Realization soon dawned on them as they figured out what the young man meant with his words.
This wasn't a threat.
It wasn't even a warning.
It was a statement—simple, calculated, and undeniably sharp. Ludwig had chosen his words with layered intent, and they hung in the air like a blade resting against a throat.
First, it was to point out their lapse in judgment—their error—drinking unknown potions without confirming their safety, without checking for curses or enchantments. For a group of seasoned adventurers, that was careless.
Second, it was a silent show of power. He could've killed their healer. Swiftly. Quietly. Efficiently. And once a healer was gone, a party was nothing more than meat for monsters.
Third... it was a soft reminder of superiority. Ludwig could have bested them even without resorting to underhanded tactics. They knew it. He wanted them to understand that he knew it too.
The adventurers stood in quiet unease. Even the wind seemed to pause in the garden.
