Chapter 4 - Side Effect

After the adventurer left Cedric's shop, he hurried back to his comrades who were waiting at the edge of Vialcross. The group consisted of an archer, a mage, and a burly warrior.

They were preparing to face a monstrous creature known as the Bloodhorn, a fearsome beast terrorizing nearby villages.

The adventurer quickly distributed the strength potions to his team member who use physical attack.

The burly man sniffed the potion then his face turned into a grimace. "It smells different from the strength potions I usually drink."

The adventurer who bought the potion – Luis – frowned. "Don't worry about the smell. What's important is that we have strength potions for sudden situations like this."

The burly man shrugged his shoulders and no longer wanted to discuss it.

A few minutes later they arrived at location of the Bloodhorn. The adventurers drank the shimmering potions in unison. The effect was immediate.

A warm, tingling sensation spread through their bodies, followed by an exhilarating rush of power. Their muscles swelled, and they felt an overwhelming surge of strength. It was unlike any strength potion they had ever encountered.

They set out into the dense forest where the Bloodhorn was last seen. As they moved through the underbrush, their heightened senses picked up the faint sounds of the beast's movement.

The archer whose arms now felt like coiled springs, notched an arrow and drew back the string with ease, the bow creaking under the increased tension.

"ROAR!"

Suddenly, a roar echoed through the trees. The Bloodhorn emerged, its massive form crashing through the foliage.

The beast's crimson eyes glowed with malice, its enormous horns gleaming menacingly. The adventurers, emboldened by the potion, sprang into action.

The warrior who now feels incredibly powerful, charged forward with a speed and force that surprised even himself. He swung his greatsword with all his might, the blade connecting with the Bloodhorn's thick hide and leaving a deep gash.

The creature bellowed in pain, lashing out with its horns.

The archer took advantage of the distraction, releasing a volley of arrows that pierced the beast's vulnerable spots. The mage chanted a spell. Flames erupted from her staff, engulfing the Bloodhorn in a torrent of magical fire.

Luis shop weaved through the chaos, his enhanced agility allowing him to dodge the creature's attacks with ease. He struck at the Bloodhorn's legs, trying to bring the beast down.

The combined assault from the adventurers was relentless and coordinated, each blow landing with devastating impact.

Weakened and unable to withstand the onslaught the beast let out a final, desperate roar before collapsing to the ground.

The adventurers stood victorious, breathing heavily but unharmed.

Luis, the burly warrior Throg, and the archer Elara suddenly froze, their expressions shifting from triumphant to perplexed.

"Did you hear that?" Luis asked, looking around.

Throg frowned, his face turning red with irritation. "Hear what?"

Elara, who had been smiling moments before, now looked bewildered. "It sounded like...chirping."

Before they could make sense of it, a barrage of bird voices filled their minds.

"Nice shot, archer! Really hit the bullseye with that arrow!" chirped a sparrow.

"Throg, you swung that sword like a true champion!" cawed a crow.

Luis blinked in disbelief as a robin's voice piped up, "Luis, that was some fancy footwork! You should teach us some dance moves!"

The adventurers looked at each other, realization dawning upon them simultaneously. They could hear the birds. And the birds were quite talkative.

The mage looked at them with a questioning look. "What's with the chirping?"

"Can't you hear that?" Luis asked.

"Hear what?" the mage, Michelle, asked again.

The birds continued to say something that rang in the heads of the three of them.

"Can we now understand bird language?" Elara asked.

Luis, Throg, and Michelle blinked a few times. The voices of birds around them become the background. And it seems those birds can also understand them now.

Throg slapped a hand to his forehead. "Great. Just great. We're bird whisperers now."

Elara rolled her eyes as a blue jay kept repeating, "Did you see that? Did you see that shot? Incredible!"

Luis tried to shoo away a particularly nosy finch that had perched on his shoulder.

"Get off, get off! I don't need commentary!"

The birds continued their relentless chatter. They offered unsolicited advice, commented on the battle, and even suggested future strategies.

"Next time, aim for the eyes, Elara!" a magpie suggested helpfully.

"Throg, you might want to use a lighter sword for quicker swings!" advised a hawk.

"Why don't you use a slingshot, Luis? It's quieter!" a canary chirped in.

The adventurers tried to ignore the birds, but it was no use. The feathered critters seemed to find endless entertainment in offering tips and praise.

"I think there is some kind of curse that has befallen us," Elara said in a grim tone.

"Or," Throg said, suddenly realizing something. "The potion caused all this."

---

Back in Cedric's shop, the mage-turns-potioneer was organizing his shelves when the adventurers burst in, flanked by a cacophony of bird voices that only they could hear.

"Master potioneer, we need help!" Luis exclaimed, exasperation etched on his face.

Cedric looked up. "What seems to be the problem?"

Throg pointed at his head, "We can hear birds. Non-stop. They're in our heads!"

Cedric blinked a few times. "What?"

"I was the one who bought the strength potion from you this morning. I admit that your potions are indeed good. It makes us stronger than usual potions. But it seems like there is a side effect to that," Luis explained.

"How do you know it's because of my potion?" Cedric replied, although he already suspected that it was indeed caused by his potion. Maybe he made a mistake in concocting it? He just started after all.

"I'm a mage, and I checked to see if they were in a curse, they're not," Michelle said.

Cedric gulped. "O-Oh dear, I might have used the wrong ingredient in the potion."

Elara crossed her arms, a stern look on her face. "Might have?"

Cedric chuckled nervously, "Well, it's an easy fix. Just give me a moment."

The adventurers watched as Cedric quickly prepared a remedy. He handed them vials of a soothing blue liquid.

"Drink this. It should counteract the effects."

They drank the potion and waited. Gradually, the bird voices faded, leaving a blissful silence in their minds.

Luis sighed in relief. "Thank goodness."

Throg grunted, "Next time, master potioneer, double-check your ingredients."

Cedric nodded sheepishly. "I promise. No more bird talk. Please buy again here."

The adventurers they left the shop, Cedric waved them off, relieved to have resolved the mishap.

However, his expression turned bitter. "Well, isn't that a bad start?"

---

The next day, to be precise before the new day even begins. Cedric's front door was knocked loudly. He opened the door with his eyes still slightly closed.

"I haven't opened yet-"

Before Cedric finished his words, the man spoke first.

"Master Ambrose, you were summoned by the city's Major."

Cedric sighed. "Now what?"

---