After Sherry left, I let the cheerful mask I’d been wearing in her company slip away.

I was thoroughly exhausted.

Every muscle in my body ached, and my mana reserves were unbearably empty. I sat on the edge of my bed, mustering the will to move.

Come on, Aldric. Just a few steps, you need these mana and health potions to recuperate.

Pushing myself to stand up, I swayed momentarily. My legs felt like jelly. I took a shaky step forward, but nearly fell to the ground. Thank god no one was here to see me make a spectacle of myself, or I would never hear the end of it.

This was absolutely humiliating. I couldn’t even stand properly. Never in my life had I felt as wretched and weak as I did right now. I was so frail I could pass as an ordinary old man.

This was infuriating. Normally, I would use wind magic to float above the ground, but I couldn’t even do that now.

I would never stoop so low as to crawl on the old dark wooden floor of my bedroom. This would leave another indelible scar in my memory. I gritted my teeth glaring at my aging legs like they had personally betrayed me. I wasn’t as young as I used to be, but in all my years living the secluded life of a magical researcher, I had always exercised properly without missing a single day. It wasn’t much compared to a warrior training regiment, but it was definitely enough to stay in shape.

This kind of embarrassing helplessness was new to me, and I couldn’t stand it.

I took a deep breath, concentrating with all my might to move my legs forward without wobbling and falling on my ass. This would be even more humiliating.

I managed to advance at snail pace, with very small and controlled steps. When I reached the door, I gripped the doorframe for support, wincing from the sharp pain shooting through my right leg.

Don’t tell me I’d pulled a muscle? This was too much.

I sat down with difficulty, pulling my pant up to look at my leg.

The sight that greeted me was troubling. My calf was swollen, a deep, purplish discoloration blooming just beneath the skin, spreading outward like an ink spill.

A pulled muscle? Perhaps. Or had the mana depletion caused something worse? I clenched my jaw, frustration building alongside the pain. I’d read about what prolonged magical strain could do to the body, but this...

This isn’t good.

Mana exhaustion affected more than just reserves. It could disrupt blood circulation, strain vital organs, or even weaken tissues, something no exercise regimen could truly prevent. If I didn’t remedy this soon, it could leave lasting damage no healing potion or spell could remedy.

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I rolled my leg carefully, testing the extent of the injury. The ache was sharp, the kind of pain that warned against further movement. But lying helpless here wasn’t an option, and the mana and health potions waiting in my alchemy room next door was more necessary than ever.

Forcing myself to focus, I pressed my fingertips against the swollen area and tried to move the small traces of mana left in my body to regenerate the tissues.

The result was... pathetic to say the least.

The small beads of mana didn’t have more effect than a band aid put on an open wound.

I couldn’t even heal such a small injury…

Fine. If magic doesn’t cooperate, then I will rely on willpower to get those damn potions.

Gripping the doorframe, I hoisted myself up once more, the wounded leg barely bearing weight. Each step was a torture. I shuffled forward at a painstakingly slow pace, while cursing my body.

Finally, I pushed the door of the alchemy room open.

It was exactly as I had left it, filled to the brim with different kind of potions on every shelf. Any merchant worth their salt would risk life and limbs to claim even a fraction of my collection of high grades elixirs.

Blue vials lined on the top shelf, each one with potent mana restoratives properties. Below them, were the green ones, strong health potions who could heal the most grievous injuries. A shelf lower were the red flasks, strength enhancers powerful enough to make even a scrawny villager wield an axe like a seasoned warrior. Bright yellow bottles rounded out the collection on another shelf, speed potions that could turn the slowest runner into a blur, leaving series of after images in his wake.

Other shelves were filled with more exotic blends, but now wasn’t the time to review my collection.

The mana potions were just a few steps away.

Three steps… two steps… one.

My fingers finally closed around the cool glass of the blue vial.

I slowly sat on the ground, uncorking it with a trembling hand. When the lid opened, the deep familiar scent of icy mint and ozone filled my nose, sending shivers down my spine. I tilted the potion to my lips, and the liquid burned cold as it slid down my throat.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, like a thunderstorm breaking within me, mana surged through every fiber of my being. My limbs were still heavy, but I finally felt alive again. I tapped into my mana reserves to cast a wind spell, making an invisible hand bring back one of the green potion from the shelf.

I held the green vial delicately, opening it carefully. The deep scent of earth of sandalwood assailed my noise.

The potion wouldn't heal me entirely. Mana depletion had messed my natural regenerative ability, hindering the potion's effectiveness. Still, it was better than letting my injuries fester or relying solely on my stubborn resolve. I needed every advantage to recover quickly, even if it wasn’t perfect.

I brought the vial to my lips, the liquid was rich, carrying a taste that was both earthy and woody. It left a peculiar warmth as it slid down, spreading from my chest outward. I braced myself against the faint pressure I felt as the potion’s effects began to appear.

My injured leg tingled faintly before the dull ache began to recede. The bruised flesh felt less tight, and while the swelling wasn't entirely gone, the worst of it had clearly subsided. Slowly, I tested bending my leg again. The motion was smoother, though far from perfect. That would do for now.

I pushed myself off the ground with both hands. One careful step at a time, I returned to my bedroom, testing the improving strength in my legs. The humiliation I’d felt earlier hadn’t disappeared entirely, but it had dulled now.

I went to sleep early, to recover all my energy for tomorrow.

As soon as my head hit the pillow I fell asleep.