You select
the choice that says “Valerian”.  The
magical barrier flickers out of existence and you can see a plant with small
white flowers. 

You notice a
strong smell like a mix of cherry and vanilla and you remember that valerian
flowers are used in making perfumes. Sometimes, like in the case of the valerian
flowers, plants are used to add scent to perfumes, other they are used in
potions for their temperament, toxicity or their other properties.

You also
recall an odd piece of information: valerian root was often worn by grooms at
weddings, to ward off the envy of the elves. Wizards in Eastern Europe still
follow this tradition.

Above the
plant, the display appears: “Condition: Fair”. “Fair” is not “Good”. Maybe
there is something you can do to make the conditions good. You use the spell
you learned for checking the pH level, “Acidious revealious”. A “4.8” appears
above the plant. You take a closer look. The soil humidity seems good, but the
artificial light is turned off. You remember that the Valerian needs a pH level
between 4.5 and 5.0 and at least seven hours of sun, so your best bet is to
turn on the artificial light.

You then
follow your exploration and stop in front of the next magical barrier. The riddle
reads:

“Without us,
the dreamless sleep potion would not be dreamless.”

You know the
answer to that one since you’ve always wanted to actually see the plant and not
just pictures. Starpuffs give the user an inability to think, hence why they
are an essential ingredient of the dreamless sleep potion. But you also know
that alive, the plant possesses a hypnotic quality. Its sparkling petals and
shimmering leaves can easily mesmerize you.

---

If you think
your mind is strong enough to fight the hypnotizing compulsion and decide to
answer “Starpuffs”, go to Chapter 16.

If you don’t want to risk it until you’ve spoken
to your parents and decide to ignore the plant and its riddle, go to Chapter
20.