"I shouldn't have let her come to the board."
"But Master, she wanted to do it herself... it's not your fault."
The voices were muffled and trembling, as if heard through a thick wall.
Maria was semi-conscious, but she didn't open her eyes. It was an old instinct: Always assess the situation before the enemy knows you're awake.
Her body felt heavy, but not the painful heaviness of passing out. A strange sensation, like warm water flowing through her drained body. Something external, powerful, and controlled was pulling her back from the edge of the abyss.
This isn't my energy...
Maria suddenly took a deep breath, as if she had just surfaced from underwater.
GAAASP!
Her eyes flew open, and she sat up halfway. Her hand unconsciously went to her waist (where her daggers weren't).
"Calm down! Easy!"
A firm hand grabbed her shoulder and pinned her to the bed.
Maria blinked to clear her vision.
Master Albert was above her. He was slightly pale, and sweat beaded on his forehead. His hand was still over Maria's heart, and a green flow was flowing from his fingers into Maria's chest.
"Don't move, girl. I'm still performing the 'infusion'. If I stop, your heart will stop again."
Maria froze. She looked at the glowing flow.
"My heart...?"
"Maria!"
Sarah, whose face was wet with tears and who was huddled in the corner of the room with puffy eyes, jumped forward.
"She's alive! Thank God... Master, will she be okay?"
Albert sent the last pulse of mana and removed his hand. He took a deep breath and slumped into the chair, as if he had set down a heavy load.
"Yeah... she's back."
Albert took off his fogged-up glasses and wiped them with the hem of his robe; he stared at Maria with a tone that was a mix of anger and admiration.
"Congratulations, Miss Maria. You have officially broken the record for the 'stupidest method of suicide' in Academy history."
Maria, whose heartbeat had now calmed down, said quietly:
"I just made a fireball..."
"Your capacity is a drop, but you tried to unleash a flood!"
Albert raised his voice slightly.
"You suffered 'Complete Mana Depletion'. Your body went into shock. Do you know what would have happened if I hadn't been there and quickly given you my own mana?"
Albert snapped his fingers in front of Maria's face. Maria closed her eyes for a moment.
Snap.
"Like a candle running out, your light would have gone out. Your brain would have become a dark, empty room. You would be alive, but there'd be nobody left inside."
"I don't know if you're aware or not, but let me be blunt: with this insignificant mana capacity you have, using magic is basically suicide for you."
Maria, the dizziness of unconsciousness having cleared from her head, pulled herself up and leaned against the headboard. She was faced with a bitter and inevitable reality.
If I can't use magic, I have no chance against people like Damian. Judo techniques, daggers, and Aura only work up to a point.
"Master Albert... does that mean there is no way? Can't I increase my capacity? Train?"
Albert sighed and pulled his chair closer.
"Look, Maria, mana capacity is like a person's 'height'. It's something you're born with. Usually, nobles have high capacity and commoners... well, less."
He pushed up his glasses.
"Of course, there is a rule that says: 'The more mana is consumed, the wider the channels become and the capacity grows slightly.' Just like muscle building. But your problem is that your capacity is so low that you can't even train! You pass out with one practice session. How do you want to build muscle when you can't lift the weight?"
The room went still. Despair settled over her like a weight.
Suddenly, Sarah, who had remained silent, said hesitantly:
"Well... can't she use 'Magical Equipment'?"
Maria turned her head. A glimmer of hope shone in her eyes.
"Master? is Sarah right?"
Albert pondered for a moment. He scratched his chin.
"The answer is both yes and no."
"What does that mean?"
"You see, most magic crystals used in equipment you see on the market act as 'catalysts'. Their job is to optimize mana consumption and make mental shaping easier for complex and detailed spells. But they don't produce mana. The main fuel still has to come from your own body."
Albert pointed to Sarah's gold bracelet.
"Of course, there is a second type: 'Storage' devices. Crystals that can store mana. But there is a problem with 'density'. Mana is volatile. It can't be kept condensed inside a crystal."
Albert gestured to the room's space with his hand.
"Let me give you an example so you understand. If you wanted to store a volume of mana equal to my body's capacity, you'd need a crystal the size of this entire room! Small equipment (like rings or bracelets) can only hold a small amount of mana. Maybe enough to light a lamp, but to fight a knight? No."
Maria calculated in her mind.
So it's not a miracle... but it's better than nothing. If I can have an emergency reserve, maybe I can use the 'Mana Edge' Aura technique I learned more often in critical moments without passing out.
She remembered last night. The bracelet Sarah had brought.
Maria turned her head to ask Sarah, but the words dried up in her mouth.
The image of Sarah's tearful eyes and her own cold voice echoed in her ear: "I don't need charity."
Sweat of shame beaded on her forehead. How could she ask for help now, after that behavior?
Sarah saw Maria's hesitation. The girl was smarter and kinder than to hold a grudge.
She took Maria's cold hands in hers and squeezed them.
"With my country's magical equipment, at least you can use magic a few times. That bracelet..."
Sarah smiled, a smile that this time, for Maria, didn't have the color of "betrayal," but the color of "forgiveness."
"It's still in the room. We'll go back and I'll give it to you. I'll fill it with mana for you every night myself. We're roommates, aren't we?"
Maria looked into Sarah's brown eyes.
The defensive wall around her heart didn't crumble, but a brick had come loose.
I pushed her away, humiliated her, but she still took my hand. Maybe... maybe not everyone is like Lucy and Catherine.
Maria lowered her head so Sarah wouldn't see the glint of tears in her eyes.
"Thank you... Sarah."
Albert smiled and stood up.
"Well, looks like the problem is solved. The danger is gone, but rest well tonight."
He went toward the door, but paused before exiting:
"By the way, Maria... if you really want to find a way to overcome your mana weakness, I suggest you pay a visit to the old section of the library. Alchemy and Magic Physics... these are things nobles ignore, but they might be the key to your lock."
Maria raised her head.
"The library?"
"Yes. Knowledge is the weapon of those who lack brute strength."
Albert nodded and left.
Maria looked at Sarah.
"Will you help me up? Let's go try that bracelet."