Sap Infusion

393 AC - I remember the teas and infusions Qaasin concocted for me after he rescued me and I was recovering from the Kraken's attack. They tasted foul, but took away the pain and sharpened my mind so I could see things differently and with less emotion. I have bittersweet memories of them, and they return as soon as I start preparing my own concoctions. But above all, it's the ritual I enjoy. Placing the bowl, selecting the plants, arranging them in the filter, adjusting the heat under the water… I had watched Qaasin at work thousands of times. I knew all his techniques down to the smallest detail. And today, it was my turn to reproduce them. Walking in my master's footsteps was always a pleasure, a moment of deep meditation, and that's what I wanted to pass on to Fasano. My disciple watches me work, and I feel a pang of guilt. Matera should be here in my place.

I take out the little bag that the Muna farmer gave me. I take care to open the folded banana leaf slowly to avoid scattering the Sap-enriched tea leaves, which have a brilliant golden tint to them. I hear the soft babbling of the water boiling and pour the simmering liquid over the tea leaves at the bottom of the filter. I set the kettle back down, then place both hands on the bowl. Whisps of colored steam, from magenta to cyan, rise to the ceiling. I breathe in and immediately feel a soft tingle passing from my sinuses to the top of my skull like a caress. Inhaling in this way is necessary to condition the mind. Then I wait for the infusion to fully develop. I take my first sip. The taste is as sharp as ever, and I feel a rush travel up the length of my spine. I hand the bowl to Fasano. He'll need all the help he can get if he wants to go with me into the City.

AFANAS