Chapter 19: Two Potions
Abyss’s sudden action surprised everyone. No one had expected him to sniff a sweaty, middle-aged man’s coat.
Leona’s hair stood on end. Flora and Maggie stared at him, their mouths agape. Baggs, perched on his shoulder, remained silent. Rebecca, however, after a moment of thought, seemed to understand, nodding slowly.
Bender, his face contorted in disgust, said, “Sir, I’m not into that sort of thing… But if you’re willing to escort me out of this forest…”
“It’s the smell of lies…” Abyss said, looking up, his turquoise eyes cold and sharp, as he stared at the merchant’s plump face. “You’re lying, aren’t you, Mr. Bender?”
“What are you talking about?” Bender asked, his voice indignant, gesturing towards the bodies of his companions and the dead horses. “What lies could I possibly tell? My friends are dead, my horses are dead, I’m ruined, and I have to compensate their families. I’m going to be bankrupt! What would I gain from lying to you?”
“But why do you smell of potions?” Abyss asked, unfazed by his outburst. He stepped closer, his gaze intense, making Bender uncomfortable. “I can smell the ingredients. They’re all meant to repel wild animals. But your companions…”
Abyss walked over to one of the bodies and sniffed it.
“Your companions also have potions on them, but with the opposite effect… These potions attract wild animals, especially predators,” he said, his voice cold, his gaze piercing, sending a shiver down Bender’s spine. “Both potions contain a strong fragrance to mask their true nature, but my sense of smell is far more acute than you realize. You can’t fool me.”
“I didn’t do anything!” Bender exclaimed, his voice filled with panic. “I bought this potion from a traveling merchant. We were going hunting, so I bought a potion to repel wild animals. I gave everyone a bottle. This one is the sample he gave me to test. I used a bit of it, so I didn’t give it to my companions. But that damned merchant must have given me fake potions!”
“You’re a skilled liar. You can tell a story without flinching, but you can’t fool me,” Abyss said, circling him slowly. “Something felt off from the start. First, the wolves attacked your companions, but they left you alone, keeping a safe distance. You were seemingly trapped, but they never actually attacked you. Even if your story were true, it wouldn’t explain why your companions’ bodies are arranged in a circle.”
He gestured towards the bodies, and they noticed their circular arrangement. They were still clutching their weapons, as if they had been trying to fend off the wolves. It seemed they had been attacked after moving away from Bender, the magic-wielding wolves too fast for them to escape. Their bodies were charred, their muscles paralyzed by lightning magic before they were torn apart.
“Second, you and your companions were only in the Elven Kingdoms for two days, dissecting a few animals, then you decided to leave? Although I have no proof, I find that suspicious. You were eager to profit from those rumors, yet you gave up so easily. Why were you in such a hurry to leave? And why did you encounter those wolves on your way out?” Abyss continued.
Bender’s eyes darted nervously, his face pale, his voice trembling. “One of my companions fell ill. We had to return…”
“That’s a pathetic excuse,” Maggie said from atop her horse, swinging her bare feet. “You could have sought treatment in the Elven Kingdoms. Druids offer free healing to travelers, and you could have traded for medicine. And if you had gone to one of the Elven cities, you could have found skilled healers. Elven medicine is renowned for its effectiveness and its reasonable prices. It would have been far more convenient than returning home.”
“Third, when I grabbed your coat, it wasn’t just to smell it…” Abyss said, opening his hand, revealing a small pouch containing a tiny, diamond-shaped crystal. “I apologize, but I took something from you. I hope you don’t mind.”
“What?!” Bender exclaimed, his composure shattering, his feigned fear replaced by a sudden rage. He lunged towards Abyss, trying to snatch the pouch. “Give it back!”
Abyss smiled, closing his hand around the pouch. Bender clawed at his hand, but it was useless. He couldn’t even leave a scratch.
“Tell me, what is this? And why did you kill your companions for it?” Abyss asked, his grip firm, his voice cold and calm. “And while you’re at it, tell me how you did it. I’m curious.”
Bender, his face contorted with rage and fear, stared at Abyss, his chest heaving. After a long silence, he suddenly lunged again, his mouth wide open, revealing two long, curved teeth, like those of a rat.
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