"Cough…! Cough!"
Vanitas gripped the edge of the sink as his whole body convulsed. A metallic taste flooded his mouth before a thick stream of blood splattered against the edge. His vision blurred as each breath scraped through his lungs.
He waited for the wave to pass while his shoulders were trembling. Lately, the episodes had grown more frequent.
Every two hours, sometimes less, his mana pathways would seize up and trigger violent asthma-like attacks.
And every attack came with the same symptoms, such as blood loss, chest constriction, dizziness, and a burning pressure behind his eyes that felt like his mana core was declining.
Even lifting his head made a sense of vertigo, nearly knocking him off balance. His fingers felt cold and numb.
When the coughing finally subsided, Vanitas rinsed his mouth, though the water turned red almost immediately. He stared at his reflection for a long moment.
