Grim managed to maintain his composure until he was safely within the walls of the Ambrose estate. The moment the heavy doors closed behind him, he staggered, his legs nearly giving out beneath him. The exhilaration of victory and the surge of power from Luna had masked a devastating drain on his mana.
Chen Xing caught Grim right as he began to fell.
Grim growled, pushing him away. His hands were trembling, and a cold sweat had broken out across his forehead. "Just need to rest."
"You've used too much power," Chen Xing said, his usual deference giving way to genuine concern. "I recognize the symptoms of mana depletion. If you don't rest and recover, the damage could be permanent."
"I'll rest when I'm dead," Grim snarled, though the effect was somewhat undermined when his body began to give out again. "There's too much to be done. The tournament. The Luminaris. Malaxis."
"None of which will matter if you burn out your mana hearts," Chen Xing insisted, more forcefully this time.
