Withering Away walkthrough
Retail evidence: PC Gamer's recipe guide and the existing prologue route agree on the medicine inputs. No Hotfix 1.0.2 note changes this quest.
What to do
- Speak with Anca and begin Withering Away during the prologue.
- Read Anca's instructions before opening the preparation interaction; the game does not keep the note visible while you craft.
- Select hot water, then add three spoonfuls of herbs.
- Give the finished medicine to Esme before the Blood Mass.
The first force-feed decision at the opening has no reported long-term impact. The medicine recipe is the consequential choice: an incorrect preparation can worsen the family's outcome at Mass.
Timing and missable state
The recipe step is part of the eight-segment prologue route. Finish it before the final evening transition; unfinished prologue tasks fail when Mass begins. Keep a save before the hourglass action if you also want to fit Page Turner for Anca.
Source: PC Gamer recipe instructions and PowerPyx all quests.