“I might have something that could help,” the old traveling apothecary said.
He got off his cart, and signaled to his assistant to get something from one of the chests sitting on the wagon bed.
The assistant produced a small vial and handed it to his master.
The hooded customer-to-be grunted with disgust when he saw the black, dense liquid that swirled inside the small glass container.
“This elixir is made with quite a rare mushroom — Algernon’s cap.” The apothecary grinned. “ It will give you the intellectual powers you seek.”
The hooded traveler took the vial from the apothecary’s hands, and tossed him a gold coin. He then inspected it closely, unsheathed his sword and pointed it at the old man. “If this doesn’t work, I will cut you down right here.” He drank the potion in a single gulp.
A few tense seconds passed, then the man clutched his belly, grimaced, turned around and dashed towards the woods — diarrhea streaming down his pants.
“What a goddamn idiot,” the apothecary said to his assistant. “Let’s get the hell out of here before he comes back.”
— Bastian Espada
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