After the group of students from lower school left, Rowen counted the mana stones resting in the wooden drawer. Twenty-three low-grade mana stones. He tapped his fingers against the wood, thinking over what to do next.
Fern, sprawled across a chair and still half-asleep, let out a soft snore. Rowen walked over and nudged him gently. "Hey, wake up."
Fern groaned and rubbed his eyes. "Huh… what?"
Rowen tossed the mana stones toward him. "Take these. Six for recharging the land, seventeen for upgrades."
Fern's eyes went wide as the stones clinked onto the counter. He opened his mouth and swallowed all of the low-grade mana stones in one gulp.
Shade's black ears perked up immediately. She stared at the empty air where the mana stones had just vanished. Her yellow eyes narrowed in confusion. Unable to see Fern, she leapt from her perch onto the counter where the stones had been.
