[Short Story] - The potion

[Cortana 4,601]

The Potion

 

“Zynophyll is an antidote for anything from a simple fever to a devastating disease such as the bubonic plague,” the professor addressed to the students in his potions class. “To prepare this remarkable antidote, however, special care has to be taken. This is the first time we preparing this antidote and I do not wish for any casualties. The process of preparing Zynophyll is extremely complicated and challenging, and doesn’t come short of risk. Already countless people have lost their lives, so I request you lot pay attention when I explain the safety procedures, unless you wish to die a painful death.” It was at this moment that the troublemakers stopped gossiping and looked towards him, realized he was dead serious, and tried to pay attention.

 

“Zynophyll is a potion made from crushing the petals of Strourt, mixing it with the blood of a swine and the tear of a new-born babe, and boiling it with water in a large cauldron. The most challenging part is crushing the petals. Smell them, and you will part with life before you can say ‘cockatoo’. Taste it, and you will die the most painful death you could ever experience. Painful enough that you will wish the ground would swallow you up, and more painful than all the hellfires.” From the look in his eyes, it did not seem as if he was jesting.

 

“But what’s the use, if the drinker is going to experience pain worse than abyss after drinking this potion you call Zynophyll?” a student asked.

 

“Ah, I was coming to that. But as one of you lot has asked, at least it proves that someone is paying attention,” he glared.

Dead silence.

 

“The blood of a swine nullifies that effect,” he stated calmly after a while.

 

“You will need these to cover your filthy mouths”, he grinned, producing a piece of cloth, stained red with something that resembled blood, but strangely gave a nice, faint smell of lavender. "Remember, it can give both death, and sweet life.”

 

“O, what sweet life does ye’ talk of? Does ye’ call this life sweet, which is so full of misery, poverty, and greed? Where the rich live comfortably in their mansions, and the poor die like flies? Where the king cares not about his people, but about what goes in that fat belly of his? Is that what ye’ call sweet?” came a voice from the back.

 

Silence.

 

“I teach potions, not philosophy, I do, Charles.” the professor snapped back.

 

The owner of the voice opened his mouth to speak, but thought better about it.

 

“Alright, let’s get started, shall we?”, the professor continued in a cheerful voice.

 

---

 

The materials were provided to the students. Strourt looked like a pretty little thing, with petals the size of fingernails. 

 

The tears looked much like water, except, there seemed to be something special about them. Something…. unique.

 

Swine’s blood looked surprisingly ordinary.

 

When the ingredients were mixed together, a faint pop sound was heard, and there came green smoke rushing out of the vial, except, it was somehow not green. The students argued over its colour. Bubbles fizzed furiously inside the vial, and the class watched, mouths agape.

 

“Now then,” said the professor. “Wonderful stuff, isn’t it?”

 

And it was. Heads turned towards the vial which he was holding in his hand. In the vial was a dark-blue solution, so bright that it illuminated the room. “Remember, one drop can heal. Take more than a drop, and you won’t even have time to say goodbye.”

 

Just then, the gate guard came in, and judging by the look on his face, he seemed to be excited, bursting of news, and was gasping for breath. He whispered something in the professor’s ear, and that seemed to rock his foundations pretty bad. “It’s the watch. They’ve been ordered to search the place.” It was not a second after he’d said this that the big wooden door flew open and a colossus of a man appeared in the doorway.

 

“You!” he cried out, pointing at the professor, who had collapsed in a chair. He then took the vile of Zynophyll, opened it and poured it down the professor’s throat, as the class watched in horror, no one daring to say a word.

 

“That’s what you get for dealing drugs in Joe’s area,” he bellowed. Looking towards the class, he smiled, and said, “Hope I haven’t disturbed you lot. Go on home, then, bairns, let’s call it a day, shall we?”

 

~ Corty

Edited May 9, 2017 by Cortana

[Blackdrakon30 2,943]

- Quite a few minor grammar edits

- Altered formatting

- A few adjustments with sentences just to make the dialogue flow a little more naturally

 

Approved

 

Spelling was already fine and all so mostly just formatting corrections to fix up some sentences that didn't make much sense. Overall very interesting, and I definitely found it to be well-written. Out of curiosity, was this based off Harry Potter to some extent?

Edited May 9, 2017 by Blackdrakon30

[Ninja 10,468]

I'm more impressed by the fact that Cortana wrote a story more than I am by the story.  :o

[Cortana 4,601]

Just something I wrote for an English assignment, ok. :P

 

 

Out of curiosity, was this based off Harry Potter to some extent?

[Cortana 4,601]

I think I'm gonna crawl back into my hole now :x

Edited May 9, 2017 by Cortana

[Crip 4,735]

I think I'm gonna crawl back into my hole now :x

Nu.

 

Don't go. This could be the start of something spectacular.

[fe4f3 1,002]

spectacular.

 

You mean Spiderman?

 

[tweezers 1,034]

FINALLY, SOMEONE WHO USES THE WORD BAIRNS!

[etha2007_awesome 44]

I think I'm gonna crawl back into my hole now :x

WHY DID YOU BETRAY ME IN HALO 5!!! ALSO MERIDIAN WAS PRETTY! NOW THAT COLONY IS A CRATER THANKS TO YOU!!!

[Truthteller 4,204]

Nice

[Fresh 2,390]

Cool story. Is there a part 2  :rolleyes:  :rolleyes:  :rolleyes:  -_-

[Viking4s 10,791]

“Zynophyll is an antidote for anything", even to cure a classroom from snappy teacher ;)