Birthday [part 2]

As I was about to ask my question, the nanny looked at me with an enigmatic smile and replied, saying:

"You will see."

Receiving that as an answer, I was quite disappointed, but at least now I could be certain that there would be an event for my birthday that I couldn't refuse to attend.

An event that probably every child in the family is made to go through when they turn 1 year old.

Now, all I had left was to try to figure out what it would consist of.

Yaaawn

But with the sleep I had, I chose to find out directly tomorrow.

So, thinking about that, I went straight to sleep, with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation, wishing myself a happy birthday.

And so the next day arrived.

Upon waking up, I found myself in a completely different place.

In fact, when I opened my eyes, it was completely dark, and there was nothing I could see in front of me with my eyes.

There was nothing but darkness stretching out like a tabernacle in front of my eyes, unable to distinguish any shape.

So, starting to think that there was something wrong with my eyes, I began to blink.

But even after closing my eyes a couple of times and opening them, there was nothing I could see.

It was as if a darkness as black as pitch had seized me, deciding to leave me without any form of light.

After realizing this, I try to move my limbs, but it seems they are bound with chains.

My body doesn't move as I want, and there is no strength in my hands and feet.

My whole body feels powerless.

The only thing I can move are my eyelids. I can't control the other parts of my body at all.

This is not good.

"There's nothing wrong with my eyes."

I can't be sure because I can't even immediately recognize my limbs, but instinctively I realize there's nothing wrong with my eyes.

If I had gone blind, I would feel something akin to pain. But there's no anomaly in my senses.

So it means there's nothing wrong with my eyes, but that the space I lie in is unusually dark.

A pitch-black place where not a single ray of light can enter.

"Underground?"

I think of the possibility.

I've never heard, nor read, of a building constructed capable of blocking out light so perfectly without it being related to something very special.

Indeed, although they may have used tools and artifacts to build this, it wouldn't be worth using them for some insignificant event.

So, given that, there's a high probability that the space I lie in is a basement or a perfectly enclosed space where light cannot reach me.

"Why did this happen?"

"I doubt that the nanny and the Ryushin family would allow my kidnapping, so it is connected to the event that is my birthday, but what is the purpose of this place and why must it be so hidden and my limbs not moving?"

More and more questions and thoughts began to accumulate inside me.

And as I continued to ponder the reasons why I find myself in this dark and desolate place, I began to wonder:

"Why would my family plan something so strange and unsettling for my birthday?"

"Could it be a test, a rite of passage that all members of my family must face?"

I doubt it.

If it's to introduce fear, there are alternative methods to this.

As my mind raced, suddenly I heard footsteps.

A barely perceptible sound, but clearly distinguishable within this space.

My heart starts beating faster as the footsteps get closer and closer with a rhythmic and reassuring pace, almost familiar.

Although I'm aware that it's unlikely someone who kidnapped me, I still hold my breath, waiting for whoever is coming.

The footsteps stop right next to me and I feel a light hand touch my shoulder.

A sweet and well-known voice speaks to me:

"So you're already awake," then took a pause to continue, "Well, that'll make things easier."

After hearing that, I asked the nanny:

"Well, what should I do then?"

"For now, nothing, you'll have to wait and stay there for a while. Since I didn't expect you to wake up so early, I haven't finished the preparations."

So, she went to get a cauldron, along with various things like: sapphire leaves, moon grains, high-quality mana recovery potion, moss powder, bristle roots, septic flakes, and palisander poison.

And carefully taking the septic flakes, she spreads them in a thin layer inside it, making sure they evenly cover the bottom.

Then, she delicately adds the sapphire leaves on top of the flakes, creating a soft green-blue bed.

With a steady hand, she pours the moss powder over the leaves, letting it settle evenly and release its delicate aroma.

Next, she takes the bristle roots and moon grains. The roots are meticulously shredded, while the moon grains, bright and shimmering, are reduced to a fine silvery powder.

Once both substances have been turned into powder, she mixes them together to create a homogeneous blend.

Finally, she adds the bristle root and moon grain powder to the cauldron, incorporating it with the other ingredients.

Every movement is precise and calculated, as she incorporates everything with scrupulous attention, aware that each step is essential for the final result of her preparation.

The potion naturally comes from the poisonous gland of a serpent whose skin can perfectly adapt to any tree it's climbing to remain hidden.

When found, however, its scales immediately lift while revealing needle-like spines coated with lethal poison, hence the name.

She took away the herbs and reagents, leaving only the high-quality mana recovery potion and the palisander poison.

After 4 hours, the nanny returned, appearing with a glass full of a totally transparent fluid, which, although at first glance could seem like water, from the smell, which was a combination of herbal freshness, floral sweetness with a final sharp and penetrating note, it was clear that it wasn't.

Then the nanny approached me slowly, and said:

"This elixir is called Poison Dehydrating Potion, and it, in addition to strengthening your physique, which in itself is indispensable for someone at your level, makes your blood poisonous."