The Secret of the Galle Gold Leaf
“OOH! It’s starting to change color!”
Seeing that the leaves of the Galle Red Leaf and Galle Blue Leaf I’d brought back with me from Galle Village three weeks ago were ever so slightly starting to change color, I couldn’t help but squeal in delight. The color wasn’t the only thing that had changed—the sprouts that had previously just reached my ankles were now fully towering over me. I thought it would take much longer until they were mature enough to harvest.
That was the main reason I’d gone looking for the Galle Gold Leaf in Starfall Forest two weeks earlier. While I didn’t come across any while I was out there, I decided to focus on trying to grow the plants in my garden myself. Interestingly, once I made the effort to cultivate them, they sprouted rather quickly. It only took about three weeks for them to go from tiny sprouts to fully mature plants ready for harvest.
“I wouldn’t have trekked all the way to the Starfall Forest if I’d known it’d be this quick,” I said as I watered the plants, my cheeks puffed out indignantly. Hearing my mutterings, Seven gave me a suspicious look.
“I dunno about that, Fi. You’re always up for a good time, so I bet you still would have gone to the forest even if you’d known that was the case.”
“Hmm…”
I couldn’t exactly deny what Seven said, so I attempted to respond in the most noncommittal way I could think of, hoping to shift the focus of the conversation.
“I’m just glad I had a plan B and that the Galle plants were so easy to grow. Thanks to that, it looks like they’ll be ready to harvest in just a few more days!”
Despite letting out an exasperated sigh, Seven peered intently at the leaves.
“These sure are interesting. I’ve never seen a plant before whose leaves changed in both color and medicinal properties as they grew.”
“Yup. Plus, they mature super fast!”
Seven shot me a glance.
“That’s because of how much magic you’ve got, Fi. The most unusual thing about this herb is that it absorbs a lot of its nutrients from magic. If any other saint besides you tried to cultivate it, well, it’d probably take closer to six months. And if you tried to grow it without magic, you’d be looking at about a year.”
“You really think so?” I questioned him in surprise.
Seven’s response was oddly affirmative. “I sure do. It’s just a little bit, but the leaves are slowly but surely turning gold. At this rate, I think it’s going to grow into a Galle Gold Leaf.”
His words made me so happy that I threw both hands into the air and kicked up one foot, “Abracadabra, alakazam… Galle Red Leaf change into Galle Gold Leaf, pleeeease!”
Seven joined me as soon as I started my prayer dance.
My eyes sparkled with delight as I watched him twirling and weaving through the sky.
“You’re so good at dancing!” I called out. “It’s definitely going to become Galle Gold Leaf now!”
“You better believe it! Now that I’ve done the prayer dance, it’s going to change, no doubt about it!”
Seeing how full of confidence Seven was, it really felt like his premonition was bound to come true. I couldn’t help but smile with joy, wondering if my lovely spirit had the ability to predict the future too.
✦ ✦ ✦
A few days later, a small field of golden leaves shimmered before me. At last, it was time to harvest the Galle Gold Leaf. My eyes grew misty with emotion.
“Phew! It’s been a looong three weeks and two days, but the Galle Gold Leaf is finally ready to be picked! Still, I can’t believe I actually managed to grow it! Even though it eventually turned gold, I was nervous because I wasn’t sure how they would end up. I can’t wait to share this news with Mirach!”