Eyes was right, but only to an extent. Sirius sat straight this time, in the same dark room in the basement of hospital. He breathed in and out to the rhythm Eyes of the Forest set up. She stood behind him, hitting a small bell in tact with her breathing, maintaining a tempo for Sirius to follow.

"One more time." Eyes said, her emerald eyes shining with mana as she stared into the Astral World.

Sirius prepared. Eyes of the Forest hit the brass bell covered in bright purple lines with a small hammer, making it ring loudly, its high tone resonating in between stone walls. The mana in the air began vibrating violently, hitting Sirius' soul from outside. Sirius took a deep breath with his body and soul alike, taking in the shaking and vibrating energy. Just like in previous times, he felt wriggling somewhere deep inside, as shivering made life uncomfortable for worm-like parasites that occupied his Astral Body in the area of lungs. Sirius suppressed violent coughing fit, continuing to soak up as much mana as he could.

"Exhale and be ready." Eyes focused and silenced the bell.

Sirius evacuated the air out of his lungs and curled forward. Then he felt a tug, as if Eyes took hold of his stomach and began twisting it out of his body.

"Endure!" Eyes shouted. "If not pulled out they might dig in even deeper."

Sirius grunted with what air he had left. Eyes continued to pull, despite Sirius thinking she will rip out his insides through his back. And then...

Emptiness.

Sirius could feel the environmental mana breezing past the holes in his Astral Body, like a cold wind was licking the exposed parts in winter. He inhaled, filling his burning lungs with fresh air, and fell to his back on the rough bed he was sitting on. Greedily he gulped the air, wheezing from the suffocation he had to endure.

"Congratulations. Two parasites less. You were lucky both of them were in place of lungs. That one from yesterday took up all space around the Mana Pool, so they stayed in the pathways leading to it."

"Nice..." Sirius heaved, weakness beginning to overtake his mind.

"No sleeping!" Eyes yelled, bringing Sirius back to life. "Your Spirit Edge is ruptured."

"What is that?"

"Oh, the proverbial skin surrounding your Spirit. Parasites eat through it to get to the middle." Eyes put away the bell in a wooden box filled with feathers and closed it tightly. "Now that those are gone, there are two holes that leak mana. Breath in."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Sirius automatically breathed in, like he did for more than an hour before. The increased pressure inside his Astral Body began pushing more mana out, scaring Sirius to death. The last time he saw mana leak the person's Astral Body was right before Verden's Final Flash...

"Fear not, little one." Elderly voice sounded as someone entered the room.

Sirius looked to the side, facing the man with grey hair that contrasted with sand-coloured skin. His face was filled with wrinkles and occasional mole, but the amber eyes shone with power. "Eyes of the Forest told me about you. Clever one, must I say."

"The World blesses your Path!" Sirius tried getting up, while saying the customary greeting of druids, but was stopped by Eyes.

"As your Path is blessed, Friend of a Snake. Polite one you are, for a foreigner surely. This one is titled Sharp Leaf." Elder bowed a little, a happy glint flickering in his eyes. He looked to the sides amusingly. "So much mana in here. Must be a big one?"

"Oh, no, two of them. Both along the lung pathways." Eyes clarified.

"They fed good, I see."

"I would rather them not." Weakly mumbled Sirius, trying to stay awake with all his might.

"Oh World, I nearly forgot. Eyes of the Forest asked me to bring this. It is a medicine enhanced by your research."

"If I die, please correct my notes."

Sirius tumbled upright, holding onto the bed and accepted the bowl with herbal tea. It was darker than yesterday, almost black, and under the dim light in the room it was impossible to see the bottom of the bowl. He made a deep breath and began downing the liquid. It was bearably bitter and a bit sweet, much more pleasant than it was yesterday. Instantly Sirius felt the mana inside him become denser, almost solid as his Astral Body began collapsing inwards. He felt mana entering from the holes behind him and understood what he had to do. He greedily took in all the mana he leaked into the room, and even more, all until the liquid forced the energy to turn viscous inside him. Some minutes later the flow stabilised, and Sirius could no longer consume more mana, just like it could no longer seep outwards.

"I see, less of the rose thorns and amber blooms... More stabiliser..." Sharp leaf mused observing the effect of his concoction.

"Dried mint works well most of the times..." Sirius weakly mumbled, fighting the dizziness, as his mind felt like a fly stuck in honey.

"Really? I used lavender all my life."

"It is... more reactive and stores mana great... Actually, some mana in this potion would do wonders..." Sirius fell to the bed and began snoring.

"Oh, what would make him sleepy?"

"An interesting side effect, for sure. Did you add rosemary, Eyes?"

"This... I knew it works as a sedative when mixed with hops leaves, but to this extent..."

"His mana flow nearly stopped. Something else must be a catalyst."

"Did you write down the recipe?"

"Oh, but of course. Let's move him to the common room first, though. In a couple of hours the ruptures should cure enough to withstand the internal pressure."

"But before that... Can I just take one look at him?"

"No. Not this time."