As they walked, Amukelo, walking just behind Pao, leaned toward her. "Hey, Pao," he said. "I've got a question."
She turned to him, a little smile already forming on her lips. "What is it, Amu?"
Amukelo glanced toward the nurse to make sure she wasn't paying attention, then looked back at Pao.
"I was just thinking… what's the big deal with the healing potion for the merchant? I mean, I get it for us. We're fighters. If we lose mana potential, it's a problem. But a merchant? I can't really imagine someone like that ever awakening their mana. Why would it matter so much for him?"
Pao's face lit up in that way it always did when she got to explain something about mana and magic.
"Haha, I love this question," she said. "You see, Amu, mana isn't just useful for mages or people who awaken it."
She tilted her head and gave him a playful look. "Do you remember the basics? Who has mana?"
Amukelo blinked, then nodded slowly. "Everyone and everything?"
"Exactly!" she said with a grin, snapping her fingers. "So even people who never learn how to use it consciously, or never awaken it, still have it. And it still does something. Especially inside their bodies."
Amukelo raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
Pao leaned in slightly, clearly enjoying this. "Vitality, natural resistance, emotional stability, cell regeneration, mental clarity. All of it. Mana's a quiet force for people who aren't using it, but it's still doing work. It's why some people heal faster from wounds. Why some old people stay sharper longer. It's even why certain illnesses hit some folks harder than others."
She paused, tapping her chin. "So, if that merchant passed out from healing potion overuse, and his mana pool got exhausted... well, it might never come back. Which means everything I just listed? It starts to break down. His body won't repair like it used to. He'll be weaker. Mentally foggy. Even aging could accelerate."
Amukelo's eyes widened as he listened. "Wow… I didn't know it was that deep."
Pao smiled warmly. "It is. That's why healers are so careful about how they use their potions. Too many people think it's just some magical juice that patches you up and moves on. But no, it leans hard on your natural reserves."
Amukelo looked at his palm and turned it slowly, as if suddenly aware of something invisible within him. "I wonder what my mana reserves are like."
Pao's smile grew. "Based on all the scares you have? And the fact you survived all that time in the wilderness alone?" She nodded approvingly. "I'd say it's incredible. Your body's been working overtime, whether you knew it or not."
She lightly bumped her shoulder against his. "I can't wait till we're out of this region and you finally get to start your mana training. Once you do, you'll be even stronger."
Amukelo grinned at that, his eyes glowing with the thought. "Yeah. I can't wait either."
Pao's eyes lit up even more. She raised her hands like she was illustrating a scene in the air. "Just imagine — you're in a fight. You cut through one monster cleanly, and before the next one pounces, you turn and — BAM — shoot a solid fireball from your hand like it's nothing."
Amukelo laughed warmly. "Now that would be something."
In front of them, Tharion was walking with his usual unbothered gait. He looked over his shoulder at the two and muttered with a deadpan tone, "Are they investigating a mystery or going on a date?"
Jinrai chuckled softly beside him. "Let them enjoy their youth," he said, not hiding his amusement. "Besides, you should find a woman for yourself too. You might be less grumpy with someone to nag you back."
Tharion raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, yeah. I'd rather see the world. What crazy woman would actually join our travels?" He gestured broadly around him. "Bandit ambushes, monster attacks, vampires, political chaos. Sounds like the perfect romantic getaway, right?"
Jinrai gave him a mock nod. "You have a point."
Then the nurse stopped outside a room, and their mood shifted again, returning to the task at hand.
She turned to them, her voice calm but firm. "He's in here. Don't crowd him. And remember, if he says no, that's the end of it."
Jinrai nodded. "Understood."
As the group stepped inside, they saw a man in the bed. He was wrapped in bandages across his shoulders and upper chest, one arm strapped tightly in a sling, and bruising visible along the side of his jaw. His skin had the dull, pale look of someone still fighting through the aftermath of trauma.
He turned his head slowly, wincing as he shifted. His eyes settled on the group, confused and guarded. "Huh? What's going on?" he asked.
The nurse stepped forward, moving between the bed and the group protectively. "These people want to speak with you. About the incident," she said carefully, glancing at Jinrai as if she already regretted allowing them in.
At the mention of the word incident, the merchant's face tightened. His jaw clenched, and a bead of sweat formed on his temple, despite the cool air.
The nurse immediately caught the change. "You see?" she said, voice rising slightly. "He's not ready. It's still too early for him to speak about that. Come back in two weeks. Maybe then—"
But before she could finish, the man lifted his hand weakly. "No. Wait…" He coughed lightly, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. "It's fine. I can speak to them."
The nurse hesitated, clearly torn. She looked at the merchant again, and this time he nodded to reassure her. His hand lowered to rest on the blanket.
Jinrai stepped closer to the bed, nodding respectfully. "Thank you. That helps a lot. Before we begin, we actually have something for you." He reached into the pouch at his belt and withdrew a small, deep-blue vial filled with a faintly glowing liquid.
Ulhem eyed it cautiously. "No, I've already drank a healing potion," he said, pulling his body back just slightly. "I don't know how much mana I've got left. I wouldn't like to overdo it."
Jinrai shook his head, offering the bottle again. "Don't worry. This one doesn't use your mana to heal you. It's based on rune-tech, designed to work even on people who've already depleted their reserves. You can drink it safely."
Ulhem looked between him and the bottle. Then slowly, he reached out and took the vial. His hands trembled as he popped the cork and sniffed it. The scent was soft, almost floral. He hesitated for a second more, then brought it to his lips and drank.
As the last drop slid down his throat, the glow in the potion flared softly. A shimmer passed through his body, like light diffusing through water. It lasted only a moment, but the change was immediate.
The tension in his shoulders dropped. He sat up straighter, and the lines of pain that had been etched deep into his face began to ease.
The nurse leaned forward slightly. "So? How do you feel?"
Ulhem blinked, then flexed his fingers. He rotated his arm, moved his back. "Wow…" he whispered, surprised. "I don't feel much pain anymore. I feel like I almost recovered just from that one potion."
The nurse exhaled, genuinely impressed. "Incredible…"
Satisfied, Jinrai pulled a chair closer and sat beside the bed, the rest of the group lingering by the wall. His voice was calm, measured.
"So," he said. "Can you tell us what happened that day?"
Ulhem's face went still again. He was quiet for a long few seconds.
Then, softly, he began. "I was late that day," he said. "I was supposed to reach Ashvale a few hours before sundown. But my caravan got stuck — one of the wheels wedged hard against a root. It took a while… maybe two or three hours, to free it."
He paused, rubbing his arm unconsciously. "After that, I rushed forward. I knew I'd be late, but I figured if I moved fast I'd make it just after dark. I was some distance from Ashvale — not far — when the attack happened."
He swallowed. "A group of monsters came at me. I don't remember what they looked like. I was so focused on the road, then everything was screaming and chaos. My horse panicked. Threw me off. There was a cliff nearby — I tumbled off it."
He touched the side of his face gently, where the bruising was still fading. "It should've killed me, honestly. I don't know how I survived. But the monsters didn't follow. I guess they didn't think it was worth the effort to go after me."
His voice dropped. "I limped back up the hill, all the way to Ashvale. Didn't even think about the cargo. Just wanted to survive."
He looked at Jinrai. "That's the same story I already told the soldiers. Nothing new."
Jinrai nodded slowly, taking in every word. His face remained unreadable. "Do you remember anything about the monsters? Anything at all? Their shapes, sounds, colors?"
Ulhem looked down, shaking his head. "I… I don't. It's like a blur in my mind. It all happened too fast."