Nathaniel stared at the round, yellow fruit in his hand. He sniffed it, his eyes widening as the scent reached him. It smelled almost like an orange, but with a distinctive twist. He’d never encountered anything like it before, despite his extensive travels. He sniffed again. Nervously, he licked the specimen. After letting his tongue linger for a moment, he wiggled it in the air, puzzled. The taste was underwhelming.

Nathaniel snorted to himself. He’d never licked the skin of an orange before; why should this be any different? He looked around, as though embarrassed. However, it was a small island and he was alone. His crew was elsewhere, searching for treasures, and he had been insistent upon searching the trees himself. None had seen the mighty Nathaniel lick an unidentified fruit.

Strong yet delicate fingers picked at the skin of the fruit. Nathaniel could see a dozen more yellow orbs hanging from the trees. If they hadn’t been there, he would have waited, but they were and his curiosity had been too strong. He was an adventurer, curious at heart, and he needed to know what it tasted like. Oranges were a delicacy on the mainland, expensive and frustratingly sparse. He was sure that these would be similarly excellent.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Slowly, Nathaniel removed the skin surrounding the fruit. Inside, the segments were equal and juicy, bursting with scent. He breathed in until his lungs were full, inhaling the citrusy smell. The effect on his body was without comparison. His eyes widened, his mind felt clear, and his bones felt as though they were twenty years younger. Immediately, he bit into the fruit.

Nathaniel coughed and spluttered, cursing at the taste.

‘Fucking disgusting,’ he swore, spitting the remnants to the floor.