Final Dinner Conversation

There was much food.  For each dish, a question.  The questions showed their ignorance of the Axe, and some of them even what a System truly was.

"The Axe doesn't require that."

"A single soul is not intended to run multiple Systems at once."

"I didn't invent the System terminology; I've just learned some of the commands."

"I never said it was the only way; I just said it's how I've managed that."

The first healing potion, I pulled from my inventory and swallowed with a single gulp.

There was a reflexive tightening at the sides of my throat, and my vision swam, and when it returned there were still three holy men.  The Spy, the Conman, and a new one, the Jester. 

I massaged the sides of my neck, where veins and arteries came so close to contact.  Two breaths, each of which seemed like gasping dead algae water into my lungs.