Chapter 490: A Greater Difference.
Bishop burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room and breaking the tension that had settled over them. He doubled over slightly, one hand pressed against his stomach while the other waved dismissively in Nero’s direction.
"I’m joking, I’m joking!" he managed between chuckles, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Gods, you should have seen your face just now!"
Nero’s grip on the vial tightened, his knuckles turning white. He stared at Bishop, his jaw clenched, unsure whether to feel relieved and laugh bitterly, or to punch him in the face. The older man straightened up, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye as his laughter gradually subsided into quiet chuckles.
"If the elixir doesn’t work," Bishop said, his tone still light but more controlled now, "then nothing will happen to you besides maybe a stomach upset. At worst, you’ll spend a few hours feeling nauseous. Nothing you haven’t already dealt with, I’m sure."
Relief washed over Nero, but it was quickly followed by a wave of irritation. He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to relax his grip on the vial. The cool glass pressed against his palm, grounding him. His heart was still racing from the brief moment of panic, and he could feel the faint tremor in his fingers as the adrenaline began to fade.
He took a breath, then frowned. "What’s the name of this elixir?"
Bishop’s smile softened, "It is called a Potion of Change."
Nero raised a brow. "A Potion of Change?"
The name seemed simple enough, almost mundane given the ominous appearance of the liquid inside. But Nero had learned by now that simplicity in naming often masked complexity in function.
Bishop nodded and took a step toward him. Nero instinctively took a step back, his body tensing, but he stopped when he saw that the Pharmacist meant him no harm.