As soon as the skill activated, the horse surged forward with newfound speed. Its hooves pounded the ground, leaving deep imprints and kicking up clouds of dirt in their wake. The trees blurred into a dizzying mix of green and brown, clawing at Mav’s vision. Wind lashed at his face, stinging like icy claws, while dust forced him to squint. Each breath was ragged, the air tasting like dry earth, gritty and oppressive.

The horse lunged forward with such force that he was jolted violently, nearly losing his grip. His stomach lurched, the intense speed pressing him back as if a heavy weight crushed his chest. Every bounce jarred his bones, and the rough saddle dug painfully into his skin. The ride was far faster and more reckless than his first frantic journey to the capital.

The coachman let out a terrified scream as they shot forward. He was clearly not accustomed to such reckless speed.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Stop! We're gonna die!" he yelled, his voice a mixture of panic and disbelief.

"Calm down, sir! You'll be fine!" Mav shouted back, though the tension in his voice betrayed his own unease.

"This is too dangerous," Mav thought, gripping the reins tightly.

"If this keeps up, we’ll both be thrown off. Can I somehow use Suppression even though I don’t have enough mana for it to last 15 seconds?"

He decided there was no other choice but to try.

"Suppression," he whispered under his breath, fully expecting the "Insufficient Mana Points" warning to appear.

But instead, dark green flames flared up, enveloping him, the coachman, and the horse. The frantic gallop instantly smoothed out, as if the flames themselves had tamed the chaos.

Within seconds, the gray wolves that had been chasing them fell behind, mere specks on the horizon. A few moments later, they vanished from sight entirely.

"Just focus on the reins and the road ahead, or we’re both in real trouble," Mav advised the coachman.

"If we get thrown off, it won’t be just scratches we’ll be dealing with."

The coachman's knuckles turned white as he gripped the reins, his eyes wide, fixed on the road ahead, as if looking away for even a second would spell their doom.

"There’s a carriage ahead!" Mav shouted, pointing wildly.

"I see it!" The coachman replied, his eyes fixed on the road.

With a quick flick of the reins, they swerved, narrowly avoiding the obstacle by mere inches.

"That was way too close," Mav muttered, exhaling a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

"How are you so calm in this situation, boy?!" the coachman yelled, wide-eyed.

"And what did you do to my horse?!"

"Just focus, sir. Eyes ahead," Mav deflected, not wanting to explain further.

The city walls of the capital loomed in the distance, rapidly growing larger with every second.

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

"We’re almost there," Mav said, his voice betraying a mix of relief and fatigue.

"An almost two-hour trip in just a few seconds? This is madness!" the coachman shouted.

Mav didn’t respond, too focused on his mana reserves. He’d started the journey with 18/120 mana; now, after sustaining both skills, he was down to just 4. His mana was almost entirely drained.

Two more seconds passed, and they arrived just short of the city gates. The dark yellow and green flames dissipated, taking the last of Mav’s mana with them. Instantly, the familiar wave of drowsiness hit him, the all-too-familiar exhaustion that came with emptying his reserves.

"This is bad… I need to move quickly," he thought, his vision starting to blur.

As soon as the horse came to a halt, Mav jumped down, grimacing as pain shot through his still-broken leg. Ignoring the agony, he focused his mind. After a moment, the carriage he had stored earlier materialized from thin air, though it was no longer hitched to the horse.

"Thanks for the ride, sir. Here, take this and sell it for some coins—as thanks and compensation for the trouble I caused," he said, tossing a Fighter Gorilla Core to the coachman, who was still astride the horse.

"Wait, boy—" the coachman began, catching the core, but Mav was already limping away. He had no time to waste; the drowsiness was intensifying with each passing second. If he collapsed now, he wouldn’t wake up again.

He hurried toward the gate, his legs shaky beneath him. One of the guards recognized him immediately.

"Father Organos’ friend!" the guard called out.

Mav nodded in acknowledgment but kept moving.

"Kid, you’re limping. You alright?" the guard asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Yeah, I just need to get to Ms. Ana’s shop for healing," Mav replied, his voice strained.

"Need a hand?"

"I’m fine," Mav said, brushing past the guard.

His surroundings were becoming a blur, the voices around him melding into an indistinct hum. Every time he blinked, it felt like the ground was about to swallow him whole. He slapped his cheeks, hard, trying to shake off the overwhelming fatigue. Some passersby gave him concerned glances, but he didn’t have the energy to care.

Finally, he spotted the familiar wooden sign hanging above Ana’s shop swinging gently in the breeze, a beacon of hope amidst the fog of his fatigue. Stumbling to the door, he pushed it open, the soft chime of the bell a welcome sound. Inside, Ana was behind the counter, talking to someone. The sight of her standing behind the counter, framed by the blue bottles gleaming on the shelves, felt like salvation.

She smiled softly, engrossed in her conversation, unaware of his sudden presence. He staggered forward, collapsing against the counter, startling both her and her customer.

"I need a mana potion. Quick," Mav rasped, his voice urgent.

"Hey! How rude! I was talking with her!" a voice protested from beside him.

Mav turned to see a girl about his age, her golden hair catching the sunlight that streamed through the window. Even in his dazed state, her sharp eyes and tanned skin stood out to him, her yellow cape flowing behind her.

Before he could respond, the girl's expression shifted as she noticed his condition. Her eyes widened, and the annoyance in her voice faded, replaced by concern.

"Wait... are you okay?" she asked, her voice faltering as she stepped closer.

Her sharp gaze softened, concern rippling across her face, the irritation melting into something more serious. Mav blinked up at her, registering the shift in her tone but feeling too exhausted to respond properly.

"Mav?" Ana’s voice cut through the haze, her tone full of concern. "What’s wrong?"

"I think I’m about to die," Mav muttered, barely coherent.

"Please, I need a mana potion. I’ll pay you back later."

Realizing the severity of the situation, Ana turned quickly, grabbing a potion from a high shelf. She nearly dropped one in her rush but managed to catch it just in time.

Handing it to Mav, she spoke in a hurried whisper, "Here. Take it."

"Thanks… Is there anyone in the back? Can I go there?" Mav asked, gripping the potion tightly and glancing at the curtained room behind him.

"Of course. Go ahead," Ana said, realizing his intention.

He nodded gratefully, turning to the girl beside him. "Sorry for interrupting. Please, continue your conversation."

The girl, still watching him with concern, seemed ready to reach out, but Mav was already moving. Limping heavily, he pushed through the curtain, closed it behind him, uncorked the bottle with trembling hands, and drank it down in one go.