[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 1: The Dove’s First Flight

[681]

The early morning air was cool and crisp as Saku stepped out of her family’s modest home, pulling her thin shawl tighter around her shoulders. Autumn’s gentle chill had just begun to settle over the port city, tinting the forest’s edges with the faintest hints of red and gold. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the uneven ground, and the smell of the sea drifted up from the nearby harbor.

Today was a day Saku had awaited with both excitement and anxiety. She had just turned fourteen, and for years she’d watched her mother’s quiet hands gather herbs and mix poultices. She’d seen the townsfolk come to their door seeking remedies for everything from fevers to aching joints. This morning, her mother had looked at her with a rare glimmer of pride, handing her a small cloth satchel. "It’s time you start your training in earnest,” she’d said. "Today, you’ll go into the forest alone to find some herbs. This is your first task as a healer.”

Saku’s heart had pounded with a strange mix of pride and nerves. She felt ready—after all, she had seen her mother work with herbs her whole life. How hard could it be? She’d imagined herself quickly filling her satchel, her steps confident, her mind sure.

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 1: The Dove’s First Flight

[681]

But now, standing alone at the edge of the forest, she felt her initial confidence waver. The woods looked denser and more mysterious, and a thousand small sounds reached her ears. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she knew what to look for. She pulled out her mother’s worn notebook from the satchel. Its leather cover was cracked from years of use, and the pages were filled with sketches of plants and handwritten notes about each one. Flipping to the first page, she read the description for yarrow: Small, white clusters of flowers, fern-like leaves, often found near water.

With her goal set, Saku took a deep breath and entered the forest away from the familiar sights of the town. At first, she marveled at how alive the forest felt. Tiny birds fluttered through the branches, squirrels darted across the ground, and leaves rustled in the gentle wind. She walked slowly, her eyes scanning the ground for anything that matched her mother’s sketches. But as the minutes stretched into an hour, doubt began to creep in.

Every white flower she spotted seemed to look slightly different from the drawing in her mother’s book. Some had smooth leaves, others had jagged ones, and none of them seemed quite right. Frustrated, she checked the pages again and again, squinting at each detail. How could something as simple as finding a yarrow be so difficult?

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 1: The Dove’s First Flight

[681]

As the morning wore on, Saku began to feel the weight of her inexperience. Her feet were tired, her eyes strained, and her satchel was still empty. She sank onto a fallen log, staring into the trees with a growing sense of failure. The forest was so vast, so intricate, and she was just one girl with only a handful of knowledge. She thought of her mother’s quiet, confident hands, her calm voice. How did her mother know so much, and how long would it take Saku to get there?

Lost in thought, she noticed a small white flower peeking out from behind a clump of ferns nearby. She nearly dismissed it out of frustration but decided to examine it more closely, recalling her mother’s advice to approach every task with patience. She kneeled down and gently touched the leaves, which felt feathery and fern-like, just as described. Her heart raced as she inspected the tiny clusters of flowers—this was it. She had found yarrow!

With a triumphant grin, she carefully gathered a few sprigs and placed them in her satchel, feeling a rush of pride fill her chest. It was just one small plant, but it was a start. She spent the next few hours wandering deeper into the forest, her eyes now trained to catch the details she’d overlooked before. Slowly, her satchel filled with small collections of yarrow, plantain, and chickweed—all herbs she knew well from her mother’s teachings.

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 1: The Dove’s First Flight

[681]

By the time she made her way back to the town, the sun hung high in the sky. Her body ached, and her fingers were stained green, but her heart was light. She had done it—perhaps not perfectly, perhaps with more struggle than she’d expected, but she had completed her task. Standing before her mother, she emptied her satchel, carefully laying out each herb she’d collected.

Her mother inspected each plant with a discerning eye, separating a few that were mistaken picks. "Not bad for your first outing,” she said, her lips lifting in a small smile. "You showed patience, and that’s the mark of a true healer.”

Saku felt her cheeks flush with pride. Though her journey was just beginning, this day had given her a glimpse of what it meant to be a healer—the patience, the quiet observation, and the persistence needed to work in harmony with nature. She looked at her mother’s approving face and knew, despite the challenges, that she was ready to take her first steps along this path.

At that moment, Saku felt a small but profound shift within her. The forest would no longer be a place of mystery and overwhelm. It was a place where she could learn, grow, and one day, just maybe, find her place as a healer in her family’s lineage. With that thought, she placed the plants back into her satchel, her heart set on returning to the forest with a clearer, more patient mind. The first flight of the dove had only just begun.

[End]

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 2: A Lesson in Patience

[681]

Saku’s early morning gathering had been filled with eagerness, but her night was spent in restless anticipation. She’d been so proud of her first small collection of herbs, yet her mother’s gentle corrections had weighed heavily on her mind. She knew her mother had only meant to help, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that her efforts hadn’t been good enough. She had mixed up several of the plants and had nearly gathered a handful of poisonous leaves without realizing it. Frustration simmered within her, clashing with her resolve to improve.

As the first light of dawn crept into her room, she resolved to become better, faster, and more knowledgeable, ready to prove her abilities once and for all. She dressed quickly and rushed to the kitchen, where her mother was already boiling water for tea, her movements as calm as ever.

"Eager to begin again, I see,” her mother said, a slight smile on her face as she looked up. "But before you head off, there’s something important we need to discuss.”

Saku nodded, expecting perhaps another lesson in identification or maybe a list of herbs to gather. But her mother’s voice held a different tone—a calm, steady one that made Saku stop and listen more carefully.

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 2: A Lesson in Patience

[681]

"Yesterday, you showed great enthusiasm. That is a good thing. But healing and herb gathering require more than enthusiasm. It takes a great deal of patience,” her mother said, meeting her eyes seriously. "A healer must learn to observe, to wait, to understand each plant, not simply rush to fill a basket.”

Saku’s shoulders slumped. "I wasn’t rushing... I just wanted to find as much as I could.”

"I know,” her mother replied gently. "But if you hurry, you risk making mistakes, some of which can be dangerous. A healer can’t afford to be reckless. And a rushed remedy can do more harm than good.”

Saku felt a twinge of embarrassment but nodded. Her mother’s words stung because they rang true; she had been hasty, trusting more in her resolve than in her knowledge.

Today, her mother decided to accompany her to the outskirts of the town, where wild herbs grew plentifully by the riverbanks. As they walked, her mother set a steady, unhurried pace, and Saku forced herself to match it, even as she felt an impulse to move faster. Her mother stopped often to point out plants, patiently showing Saku how to distinguish between subtle differences.

"See this one?” her mother said, kneeling beside a patch of plants with broad green leaves. "This is comfrey. It’s useful for making poultices to heal bruises and sprains. But look closely—see the slight purple tinge at the leaf’s base?”

Saku leaned in, noting the faint purplish hue that she had missed before. She nodded, watching as her mother compared it to another plant with a similar leaf shape.

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 2: A Lesson in Patience

[681]

"Now look here. This plant looks almost identical but lacks the purple tint. This one is foxglove, which can be deadly in the wrong amount. It’s useful for certain remedies, but only for a trained hand. Mistaking one for the other could lead to serious harm,” her mother said, her tone grave but instructive.

The weight of her mother’s words hit her fully. She realized how easily she might have mistaken one for the other if she hadn’t been shown the subtle difference. For the first time, Saku understood the true responsibility of being a healer. It wasn’t just about knowing plants; it was about knowing them deeply and carefully, with reverence for the lives they could save or harm.

As they continued, her mother encouraged her to inspect each plant thoroughly, taking her time with each leaf, each stem, and each scent. Saku felt her initial impatience slipping away, replaced by a quiet focus. She listened as her mother explained how the plants changed with the seasons, how soil and sunlight affected their potency, and how some plants thrived in the shade while others needed full sun.

They walked in near silence for much of the day, moving slowly through the forest. Her mother stopped now and then to let Saku practice identifying plants on her own. At one point, they found a patch of dandelions, and Saku kneeled beside them, recognizing their jagged leaves and bright yellow flowers immediately.

Her mother knelt beside her. "Good. And what would you use dandelion for?”

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 2: A Lesson in Patience

[681]

Saku thought back to her mother’s notes. "It can be used as a mild diuretic and for stomach issues. The leaves and roots both have uses, though they’re often overlooked.”

Her mother nodded approvingly. "Yes. Even the simplest plants, like dandelions, hold power. Sometimes, the most humble herbs are the most valuable. But you only learn that by taking your time, by not dismissing anything too quickly.”

As the sun started to dip lower, casting long shadows over the forest floor, they reached the riverbank, where clusters of wild herbs flourished in the moist soil. Saku’s mother handed her the small knife she used for gathering, but she didn’t rush her to begin. "Take your time, Saku. Walk the area and observe first. Let each plant reveal itself to you before you make a choice.”

Saku did as instructed, walking slowly along the river’s edge, noticing plants she hadn’t seen before. She took her time to inspect each one closely, noting the subtle variations in leaves and stems. Finally, when she felt ready, she knelt down and carefully selected a small cluster of yarrow, snipping it gently at the base of the stems, just as her mother had taught her.

As they headed back to the town with her carefully gathered herbs, Saku felt a new sense of calm settle over her. The usual urge to rush had faded, replaced by a sense of purpose and connection to each plant she had gathered. Her mother’s lesson had taken root within her—patience was not merely the absence of haste; it was a form of respect for the life she worked with, both plant and human.

That night, as Saku prepared the herbs she had gathered, she found herself handling each leaf and stem with care, appreciating the journey it had taken to end up in her hands. Her mother’s words echoed in her mind: A healer’s work begins with patience.

It was a lesson that she would carry with her, one she knew would guide her through the many challenges ahead. And as she drifted to sleep that night, she felt a calm confidence she hadn’t known before. She was on her way, but she would walk this path slowly, carefully, as her mother had taught her.

[End]

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 3: The Scent of Healing

[681]

The small herb room was one of Saku’s favorite places in their home. Shelves lined every wall, filled with bundles of dried herbs, glass jars containing oils and tinctures, and a woven basket holding loose leaves and flowers. She knew it as the place where her mother worked with quiet concentration, her hands busy with the familiar routine of mixing, grinding, and brewing remedies for the town.

Today, Saku had been invited to spend the day here, learning a lesson that her mother promised would shape her understanding of medicine and healing. She was seated at the low wooden table in the middle of the room, watching her mother arrange several small bundles of herbs in front of her.

"Today, we won’t be identifying plants by sight,” her mother said, her voice calm as she reached for the first bundle. "Instead, we’ll focus on scent.”

"Scent?” Saku asked, puzzled.

Her mother nodded. "Healing isn’t just about knowing how a plant looks. Sometimes, the way a plant smells tells us more about its nature than its appearance. And sometimes, that knowledge is essential. A true healer knows a plant’s scent as well as she knows its name.”

Saku’s curiosity was piqued. Her mother selected the first bundle of herbs and brought it close to Saku’s nose. "Close your eyes and inhale,” she instructed.

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 3: The Scent of Healing

[681]

Saku closed her eyes and took a deep breath, allowing the scent to fill her senses. The smell was sharp and fresh, tinged with a hint of mint. It was familiar, but she couldn’t place it right away. Her mother waited patiently, giving her time to explore the scent without pressure.

"It smells... clean, maybe a bit like mint?” Saku said, uncertain.

"Good,” her mother replied. "That’s peppermint. It’s used for cooling fevers, easing headaches, and even helping with digestion. Its scent alone can soothe an anxious mind.”

Saku inhaled again, more deeply this time, committing the smell to memory. Her mother moved to the next bundle, this one wrapped in delicate purple flowers. "Now try this one.”

As soon as the scent reached her, Saku was flooded with a sense of calm. The smell was soft and soothing, with a hint of sweetness that seemed to linger in the air.

"Lavender?” Saku guessed, remembering the times her mother had used it to help her sleep.

Her mother nodded, smiling. "Yes. Lavender. You’re starting to recognize its unique scent. We use it for relaxation, for sleep, and to calm our nerves. Smelling lavender can help settle even the most restless of minds.”

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 3: The Scent of Healing

[681]

One by one, her mother introduced her to various herbs through scent alone—each scent distinct and powerful, each tied to a purpose or remedy. There was chamomile, with its mild apple-like fragrance, used to ease stomach pain and encourage sleep. Then there was rosemary, strong and earthy, known for its ability to improve memory and stimulate the mind.

As they worked, Saku began to understand that scent was more than just a fragrance—it was a way of knowing the heart of each plant. Her mother’s teachings had always emphasized observation, but this new focus on scent felt more intimate as if she were building a personal connection with each herb.

After they’d finished with the initial set of herbs, her mother placed several bundles back in front of her. "Now,” she said, her tone challenging but gentle, "close your eyes and tell me which is which.”

Saku took a deep breath and closed her eyes, picking up one of the bundles. She inhaled slowly, letting the aroma swirl in her mind. It was a bit sweet and sharp—an unmistakable mix that brought peppermint to her mind. She identified it confidently, receiving a nod of approval from her mother. She moved on to the next one, which was earthy and strong—rosemary. She continued through each one, with only a few misidentifications, but her mother corrected her gently, helping her make the necessary adjustments.

As the exercise continued, Saku felt her sense of smell sharpening, and she began picking up on subtler notes she hadn’t noticed before. The faint peppery undertones in lavender, the warm, almost honey-like sweetness of chamomile. She understood now why her mother had introduced her to scent; it was as important a part of healing as touch or sight, a sensory language that connected her to the plants in a deeper way.

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 3: The Scent of Healing

[681]

Later that evening, her mother prepared a small challenge for her. She arranged two herbs side by side on the table, each with nearly identical leaves but different scents. One was sweet with hints of pine, the other had a sharp, almost medicinal smell. Saku closed her eyes, inhaling each deeply. After a few moments of concentration, she placed her finger on the plant with the pine-like fragrance.

"This is thyme,” she said confidently, opening her eyes.

Her mother smiled. "You’re right. And the other?”

"Pennyroyal,” Saku replied, smiling as well.

Her mother’s smile widened, and she gently placed a hand on Saku’s shoulder. "You’re learning quickly. The more time you spend with each plant, the more their scents will become a part of you. Sometimes, when you can’t see the plant or read a label, the scent will be your guide.”

Feeling a sense of accomplishment, Saku looked around the herb room with new appreciation. It was more than a room filled with plants—it was a repository of wisdom, each scent a chapter in the book of healing. She realized that her family’s knowledge was something deeply layered, passed down not just through words but through senses and subtle understandings. The scents of these plants would forever be woven into her memories, guiding her when she needed them most.

That night, as she lay in bed, Saku could still smell traces of lavender and rosemary clinging to her fingers. She closed her eyes, recalling each scent in her mind. Her mother’s voice echoed in her thoughts: A healer knows a plant’s scent as well as she knows its name. And at that moment, she understood that she was not just learning herbs; she was building a lifelong bond with each plant, one scent at a time.

[End]

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 4: An Accidental Discovery

[681]

The day had started like any other. Saku and her mother were gathering herbs near the edge of the forest, carefully picking leaves and blossoms while listening to the chatter of the birds overhead. Her mother had assigned her to collect a list of specific plants that were needed for the week’s remedies, each one carefully noted in her mother’s small, handwritten book. But Saku’s mind kept drifting, her focus wavering between the task and the curious sights around her.

As she worked, she noticed a flash of color among the thick underbrush—a patch of small purple flowers she’d never seen before. Intrigued, she knelt to take a closer look. The flowers were delicate, with a deep violet hue that stood out starkly against the earthy greens and browns of the forest floor. Their petals formed a star-like pattern, and a faint but pleasant fragrance drifted up as she brushed her fingers against the leaves.

Saku hesitated. This wasn’t one of the plants her mother had asked her to gather, and she knew the rules—she wasn’t to pick unfamiliar plants without her mother’s guidance. But something about these flowers piqued her curiosity. Could they be useful? Her mother’s teachings had always emphasized caution, yet Saku found herself drawn to the mystery of this flower, imagining what unique properties it might hold.

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[Nue Saku]

[attr="class","wabisabi"]

Chapter 4: An Accidental Discovery

[681]

With a glance over her shoulder to make sure her mother wasn’t watching, Saku gingerly plucked a few of the blossoms and tucked them into the corner of her satchel. She told herself it was simply for study, a way to learn something new. Later, when she had time alone in the herb room, she could investigate these flowers and maybe, just maybe, impress her mother with a discovery.
The rest of the day went by uneventfully, though Saku couldn’t help but feel a growing excitement about her little secret. Once they returned home, she slipped into the herb room as soon as her mother left to tend to other chores, pulling the flowers from her satchel and laying them carefully on the work table.

Taking a small bowl, she ground one of the flowers into a paste, noting the pleasant, almost minty aroma it released as she worked. She couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride. She’d gathered herbs many times, but finding something unfamiliar on her own felt like a step forward in her journey to becoming a healer. She wondered if this plant could have medicinal properties that her mother hadn’t yet discovered.

As she was working, she heard a faint shuffling from outside the herb room. Her younger cousin, Hiroshi, peeked his head through the doorway, his wide eyes lighting up with interest as he saw her at the table.
"What’s that?” he asked, coming closer.

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[Nue Saku]

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Chapter 4: An Accidental Discovery

[681]

Saku hesitated, glancing at the door to make sure her mother was still out of sight. "It’s... it’s a new flower I found today,” she whispered, motioning for him to keep quiet. "I think it might be a useful plant, but I’m still figuring it out.”

Hiroshi nodded, eyes round with awe. He loved watching her work with herbs, though he was far too young to join in most of the tasks. But in his excitement, he reached out and touched a bit of the purple paste on the table, rubbing it between his fingers.

"Hiroshi, don’t!” Saku whispered urgently. But it was too late; he had already touched his lips with his fingers, tasting the small bit of paste. Saku’s heart leaped in panic. What if the plant was toxic? She’d never forgive herself if her curiosity led to harm.

"Hiroshi, are you feeling okay?” she asked, watching him closely for any reaction.

He scrunched up his face, sticking out his tongue. "It tastes strange... kind of bitter,” he said, frowning. But after a moment, his face brightened, and he grinned. "But I don’t feel bad. It just feels... warm, like ginger.”

Relieved, Saku still felt a pang of guilt. She should have been more careful, more cautious, as her mother had always taught her. She couldn’t let her younger cousin get involved in something she didn’t fully understand. But just as she was about to pack up the flowers and dispose of the paste, she heard her mother’s footsteps approaching.

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