Chapter 210: A Severe Case Of Mana Fatigue
Noah woke to the scent of antiseptic in the air around him.
His eyes fluttered open slowly, and for a few seconds, he wasn’t sure where he was.
But soon enough, the white walls and the soft linen beneath him gave it away.
He was in the infirmary.
His head still felt heavy, and his chest ached faintly with each breath, but it was better than before.
"You’re awake."
The voice came from his left.
Professor Cecilia stood beside his bed, arms crossed, her expression somewhere between concern and mild exasperation.
"You fainted in the cafeteria," she said. "You’re lucky Arlo was there to catch you before your head hit the floor."
Noah groaned, trying to sit up, but she pressed a hand on his shoulder.
"Easy. You’re suffering from mana fatigue, Noah. Your mana pool’s been overworked, and your body shut down to prevent permanent damage."
Mana fatigue. He should’ve expected it after the Othello fight, but he hadn’t realized how deep he’d gone.
He could see that Cecilia was debating asking just how hard he’d pushed himself to be fatigued like this, and so he took action before she could voice those thoughts.
He surely wasn’t in the mood for answering questions right now.
"How long do I have to stay here?" he asked, voice dry.
"Until your mana regenerates fully," Cecilia replied. "That means at least two or three days. No strenuous activity, no spellwork, and no training. Understood?"
He nodded reluctantly.
"Good," she said, stepping back. "Get some rest. And try not to collapse again. You’re starting to make this a habit." Her tone softened a little before she turned toward the door and left.
Noah exhaled, finally sitting upright once the room stopped spinning.
He poured himself a cup of water from the bedside table and drank deeply, the cool liquid easing his parched throat.
The door creaked open again.
"Finally awake, Sleeping Beauty."
Arlo stepped in, grinning, carrying a paper bag that smelled suspiciously of cafeteria bread rolls.
"You know, you really scared the shit out of me. One second, you’re telling me to fuck off, and the next, boom! Out cold."
He chuckled. "You sure know how to make an exit."
Noah gave him a flat look. "And I suppose you took credit for saving me?"
"Obviously." Arlo dropped into the chair beside his bed. "The whole school thinks I knocked you out in an argument gone wrong. I might’ve... let them think that."
"Of course you did."
Arlo laughed. "Relax. They’ll forget in a week. Probably."
He leaned back, propping his boots on the edge of Noah’s bed.
"You missed quite a day, though. Princess Ines argued with Professor Bruno about spell theory, again."
"Damien broke three dummies in Combat Drills, and Professor Oliver nearly had a heart attack. Oh, and they announced the exam schedules. Everyone’s panicking."
Noah sighed, rubbing his temple. "Great."
Arlo grinned wider. "See? Nothing like a little gossip to help you heal faster."
Noah ignored him, leaning back against the pillows.
But deep down, despite the headache and Arlo’s endless chatter, a small part of him felt... peaceful.
And so, after what felt like hours of Arlo’s constant chatter, the white haired young man finally yawned, stretched, and stood.
"Well, I’ll leave you to your beauty sleep, hero. Don’t die again before I get back." He gave a lazy salute and walked out, still chuckling under his breath.
Noah exhaled deeply as the door clicked shut behind him.
The silence that followed was blissful.
He leaned back, closing his eyes for a few minutes until the nurse on duty entered quietly, pushing a small tray toward his bedside.
"Dinner," she said softly, setting it down.
"Thanks," Noah muttered.
The meal was simple but filling.
Filled with bread, soup, and fruit, it was warm, and after what felt like an exhausting day, he wasn’t about to complain.
He began to eat, the repetitive motion calming him.
Halfway through the meal, the door opened again.
He looked up, expecting the nurse, but instead saw Princess Ines.
She still wore her academy uniform, but her golden hair shimmered faintly under the infirmary light.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
Noah gestured with his spoon. "Already inside."
She stepped closer, stopping beside the bed.
"I heard you collapsed," she said, her voice even but with a faint note of concern. "Are you feeling better?"
"Mana fatigue," he said simply. "I’ll live."
"Good." She hesitated for a moment, then continued, "I wanted to ask... what are your plans for the holidays?"
"None," he replied, scooping another spoonful of soup. "I wasn’t planning anything."
"Then come to the palace," she said. "We’re hosting a winter ball. Most of the nobility will be there. It’ll be good for you to... socialize."
Noah raised an eyebrow. "You want me to dance with nobles?"
She gave a small smile. "If you can fight other mages, you can handle a few nobles."
He chuckled under his breath. "I’ll think about it."
"Good." She stood there for a moment longer, as if wanting to say something else, then nodded.
"Rest well, Noah."
He watched her leave before finishing his meal in silence.
The room felt emptier once she was gone.
When he was done, he pushed the tray aside, lay back down, and soon drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Hours later, something stirred him awake.
The infirmary was dark, the only light a faint moonbeam slanting through the high window.
He blinked, his instincts screaming at him even before his mind caught up.
There! A figure, cloaked in black, hovering beside his bed. A gloved hand was inches from his throat.
Noah’s eyes widened.
Mana surged through him on reflex, a spell forming between his fingers as he shot upright.
And the figure was gone.
The room was quiet and empty.
He looked around, heart pounding, shadows twitching around his bed in response to his unease.
There was no trace of the intruder, no sound, and no lingering mana.
But Noah knew what he’d seen.
Someone had been there.