Chapter 46: The Last Day in the Capital

I never enjoyed sleeping in separate beds but I can say for sure I hate one not sleeping in a bed while another is much more.

'I feel like I slept sprawled out on a stump.'

But I don't regret it. The exhausted Sapphires deserve to rest in a bed after the effort they put into their training. 

Despite using two sleeping bags and an extra blanket for cushioning, the wood ground didn't feel good.

'I could really use a massage to get rid of this stiffness.' 

Is there anyone I know who could be good at giving one? 

But after some quick stretches from Verei's side, I found that the stiffness wasn't as bad as I originally thought. This is likely due to Verei's sense of touch degrading after being overstimulated. 'Guess I found one side effect of that poison even when healed with magic.'

Veda, on the other hand, seems to be normal as she can feel even the blanket on her skin but Verei can barely tell something is touching him. 

It's scary to think that even when time was rewound, there was a permanent effect left by a poison that could be used to torture a person's nervous system. But this could be a boon in disguise. Veda can't feel Verei's pain as strongly anymore. If I ever get the chance to fight together simultaneously, I won't have to worry about losing focus as Veda if Verei ever takes a hit. 

'However, Veda is still sensitive, so if she gets hit Verei might be left open.'

"Maybe I should take this as a sign that Veda should avoid combat. She's already at a major disadvantage when fighting alone.' 

But that could be a risk regardless. The two together to die together or the two apart be apart to risk a situation like that again... I'd prefer together.

I checked the sun's positioning and find that the party has slept long enough. 

"Alright guys! Time to wake up!" 

Groans come from beneath the sheets as their movement of tossing and turning happens with an extra wrapping of the covers. 

"Running around wore me out worse than casting magic." complained Floris. "Think we could just rest today? We have enough money to slack off." 

"I agree." says Sapheir. "I want to improve but I don't think doing it all day every day will have a positive effect on our health." 

I expected it from Floris but for Sapheir to be giving these kinds of excuses, he still must be having self-doubt about his capabilities. 

"I know how you feel but how can you expect to improve if you don't keep up a routine? Working out a few hours every day is the minimum to improving yourselves." 

I wouldn't have come this far had I taken a break in the days before finding them. It was truly pain in every aspect of the word, all just to do the bare basics of living life.

'And now look at me, being praised as if I was a master of physical combat.' 

Peeking out of the covers, Floris tried to play the smart guy by bringing up a flaw in that logic. 

"But working out every day will leave us too exhausted to do our job of slaying monsters." 

"Floris, it was only two hours of jogging and you're saying you've been working out all day? That just shows you never worked out long enough." 

"Then how about my training?" asked Sapheir. "I'm doing so much I doubt I'll be taking any jobs today." 

"Then don't work yourself to death! If you can't move any longer in your training, then you're doing too much! It's best to go at your own pace, only working your best when you're fighting for your life." 

Then I thought of something. "For instance, I lived in hobgoblin territory for practically my entire life. If I wanted food, I had to catch it. And I had to fight hobgoblins, wolves, fanged foxes, and everything else in that forest just so I could return with meat and edible vegetation. The training you guys go through may be rough for you now but an hour is the least you can spare for self-improvement. Doesn't matter if it's the beginning or end of the day, just so long as you spend time on self-improvement." 

Sapheir and Floris looked into the story, it seeming to catch their interest. I used an exaggerated tale of my time in the forest, but they are people motivated by Uldrei's story so why not mine as the 'grandson' of their legend? But that didn't seem to be enough to make them get out of bed. 

Just then, the door slams open as Jikani comes in shouting. "What are you guys waiting for?! I want to get through this training to wipe the smug look off Gin's face! Now get your asses moving!" 

'...Well ok then... I guess Jikani doesn't need me to motivate her too.'

'But I am a little concerned by her change of motivation from getting better at melee combat to getting a hit on her substitute teacher.' 

You wouldn't expected the quiet mage to have a sadist streak but at least it lit a fire in Jikani, and witnessing the only woman in the group be more motivated than the guys seems to have had a positive effect on the guys' egos. 

"If you guys are that motivated then should we get you started now or after a bath and meal?" 

"Bath first!" Everyone shouts. 

... 'Welp, even if they're motivated, they won't jump into training without relaxing first I guess.' 

-------- 

With some time before reaching the bath, I thought about Veda's conversation with the Keeper of Enforcers about her book. 

I flip through the pages for a second look at the incantations inside, examining them closer than before as I take notice of information I originally glossed over.

Now that I have a better idea of how magic works, I separate the common spells and the advanced ones based on mana consumption. 

When I first looked, they all blurred together as a jumble of knowledge I couldn't yet make heads or tails of. I never thought much about the cost of each spell because I never felt much of a difference when I cast them.

The only exception was due to the spell used in an attempt to save both Uldrei and I. So, I took a look at the spell I used which made me so exhausted. 

"Atomize Earth – 30 ounces of mana a second every foot in diameter added." 

The amount of mana used for a hole big enough for both me and Uldrei was 90 ounces of mana a second for over an hour in one direction. Over 300,000 ounces of mana was used and I only had a mild headache before casting 'High Heal' for another 50,000 ounces of mana on its own. Even casting Healing Word on Serci for another 10,000 ounces after.

Unlike Floris, who cast the 100,000 ounces spell, Regeneration Point, once and collapsed shortly after, Veda was barely affected. Even though Floris cast a 1,000 ounce Fireballs, he wasn't able to handle casting Regeneration Point where I could cast it five times with only a minor headache. 

'Wait, wasn't it ten fireballs he could cast before his head started to ache?' 

After I closed the book, the overwhelming capacity of mana and high consumption required was finally being acknowledged. Veda can cast so much more than many C-ranked casters put together, but what does that mean for who she was? 

"I need to clear my head." 

I should leave these questions for after I find more clues. Even if I ask these questions now, I can't get an answer from nothing. At least until after I reunite with my other in a place known for collecting knowledge. I have things I must do to ensure I can continue living and these questions aren't going to help me reach that goal. At least not yet. 

I hear a knock on my door as a maid enters, seeing I'm awake. I tell her my plans, today being the day Veda leaves the capital for the University of Oriel and as such I need everything to be packed and ready. 

The maid bows her head as she rings for two more to enter to help pack up the rest of my things while I head for the bath with the last maid, bringing my new chainmail along as the new addition to my main attire. 

Nearing the entrance, my mind wonders about Emeri.

'She won't be able to see me off today but will I be seeing her in the bath this time around?'

'I should hope not seeing as it could cause Verei to get another nosebleed but we left on some bitter air that we both tried to brush aside.' 

With a deep breath, I open the door and unfortunately, it seems there is someone inside, just not the half-elf who proclaimed herself to be my 'big sister'. 

"Ah, hey Veda!" Serci greets me but I turn to not look directly at her. I'm glad I was ready for this one but I need to remain alert till I get out of the bath. 

"Hey Serci. Didn't expect to run into you here." 

She nods. "Yeah, I'm usually made to join the princess by her request, so I don't get to use the VIP bath often. I really wish she wouldn't try so hard to make me stay by her side all the time. I'm supposed to be a Keeper yet she continues treating me the same way she did when we were kids." 

The exhausted face Serci gave, it seems I'm not the only victim of excessive physical contact from another female. 

Speaking of, I noticed the three maids ready to do their job of scrubbing the bodies of Noble ladies.

I mentally prepare myself for the inevitable, setting the steel chainmail on a nearby rack as the maids help prepare me for the last time I ever have to do this. 

'Hopefully...'