Trying New Things

Ryder had taken Cordelia’s advice to heart. Rather than attempt any practical magic, he turned his focus to studying it. If he could better understand how magic worked, then perhaps he could uncover a way to fix whatever had gone wrong inside him.

A few days after Halloween, Ryder began his research into magical impotence. He buried himself in books on historical spellcasting and took repeated trips to the local library, seeking out titles he had flagged online as potentially useful. If knowledge could be a remedy, he intended to drink deeply.

Among the dusty pages and ancient texts, Ryder stumbled upon a few herbal remedies that might offer some hope. They were worth trying. And if they worked, he’d remember this moment forever. Reuben, of course, was the obvious expert to turn to for anything herb-related. But Ryder didn’t want to admit why he was asking. At least not yet. Instead, he planned to sneak into The Mystic Herb and look for the ingredients himself. He made a list in the notes app on his phone.

⸻

The Note Read:

• Ginger Root: Sparks circulation, stirs dormant energy

• Rosemary: Awakens the memory of one’s magic and clears spiritual debris

• Holy Basil (Tulsi): Balances and restores mental clarity

• Nettle Leaf: Replenishes depleted reserves, strengthens the vessel

• Lemon Balm: Calms fear and doubt that suppress magical expression

• Raw Honey: A carrier for intention, binding energies together

• Lavender (optional): Soothes the spirit to encourage confident flow

⸻

With the list in hand, Ryder knew The Mystic Herb was the best place to find what he needed. It even felt like a quest, a secret little adventure; something he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

He slipped in through the back entrance, floating quietly into Reuben’s office. Through the slightly ajar door, he could see Reuben at the front of the shop, deep in conversation with a client. Ryder gently pulled the door a little closer to shut, leaving it cracked just enough to hear if Reuben returned.

Gliding toward the desk, he began rifling through unlabeled jars and bottles. He had a general idea of what he was looking for, but the real targets were Nettle Leaf and Tulsi. He wasn’t completely sure what they looked like, and most of these jars were filled with ground herbs that all looked fairly similar. Still, if anyone had them, it would be Reuben.

Bottle after bottle passed through Ryder’s hands as he tried to match the contents to the reference images he had saved. No luck. Everything blurred together. The two herbs he needed most looked nearly identical, and nothing in front of him gave any real clue.

With a frustrated sigh, Ryder realized he’d have to venture onto the shop floor to find the labeled goods. But then what? Steal them? Lie? Could he somehow convince Reuben to let him take them without revealing the real reason?

Just then, the familiar chime of the shop’s entrance bell rang. Ryder floated to the door and peeked through the crack. The customer was gone, and Reuben was putting the remaining coins into the register.

This was his chance.

He pushed open the door and floated into view. “Good afternoon, Reuben.”

Reuben turned with a slight jolt. “Oh—hey, Ryder! Good afternoon. How’re you doing? Everything alright?” There was a note of concern behind the welcome.

Ryder offered a smile. “Doing well. I’ve been reading up on some herbs lately. Trying to improve my alchemy skills.”

He held up his phone. “Do you know what Nettle Leaf and Tulsi are?”

Reuben’s eyes lit up with genuine excitement. “Alchemy? That’s amazing! Yes, I’ve got both right here.”

He stepped out from behind the counter, crossing the shop with energy in his stride. From a nearby shelf, he grabbed two bottles—one high, one low—and brought them back to the counter.

“This one’s Nettle Leaf,” he said, setting down the first, then the second. “And this is Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil.”

Ryder examined them both. “They look… exactly the same.”

Reuben laughed. “That’s because they’re ground fresh and ready to use. What did you want to know about them?”

Ryder hesitated, then shrugged. “Just curious. Wanted to see what made them special.”

“Well,” Reuben said, brightening, “Nettle Leaf is great for strengthening the body’s vessels. It’s a natural diuretic, and there’s some promising research about its anti-inflammatory effects too.”

“Interesting,” Ryder replied, though his tone betrayed his distraction. He turned the jar over in his hands, mind still on the potion he was planning.

“And this one?” he asked, holding up the Tulsi.

“That’s a true gem of an herb,” Reuben replied. “It helps with immunity and stress relief. One of my favorites for tea blends.”

Ryder perked up at that. Stress relief sounded especially useful right now.

He gave the bottle a once over. “Would it be alright if I took these bottles? I’d like to study them more closely.”

Reuben furrowed his brow, then chuckled. “Sure, I guess that’s fine. Actually, I’ve got a great book on herbs in my office. Might help too, if you want to grab it.”

Ryder’s face lit up. “Thanks, Reuben. Really appreciate it!” Before his guardian could say another word, Ryder had scooped up the bottles and floated through the office, picking up the book of herbs Reuben had offered and out the door with a gleeful wave.

Back in his room, he set the herbs down on his desk, then made a quick trip to the kitchen to gather the rest. Ginger, rosemary, honey, and lemon balm.

He laid out the ingredients and pulled his alchemy kit from under the desk. Reuben had given it to him a few months back, and tonight, it was finally going to be put to use.

For the next half hour, he ground, mixed, and stirred the herbs into a thick, earthy paste. He added water, trying to form a proper tonic, but the final result was an unappealing sludge. He thinned it with more water until it resembled a murky tea.

He took a sip.

The taste was horrendous, and minutes later, his chest burned in protest. Nothing felt different. No spark, no shift, no sense of restoration. He sat at his desk in silence, his ribbon draped over the chair, hoping something might change.

It didn’t.

Maybe he wasn’t cut out for alchemy after all. Maybe he’d have to swallow his pride and ask Reuben for help eventually.

Later that evening, Ryder tried his imagination magic again. Nothing happened. The potion had failed.

He had hoped for the best. But for now, he’d have to keep waiting.