Be Caught With Pants Down

The piece was enveloped in a brilliant light, and I watched with bated breath, waiting for something extraordinary to happen. Yet, to my disappointment, nothing changed.

The chess piece remained unchanged, devoid of any visible transformation. I stared at it with anticipation, waiting for something miraculous to occur, but alas, nothing happened.

"That's it? Just a small light? What am I supposed to do with this? Use it as a flashlight?"

"Patience," Mara urged gently. "The transformation may not be immediate. Your acknowledgment of your quasar foundation is the first step. Now, it's about nurturing and channeling that into something greater."

"Okay, then what's the next step?"

"I'm afraid you're the only one who can answer that question." Mara replied solemnly, her gaze fixed on me. "It's up to you to cultivate the stem into branches."

"Seriously, this cliche again? Fine then. No struggle, no progress, right?" I muttered, more to myself than to Mara.

"I can only guide you this far. The rest is up to you. Our hope lies in your hands," Mara said solemnly.

She leaned in closer and raised her hand to my forehead once again, but this time, she flicked her finger hard against my forehead. Instantly, I was expelled from the realm.

"Ouch! What was that for?!"

As I opened my eyes, I found myself back at the very spot where I first encountered Mara. The tranquil morning had replaced the darkness of night, with the gentle glow of sunrise painting the horizon. However, Mara was nowhere to be seen, leaving me to contemplate the profound experience I had just undergone.

"At least you could say goodbye. Thanks for the guidance anyway," I muttered to the empty air.

I began my journey back to the village, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Despite the frustration of not fully understanding what had just transpired, I couldn't deny the sense of accomplishment at gaining insights into the mysteries surrounding the river and the forest.

As I walked, I couldn't help but glance at the quasar in my hand, still unchanged. With a mixture of curiosity and frustration, I decided to try the magic words again. "Desiderium," I whispered, watching as it glowed faintly in response, but nothing more happened.

I sighed, staring at the quasar with a hint of exasperation. "What am I supposed to do with you, huh?"

I tucked it back into my pocket and continued walking, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in as a yawn escaped my lips.

"I missed a night worth of sleep..uhhh."

Fatigue weighed heavily on my shoulders as I finally arrived back at the village after several hours of walking.

I muttered to myself, feeling the exhaustion settling in. "Finding a nice tree and taking a rest sounds like a plan."

As I was about to search for a suitable spot to rest, a distant shout pierced the air, catching my attention.

"Sir Gideon! Sir Gideon!."

With a mix of relief and urgency, Mia shouted my name repeatedly as she sprinted towards me. Meeting her gaze, I forced a smile onto my face.

"What happened, Mia? Why the rush?"

"Sir Gideon, please, you must help. It's my father!"

With urgency in my voice, I responded, "Take me to him, quickly!"

We sprinted towards the palace with all our might, urgency fueling our every step. As we reached the palace, we raced up the stairs to the king's chamber. With a swift kick, I forced the door open.

Inside, the queen sat beside the bedridden king, her face streaked with tears. The shaman was also present. The king appeared even worse than the last time I saw him. The air was heavy with sorrow.

"Princess, I'm sorry," the shaman said solemnly. "The king has just passed away."

Tears fell from Mia's eyes, and she rushed to her father's side, "No..no this couldn't be father...no.."

I rushed to check the king's condition, immediately placing my finger on his nose to check for any signs of breathing. At the same time, my other hand reached for his wrist to feel for a pulse.

The shaman yelled and cursed at me, "What are you doing, you puny human? Are you intending to disgrace his highness's body?!"

He's not breathing, but I can still feel a very weak pulse.

"Shut the fuck up you old hag, he's not dead yet!"

My intense stare bore into the shaman, a silent warning to hold her tongue. As my eyes swept the room, they fell upon a bowl resting on a nearby table. Without hesitation, I snatched it up and inspected its contents. With a knowing look, I handed it to Mia, awaiting her reaction.

"This blueish pulp... don't tell me..." Mia's voice trailed off, realization dawning in her eyes.

"Blue Oleander, that bitch is poisoning your father."

"Nonsense! It's a medicine for the curse. I've been administering it to the king for a long time. How dare you slander me, human?! I would never harm the king!" the shaman retorted defensively.

"Rubbish!" I retorted, my voice laced with fury. "Yeah, you're poisoning the king for a long time! You've been deceiving everyone all along."

"If you're so confident about your 'medicine', why don't you taste it yourself?" I thrust the bowl in front of her face.

"This is slander! Your Highness, are you going to entertain this nonsense?" The shaman attempted to defend herself.

"I don't see the harm in tasting the medicine you've been giving my husband." The queen said with a trembling voice.

With her deception exposed, the shaman hurriedly fled the room, she ran as fast a deer.

"Wait!" Mia shouted while trying to chase down the shaman.

"Let her go, Mia. We have more pressing matters at hand," I urged, my voice calm yet firm, as I gently held Mia's wrist, preventing her from pursuing the fleeing shaman.

"Queen, how long has it been since the shaman last administered this to the king?" I turned to the queen, my tone gentle yet urgent, seeking answers amidst the chaos.

"half an hour ago."

"Then we gotta act fast."

A.N:

Kaner, scientifically known as Nerium oleander or indicum, is a small tree or shrub belonging to the Dogbane family, Apocynaceae, growing between 1 to 10 meters in height. Its leaves are typically arranged in groups of three or whorls, appearing vibrant green and leathery, with a narrow elliptic to linear shape. The plant produces fragrant flowers in clusters at the ends of branches, ranging in color from pink, red, and white to peach and yellow, each flower measuring between 2.5 to 5 centimeters.

Despite its ornamental appeal, the common oleander is one of the most poisonous plants known, containing cardiac glycosides that are not related to digitalis. Oleander encompasses species such as N. oleander L, N. indicum, and Nerium odorum, and goes by various names including soland, lorier bol, rosebay, and rose laurel. Its widespread presence and attractive flowers pose a significant risk of accidental ingestion, with toxicological incidents occurring due to folk medicine use, unwitting consumption by adults, or contact with food items like hot-dog sticks. Notably, oleander toxicity is not confined to specific climates.

All parts of the oleander plant, including the roots and smoke from burning, contain cardiac glycosides oleanderin and neriine. These toxins resemble those found in Foxglove and affect the heart's sodium-potassium pump, leading to symptoms such as cardiac and gastrointestinal issues, typically appearing about four hours after ingestion.

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