The June 1610 sun hung low over Surat, its golden light filtering through the Tapti River's mist as Jai Vora descended into the underground labyrinth beneath Vora Trading Company's beachfront complex. The cave network, fortified by his followers' Strength and their knowledge of wooden braces and stone pillars, buzzed with purpose—weapon rooms for "Wings of Freedom" missions, empty cells for future foes, and a secret lab where clay fermentation tanks bubbled with Jai's revolutionary medicines. Several days had passed since he'd given his mother, Leela, samples of Surat's Elixir (penicillin), Heart's Guardian (statins), and Pain's Whisper (aspirin, renamed to hide its willow bark source). The Emperor System, his secret AI-spirit guide, pinged: "Your mom's back, kid. If she says those meds work, you're sitting on a goldmine. Just keep that 'beggar' story tight—the EIC's got spies everywhere."
Jai, his nine-year-old frame lit by a flickering torch, adjusted a tank's bamboo lid, the scent of fermenting mold mingling with sea salt. Leela entered the lab, her sari a soft rustle, her Wisdom glowing in her eyes as she clutched the empty sample vials. "Jai, beta," she began, her voice trembling with awe, "I tested your medicines—small doses, on trusted servants and a few sick workers. They're the real deal. Fevers broke, wounds healed, aches vanished. That beggar's book… it's a miracle."
Jai's Charm sparked, his wit cloaked in earnestness. "Amma, I knew they'd work. That mystic, frail as he was, gave us something bigger than gold." He leaned closer, voice steady. "Let me tell you what these can do—and how we'll use them to make Vora unstoppable." Leela sat on a stone bench, her eyes locked on his, ready to listen.
"Surat's Elixir," Jai said, holding up a vial of penicillin powder, "is a healer like no other. It kills infections—cuts that fester, coughs that burn, fevers that linger. A pinch in water, twice a day, can save a man from death's door. I tested it on our guards—small scratches healed in days, no pus. It's revolutionary, Amma. No apothecary in Surat, maybe all India, has anything like it. We'll sell it to everyone—merchants, laborers, nobles—but in controlled doses, so it's never overused."
Leela's brow furrowed. "Controlled? Why not give its full strength?" Jai's eyes glinted, strategic. "It's too powerful, Amma. Full doses could make people think it's magic, draw too much attention—guilds, maybe the British. We'll use half-potency, mix it with herbs to mask it. It'll still cure, but we stay safe." The system buzzed: "Smart, kid. Dilute the miracle, keep the EIC guessing."
Jai lifted the Pain's Whisper vial, its aspirin powder fine as dust. "This one's for pain—aches, fevers, sore joints. There's no pain reliever this strong. A dose in tea, and a man's back to work in hours. Think of the dockworkers, the weavers, even soldiers—Pain's Whisper will be their lifeline. It'll fly off our shelves, bring profits to rival Nobel's wealth. We renamed it from the book's 'willow' to keep the recipe secret—no one needs to know it's from bark." Leela nodded, her Wisdom catching his caution. "Pain's a cruel master, Jai. This could free so many. How much to give?"
"A pinch, Amma, no more," Jai said. "Start with free samples when the shop opens—let people feel it, spread the word. But we watch who buys, track the demand." Leela's eyes sparkled. "Word'll spread like wildfire. Vora's name will be on every tongue."
Finally, Jai held up Heart's Guardian, the statin powder. "This one's special, Amma. It strengthens the blood, eases chest pains, saves hearts on the brink. It's an elixir for the dying—nobles, merchants, anyone rich enough to fear death. We sell this exclusive, to the wealthy only, at a premium. Half-potency, like the Elixir, to keep it safe and mysterious. One spoonful with milk, daily, and they'll call it a miracle." Leela's breath caught. "For the heart? Jai, this could save lords, even emperors. But only the rich?"
Jai's voice hardened, his hatred for the EIC a quiet fire. "Yes, Amma. The rich will pay fortunes, fund our shops, our hotel, our fight. We need coin to stand tall. Heart's Guardian will be our secret weapon—nobles will beg for it, and we'll control the supply." The system pinged: "You're playing chess, kid. Exclusive meds for nobles? That's power and profit."
Leela clutched the vials, her voice firm. "I've seen them work, Jai. Surat's Elixir healed a servant's fever in two days. Pain's Whisper eased Ravi's old shoulder ache overnight. Heart's Guardian—our cook's chest pains lessened after a dose. I'll test more, small doses, to be sure there's no harm. Then we produce in bulk." She paused, pride swelling. "Your beggar chose well, beta. These will change lives."
Jai nodded, gesturing to the tanks. "We start now, Amma. The lab's ready—mold, bark, fungi, all sourced quietly. I'll oversee production, keep the recipes locked in my head. When the medicine shop opens, we'll have stacks of these, ready for free samples and sales. Surat's Elixir and Pain's Whisper for the masses, Heart's Guardian for the elite." Leela hugged him, her voice soft. "You're building a legacy, Jai. Vora will heal, not just trade."
As Leela left with the vials, Jai adjusted a tank, the lab's shadows dancing. The medicines were his edge, a spark to ignite Vora's rise against the EIC's looming shadow. The system buzzed: "You've got miracles, kid. Now keep 'em secret, or the EIC'll turn this lab into your grave."