Early the next day, grandfather woke the boy with strange smells coming from the kitchen. The boy sat up, eyes wide at the new scents, and got ready for his day quickly, for he did not wish to miss the magic going on in the other room. Just as the boy walked in, grandfather was smelling the bitter broth, stirring it with a silver spoon. "What is it, gran-pa?" the boy asks, interested. "Ahh, good morning my boy." grandfather says, diverting his attention from the concoction. "This, my young one, is another family heirloom..." grandfather explains cryptically.
Grandfather grabs a stool, puts it near the counter, and motions for they boy to stand next to him. The boy, standing upon the stool, waits patiently for his grandfather to explain. "This is the base for the paste, grandfather explains, holding up a small group of pale blue and white flowers. Mix them with boiled water, while the water is hot, like this." grandfather explains, as he pours a small amount of boiling water into a mixing bowl. "Then mash them up, and let it all dry out after rolling the flowers into a small orb." grandfather shows the boy all of this. "These Goat's Rue flowers heal poison." grandfather says, showing the boy a completed one. "Poison?" the boy asks. "Yes, my boy, before you can learn to make poison, you must learn how to heal it." grandfather explains. "These flowers grow out front, have you seen them in the garden?" grandfather asks. The boy nods, affirming that he has, and they continue.
"Now these, my boy, are indeed rare." grandfather says, pulling out a small black vial from the back of the top cupboard. Tapping the vial, grandfather says, "Don't ever touch one of these, unless you have the same tattoo I have on my arm, or unless you've eaten one of the flower pills, ok?" The boy says "Ok gran-pa." eating the pill grandfather gives him. "Hold our your hand" grandfather says. The boy, eager to see the rare treasure, holds out his hand. Into it, grandfather gently taps out three small scales, glowing golden in the sunlight!
"Are these Golden Asp scales?!" the boy says, recognizing them from his grandfather's tale. "I thought the Golden Serpent was just a story!" the boy says, looking at grandfather with fresh understanding. "No, my boy, the tale is true." grandfather says seriously. "The Golden Serpent Scales are Poison!" the boy says, contemplating. "Then that must be why the Assassin's guild uses the Golden Asp as it's symbol!" the boy says, figuring it all out. "A very astute observation, my boy, I am proud of you today." grandfather says smiling. "Shall we continue?" grandfather asks. Nodding yes, the boy and the grandfather spend the rest of the morning concocting the ancient secrets of the Golden Asp. The boy learns quickly and well, needing only to be shown something once before understanding it, making his grandfather most proud.