Though the potion was clearly liquid, it felt more like jelly—cool and slippery, with no taste whatsoever.
Just as Rus thought about chewing, it slipped noiselessly down his throat.
A few seconds later, the taste arrived.
A sharp tang, followed by a searing burn, spread from the tip of his tongue throughout his mouth, down his throat, and into his lungs like fire pouring through his chest.
"Hiss—"
A pained exhale escaped him. The muscles in his shoulders twitched as if he'd eaten something utterly wrong. His internal organs churned with pain, draining the color from his face and drenching him in cold sweat.
Then, a cool sensation bloomed in his lower abdomen and spread outward. Wherever it passed, the pain lessened. The soothing cold seeped into his organs, easing the formless agony within.
