Running from one's own demons

[ Strongest System Notification:- Congratulations for completing all your tasks for the day, you have received one revitalization potion ]

Rocky received a system notification and as soon as he read it, he felt a bottle magically appear in his hands.

"Woah" Rocky felt shocked as he observed the bottle and it felt like a very real object that had a glass like texture from the outside and a thick jiggly liquid on the inside.

Rocky did not understand the physics behind how an object could appear in his hands from seemingly nowhere, but he was too tired to think too deeply about it.

At this point Rocky just accepted the fact that either he had gone insane and was seeing things that were not real, or that the system was an omnipotent force which transcended the rules that he understood.

Opening the bottle cap with a satisfying *POP* Sound, Rocky took a whiff of the potion and tried to associate the smell with things that he knew.

The potion gave a unique metallic smell that smelled like a mixture of blood and sweat, however, Rocky could not clearly identify what it was with the smell and texture of the liquid being unlike anything that he had ever seen or smelt before.

*GULP*

Drinking it in a single gulp, Rocky emptied the contents of the potion bottle into his mouth and drank it like it was medicine.

The thick liquid was slightly hard to swallow and Rocky could feel it going down his throat as every inch of his throat burnt when the liquid passed through, giving him a vivid sensation as it made its way down his esophagus and into his stomach.

Almost instantly, he felt his brain become more active as he felt his alertness of thought and action returning.

When he drank the potion, he was literally on the verge of collapsing from fatigue, however, within a minute of drinking it he felt significantly better as he felt energy returning to his body.

As the potion made its way into his stomach, making him feel as if his stomach was on fire, he began to sweat profusely as Rocky felt his body temperature rising rapidly.

Soon, Rocky began feeling uncomfortable from the heat and with no better solution, Rocky rushed to the shower and turned it to the coldest possible temperature as he stood underneath trying to regulate his body heat.

After five minutes, Rocky felt as if all his fatigue had been washed away with the burning sensation in his stomach fading away as the potion was fully absorbed into his body.

Surprisingly, not a single inch of his body felt in pain anymore when just a few minutes ago it hurt him to even touch his sore muscles superficially.

"Wow-"

Rocky could not help but feel astonished by the potency of the revitalization potion as the respect he had for the system increased significantly.

At first he had assumed that the system was a lecherous and dangerous entity that was designed by some pervert, however, now that he enjoyed its revitalization potion, his assessment of it improved.

Rocky now felt that the system was a magical entity that was harsh but fair as the reward for the day's hard work was an equally magical medicine that removed built up fatigue completely.

*Knock* *Knock*

While Rocky was thinking all this, he suddenly heard a knock on the bathroom door, prompting him to shut the shower as he answered "Yeah?"

" I'm home and I've noticed that you haven't had your dinner yet…." A feminine voice said from the other end of the door as Rocky realized that Amelia was finally home.

It was already 5 minutes past 12 and Amelia was only returning from work at this late hour.

" Be out in a minute" Rocky said as he quickly dried himself and got dressed before walking out as he found Amelia setting up the dinner plates and heating the food.

" What did I say, young man? I want you to eat healthy and on time…. Why have you not had dinner? You should be in bed by now-" Amelia said as she scolded Rocky for not having dinner yet, however, Rocky was also smooth with it as he replied " I was waiting on you aunt Amelia, back at the Yadav house, we never have meals alone".

For a moment Amelia was taken aback by his reply…. Eating together as a family? It was something Amelia had not experienced in years as somehow she could not bring herself to scold Rocky for having such a sentiment.

Although she knew that Rocky was only being slick with his reply, she let it slide as she brought the heated food to the table and served herself some.

Rocky followed suit and filled his plate as well, as for a few minutes the two ate in complete silence.

"You worked hard today…. I saw your vlog, first live through the house camera and then on your channel" Amelia said eventually, breaking the silence.

" Yeah-" Rocky replied, surprised to find out that Amelia had already seen his vlog when it had not even been up for more than 30 minutes.

"Is this your way of coping with your sister's absence? Totally draining yourself of all your energy?" Amelia asked in a slightly concerned voice, as she had some experience following this method, having gotten through the worst phase in her life by doing the same.

Although she could not communicate it well, Amelia knew perfectly well how it felt to exhaust oneself to the point of blacking out, just so that you could go to sleep without having to face your own demons.

It was a good strategy to adopt for a day or two, however, she knew very well that one could not run forever and that sooner or later the demons always caught up.

"I'm trying to become a better version of myself.

It's for self growth" Rocky replied, as Amelia looked straight into his eyes but said nothing.

She wanted to give Rocky some valuable advice, however, did not believe that she was appropriately close to Rocky to give advice so sentimental and hence refrained from saying anything.

" Once you're done eating, wash the dishes and go straight to bed.

I'll probably be gone for work by the time you wake up, but the chauffeur will be here to take you to school-" Amelia said as she stood up from the dinner table having finished her meal before Rocky.

" Will do" Rocky said, as he patiently finished his dinner and headed off to bed although he did not feel the need to sleep at all.