Defeating Dragons

Chapter 7 - Day Two

It's about noon when I awake. How do I know? Vaneesa has more food on the table for lunch and told me as such.

I scratch the back of my head, "Thank you."

She waves her hand, "You've had a big day, and then stayed up talking to Caelestis. Don't stress about it, just help me downstairs after we eat."

I nod, "Okay. Thank you."

We eat lunch.

Then I head downstairs with Vaneesa to the potions room. The boxes I filled yesterday are gone and just empty bottles are left, ready for the green potion filling.

"You did well yesterday, think you can keep going?" Vaneesa grins as she gets the stuff ready for me, where I was sitting yesterday.

I nod in response, "Sure."

I go to my spot, roll up my non-existent sleeves and look to my notes.

1000 mL of 10 red bottles in water makes 10 green vials. So, I pour 10 red potions into the 1 litre measuring jug. And then fill the rest with the distilled water.

It doesn't turn green, but a brown colour.

I hear a stifled laughter as I feel my face fall.

"Vaneesa, I'm sorry!" I must still be sleepy. I pinch my arm.

Vaneesa grabs my hand, "Don't worry Kiddo. See, I've added more red potions to the shelf, as the first lot of yesterday's potions are completed and bottled. Here," She takes half of what's on the shelf and gives it to me.

"Try again."

I nod and complete it correctly this time. Counting the reds. There's one left over. Yep, I missed that the first time.

Vaneesa takes the spoiled potion to a back room and comes back with a clean measuring jug.

I put the funnel in a potion bottle and then pour the 1 litre mix (now an appealing green) into a small cup. Then pour from the small cup into the green potion vial. And repeat.

I thought I'd do 10 and that would be it for the greens. But realised that that was the concentration, not the volume. This 1 litre mix still makes 100 potion vials filed. Or, 98 or 99 vials, as some is lost here and there. Haah.

I scratch the back of my neck once it's done. All the vials are back in the racks in the box.

"Lovely, well-done Kyle," Vaneesa says. I beam, sitting down and laying back in the chair. Lemme break a minute before I do anything else here, please.

"Sit tight a moment," Vaneesa picks up the box with ease and takes it to the back room. Guess she has confidence and balance with that strength of hers. I'd like to be confident in doing things. Do I have to get good at them first though?

Does getting good at something make you confident? Am I only allowed to be confident after I get good at something? And how do I know if I'm good at it? Do I have to be the best? And even if I'm the best in my class, what if someone else is better at my school? Or outside my school? Is it only the best in my age and situations, or the best out of everyone ever? How would I even know?

But mum said to beat my old self is to display my best. Does that make me confident then? Is confidence something different to train? I guess if I don't know, I can ask someone. Ah! I'll ask Uncle! ... When I see him. Let's try my best 'till then.

Vaneesa comes out back down to the potion room and smiles, "Good work kiddo. Would you like to help me make the other potions now?"

I tilt my head, "Didn't you say you needed the blue and greens we just mixed for the other potions?"