The Academy's Terminally Ill Side Character
Chapter 135: Potions Traning

Chapter 135: Potions Traning

Next Day – Sunday

Another holiday.

Which meant—more training.

There weren’t any fancy plans, no thrilling outings. Just me, a quiet courtyard behind the dorms, and a few hours to burn working on what actually mattered.

Training my talent and trait wasn’t exactly difficult—it was just...tedious.

The process was straightforward: activate my Talent, [Enhancement], which consumed primal Qi, then rely on [Eternal Return] to restore that consumed Qi. Over and over. A cycle of use and replenish. Efficiency in repetition.

Enhance the Talent Enhancement Potion, sip it slowly, let it settle. Wait.

Then enhance the Trait Enhancement Potion, sip that too. Let [Eternal Return] do its thing.

To most people watching, I probably just looked like I was taking small, ceremonial sips from two potions like some picky tea connoisseur.

"...What have you been sipping on?"

Leona’s voice cut through the still morning air. She stood there, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised like she was judging both my choices and my existence.

I glanced at her, unfazed. "Potions."

"I gathered that," she said, stepping closer. "But why don’t you just drink them like a normal person? What’s with the tiny sips like you’re hosting a tea party with yourself?"

She looked genuinely bothered. Like my slow drinking offended her warrior spirit.

I sighed and raised the potion flask again, letting the liquid gently hit my lips.

"It’s not about just drinking," I replied calmly. "It’s a matter of pacing. Control. Rhythm."

She squinted. "It’s a matter of wasting time."

I stared back at her. She wouldn’t understand. Not yet.

"It’s how I train my Trait," I added. "I use my Talent, burn through energy, and let my Trait bring it back. The sipping helps me control the burn rate. Not too fast, not too slow."

Leona didn’t respond right away. She tilted her head like she was trying to decipher whether I was a genius or just making it all up.

I continued, "You wouldn’t ask a dragon why it flies the way it does, right?"

She gave me a deadpan stare. "You comparing yourself to a dragon?"

I smirked. "No. You’re the dragon right now. I’m still a snake, trying to shed."

There was a pause. A long one.

Then she let out a breath and sat down beside me. "You’re weird."

"I know."

"But if it works, I’m not going to stop you." She leaned back on her arms. "Just don’t expect me to start sipping potions like some snob."

"Duly noted."

We sat in silence for a while.

The sky outside had softened into a calm, cloudy hue. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, and the gentle breeze coming through the window brushed against my skin.

I continued my potion routine like usual, silently draining the bitter liquid down and letting it settle in my core. Leona didn’t say a word, just leaned back in her seat, arms crossed, eyes flickering to me every so often.

That was just Leona being Leona.

She always acted like she didn’t care, like she was just here because she happened to be in the same room. But the way she sat close enough to intercept anyone coming near me... the way she stayed without saying anything, watching over me like a silent bodyguard—well, it said enough.

She didn’t want to say it out loud. And honestly? I didn’t mind.

Quietly, I downed both potions and closed my eyes, letting my mind sink inward.

Leona didn’t interrupt. She just stayed in her spot—keeping a distance, but never far enough to ignore me. Her presence wasn’t heavy or suffocating like Ryen’s awkward tension. It was calm. Grounded.

Even though it must have been boring for her, she didn’t budge.

She never said it, but I could feel it—she was standing guard.

She always got mad at Ryen over the dumbest things, but in the original story, I remembered... she was actually one of the kindest people in the cast. She just didn’t know how to show it without sarcasm or threats.

The potion was taking effect, so I focused on using Enhancement, emptying my internal vessel every time my Primal Qi refilled.

Time became a blur—minutes passed like seconds.

When I opened my eyes again, Leona was still there, leaning on her elbow now. She noticed me and smirked.

"So? Did you get anything?" she asked, casual as always.

I shrugged, pretending nothing had happened. "No, not really."

"Tsk," she clicked her tongue, clearly unconvinced. "I knew it. Acting all serious, sitting there with your eyes closed like some sage or something."

Of course, I was lying.

There wasn’t any noticeable breakthrough in Enhancement, but [Eternal Return]—my recovery speed—had improved dramatically. And more importantly, my internal vessel had grown.

It was subtle, but it was progress. Slow and steady.

I didn’t feel like explaining all of that, though.

Some things were easier to carry alone.

And besides... I’m little stronger then before so that’s good sign for me.

At that moment, Leona stretched her arms overhead and yawned exaggeratedly. "So, serious question—why do you even bother with all this potion sipping and training if it’s so slow? You could be out having fun, you know."

I glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "And do what? Get distracted? Waste time? I’m not built like you. Fun comes after I get stronger."

She smirked. "Strong like a turtle, then. Slow and steady wins the race, huh?"

I snorted. "Something like that."

She nudged me lightly with her elbow. "You’re too serious sometimes, Rin. You gotta loosen up a bit."

"Yeah, well, you gotta focus more."

She rolled her eyes. "Touché."

For a moment, we just sat there, the quiet courtyard wrapping around us like a soft blanket. The wind rustled leaves on the trees, and somewhere a bird sang its simple morning song.

"Anyway, I’m done with traning for today. So, let’s go eat something in cafeteria?"

Leona looked at me and said, "sure."

...And with that today’s training comes to the end...and also it’s quite today but from tomorrow second Arc [World Greatest Hero] starts, so it means more Chaos.

Damn!

Sometime I wish I could just get rest.