Alex reached home thinking about something,
'I have to get rid of this fucking disease of mine.'
He had lived far too long with Mana Leakage Syndrome.
So he was determined to find a cure starting tomorrow, since today he was plenty sore and tired—the Healing Touch spell could heal any harm, but it couldn't mend any endurance-related discomforts like soreness or fatigue.
For those, one needed a more advanced healing spell.
'Damn, I forgot to ask about the academy.' He remembered the promise he made to Evelyn. 'Tomorrow I'll ask for sure.'
The spar wasn't that long, lasting less than fifteen minutes, but Sylvana hadn't shown mercy, so he still felt like he'd been hit by a carriage.
After he rested until the shop opened in the afternoon, he went outside and teleported toward his secret lab.
In there, he removed the trapdoor and placed it in his ring, then used an earth scroll to fill the entrance.
He wasn't scared of the shadow guard, since the man didn't know where Alex teleported. The guard had no choice but to wait until he returned to the alchemy shop.
Now that the entrance was buried, his base could only be accessed via teleport, and it wasn't at risk of being accidentally discovered anymore.
Then he went inside and opened his recipe book.
He was on the lookout for a cure for his illness.
He couldn't let it continue any longer, not when it severely harmed his combat capabilities.
He spent almost an hour searching, but he finally found what he needed.
The potion was called Magical Reparation.
'He isn't really inventive with his potion naming sense,' Alex thought. 'Still, it does what I need.'
It was a potion consisting of four ingredients that needed to be added in a specific order.
First was Dawn Petal—very rare. It healed a wide variety of long-lasting diseases, but only those affecting the physical body.
To fix that limitation, Etherthorn was added, an uncommon plant used to conduct energy between reagents.
Since that caused a significant loss of effectiveness for the Dawn Petal, Echo Dew Fern was added—a rare plant that amplified reagent effects. It was thrown in already mixed with the Etherthorn beforehand to reduce potency loss.
Finally, there was Manacrystal Herb—rare, known for stabilizing mana veins and improving mana flow.
'Basically, the first three ingredients are used to make the last ingredient have the effect of the first one,' Alex analyzed.
After taking note of what he needed, Alex looked at the map.
'Damn, I also forgot to ask for the newest map. Holy shit, that beating gave me amnesia.' He suddenly remembered he wanted a map, now that he stared at the one pinned to the wall.
He studied it for a good ten minutes until he found the painting of the Dawn Petal.
As a very rare herb, it couldn't be bought from any alchemy shop, since no one willing to sell it would do so casually. Dawn Petal could either be found in the wilderness or—luck permitting—at an auction.
According to the map, southeast of the Morningstar Palace was a jungle where the plant grew.
The other three ingredients could be purchased, though at a hefty price.
Now that he had all the information he needed, Alex spent some time meditating to recharge the mana he leaked and headed back out.
The afternoon was in its last light, so he had to return home to cook with Susan.
As he reached home, he explained his plan to her.
"Sure, I'm glad you're finally attempting to get rid of that nuisance, but be careful in the forest. You don't know what kind of danger lurks in there," Susan said. "Now to the kitchen, young man." She then ordered.
As Alex cooked, he was already wondering how to improve his combat for tomorrow's spar. The familiar rhythm of chopping and stirring helped him think more clearly, and he used the motions to sort through strategies he could try.
The other person thinking about tomorrow's spar was Vanessa.
'Haah, I don't really want to work out tomorrow. Fucking Alex,' she thought, thinking wildly differently from his aide.
As she imagined how she'd beat Alex once the contract was over, a knock came in. "Come in," she said, and Alex's shadow guard approached.
"Princess," he said.
"Why aren't you looking after Alex?" Vanessa asked.
"He is already back home, but I lost track of him for most of the afternoon," the guard replied. "He used teleport to get out of my sight. It's not the first time. I have a feeling that when he wants me around him, he walks, and when he doesn't, he teleports."
Vanessa didn't need more explanation. "So you're saying he goes somewhere so secret or private that he doesn't want anyone around?"
"That's right, Princess," the guard replied.
"I see. Thanks for the report. If there isn't anything else, you may leave," Vanessa said.
The guard saluted and disappeared.
'So where might you be going?' Vanessa wondered. She hoped these escapades weren't for something questionable.
'I guess I don't have any other choice but to ask.'
She didn't want to pry into his private business, but given his antecedents, the possibility couldn't be ignored.
But first, she would talk about this with Sylvana.
After a while…
"Yes, you would do right in asking him. After all, he has to understand that the lack of trust comes from his secrecy and his past actions," Sylvana said.
As contracted partners, any action done by Alex could impact the image of the royal palace, so they had a clear interest in his whereabouts.
"Tomorrow we'll ask him, then," Vanessa said.
As the following day approached, after his usual routine, Alex was getting ready to leave for the palace, remembering the things he needed to ask: 'Remember, academy, map, herbs.'
He didn't want to forget again after a beating like yesterday.
'Also, the map is finally complete. Tonight I'll see what I've been missing from the dream.' After so long, he had finally extracted all he could from the third dream, and while the feeling of being stabbed and poisoned to death wasn't nice at all, the benefits he gained made up for it manyfold.
As he went out, he walked toward the teleport hall and went to the palace.
The maid directed him toward the training ground, where Sylvana was already waiting.
"Hello, Alex, ready for another beating?" she teased.
"Yeah, I have something I want to try," Alex replied, not minding her comment.
"Huh, you're no fun to tease," Sylvana scoffed. "Still, there's something Vanessa and I want to talk with you about after the spar."
"Likewise," Alex said.
"Speaking of which, where is she?" he asked.
"I don't know, but it seems she wants a real good spank," Sylvana replied.
Suddenly, the doors banged open, and Vanessa approached, running and huffing.
"Damn, am I late?" she asked.
"Not at all, but look out in this spar," Sylvana replied with a smile, though her eyes told a very different story.