The Potion

by Martin Sercombe

Xezu was known for his eccentric experiments and strange creations, but his latest endeavor was by far his most unusual. He had concocted a potion that promised to make its user so stunningly beautiful or handsome that no one would be able to gaze upon them for more than a second.

One day, as Xezu was working with the potion, he accidentally spilled some of it into a nearby river. The river flowed into a small village, and soon, all of the villagers who drank from it were transformed by the potion's power. At first, they were pleased with their newfound beauty and charm, but it quickly became a burden as they found that they could not go anywhere without causing a commotion. People would either freeze in panic and wonder or hide their heads, unable to even speak with the villagers.

As the days passed, the situation only grew worse. The villagers became isolated, unable to form meaningful connections with anyone. They could not go to work or attend to their daily tasks without causing chaos, and nothing worked as it did before.

Xezu, upon realizing the extent of the damage he had caused, felt immense guilt and set out to find a cure. He worked tirelessly, experimenting with different ingredients and methods until he finally succeeded in creating an antidote. He hurried to the village and administered the cure to all the affected villagers. Each person instantly became so ugly that no-one could bear to gaze upon them for more than one second.