Chapter 1
Asuka’s heart beat with excitement as she hiked the winding trail leading to the village in the mountains. She had always heard tales of remote villages possessing ancient and powerful healing remedies, and it seemed as though she finally found one of them.
After days of trekking through the dense forest, Asuka finally caught a glimpse of the village – a small and humble-looking settlement nestled away in the valley. She quickened her pace, eager to uncover the secrets hiding within.
As she drew closer, she could see that the village was unlike any she had ever seen before. Its inhabitants, dressed in ragged clothes, gave her curious sidelong glances as she passed by. They spoke in a dialect Asuka couldn’t quite understand and looked at her as though she was an outsider.
Undeterred, Asuka pressed on, heartened by the thought of discovering the rumored cure. Eventually, she met an old villager who claimed to know about the medicine she was looking for.
“It’s in the rose garden,” he said, in a hoarse voice. “But beware, not everyone who enters comes back out.”
Asuka felt a shiver run down her spine. Despite his warning, she felt an irresistible pull to explore the mysterious garden. She thanked the old man and made her way to the hidden entrance in the forest.
As she slipped past the overgrown thorns and entered the garden, a feeling of peace washed over her. The air was thick with the aroma of roses, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, creating a calming rustling sound. She walked along a narrow path as the flowers towered over her on both sides, their sweet fragrance overwhelming her senses.
The path twisted and turned, but Asuka didn’t mind. With every step she took, her heart beat faster in anticipation of finding the miraculous medicine. Suddenly, she came to an open space surrounded by tall rosebushes, and in the middle stood a small hut covered in vines. She could hear a faint humming as if someone was inside.
Asuka walked up to the door and opened it.
Inside, she found a woman who looked about her own age, with chestnut hair tied neatly in a bun, and warm brownish eyes. The woman was carefully grinding a pile of herbs into a fine powder using a bronze mortar and pestle.
“May I ask what you’re making?” Asuka inquired, eager to learn more about the mysterious remedy.
“It is a medicine,” said the woman, setting down the pestle. “But it is not for just anyone.”
“What do you mean?” Asuka asked.
“It is a powerful elixir made from ingredients grown only in this garden. It can heal any illness, but only at a cost,” the woman replied cryptically.
Asuka’s excitement tempered, and she felt an unexplainable uneasiness wash over her. She had a gut feeling that the medicine was not what it seemed, but couldn’t resist the temptation to find out what lay ahead.
Chapter 2
The woman led Asuka to the back room, where various dried herbs and plants were hanging from the ceiling. “The medicine must be made from these herbs,” she said. “But first, you must prove yourself worthy of it.”
Asuka felt a knot forming in her stomach. She didn’t know what the woman meant by “worthy.” “What do I have to do?” she asked.
“You must take part in the Trial of the Garden,” the woman said. “It will test your strength and your resolve. Those who pass will be granted the medicine.”
Asuka nodded, determined to prove herself. She had come so far and risked so much already. She couldn’t return home empty-handed.
The woman led Asuka to a small courtyard, where a group of villagers had gathered. A man approached Asuka and handed her a small wooden box. “In this box, you will find a single rose petal,” he said. “Your task is to find the matching rose in this garden and retrieve another petal from it. But be warned, there are many false roses; only one is real.”
Asuka took the box and set off into the garden. The roses seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions, and the maze-like paths twisted and turned in disorienting ways. Asuka felt her heart pounding in her chest, unsure if she would ever find the true rose.
But after hours of searching, hours that felt like days, Asuka stumbled upon a rose that seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. She plucked a petal from it and returned to the courtyard, exhausted but triumphant.
The villagers surrounded her, clapping and cheering. The woman stepped forward and took the petal from Asuka, examining it carefully. She nodded in approval and led Asuka back into the hut.
“Now, you may take the medicine,” the woman said, handing her a small vial filled with a murky green liquid.
Asuka hesitated, suddenly unsure if the medicine was worth it. But her curiosity got the better of her, and she drank the liquid in one quick gulp.
At first, she felt an intense surge of energy, as though every cell in her body was alive and vibrant. But as the minutes wore on, her vision began to blur, and she felt herself slipping into darkness.
The last thing she saw was the woman’s face, twisted into an expression of cruel satisfaction.
The medicine, it seemed, was not the cure she had hoped for, but a deadly poison.
Chapter 3
Asuka woke up in a cold sweat, her head throbbing with pain. The woman was sitting at the foot of her bed, looking at her with an unreadable expression.
“What happened?” Asuka croaked, her throat feeling as dry as sandpaper.
“You fell ill,” the woman replied coolly. “But don’t worry; you will recover soon.”
Asuka tried to sit up; her body felt weak and unresponsive. “What did you do to me?”
“I gave you the medicine,” the woman said. “The Cryptic Elixir of the Cursed Rose Garden. It is a powerful concoction, but not without its price.”
Asuka’s heart sank. She had known the medicine was dangerous, but she had never expected it to be deadly. “Why…why would you do this?” she stammered.
The woman smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “The medicine is not for everyone, as I said before. Only those who are worthy may drink it. It is a test of strength and will.”
Asuka felt a wave of anger rise within her. She had been used, tricked, and nearly killed. But she refused to let herself succumb to despair.
“I won’t let you get away with this,” she growled.
The woman laughed, a high-pitched cackle that echoed throughout the hut. “Do you think you can fight me? I am the keeper of this garden, and you are nothing but an outsider.”
Asuka gritted her teeth and tried to summon her strength. But her body felt like lead, and her mind foggy with confusion. She tried to stand, but her legs refused to obey her commands.
The woman advanced on her, a cruel smile on her lips. Asuka felt a surge of panic, knowing that she was helpless before this dangerous stranger.
But at that moment, there was a loud crash outside. The hut shook, and a voice called out, “Asuka, are you in there?”
It was a voice she recognized: Takumi, her childhood friend and fellow doctor. Asuka’s heart leaped with hope. If anyone could save her, it was him.
The woman’s expression turned sour. “It seems our little game is over,” she said, slipping out of the room. “But remember, Asuka. The Cryptic Elixir will always be waiting for those who have the courage to seek it out.”
And with that, she vanished into the foggy morning air.
Asuka heard footsteps approach her bed, and Takumi’s face appeared above her. He looked at her with concern in his eyes. “Asuka! What have you gotten yourself into this time?”
Asuka tried to smile, but her lips felt numb. “Long story,” she said weakly. “Let’s just get out of here.”
Takumi helped her to her feet, and together they stumbled out of the hut and into the fresh mountain air. Asuka took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She had survived the Cryptic Elixir of the Cursed Rose Garden, but she knew the memory of it would stay with her forever.
