For Sorrow’s sake

•

For Sorrow’s sake

Part 1 ^[1]

Tao-Sian approached the Sage. In total empathy with Atys, he had to live at the rhythm of the sufferings inflicted on him by the goo. Nonetheless, he was facing his ailment with patience and resignation. This in itself was prompting the healer to push even further her search for ways to relieve him. She sat by his side, waiting for him to emerge from his meditation.
The jayazeng felt your jubilation, Tao-Sian. What did you find in Daisha's stanzas to bring you such happiness?
— It wasn't in the stanzas, Sorrow, but in a cube. An amber cube that dealt with Puo-Kean.
— The long time. What do you want to do with the Puo-Kean?
— You know I started to amend the recipe of the Goo Heads so that I wouldn't depend on them anymore. It is my belief that the Puo-Kean could prolong its effects and allow you to enjoy longer periods of relief.
— Tao-Sian, how many times must I tell you? I'm accustomed to pain, it is Atys that needs to be healed, not me.
— Allow me to try, kai'bini!
The Sage nodded slowly.
The Puo-Kean only rarely blooms. This moment should not be missed.
— I will know how to wait for the seed to germinate.
He leaned his head to the side and then resumed his meditation posture: Soon...

*Wide spread poster:*
Initiates, Awakened, friends of the Theocracy, The Puo-Kean is about to bloom. I will need you to collect some flowers. I will give you all the necessary details on 11h - Dua, Fallenor 8, 3rd AC 2612 ^[2]. Meet me in the Main Square of Zora. Tao-Sian, Dynastic Healer.

Part 2^[3]

Excerpt from a lecture given by Dynastic Healer Tao-Sian to students and transcribed by her disciple for the archives.

“

Goo infections are rare but most often fatal. In general, we only have rare treatments at our disposal to relieve the pain of infected homins.
    The case of the Sage Sorrow is, of course, exceptional. In this case, we must manage to relieve his suffering without breaking his link with Atys.
My bibliographic research led me to the discovery of a plant, the Puo-Kean, the flower of which contains an active principle that is a kind of "retardant". Then, I thought I could, by using it, prolong the efficiency of his current treatment.
The flowering of the Puo-Kean is very rare and its habitat very difficult to access: it is found only in the Prime Roots, in the rare places where it can benefit from both the light of the surface and the constant humidity of the depths.
    Thus, it is only thanks to many brave and generous homins that I dispose of a dozen flowers, carefully preserved in a bark box, since I do not wish to have to ask for such an expedition again. The one of 11h - Dua, Fallenor 8, 3rd AC 2612 ^[2] has indeed been more than perilous and many homins only owed their safeguard to the Kamis. May they be praised here!

    To return to the Puo-Kean, you have to make an infusion with the chopped flowers to release the active principle.
But the dosage is difficult. Because if the Puo-Kean slows down considerably the metabolism of the patient and thus prolongs the effectiveness of the treatment, it turns out that it also slows down the patient himself.
    But this I discovered only after my first test, the result of which was mixed: if Sorrow had said he has been relieved by the decoction, his speech and his movements have been enormously slowed down too...

    Considering the slightly angry look that Sorrow had shot me after this first one, I carried on my tests of the Puo-Kean by diluting the active ingredient very significantly. I am hoping to succeed in finding the right dosage.[...]

Tao-Sian, Dynastic Healer