The first thing that came to Blake's mind was his thoughts about the sensation he experienced when that pill entered his mouth. He was wondering if that was the right way to consume it since the system didn't specify any kind of information like that, maybe he would need to bite it, use some water, or just swallow it and wait for the results, but besides those ideas, Blake was busy with the taste that the pill had… And he could only say that it was completely tasteless.
He used his tongue to move the pill around in his mouth and didn't taste any special flavor, it was as if it had a small rock hovering around from one side to the other, its size didn't seem to reduce even though Blake kept moving it, but before he deciding to take the option of biting it, the little pill displayed its unique behavior.
"Did it melt?" Blake's question stemmed from what he had just experienced. A moment ago, he could feel the shape of the pill still in his mouth, but when he left it alone, it began to completely fall apart giving him that sensation.
[STR +1.]
And just the system notification was enough for Blake to be convinced that the pill had done its job without much complication. Now I wouldn't be too cautious if he got something similar again in the future, but before he opened his inventory to see if there really was an increase in his stat, his face turned somewhat serious as he closed his eyes.
A stillness that was rare to see in him now swirled around him. Everything seemed to come together perfectly, and if someone saw the scene in the Privera forest for the first time, they might think that Blake belonged to the landscape as if it were a work of art.
What had just happened was not something that should worry Blake; besides it was not long before he opened his eyes again and the serious complexion he had begun to relax while the tranquility of the forest continued unabated.
"So it has that effect too… I wonder why the system didn't specify it?" What Blake was referring to was what had happened after the pill had melted in his mouth. A current of energy had run through his body at that moment, it wasn't worrying at all and he was actually somewhat satisfied since he knew that feeling very well.
In a nutshell, he was able to identify that current of energy as runic energy. It was the same sensation as when he absorbed runes to take advantage of his runic energy, the amount that the pill had given him was enough for him to feel some heat in the part of his abdomen and he had to concentrate to direct that accumulation of energy towards his elemental core and his drop of runic essence.
He hadn't taken much time, and from the feeling he experienced, he could compare that amount of runic energy to the same amount he would get after spending a few minutes absorbing runes the old way… Or so he believed.
Needless to mention, Blake was busy thinking about how great it would be to have a lot of those pills now that he knew about their effects, he felt it was funny that it wasn't the first time he came across some interesting item or that it would be very beneficial to him, but may another never be found again. So, with a shrug, he recapped some more of what he had done so far and decided it was time to get out of the forest.
He'd already checked out the new feature in the system and made a mental note of the benefits of the supplement he'd gotten, so he had nothing else to do in the forest… Unless for now.
His legs didn't betray him somehow and he could make out the town as he advanced at a steady pace, maybe he just needed to use teleportation to get home, but he had another idea that had been occupying his mind for a long time.
…
…
"Hmm… No… Nothing. What exactly are you doing here if you don't look like you're about to die?" Those words came from the mouth of a blue-haired witch who was analyzing Blake's figure very carefully.
"Don't you think you should have asked me that before trying to poke me with your syringe?" Blake could only hear a small laugh produced by Marian once she asked that.
"Actually, I was expecting some complaint from you, but I haven't forgotten that you promised to be my volunteer in aspects that have to do with my development and testing of medicines." Marian raised and moved her index finger as if trying to emphasize something.
Blake narrowed his eyes after hearing that comment, but before he could say anything else, Marian cut him off.
"You're also a great help, Blake. Before you, the only one who helped me with these things was Collette, I must say that I have made a lot of progress thanks to the help of both of you." Marian was showing a cheerful expression, her words were sincere, although she had no reason to lie.
That itself made Blake hesitate a little before believing him. He always thought that Marian treated all the "patients" of the pharmacy as possible test subjects, but it made more sense that she really knew how to control herself. Blake also accepted Marian's thanks since lately he also came to the pharmacy at her request to try some medicines, although he had not been as exposed as Collette.
"I guess you came looking for Grandma." Marian had gone back behind the counter as she began to put away some containers that were now empty. "She's upstairs, she didn't say anything to me about whether she wanted privacy, so I guess she's okay with you upstairs."
"Thank you for the information." With nothing else to do, Blake said a quick goodbye to Marian as he started up the stairs that would take him to the second floor of the pharmacy. The sound that the wood produced with each step he took was what accompanied Blake, and his figure had already advanced far enough, so he didn't hear the last thing Marian tried to say to him.
There was a deep silence filling the atmosphere, but as Blake reached his destination, some murmurs were present and increased until it was possible to identify some words, but just when he realized who these belonged to, he unconsciously froze in place.