Morning light slanted into the workshop, catching motes of dust as Zane rolled the replica parasite between his fingers. It twitched faintly, reacting to his mana.
"Alright, old man," Zane said casually, "come on. Let's put this back inside you."
Grom stiffened. "R-Right now? Are you absolutely sure that thing won't harm me…?"
"Totally safe," Zane replied without even looking at him. "Probably. Maybe. Come on."
Grom gulped and stepped forward with clear hesitation. "Zane… lad, listen. Before you put that—"
He never finished the sentence.
Zane simply grabbed his jaw, shoved the worm straight into his mouth, and pushed it down with a controlled burst of mana.
"GHH—!?"
Grom doubled over, coughing. "I—I regret ever agreeing to your damn plan!"
Zane dusted off his hands. "Pipe it down, old man. You're acting like a child."
"If someone FORCE-FEEDS me a suspicious parasite worm," Grom snapped, face red, "I think I'm entitled to be AGITATED!"
"Yeah, yeah. Drama queen."
