Noah stretched lazily where he stood, feeling his muscles protest with a familiar ache.
His mana had mostly stabilized overnight thanks to the healing and the potion, though the deep exhaustion still lingered beneath the surface.
He rolled his shoulders, testing the stiffness in his joints before slipping his hands into his pockets and heading for the door.
The infirmary ward was quiet, the air smelling faintly of herbs and disinfectant.
He paused briefly by the reception desk, where the same nurse from the previous night was flipping through a ledger.
Her head shot up at the sound of his footsteps.
"Leaving already?" she asked, mildly surprised. "You're supposed to rest for another few hours."
"I've rested enough," Noah replied with a faint smile. "Thanks for patching me up."
She sighed, shaking her head, but didn't try to stop him.
"You heroes are all the same," she muttered. "Always walking out before the bruises fade."
