Fate of deception

Chapter 23 - Z

Amir watched the crimson liquid swirl in the vial, its viscosity unnaturally thick. This was his creation, a potion that held within it the power to control the will of another. Aimed for a royal. I was surprised how fast Amir combined ancient alchemical knowledge with a dash of his own dark ingenuity. He only spent approximately a few hours perfecting it.

Now it was time to test it. But it had to be done carefully. No one could know.

The sun was starting to drop down, casting faint darkness through the narrow alleys of the village. Amir cloaked himself in a dark robe and set out. He needed a subject—someone simple, someone who wouldn't be missed if things went awry. He walked briskly, boots clicking against the cobblestones, until he reached the market square.

It was almost empty now, save for a few vendors packing up their stalls and a lone figure sitting by the fountain.

Perfect.

"Approach the man."

The villager was a middle-aged man with tired eyes and a face worn by years of hard labour. He seemed oblivious to Amir's approach, lost in thought, or perhaps just the exhaustion of the day.

Amir took a deep breath, slipping a small, unmarked bottle from his pocket. He uncorked it, letting the potion's subtle, bitter scent escape into the cool evening air.

"Excuse me, friend," Amir called out softly, his voice oozing with false friendliness. The man look up, startled, but did not move. Amir closed the distance between them both, holding out a bottle. "You look like you've had a long day. Here, a gift for you—a special brew to ease your troubles."

The man hesitated, eyeing the bottle with suspicion. However, Amir's charm was potent, and with a gentle smile and a few reassuring words, the villager reached out and took the vial.

"Thank you, sir. That's mighty kind of you," the man muttered, uncorking the bottle. He downed the potion in one gulp, grimacing slightly at the taste. Amir watched intently, every muscle in his body tensed with anticipation.

Moments passed in silence. The villager blinked, swayed on his feet, and then his eyes glazed over. The potion was working.

"Good," Amir whispered to himself. He stepped closer, his voice now a low, commanding tone. "Stand up."

The villager obeyed, rising to his feet with a mechanical precision. Amir's heart raced. This was power—raw, undeniable power. The thrill of it coursed through him, pushing him to go further.

"Raise your hand," Amir orders. The man's hand shot right up.

"Now, walk to the edge of the fountain and stop."

Again, the villager complied without hesitation. Amir's mind buzzed with possibilities. He could make this man do anything—anything at all. This was just a test though. He needed to be sure the potion worked in full, and more importantly, that it left no trace.

"Repeat after me," Amir instructed, his voice now a whisper in the villager's ear. "I serve no one but Amir."

"I serve no one but Amir," the man echoed, his voice flat and lifeless.

"Good," Amir said, satisfied. He had now seen enough. This man was now completely under his control.

It wasn't enough to command obedience.

He needed to erase the memory of this encounter, to ensure that no one ever discovered his experiment.

Amir reached into his cloak, pulling out a second vial. This one contained a different potion, a delicate mix of forgetfulness and confusion. He uncorked it, allow a single drop to fall onto the villager's tongue.

"Forget everything that happened tonight," Amir commanded, his voice a soothing lullaby. "Forget me. Forget this potion. Remember only that you were tired and went home."

The villager's eyes fluttered shut for a moment, then opened again, clear but vacant. Amir watched as the man blinked, looking around in confusion. The man shook his head as if waking from a dream.

"Best get home," the man muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. He turned and walked away, his steps unsteady but growing more confident with each one.

Amir stayed in the shadows, watching until the man disappeared into twilight. Only then did he let out a deep breath.

The potion had worked perfectly. The man was none the wiser, and Amir's secret remained safe.

As he walked back to my hidden lair, Amir couldn't shake the feeling of exhilaration that had gripped him.

This was only the beginning.

The power he now possessed, opened doors to possibilities I had dreamed of. As long as he was careful, as long as he covered his tracks, no one would ever be able to stop him.

The village was silent as Amir slipped back, the only sound was the quiet rustle of his cloak, as it brushed against the stones. The thrill of his success warmed him, a promise of greater things to come.

He would test his potion again. Nevertheless, he needed to get back home. For tonight, I was satisfied with the improvement.