I just sat there, just relishing in my victory. 30 seconds passed, a minute past, time kept passing and I just sat there looking at the dead Gnoll king. Suddenly a little voice in my head snapped me out of my trance saying 'your about to fucking die', realizing this I looked down at my ripped up body and saw all my wounds pouring in blood. My clothes and armor were soaked red and I was sat in a large pool of blood. "Well..... fuck... that doesn't.... look good" I mumbled weakly to nobody. " I should..... probably.... do something about..... that". I began to stand up again, but with the adrenaline leaving my body I was assaulted by a blinding amount of pain nearly passing out. However I knew that if i passed out know I would not be waking back up and pushed through the pain getting myself back to my feet. I reached into my breast pocket and plucked out the flask of whisky that was inside of it, and no I didn't drink it as tempting as that would be. picking up the knife I had used to finish of the Gnoll king I placed the handle in my mouth clamping on it with my teeth. I then removed the cap from my flask and began pouring the whisky all over my wounds. "arghhhh" I let out a groan of pain blacking out for a second but then regained consciousness stopping myself from collapsing.
Now that my wounds were somewhat disinfected, I needed to stop the blood loss. For this I used an old trick which I had used before and pushing through my mana exhaustion I began formulating a spell. I once again pictured ice crystals forming in the air around my wounds. The ice crystals then began floating onto my wounds and combing in to a thick sheet of ice to stop the blood loss (The bonus with this technique is that the cold numbs the pain you feel). This stopped nearly all of the bleeding and would work until Katia could come and save my sorry arse. "Talking about Katia.... where the fuck is she.... she should.... have..... been here by now" I weakly muttered to myself again.
With the blood loss stopped to the best of my abilities I began to slowly stagger back outside looking for the backpack that I had stashed so it wouldn't get in the way of my fight. After about 2 minutes I managed to reach it, desperately fumbling around inside for the potions Katia had bought for me. First I plucked out the healing potion and poured it down my throat, this would stop me from deteriorating anymore for the time being. I then repeated the process with a mana potion in a futile attempt to stave of my mana exhaustion. then I managed to find a role of gauze and wrapped it around the wound on my stomach to absorb any excess blood that leaked out as well as putting pressure on it.
With my treatment now done to the best of my abilities it was time to relax and check up on my mana pool. For this I was going to need a stiff drink, I reached into the bag once again and found the gorgeous sight of a full bottle of dwarven whisky. Within a few seconds half of the bottle had already disappeared into my stomach and I let out a large relaxing sigh. I then activated my ring of holding again and removed the cigarettes that I kept for situations just like this. I know what you thinking 'how on earth would they help?', but hear me out. They are fucking great at stopping you from passing out, and the nicotine helps relax your muscles making it easier to meditate. So with my cigarette lit, l began a very brief meditation, and what I saw caused more fear than any of my injuries. My mana pool was in a fucking state! like seriously.... that shit was fucked up. I cant even describe how bad it looked but the mana exhaustion was obviously hit harder than I had realized. Im estimating about a 3 week recovery period with no spell use and plenty or meditation to heal that shit up properly.
With a feeling of pity towards myself, I stopped my meditation and turned my full attention towards the cigarette and whisky that I was enjoying. I felt a cough coming and then I hacked up another large pool of blood. "fuck.... fuck.... fuck..... this shit.... is.... not..... good" my voice was getting weaker every time I spoke, "Katia.... if.... you dont..... hurry up..... I'm..... going to have.... to... head back.... without.... you" I was wheezing with pain between every word.
Another 5 minutes past and there was still no sign of katia, so I thought fuck it and started to make my way back to the regroup point at the hunters lodge. Slowly staggering along the road sipping my whisky and smoking another cigarette, I could feel my consciousness begin to slip. This was not good, especially since there where about 30 Gnolls and Gnoll chieftain still unaccounted for. If I was to pass out now I would be a sitting duck for them. Realizing how stupid I had been I slapped myself in the face. "Fucking.... retard..... use message" I murmured again in a derogatory tone.
Pushing my mana pool to the absolute brink I managed to conjure up a message. It said "Katia... where the fuck..... are you?" in a weak voice with a few winces of pain mixed in. I continued slowly stumbling again for about 20 seconds when I heard the reply message "Vaughn!? Vaughn what the fuck? you sound like shit! im in the courtyard of the Gnoll camp. Where the fuck are you?!". She genuinely sounded concerned about me hahaha. I sent another message this time putting to much stress on my mana pool and I began feeling even more exhaustion and a splitting head ache. My last message said "On road.... to cottage.... hurry....". After that I continued my weak march forward to the cottage. My legs were jelly and my entire body felt heavy as fuck. God knows how long I kept walking at a snails pace before I heard a voice sound out behind me.
"Vaughn!.... shit man.... You look fucking terrible" It was the angelic voice as Katia. I stopped immediately and turned towards her. she was jogging towards me and I knew that I would now probably survive. But with that thought, felt a shooting pain through my chest and another large cough of blood came spilling out my mouth. I grabbed my knees to prop myself out and muttered the word "FUCK!" before keeling over forward and landing in a pool of my own blood. my vision went blurry drifting in and out of consciousness.