Garion reached forward and slowly lifted the cover, unveiling a single bottle.
The glass was thick, dark, and faintly warm to the touch.
Inside, the liquid swirled on its own, colors shifting between deep red and cloudy gold, as if it couldn't decide what it wanted to be.
Mersha leaned in so close her glasses almost touched the bottle.
"Ooooh?" Her voice sped up instantly.
"Master, master, what kind of potion is this? Supplement? Prototype? Poison? Emergency drink? Breakthrough drug?"
Garion didn't answer right away. He just picked up the bottle and rolled it once in his palm.
Then he smirked.
"Why don't you find out?"
Mersha's eyes lit up.
"Oh! Test subject time!"
She giggled, snatched the bottle, and popped the cork without hesitation.
Garion didn't even try to stop her.
She lifted it and drank it in one go.
"Hmm…" Mersha smacked her lips thoughtfully.
"Sour at first. Like it's attacking my tongue."
She tilted her head. "Then spicy. Really spicy. Oh, that's nice."
