Laxus stared at the pitch-black lump in the bowl, feeling like his entire world was crumbling.
What was this stuff? Was it even edible? It was black, it smelled unpleasant, and would eating it really not cause problems?
Black lines appeared on Laxus's forehead as he inhaled sharply.
"This is the secret medicine I specially refined just for you. Hurry up and eat it now; this is when its effectiveness is at its peak. It won't completely cure you, but it will significantly ease your condition," Monde explained patiently.
"Alright, I'll eat it," Laxus said, glancing at Noel, who nodded to indicate it would be fine.
"The taste should be acceptable; all the ingredients are edible." Mond added offhandedly.
Edible and tasty were two completely different things. Did alchemists really judge food quality based solely on whether it was "edible" or "inedible"?
How terrifying. Alchemy wasn't just a mysterious profession—it was horrifying too.
The two of them continued to stare at Laxus, who in turn kept staring at the black lump in front of him.
To be precise, he really didn't want to eat it. But with the two of them watching him like hawks, it felt like they wouldn't look away until he did.
To escape this pressure, Laxus pinched his nose and dumped the entire black mass into his mouth in one go.
Surprisingly, the taste wasn't as awful as he had feared. Maybe the initial dark appearance had lowered his expectations, making the taste feel tolerable now.
It certainly wasn't delicious—in fact, it was quite unpleasant.
As the taste settled, Laxus suddenly felt a strange sensation in his body, as if a blazing fire were burning inside him. Heat surged through him, threatening to set him ablaze.
"What's happening?" Laxus looked bewildered.
"That's normal. The potion contains fire lizard skin, so a burning sensation is to be expected. As long as you can bear it, you'll be fine," Mond explained calmly.
"But it's so hot…" Laxus groaned.
"It's alright, we've taken protective measures, so it won't harm you. It will pass soon; this is only temporary," Mond reassured him.
The burning sensation grew more intense. What started as a mild warmth now felt like every part of his body was on fire. It was more unbearable than any weakness he had felt before.
"Hang in there, Laxus. According to the potion's properties, this is the peak of the burning sensation. It will pass soon if you endure it," Noel encouraged him.
What? Endure it? It felt impossible; he was already at his limit.
"Talk to me. I'm sure there's a lot you want to say. Tell me anything—your worries, your joys, your sorrows," Noel said, once again stepping into his role as life coach.
Laxus did as he was told. Normally, he hated talking about himself, but at this moment, he found it surprisingly easy. The words came pouring out.
"Because of my personality, I've never had friends. But you're the first person who made me realize making friends could be so simple."
"But I need to know… did you become my friend because you truly meant it, or just out of curiosity?"
"Please, tell me. This is really important to me," Laxus pleaded.
"Friendship isn't something that can be easily defined, but it's also not complicated," Noel said, struggling to find the right words.
"The simplest way to become friends is to say it out loud, exchange a token of friendship, and then be best friends for life."
"So, please believe me—I take friendship seriously. Don't deny it," Noel said sincerely.
Laxus struggled to hold on, tears welling up in his eyes from the pain, but then, suddenly, he began to smile through the tears.
At that moment, even though he still felt like crying, he couldn't, because he was genuinely happy. Every cell in his body felt alive.
The burning sensation gradually faded, replaced by a cool, soothing feeling, like a gentle spring breeze under warm sunlight.
It was soft, yet warm—a truly comforting feeling.
The constant weakness he felt due to his frail health seemed to ease, the heavy feeling lessening significantly.
His body really did feel much better, though he could tell his condition was still not fully resolved.
"Come in and take a look, old friend," Mond called out to the door.
Outside, Makarov had been pacing back and forth, feeling like centuries had passed while his grandson was inside. Even though he trusted Mond, it was impossible not to worry.
Seeing Laxus sitting there, Makarov finally felt the weight lift from his heart.
"How are you feeling, Laxus?" Makarov asked warmly.
"Much better. My body doesn't feel as weak anymore, but I still feel a bit drained," Laxus replied honestly.
"Why is that?" Makarov demanded, turning to Mond.
"There's improvement, but it's not a complete cure. You know as well as I do that once a child's health stabilizes, many issues resolve on their own."
"My treatment is conservative, so there's nothing to complain about."
"If I were to use stronger ingredients, it could cause permanent damage to the child's body. I know you wouldn't want that, and neither would I."
"I'm an alchemist with a conscience. I would never do something that would harm a client," Monde explained firmly.
"…Thank you," Makarov said, bowing his head slightly.
"Sorry for troubling you today," he added, apologizing again.
"You don't need to apologize. You came on schedule, following the proper procedures, so there's no problem here. You overpaid on the deposit last time, so there won't be any fee for today," Mond said with a grin.
"No fee? That's not like you. Why?"
"The kids had such a good time together. Talking about money would just ruin the mood. Unless you want to pay more?" Monde teased.
"Forget paying more. I'll leave you the extra materials I brought as a gift to replenish your stock," Makarov decided.
"That's not how it's supposed to work. The rules of alchemy state that any leftover materials after a job must be returned to the client." Mond gave Makarov a knowing look.
"Then consider it a sale, if that makes it official."
"That will do."
Both men laughed warmly. Neither wanted to owe the other a favor, especially since old friends' favors were the hardest to repay.
Mond accepted the materials, knowing full well that the value of what Makarov had left behind far exceeded the cost of the treatment. It was, ultimately, his gain.
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