18 Chap 18

Tap - Tap

The sound of footsteps filled a small corridor where a young man was walking.

After a few steps, the young man took a fork to the right and walked a little further.

After while sunlight was visible in the distance of the corridor.

Chiiiir~

I pushed open the door from which small rays of sunlight were coming out and entered a garden.

Surrounded by high gray walls was a training field that was filled with grass until the middle of the field where there was a square-shaped sign.

I approached the director and her secretary who were sitting in the lower-left corner under an umbrella.

My footsteps served as a warning of my presence.

"Adad. Sit down, we've been waiting for you."

I took the director at her word and sat down in a chair opposite her.

A day had passed since our conversation and we had arranged to train all week except for Wednesdays and Fridays.

Click

The sound of a cup hitting the table made me turn around and look at the table.

It had some cookies and candy laid out on it, plus three cups filled with a green liquid.

"It's Java tea, an herb that helps the circulation of mana in the body".

Said the headmistress, seeing that I kept my gaze on the tea.

"Thank you, headmistress."

I replied as I took a sip of the tea.

The taste was a little weird like I was biting into sweet grass, but instantly I could feel a sense of relief run through my body.

"I told you not to call me principal, if not Lou."

She said, responding to my earlier words.

I nodded, in response as I looked at the beautiful woman.

Today she had her hair tied back in a ponytail, exposing a pair of pointed white ears, characteristic of an elf.

Sip

I took the last sip of my tea, causing Lou to smile and speak.

"Looks like you've done so let's start your training."

With a wave of his hand, he seemed to say something as the secretary moved and started walking quickly towards somewhere.

"By the way, this is my secretary Ane, she may look like a serious woman, but she's pretty silly plus she's fun to tease."

He said as he watched Ane walk out of the field.

"I see you came prepared for the training, but before a physical training I have to ask you a few things".

I speak as I looked at my Dead Rose, which I had brought with me and was now holstered on my belt.

"Well, let's start by talking about your affinities and your innate ability."

He said as he approached me with clear excitement in his pair of black eyes.

"My primary affinity is Ice, and my second is Lightning.

My innate ability is an A-rank and has to do with Ice as this allows me while using this element, a decrease in my mana expenditure."

Lou's eyes sparkled with surprise as he listened to me.

"So it lowers your mana consumption eh. Undoubtedly worthy of an A-Rank, but tell me how much you think it lowers the consumption level."

Lou's words generated a short silence in me as I thought about what to answer.

I had never stopped to think about how long my mana lasts using Ice Heart.

"Most likely if I only used my ability, my mana would reach that of a Rank E or E- core, probably."

I said while thinking about the one time I had used all my mana.

"Mmm, so you have a dual deviant affinity, plus an innate ability I wouldn't expect anything less from a child of mana."

"But now let's talk about the important thing, your talent as a swordsman.

The first thing we need to determine is the right type of sword for you, can you show me your sword."

I nodded and passed to Dead Rose unsheathed.

"It's a very good sword, plus its skill is incredible and its form is made to make the most of the sword art taught in Aren's realm."

Dead Rose was a long sword of about 120 cm without counting the hilt that at the tip was elongated, quite similar to that of the knights of England on earth.

"It would be a perfect sword for you if it weren't for the fact of its shape, as an aspiring disciple of the Dawnwinter style you occupy speed.

This sword was made for Aren's style one that relies on the elegance and dexterity of the thrust."

I lowered my gaze thoughtfully.

What Lou said was true and I had proven it in my little fights.

But still a part of me, I didn't want to leave Dead Rose not only because of her incredible skill and rank but because of...

"Fufufu~

You don't have to worry my dear Adad, I precisely have a way to solve this."

He said them with a slightly flushed face and a seductive smile on his lips.

She took them the Dead Rose by her hilt and I could feel the mana moving towards her.

Clanck~

But before I could do anything and for the first time since I saw Rose, she showed signs of life.

Just as something was about to happen Rose had done something causing Lou to drop her.

Looking for an answer I turned to Lou but she seemed to be the same as me.

'Haha, so that's what you are, a Spirit Sword."

She said as she looked down at Dead Rose on the ground with a fierce grin.

"I'd say you're very lucky Adad, but it would be underestimating your accomplishment of being able to have a Spirit Sword recognize you as its owner."

Lou's words left me in shock for a moment, but then I felt my lips curl into a smile involuntarily.

Lou's face turned tomato red at the sight of me. But I ignored her and picked Rose up off the floor.

"Guhum~

I have an idea how about we both take Rose and I apply my ability and try to synchronize my thoughts with yours so you can imagine the sword you want."

I nodded and stretched out my hands which were covered by Lou's soft hands who had a mischievous smile.

The feeling of touching his hands was incredible but I forced myself to ignore it and thought about the sword I wanted.

It didn't take long for an image to form in my mind.

Light flooded Rose forcing me to close my eyes and by the time I opened them Rose had transformed.

She now had the shape of a Katana.

Curved at the tip and double-edged, it still retained the flower details and the same pure white color.

With a feeling of excitement I took Dead Rose and swung with it as it cut through the air.

"That's great, thank you so much."

I said with gratitude to Lou, who responded with a beautiful smile.

"Fufufufu nothing is free in this life Adad.

You'll have to pay with lotso~ of time together with me."

I nodded, though I didn't know if it was a punishment or a gift.

Haaaa

Haa

Secretary Ane's heavy breaths cut off my swaying.

She handed a wooden stick to Lou and one to me.

"Well, let's move on to physical training."

Lou said as he lifted the stick and approached the firm in the center of the yard.

"Then the first thing you have to master before you go is the mana armor."

He paused, as he made a translucent black mist peel away from his body.

"What I just did is deactivate my armor."

His words took me by surprise, if what I say is true it means that all this time he had his armor active.

"Mmm, from now on we will call the armor Aura as it is commonly called by people.

Like me having the Aura active all the time is what is most recommended, but of course, it is only achieved with a lot of training."

So it is possible to maintain it all the time.

"Well according to what I heard you've already been able to use it, haven't you?".

"So they said but I don't remember how I did it."

Or at least that's what Tasha told me after my battle with Dana.

"Well, that means at least you have some awareness of how it works."

I thought a bit about my answer and spoke.

"... I just know that by expelling the mana and attaching it to our body, like armor."

I said.

"Indeed, but it's not just moving the mana and keeping it out of our body."

"It is also using circulation or mana control, bypassing through our pores the mana and moving it out of our body and repeating that procedure in a loop."

Lou explained with a smile.

"I'm sure you've heard of it, some call it meditation that along with Profession Level helps in the creation of the Aura."

"By the way, what is your Profession level."

"It's only Nv.2."

I replied, thinking that I should have raised my level more.

"Well, that's enough for now so let's start the mana circulation".

I nodded and followed Lou's example by sitting cross-legged and closing my eyes.

I focused on my little mana core next to my heart and moved my mana inside my body.

"Circulate it slowly, let it go through the whole body."

I took the advice and circulated my mana through my veins, hands, feet, torso, and head.

We continued like this for almost an hour.

By this time my body was full of sweat and the drops fell down my body to the wet floor under me.

"Now try to expel it and let it take shape."

The mana that until now was imprisoned inside my body was suddenly released outward and forced to stick to my body.

"Concentrate on covering by small parts, start with one hand and then the rest."

I moved the mana through my pores and forced it to stay in my right hand, stabilized it, and imagined it forming a glove.

I followed the same procedure with the other parts of my body, but it was not so easy.

There were moments in which I could not stabilize the mana, causing me to expel it in the form of conjuration, and thanks to that I lost concentration and had to start again.

By the time night fell I had managed to cover my entire right arm and a little of my shoulder with my aura.

"They say you're only a child of mana if you're a genius and I can understand why."

Lou said as I showed him my progress up to this point.

"Even I took days to get my hand covered in mana."

Ane answered while nodding to Lou's words.

Most likely my talent is due to being a child of mana since it boosts my mana usage by a thousand.

I got up from the ground with difficulty as my mana core was almost empty, I had already been given more than two F-rank bottles.

But they had said that taking too many potions would cause them to stop taking effect on my body in the future.

"W, well then let's end today's training and I'll wait for you here tomorrow."

I nodded and walked over to the table, where Dead Rose was sitting awkwardly.

I had sweated so much that my shirt and all my clothes were stuck to my whole body.

"Thanks... Lou sees you tomorrow."

I said thank you to Lou who didn't respond to me and just like Ane had a blank stare which I ignored by turning around and walking to the exit.

I walked down the halls and finally arrived at my room where I took a bath and proceeded to go to bed.

I turned around and looked at Dead Rose or rather from now on Rose.

I couldn't help but get excited thinking about the amount of blood I would spill and how many I would kill with this sword.

When I first got here I had forced myself not to think about that kind of thing and had said that I would only concentrate on finding freedom.

But I couldn't ignore the type of person, plus I wanted to be free, doing whatever I wanted.

By the time I woke up I had Rose in my hands.