Machinist of Mana Chapter 94 Exhaustion Among Friends

I made it back to my dorm that evening somehow more tied than I'd been if I'd gone to regular class. A few of the boys looked at me and seeming to feel my mood didn't bother me as I fell into bed.

While I wasn't having to go through the mental exercise, or even most of the physical ones that didn't mean that I didn't have to put forth effort. Despite the knights assurances that eventually resistance would become second nature it wasn't now. Maintaining the pressure was a constant expenditure of will, interrupted by the constant shocks as he put my efforts through their paces.

Even on the lowest setting the little taser baton Sir Kendrick was using could drop an unprepared man, and I suspected that if they weren't so mana intensive they'd make great additions to the police armerments. Through my novice resistance they hurt, but I'd taken a shot or two without it and knew it was far worse without it. That at least was some small light, knowing that my efforts were doing something.

As I drifted in and out of sleep a knock came at my door.

“Come in.”

Lucas appeared there, looking at me sprawled out still in my dirty clothes.

“Come now Percival, at least wash before sleeping.”

“You didn't have the day I had,” I retorted.

“Perhaps not, but we must maintain some standard however minimal.”

“Is there a reason you came to bother me?”

“You didn't show up to dinner and I was worried about you my friend. Lucky I was too, if you're this rough.” As he spoke he took my chair, sitting down to watch as I didn't bother to rise.

“I'm informed you'll be getting some of the training I got today soon since you're in your last year,” I griped, hoping the threat would keep him from pushing too hard.

“Perhaps, and perhaps I'll be as poorly off as you are now.”

“Not showing up to dinner hardly seems enough reason for all this,” I pointed out, pulling myself onto my elbows. “What's the real reason?”

“Rowenna asked me to keep an eye on you, she worries.”

“Seriously?” I asked, blinking.

“She cares for you, in her own weird way, but she does. She's also perceptive enough to know you've been pushing yourself to your absolute limits, and you're getting worse.”

“This whole plan was supposed to push me back to a reasonable schedule,” I said with a sigh. “Now I'm missing meals and barely able to walk.”

“At least you know it though. Percival, I want you to promise me something.”

“What's that?” I wasn't agreeing to anything until I'd heard it.

“Take care of yourself, and listen to people. You don't have enough looking out for you, and next year I won't be here. Maybe Simon could've helped, but he walked away, the bastard.”

“No, he wasn't wrong for that. Being near me is a danger right now, and he has his own people to look out for.”

Lucas looked like he wanted to disagree, but held his tongue. I was glad for that, for even though I liked Simon, and wanted him to join me for my ongoing messes I got it, his move was if nothing else mature.

“Should put your friends before yourself though...”

“Maybe, but not before your family or loved ones. Those must always come first.”

“You know, it's quite hard to be angry with people when you're arguing for them.”

“I do aim to please,” I snarked.

“Still, try to not kill yourself training would you?”

“I said I aimed to please didn't I?”

He laughed and pulled a small bundle from his jacket tossing it to me.

“Sandwich, if you're going to keep going like this you'll need your energy. Things will be far worse if you're not in good shape to continue your training won't they?”

“That,” I said as I opened the little cloth package and took a bite. “Is a very solid point.”

I hadn't realized just how hungry I was until that first mouthful, then my stomach went into overdrive. Within moments I'd scarfed the whole thing to nothing leaving not even crumbs. Of course, I was well prepared for food issues, having learned my lesson well from our first year I kept a small stash of dried meat and fruit in one of my suitcases, enough for a snack or two, and long lasting so I didn't worry about replacing it terribly often. As I unloaded that bundle Lucas laughed.

“Seems I didn't need to worry then did I?”

“No, but I appreciate the thought. Want some?” I asked, offering a few slices of dehydrated apple over.

“I'll pass.”

“Your loss.” I smiled over at him, I'd had few friends like Lucas in either life, and in some ways he was almost like a cousin or what I imagined a brother would be.

“What?”

“Just thinking about the past my friend, glad you were there with me.”

“Bah, don't get all sappy on me, leave that for the girls,” he said, reaching out to flick me on the forehead.

We laughed for an hour or two more, sharing jibes and barbs along with a few jokes we'd both heard a hundred times. It was a good first day, but eventually I did kick him out so I could go wash and sleep.

Over the next week I stabilized. The training was still brutal, and I wasn't sure it was helping at all, but I got used to it. There was even time for me to do my schoolwork here and there, making sure my grades kept up, for if they didn't I was sure to hear about it from all sides.