### The Price of Power
"Young Master, what would you have us do with these stones?" Lyriana asked.
"Just drop them on the table," Draven replied.
Both Aldric and Lyriana used levitation magic to place the magic stones on the table.
"Okay, now leave. I wish to rest," Draven said.
"As you wish, Young Master. We shall take our leave," Lyriana replied.
Aldric followed her, adding, "I'll be just beyond the door. Call if you need me."
*I wonder what he's going to do with the magic stones,* Aldric thought.
Both of them walked out, closing the door behind them.
Draven took off his clothes, leaving only his underwear, then walked toward the door and locked it. Turning around, he headed toward the magic stones on the table.
*Now I'm alone.*
Reaching the table, he stretched out both hands and grabbed several magic stones.
Looking at the stones in his hands, he thought, *Damn, I said I was never doing this again, but I guess people do stupid things when they're alone.*
*Nah, I'm just bored.*
He raised one hand, opened his mouth, tossed the magic stones inside, and swallowed them.
He quickly raised his other hand and tossed more magic stones into his mouth.
Just as he was about to swallow them, blood began pouring from his eyes and ears.
Suddenly, he felt like throwing up but managed to hold it in.
The veins and blood vessels beneath his skin began to bulge.
*Damn, what the hell? It's like a bomb just exploded inside me!*
Suddenly, he felt like throwing up again, but he managed to hold it back. Blood poured from his nose, with some escaping through his mouth.
*Fuck, I can barely breathe.*
*I can even feel blood coming out of my ass now damnit!*
* I need to swallow first!*
Draven swallowed the magic stones along with the blood in his mouth.
A massive wave of pain struck him, causing his veins and blood vessels to bulge even further.
He opened his mouth, about to scream, but managed to hold himself back by clenching his teeth.
Blood continued to pour from his nose, eyes, and ears.
*Dammit, I have to make sure not to scream.*
*That wouldn't be good. It's going to make things complicated. I can't let my parents find out. That would be a pain in the ass. Just thinking about how things would play out if they found out is already giving me a headache.*
A few seconds later, the pain slowly began to subside.
Covered in blood, Draven lay on the ground, facing the ceiling and letting out exhausted pants.