Each time I used my magic, I felt less willing to tinue. However, when I applied it to myself, the exhaustion disappeared for a while. This repeated itself for a few minutes because, as I tihe demand on my energy increased. Eventually, I reached my limit. I thought I was going to faint, but something ued happened.

  I wasn't sure of the exact area I had purified, but I used a reference circle to guide me. To my surprise, the purificatioeo twice the expected radius. If the circle was more than teers in radius, then I ended up purifying twenty.

  The exhaustion made me even hungrier and, left with no choice, I had to eat the purified herbs. As soon as I ate them, my exhaustion and hunger disappeared, but that wasn't all-there was an ued but favorable side effect.

  My magic, which had previously only helped me overe fatigue, began to intensify. The more I used it, the more my body adapted to it and, sequently, the demand for energy increased. The most impressive thing was that I no longer felt tired. The more intehe magic, the more powerful it became.

  At first, I wondered what was going on, but I soon realized that the herbs were influeng my magic. They had healing properties and perhaps affected my magical ability in general. I still couldn't expily, but the more I ed, the stronger my magic felt. In addition, my body reacted positively, being more resistant. However, I was already satiated and I sehat tinuing to eat would n any more progress.

  I ow jure this magi both hands. The more I trate, the more intes glow bees, and I believe this enhas healing ability. I purify the herbs over an even rger area. Best of all? I no longer o e them to activate my magiaturally. I use it whenever I want.

  When I applied the magiy own body, I felt immediate relief. My muscles rexed as if I were lying on a attress. My once heavy body now felt incredibly light.

  I realized that there was still room to explore this ability further, so I decided to test its limits.

  The cave itself didn't have many elements. I was on aed se, with a raviraight ahead. There was no apparent way out, just a steep path full of rocks. All I could see around me were rocks with a dull purple sheen and a stream of brown water, indig some kind of impurity. Perhaps it was the same substahat ihe herbs. If that was the case, I could use it to test my new powers.

  In front of me, the path was uain. Only loose stones marked the ndscape. Going down the right-hand side seemed the safest option. I had to be careful not to step on one -

  Zup!

  - Oh, no...!

  What I feared most happened: I lost my band rolled wildly to the bottom of the cave. I felt the pebbles tearing my skin and some even pierg it. Damn, how sensitive I am... When I finally stopped rolling, the pain took over my body.

  - Argh...

  As I tried to stand up, I realized that something was wrong with my foot. The pain was familiar - I'd fractured my wrist as a child and reized the sensation immediately. At least this time I had a solution in the palm of my hand.

  Without hesitation, I jured up the emerald glow in my hands and pressed it onto the injured area. The fracture began to heal instantly and, in just a sed, the pain was pletely gone.

  I also took the opportunity to treat the minor scratches and bruises. They disappeared in the same instant. This magic was truly miraculous!

  Now, on refle, I don't uand why in RPGs the warrior css is always the most popur. I'm starting to revise my views on clerid healers. Being able to heal myself whenever necessary is an invaluable advantage!

  With my beed and free of pain, there was nothing more to worry about. Finally, I could move on.

  ***

  I decided to head in the dire from which I could hear the sound of the stream flowing - or at least, that's what I imagined.

  I know the basics of survival in the forest: for there to be running water, it has to e from somewhere. Its source may be far away, but if I find it, maybe I'll find a way out.

  I followed a retively ft path - or as close to it as a trail inside a cave could be. The ground was uneven, with holes scattered here and there. As expected, the cave didn't have a uniform structure: the floor was damp and uneven, covered in rocks, while stactites protruded from the ceiling, creating a dark and oppressive atmosphere.

  The undergrowth still dominated parts of the path, but the rocks limited its growth. The humidity was such that moss covered much of the ground, preventing me from hurting my feet on the sharp stones. Even so, I walked carefully - one wrong step and I could end up falling into a deep hole.

  - Hm?

  One of the purple stones I had seen earlier caught my eye even more. I approached it, intrigued.

  Perhaps I was heading straight for something toxid radioactive, but at this point, I wasn't even worried. Thanks to my new healing powers, I had gained ued fidence, even if I didn't know how far its limits went. If this stone was dangerous, I'd probably find out in a few minutes - or even the instant I touched it.

  But it seemed harmless.

  Still without toug it, I felt a strange weight in the air around it. It was as if it emanated a dense pressure against my hand.

  TAP!

  As soon as I touched it, a wave of energy ran through my body. My hand began to prickle instantly - the sensation was simir to toug somethirified, but with a low voltage. I had felt something simir before, when I actally touched a broken wire in my old television. That day, I was briefly shocked.

  Now, however, it was different.

  The stone vibrated under my fingers, pulsating with an energy I couldn't yet uand.

  I'm applying trivial experiences from my past life to deal with chaotid uable situations in this pce.

  Wait... what if this stone is going through the same process that affects the herbs in this cave? It makes sense, sidering that everything here seems to be inated.

  Vaku