“You just said your buddy took a hit to the spine, right? Well, that’s spot on. This Crimson Sage stuff not only puts the brakes on toxins but also patches up nerve damage. Sounds like just the ticket for his condition.”


    Niki’s words came swiftly, a soothing balm to anxious ears. Collins, hearing this, felt a wave of relief wash over him.


    “Still, I’d strongly suggest your friend gets a thorough blood <b>workup </b>done. Some of those sneaky toxins don’t show their ugly heads right off the bat,” Niki mentioned casually.


    A remedy as rare and targeted as this wasn’t something you’d dole out to just any Tom, Dick, or Harry with a boo–boo, now was it? Some things you could just sniff out.


    Collins‘ expression grew earnest, and after a moment’s contemtion, he offered Niki a respectful nod. “Could I possibly trouble you to take a look at my friend another day? Rest


    can handle the fee, no matter the cost.”


    assured, we


    Even though Nick was a whiz with nerves, he hadn’t spotted any extra issues. Niki’s words carried a weight that demanded attention. After all, alternative medicine was yed by a different set of rules than conventional medicine. What if Niki could work some magic on


    Leo?


    Niki gave Collins a measured look before his gaze drifted back to the pill, neatly sealed in its transparent stic sanctuary, his mind wheeling with thoughts, “I don’t see an issue with taking a look, but I do have a small favor to ask in return.”


    Collins was quick on the uptake and didn’t miss a beat. “Much obliged, Niki. I’ll ask my friend’s sister about the origins of this remedy right away.”


    With a polite nod, Niki’s eyes sparkled with a hint of anticipation.


    Without Mirabe’s contact details. Collins had no choice but to ring up Leo. The call connected swiftly, and Collins ryed the situation in a nutshell.


    “I’ll ask her,” was Leo’s terse reply from the other end.


    Collins ended the call, his mind wandering back to the earlier hospital encounter with Mirabe. If only he’d brought her along…


    By the time Leo reached out to Mirabe, she was already ensconced in the back of a cab. With earbuds in ce, she pressed the answer button. “Hey, Leo.”


    “So, I was wondering where you got that medicine you gave me. It seems to be working wonders.”


    Leo kept mum about Collins‘ call. No need to stir the pot – if Mirabe got wind of Collins taking her remedy to a doctor, it might ruffle her feathers.


    Gazing thoughtfully out the window, Mirabe pieced things together quickly against the backdrop of her earlier run–in with Leo’s agent, “A friend shared it with me, but his remedies aren’t usually up for sale.”


    Leo, caught off–guard by her response, didn’t press further. “Ah, okay. When are you getting home?<b>” </b>


    “About fifteen minutes,” came Mirabe’s reply.


    “Alright, stay safe.”


    After hanging up, Leo wasted no time rying his sister’s words to Collins, unfiltered and precise.


    Niki fell silent upon hearing this, his expression a mix of regret and understanding. After a moment, he handed the precious Crimson Sage back to Collins. The exchange was tinged with reluctance, even a touch of heartache, which made Collins hesitate to reach out. Yet, thinking of the medicine’s supposed rarity and potential benefit for Leo, any thought of offering it back to Niki was quickly squashed.


    After a brief inner battle, Collins‘ decision crystallized within a heartbeat, and without further ado, he pocketed the pill. A revered alternative medicine guru like Niki surely wouldn’t miss one little capsule anyway.