The sun was already dipping behind the skyline when Ryan returned to his apartment.
Evening light stretched through the window, casting long golden shadows across the room. The city beyond had begun to dim—buildings turning into silhouettes against a fading sky.
Time was slipping.
Faster than he wanted.
Ryan closed the door behind him.
The soft click echoed faintly.
A backpack hung from his shoulder.
Two handheld radios rested in his hand.
He stepped into the apartment slowly, the weight of the day settling into his body.
Then—
He moved.
The radios were placed carefully on the kitchen counter.
The backpack followed, dropping beside them with a dull thud.
Inside—
Several freshly harvested Clearleaf plants.
Their faint glow seeped through the fabric.
Ryan exhaled slowly.
"Alright…"
He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back as he looked at the setup.
"You said there's a proper way to use Clearleaf."
Iris answered immediately.
[Yes.]
Her tone had shifted.
Less playful.
More focused.
[In your previous life, you brewed the leaves into tea.]
Ryan was already moving.
Kettle.
Water.
Stove.
Click.
Flame.
"Yeah," he said.
"I kept it simple."
[It worked.]
A brief pause.
[But it was inefficient.]
Ryan glanced over his shoulder.
"So there's a better way."
[Yes.]
He opened the backpack and carefully removed one of the plants.
The crimson flower at its center pulsed faintly in the dim light.
Ryan held it for a moment, studying it more closely this time.
It looked harmless.
Fragile, even.
But he knew better.
[The leaves should still be brewed.]
[But the flower…]
A pause.
[Must be boiled.]
Ryan raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
[You will soak in that water.]
Ryan blinked.
"…You're serious."
He turned toward the kitchen fully now.
"You want me to bathe in it?"
[Correct.]
Ryan frowned slightly.
"What's the difference?"
Iris answered patiently.
[The tea cleanses impurities internally.]
[The bloom infusion purifies your body externally.]
[Through the skin.]
Ryan considered that.
Then nodded once.
"…Alright."
No hesitation after that.
He moved.
A much larger pot came out of the cabinet.
Water filled it.
A portable burner was set up in the living room.
The process was methodical.
Efficient.
Ryan placed the crimson bloom into the pot.
The petals spread slowly across the surface of the water.
As the heat rose—
The glow intensified.
Subtle at first.
Then more noticeable.
A faint red hue began to bleed into the water.
Steam started to curl upward.
But Iris wasn't finished.
Her tone shifted again.
Quieter.
Almost careful.
[There's something else.]
Ryan paused.
His grip tightened slightly on the counter.
"…What."
[The water needs to be as hot as possible.]
Ryan stared at the pot.
Steam rolled steadily upward now.
The surface trembled faintly as the temperature climbed.
Slowly—
He rubbed his face.
"…Of course it does."
A breath.
Then another.
"So what you're telling me…"
Ryan leaned back slightly, exhaling through his nose.
"This is going to hurt."
Iris didn't hesitate.
[Yes.]
A small pause.
Then—
[Quite a lot.]
Ryan let out a quiet laugh.
Dry.
Resigned.
"Yeah."
"I figured."
An hour later—
Ryan sat in a chair beside the burner.
The pot had reached a full boil.
Steam filled the air, thick and constant, clinging to the ceiling and walls. The crimson bloom drifted slowly in the churning water, its glow now stronger—pulsing faintly beneath the surface.
The scent had changed.
Sweeter.
Sharper.
Almost citrus-like.
It filled the apartment completely.
Strangely calming.
Across the room—
The kettle whistled.
Ryan stood.
"Well…"
He walked into the kitchen.
"Might as well start with the easy part."
He poured the boiling water over the leaves.
The scent intensified immediately.
Fresh.
Clean.
Ryan lifted the mug, inhaling slowly.
"It actually smells good."
He took a sip.
Warm.
Smooth.
A faint sweetness followed by a cooling sensation at the back of his throat.
Unexpectedly pleasant.
Ryan leaned against the counter, taking another sip.
Then another.
Letting it settle.
Minutes passed.
The apartment fell quiet.
Just the steady bubbling of the pot.
Time moved.
Whether he was ready or not.
Ryan finished the tea.
Set the mug aside.
"…Alright."
The bathroom filled quickly.
Hot water ran into the tub, steam building rapidly in the confined space. The mirror fogged over, the air growing thick and heavy.
Ryan returned with the pot.
Carefully.
Slowly.
He stepped into the bathroom, setting it down beside the tub.
Steam rolled upward, filling the room completely now.
Ryan removed his clothes without hesitation.
Set them aside.
The tub was nearly full.
The water already hot.
But not enough.
He grabbed the pot.
Lifted it.
And poured.
The boiling water merged with the bath.
Steam exploded upward, thick and blinding for a moment.
The surface churned violently.
The crimson bloom drifted across it—
Like a drop of blood spreading through clear water.
Ryan stared at it.
Took a breath.
Then another.
The heat hit his face first.
Ryan's hand hovered briefly above the water.
Just for a second—
His body understood what was coming.
Then he moved anyway.
No time to hesitate.
He stepped in.
The pain hit instantly.
Sharp.
Violent.
Unforgiving.
"—Ah!"
His entire body locked.
Muscles tensed.
Instinct screamed at him to pull back—
To stop—
To get out—
But he didn't.
He forced himself forward.
One step.
Then another.
Each inch of his skin screamed as it met the scalding water.
By the time it reached his waist—
His breath was already unsteady.
By his chest—
His hands were trembling.
But he kept going.
Lowering himself.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Until the water reached his shoulders.
Then—
His neck.
Ryan's jaw clenched.
His body shook violently.
Every nerve burned.
But he knew what came next.
No hesitation.
He submerged.
The world vanished.
Heat.
Pressure.
Pain.
Everywhere.
His skin felt like it was being stripped away.
His ears burned.
His eyes clenched shut.
His lungs fought to hold.
Time lost meaning.
Seconds stretched.
His thoughts fractured.
His body tried to reject it—
To escape—
To survive—
But Ryan held on.
Forced himself to stay.
Because if he stopped now—
There wouldn't be another chance.
His vision blurred.
Darkness crept in at the edges.
His grip on consciousness slipped.
His chest tightened.
Air ran thin.
Instinct clawed at him—
Screaming to breathe.
To escape.
Ryan held on.
Then—
[That's enough, Ryan!]
Iris's voice cut through everything.
Sharp.
Urgent.
[You've absorbed all you can!]
Ryan moved.
Barely.
With the last of his strength—
He forced his body upward.
Out of the water.
His body collapsed onto the cold tile.
Water dripped steadily from his skin.
Each drop loud against the tile—
Echoing in the small space.
The sudden contrast—
Cold against burning skin—
Ripped a broken sound from his throat.
His skin was red.
Raw.
Blistered.
His breathing uneven.
Shallow.
The pain didn't fade.
It lingered.
Burning.
Consuming.
Then—
Darkness.
***
He didn't feel it begin.
The mana.
It moved silently through him.
Like a current.
Slow.
Steady.
Cleansing.
Repairing.
Every damaged cell.
Every impurity.
Minutes passed.
The burns faded.
The redness receded.
The blisters disappeared.
His body restored itself—
Stronger.
Cleaner.
Refined.
Then—
His stomach twisted violently.
Ryan's body convulsed.
He rolled onto his side just in time—
And vomited.
Thick.
Black.
Viscous liquid spilled onto the floor.
The smell hit immediately.
Rotten.
Foul.
Unbearable.
His body heaved again.
And again.
Until nothing remained.
The dark sludge pooled across the tiles.
Everything his body had been holding—
Expelled.
Purged.
Silence followed.
Ryan lay still on the floor.
Unconscious.
But changed.
His breathing slow.
Even.
His body no longer weak.
No longer sluggish.
Rebuilt.
Refined.
Ready.
Nearby—
Iris watched.
Quiet.
Her voice soft.
Almost to herself.
[With this…]
A small pause.
[And the technique I'm about to teach you…]
A faint smile in her tone.
[You'll finally have a proper start.]
A quiet giggle followed.
Light.
Amused.
[And maybe now…]
Her voice softened slightly.
[You won't hate your appearance so much.]