafv: "Don't you dare use the Queen to pressure me! Master Dandelion's body is already at its limit! Giving him vitality potion is overdrawing his health!"
Arthur listened with curiosity. He picked up the cup on the floor, dipped a finger into the green potion, and familiar text instantly appeared before his eyes:
[New Apprentice-level Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Potion of Vitality]
[Potion of Vitality: Temporarily restores the user's stamina. Especially effective on males.]
[Side Effect: Consuming large amounts of this potion in a short time will lead to the user's body becoming overdrawn.]
Heh, I didn't expect such an unexpected harvest…
Outside the window, the commotion caused by the two dryads arguing grew louder. In just a short moment, over a dozen dryads had been drawn to the scene.
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