Kaparaka
When I opened my eyes that morning, my body felt unusually heavy.
Was I coming down with something?
I slowly got out of bed.
*Huff...* *Huff...!*
Thank you for the training, Captain.
...Is something wrong? You don't look so well.
After I mentioned I might have a cold, Dana's expression turned instantly serious.
It's a kaparaka!
Kaparaka?
Yes! Kaparaka is what we call it back in my village.
Sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, headaches, slight fever, and feeling sluggish...
It's definitely a kaparaka, Captain!
Isn't that just a cold?
Kaparaka is like a smoldering ember.
Leave it alone and it'll grow into a wildfire that burns you out!
...You think it'll go away with just some rest so I shouldn't worry?
Goodness! City folk don't know how scary kaparaka really is!
There's no time to be sitting around...!
Let's go, Captain!
To your house!
Kaparaka starts off bearable but gets worse over time.
In the worst cases, it can even be life-threatening!
That seems a little extreme.
Don't worry, Captain. Just trust me.
I've treated kaparaka countless times before.
The first step of treating kaparaka passed down in our druid village is...!
Dana rushed to the kitchen, and soon returned. In her hands was a cup of bubbling red liquid.
...What is that?
It's herbal tea made by boiling all kinds of herbs, goldenseal, peppermint, winter peppers, frost peppers, and bomb peppers.
Drink it all in one go!
...The tea was foaming with red bubbles.
I chugged it down under Dana's expectant gaze.
*Cough?!* *Cough Cough!!*
How is it, Captain?
...I feel lighter!
Ahaha! I knew it!
Treating kaparaka is my specialty.
The next remedy takes a bit of time, so why don't you take a shower in the meantime?
After a warm shower, I came out to the scent of something savory.
The second step for treating kaparaka is...
Eating something nutritious after washing thoroughly!
When you have kaparaka, your body weakens. So porridge is the best.
I made chicken broth and added dayblooms I brought from my hometown.
Dayblooms are rare and treasured both as medicine and gourmet ingredients, once said to grant eternal youth.
Go ahead, Captain. Try it.
The rich chicken broth blended perfectly with the soft texture of the dayblooms bulb.
...It's delicious!
Ahaha! I'm so glad it tastes good!
You're the first city person I've ever cooked for, Captain.
Now then, let's move on to the final step!
...Are you serious?
Of course!
The final step for treating kaparaka is...
Singing a lullaby!
This is a little embarrassing...
Ahaha, I get it. I was embarrassed too.
But every time grandma sang me to sleep, my kaparaka always went away by morning.
Now then...!
Rock-a-bye, Captain on the tree top...
...
As she kept singing, my eyelids slowly grew heavier.
Thanks to Dana's care, the next day... my cold—no, kaparaka—was completely cured.