Leon's legs felt like rubber as he trudged up the staircase behind Saria, the weight of the dagger in his hand a constant reminder of the goblin's blood still clinging to its blade.
The inky sensation from the kill lingered in his arm, a cold, crawling energy that made his skin prickle.
His heart hadn't stopped racing since the basement, and the vision's demonic laughter echoed in his mind, mixing with the fear that he was still, undeniably, in way over his head.
I just killed something, he thought, his stomach churning.
Me. The guy who cried over a dead snail.
He wanted to be the hero he'd always dreamed of, but right now, he felt like a fraud in a fantasy world he barely understood.
Saria led the way, her black ponytail swaying with each step, her leather tunic hugging her curves in a way that made Leon's already frazzled brain struggle to focus.
Her face remained an unreadable mask, her dark eyes fixed ahead, unaffected by the stench of the basement or the weight of what they'd just done.
Granny Elda trailed behind, her staff tapping the stone, her cackles echoing like a bad omen.
"Keep up, boy," she called, her voice dripping with amusement. "You're not done yet."
Leon swallowed hard, gripping the dagger tighter to stop his hands from shaking.
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "Just… give me a second to process the whole 'stabbing a monster' thing."
His attempt at humor fell flat, his nerves too raw to pull it off.
They reached the chamber with the glowing crystals, the air warmer but still heavy with the scent of herbs and old parchment.
Saria stopped by the table, picking up the Solberry—the glowing orange fruit from Leon's vision.
She held it out to him, her expression as blank as ever. "Eat this," she said, her tone flat but commanding. "It's the second component."
Leon took the fruit, its surface warm and slightly tacky against his palm. It looked like a cross between a mango and a glowstick, pulsing faintly with light. He hesitated, glancing at Saria.
"This isn't gonna, like, turn me into a goblin or something, right?" he asked, half-joking, half-terrified.
Saria's eyes narrowed slightly, the closest thing to a reaction he'd seen. "It's a Solberry. It's safe. Eat it."
Granny Elda snorted, leaning against a shelf.
"Boy's got no trust. Eat the damn fruit, or I'll shove it down your throat myself."
Leon forced a shaky laugh, raising the Solberry to his lips.
"Alright, alright, no need to get pushy." He bit into it, the skin breaking with a soft pop. Juice flooded his mouth, sweet and tangy, like a mix of lime and mango with a hint of something electric. It was refreshing, almost too much so, and he devoured it in a few bites, wiping juice from his chin.
"Okay, that was… actually pretty good," he said, his voice steadier now. The fruit's warmth spread through his chest, easing his nerves slightly.
Saria nodded, setting the dagger on the table.
"Good. Now the final component." She stepped closer, her presence overwhelming in the small chamber.
Without warning, she knelt in front of him, her face level with his crotch. Leon's brain short-circuited, his eyes widening as he stumbled back, nearly tripping over the chair.
"W-Wait, what are you doing?" he stammered, his face burning hotter than a furnace.
His pants tightened instantly, and he cursed his body for betraying him. Saria's face remained expressionless, her dark eyes locked on his, unblinking, like she was performing a routine task.
"The final altar in your vision was my face," she said, her voice calm and clinical. "The Solberry's essence is in you now. I need to extract it… orally." She reached for his belt, her fingers moving aggressive, unbuckling it before he could process her words.