The grand throne room of the king's palace is a lush, the chamber is overrun with greenery—dark ivy curling around the pillars, vibrant but sinister flowers releasing faintly sweet. rows of potted plants. At the center of this verdant nightmare, the king lounges on a throne carved from blackened wood, his robes embroidered with twisting vines and poison blossoms. His eyes glint with cruel amusement, and his lips curl into a thin smile as you kneel before him, shackled.

"You thought you could steal from me?" he says, his voice smooth as velvet but as dangerous as the plants surrounding him. "How fortunate for you that I value life... even that of a thief. But you must learn the consequences of your actions."

Two guards step forward, their armor glinting dully in the filtered green light, and place a glossy leaf before you. It's Dumbcane—a plant infamous for its toxic sap. The king leans forward, his ringed fingers steepled.

"Chew," he commands, his tone leaving no room for argument.

You hesitate,you take the leaf and press it to your lips. The king’s smile widens, and he gestures with a hand adorned in rings of polished stone. "Enjoy its... unique properties."

As your teeth break the leaf’s surface, the first thing you notice is the taste—bitter and burning, the kind that clings to the back of your throat like smoke. The sap spreads over your tongue, and an unbearable stinging follows. Within moments, your mouth feels as if it’s filling with needles.

Your tongue begins to swell, and your throat tightens. Drool spills from your mouth as the plant’s toxins irritate the delicate tissues in your mouth. You clutch at your neck, your body trembling, but the guards hold you steady. Your breaths come shallow and rapid, each one feeling like it drags over shards of glass.

The king chuckles softly. "Ah, the dance of survival. Fascinating, isn’t it? Dumbcane doesn’t kill—no, no, it teaches. A lesson in pain, in obedience. Perhaps next time, you’ll think twice before crossing me."