Chapter 13: Cousins
Percy marvelled at the intricate vial pinched between his thumb and index finger. For something so valuable, it wasn’t that large, its height and thickness not exceeding that of his pinkie.
At least, he didn’t have to worry about breaking it if he dropped it by accident. Its hardness wasn’t a joke. It was made of a hollowed-out sapphire shard. A bit overkill in his opinion, using such a precious material for a simple container, but at the end of the day it didn’t really matter. After all, the vial’s contents were easily fifty times more expensive than the gemstone. Probably more.
‘Plus, it can be reused.’
He shrugged, downing the elixir. The liquid was cool and soft as it trickled over his tongue and through his throat, giving him a refreshing feeling. It was bitter, though a hint of apple had clearly been added, to make it easier to swallow for the stereotypical noble able to afford it.
Percy chuckled.
‘I’d drink this even if it tasted like shit.’
Next, he pulled some mana from his sternum, gathering it in his stomach. Only after allowing it to simmer there for a few minutes did he move it back to his core. It stung every time he reabsorbed it, but he gritted his teeth and kept going, repeating the process over a dozen times before stopping.
The whole cleansing took about half an hour, and his core burned when he was done, as if he had dipped it into a vat of acid.
‘It’s worth it.’