A Background Character’s Path to Power

Aman, come on, be a man.

I motivated myself, as I started to falter while looking at the vial. My fingers trembled slightly—just enough to make the liquid inside shimmer.

"Wait—!" Zephyr’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and urgent.

But it was too late.

Squinting my eyes shut, I tipped the vial back and gulped its contents down in one go, teeth gritted in anticipation of the burn, the convulsions, the—

...

Huh?

I blinked, waiting.

Nothing. No pain. No fire in my veins. Just a faint, herbal aftertaste lingering on my tongue.

"I’m... fine?" I turned to Zephyr, brow furrowed. "Hey, what kind of poison was this?"

Zephyr stared at me. Really stared. His ice-blue eyes narrowed slowly, as if he were witnessing the single dumbest creature to ever walk the world.