Eden
The hall went too quiet in the Elder Healer's presence.
Dr. Martinez's sharp eyes landed on Eden and the weight of his gaze alone made the air feel charged.
"You there…do you stand by your claim?"
Eden blinked, almost unable to believe it. The legendary Dr. Martinez was addressing her directly!?
She nodded, steadying her voice. "Yes, I do."
Dr. Martinez studied her for a long moment before speaking. "I appreciate your bravery young lady but…. you know theory isn't everything, right? If you are so certain of your claim, would you dare prove it here and now..?"
A tense silence fell over the crowd. Every pair of eyes laser focused on her, waiting.
Dave, standing nearby, curled his lips into a faint smirk. Finally, he thought. She is going to embarrass herself. Freya would definitely love it!
But Eden's firm voice shook the crowd. "I will need a small burner, a glass beaker, clean moon water, a silver stirrer and the herbs too. If you can provide me these, I will give you the proof right here."
Dave scoffed loudly, outrage flashing across his face. "The audacity of her. How dare you order Dr. Martinez! Doctor, don't waste your time on her theatrics, she's all talk and nothing else! She.."
"Enough." Dr. Martinez's single word fell like a blade that the room went deathly still, his aura pressing down on others that everyone felt terrified.
"Bring her what she asked for." He ordered in a heartbeat, shocking everyone.
Within minutes, attendants hurried forward with enchanted equipment and sealed herb containers infused with moonlight.
Eden started working with unshaken focus, her movements coming out precise and unhurried. She did not rush.
Eden heated the water slowly, just to the brink, never letting it boil, then ground the herb slowly.
Eden did not dump all the herbs into the beaker, she added them one by one, her movements deliberate, almost ritualistic.
"Lunar energy is unstable," Eden spoke softly. "The first herb awakens the receptors. The second anchors the spirit flow. If the temperature rises even slightly, the essence collapses. Timing, heat, and order are everything, Dr. Martinez." Eden spoke calmly and confidently.
As the mixture warmed, subtle ripples formed, and the liquid shifted in color, as though something dormant had been stirred awake, releasing a sharp, almost metallic aroma into the air.
Dr. Martinez's expression slowly changed, curiosity giving way to quiet concentration. He stepped closer, his gaze fixed on the beaker studying every subtle change in the liquid.
It quite surprised him.
"What is this aroma..!? How could an aroma be this refreshing!?" Dr. Martinez was genuinely shocked.
"You are sensing the secondary lunar alkaloids awakening. Most extraction methods destroy them before activation." Eden explained and at the precise moment, she introduced the silver stirrer, rotating it in a slow, controlled rhythm. The reaction was immediate.
Hidden secondary compounds emerged, binding together into stable spirit structures, something modern wolf medicine had failed to achieve for decades.
Dr. Martinez's breath caught. This was not ordinary extraction. This was forced alkaloid awakening, an ancient cultivation process lost to time!
Only a few renowned biomedical scientists, ancient healers knew high level knowledge like this.
How could this mere young woman like Eden probably know this?
At the bottom of the beaker, tiny glowing pellets formed. Eden carefully lifted one.
"These are concentrated Neuro-Calm Pills. They harness the activated secondary alkaloids to relax spasms, stabilize nerves, and counteract mild toxins. The effects are immediate and precise."
What? Dave and the onlookers stared in disbelief. Pills? Not liquid medicine?
She wasn't making a concoction but pills!? This…this was a legendary pill cultivation technique!?
Martinez stared at the pill as if seeing a miracle.
"In 100 years of practice," he whispered, "I have never witnessed anything like this. This is simply extraordinary!"
Dave's eyes were immediately filled with jealousy. Dr. Martinez had never praised him but he was praising this loser Eden!? He couldn't tolerate this humiliation.
"Dr. Martinez, aren't you praising her too early? Shouldn't we see first if she actually delivers her claim or it's all just theatrics? I heavily doubt this will actually work!"
Dr. Martinez did not move, his sharp eyes still fixed on Eden. "Doubt is natural..but let her prove it first. Observation comes before judgment."
The crowd held their breath, every eye fixed on Eden, waiting for what would happen next.
Eden scanned the crowd calmly. "If there is a patient suffering from chronic spasms or mild toxin-induced tremors, please step forward."
A middle aged werewolf hesitantly raised his hand and stepped forward, his palm shaking uncontrollably. Eden handed him a pill with a glass of water. He swallowed nervously, eyes wide with uncertainty.
Seconds passed. Then, almost imperceptibly at first, his hand steadied. His muscles relaxed, tension melting from his shoulders.
He flexed his hands experimentally, marveling at the sudden control. "It… it's working! I can feel it! It is working!"
The crowd erupted into stunned whispers, their disbelief giving way to awe.
"The pill works?"
"This is incredible!"
"I can't believe that normal herb had this property too!"
Soon everyone started praising Eden.
Even Dave's sneer faltered, unable to mask his shock at what he had just witnessed…!
This actually works!?
Dr. Martinez was himself stunned.
He couldn't imagine such a young woman like her could have such miraculous medical skills!
He was now sure that such high talent like hers could flourish not only in Valemont City but whole worldwide! Because these pills weren't ordinary, these could be sold for an unimaginable price!
Dr. Martinez exclaimed in excitement, "Prepare her order immediately! The finest herbs we have, bring the extras too. All of it!"
Attendants scrambled at his order.
Then Dr. Martinez faced Eden fully.
"Young lady, what's your name..?"
Eden responded calmly, "Eden Grace, sir."
"Miss Grace, what you've done here… it's beyond anything I've seen in my life! I want to learn your technique! In return I will offer you a collaboration! How about working for us?"
Working for him? Eden was stunned. For a moment Eden was blank.
She had never imagined something like this. The Head Healer himself was asking to work with her. Asking to learn from her…?
She was so silent that Dr. Martinez's confidence wavered.
Had he overstepped?
Is she rejecting the idea? Or did someone with her level of genius see no value in sharing her knowledge at all?
No. He must convince her to agree. Talent like hers was a rare blessing among wolves, the kind that appeared once in a generation.
With her intelligence and instincts, she could reshape the entire medical world of their kind.
"Miss Grace," Dr. Martinez initiated carefully, "I will also grant you full access to our healing labs, our production facilities, and our rare herb reserves for free. You will have everything you need to continue your research."
"Miss Eden, if you agree, together, we could mass produce medicines no one else in the world could touch! We can be business partners!"
A stunned silence fell over the hall. The staff stared in disbelief.
Mr. Martinez, the man whose word could move empires of medicine was extending his partnership to Eden out of all people!
Dave's jaw tightened realizing that Eden had just stepped into a league far above him.
Eden could become the youngest ever co-partner in Martinez's prestigious industry!
Eden felt a rush of triumph, as if she had hit the jackpot. This partnership not only would make her fortunes beyond imagination, having connection with Dr Martinez would change her status in the medical industries as well!
She extended her hands. "Yes! I accept Mr. Martinez!"
Dr. Martinez's face lit up with immense delight. "Excellent! I will be looking forward to your cooperation then! If there is anything else you wish for, Miss Grace, please tell me right away! Don't hesitate!"
Oh is that so? Eden's gaze slowly shifted to Dave who was looking at her arrogantly. Who had insulted her not long ago.
"Fire that person."
Dave's face ashened.