One became two.
Two became five.
Five became ten.
Each fruit brought the same reaction.
Warmth.
Energy.
Stability.
But something deeper was building.
Not in his thoughts.
In his body.
He didn't notice at first.
Because the effects stacked gradually.
Subtly.
His senses sharpened.
His awareness increased.
His body felt lighter.
By the twelfth fruit—
He paused.
"…This is a lot."
He said quietly.
But he didn't stop.
Because nothing felt wrong yet.
By the fifteenth—
His heartbeat felt different.
Not faster.
Not slower.
Stronger.
By the seventeenth—
He hesitated.
For the first time.
"…Maybe I should stop…"
He muttered.
But then—
Hunger from before echoed faintly.
And curiosity followed it.
So he took the eighteenth.
And ate it.