6 Tier 1
Sorin once again sat in a lotus position before entering his sea of consciousness.
Sorin immediately began engraving the symbols.
-
2 hours had swiftly past.
In a dark room, a boy with black hair could be seen sitting cross-legged, completely detached from the world.
'Last one'
Sorin drew the last symbol with his soul force. This time, engraving the spell had been much easier for Sorin.
Sorin didn't have to maintain the other symbols which meant he could give his complete focus to carving a symbol out. However, after the 39th symbol, all the foreign Mana had been removed which meant Sorin had to suddenly use his own soul force to supply it.
Of course, maintaining 39 symbols had dramatically increased his soul force consumption, however he was almost complete with the spell engraving.
Pushing himself a little more, he had completed the second spell engraving and was left in a better state then the first spell he had carved out.
Once again, the cube glowed as the symbols merged into one, then the cube began evolving. Sorin's body seemed to be a vacuum as Mana began surging into his Mana Cube — it was beginning to awaken. A clear sign of promoting to a Tier 1 Arcanist.
The Mana Cube gave off a subtle hum.
The Mana cube was now becoming a reservoir of magic that amplified a spells power and efficiency.
As Sorin transitioned into a Tier 1 Arcanist, a qualitative transformation occurred within his Mana Cube.
His Mana cube now gave off a brilliant glow that illuminated even more of the dark world he was in.
Sorin knew it became more than just a hollow shell for his spells now — it evolved into a refined instrument, intricately attuned to his body and magic.
The Mana Cube had now become a conduit for mana. It pulsated with a vibrant, green light that mirrored the essence of Sorin's affinity. The spells stored within it were no longer mere spells, they had merged with his very being, harmonising with his Mana Cube.
Furthermore, the Mana Cube had also become a source of vitality — nourishing his soul.
Sorin knew he had promoted: he felt a surge of vitality coursing through his veins. His physical and mental faculties were heightened, his reflexes sharpened, and his endurance increased.
Though the change wasn't too drastic, he clearly felt his body undergo an enhancement both mind and soul. It was as if the Mana Cube had bestowed upon him the essence of magic itself.
Advancing to a Tier 1 and Tier 2 Arcanist was indeed a challenging but relatively straightforward process.
Tier 1 and Tier 2 Arcanists were marked by their resourcefulness, adaptability, and the determination to unlock the secrets of their chosen field of magic they are studying.
Of course, one needed the basic talent and instincts towards mana. However, despite obtaining an achievement many would envy, Sorin knew that the real challenges lay ahead so he can't allow himself to become complacent.
Sorin recognized that his journey had just begun, and the tiers beyond Tier 2 were a realm of uncharted possibilities and formidable challenges.
As Sorin completed his arduous advancement to a Tier 1 Arcanist, a profound sense of relief washed over him. He exhaled deeply. The weeks of relentless effort, the sleepless nights immersed in arcane studies, and the unyielding determination had all built up at this moment.
Yet, as he savored this relief, an overwhelming exhaustion began to settle in. His body felt heavy, his muscles fatigued, and his mind weary from the ceaseless pursuit of knowledge and power. The sheer mental energy being used over the past week had taken its toll.
Sorin had dedicated countless hours to understand the intricacies of the spells required for his advancement. He had dissected it's components, unraveled their mysteries, and fused them seamlessly into his mind.
And then, there was the spell he had finally managed to form himself, a testament to his unyielding determination.
It had taken him five hours of unbroken concentration, his every thought into its creation. It was similar to maths in his previous world, with a single deviant, no matter how small, would have major affects on the spell.
As he sat there, the room bathed in the soft glow of his Mana cube's advancement coming out of his body, Sorin felt tired.
He had advanced to a Tier 1 Arcanist, not without its hardships, and emerged with newfound knowledge and benefits. He had finally taken his first steps as a true Arcanist.
For now, he allowed himself a moment of respite, cherishing the fruits of his labour before the world turned black as he fell into deep slumber.
Sorin's awakening was less than graceful. With a groggy sigh, he silenced the blaring alarm on his Arcom, his annoyance palpable. He squinted at the crystal Arcom, confirming his suspicions, he had missed a significant portion of his first lecture he was supposed to attend.
His reaction, or rather the lack of it, was typical of his perspective on the school's policies. Attendance seemed to be an optional formality. After all, the tuition fees were already paid, whether you attended or not was simply your decision.
The institution cared little for the whims of its students, they had other priorities. As students who want to embark on their journey as an Arcanist, it's the duty of yourself to cultivate your Mana Cube, study and attend the lectures the school provides.
As Sorin sluggishly stretched in his bed, the room bathed in the soft glow of early morning light, his thoughts drifted to the body he now inhabited.
He recalled the fragmented memories of the previous owner, a tragic tale of a young boy orphaned at the tender age of ten. The details of his family's demise remained shrouded in mystery, a puzzle piece Sorin hadn't yet pieced together nor cared in doing so.
What mattered, however, was the inheritance left behind by the boy's father, a Tier 1 Arcanist who had amassed a sizeable amount of wealth in his lifetime.
It was this financial legacy that had paved the way for Sorin's enrollment in the prestigious magic academy.
As Sorin reluctantly rose from his bed, he got up and began his morning routine.
Sorin's mornings were typically unhurried affairs, a luxury he had come to appreciate. With his first lecture already behind him, he had the leisure of time before the next two classes.
As he moved around his room, he brewed himself a cup of tea, savoring the rich aroma of the freshly prepared brew—a brief indulgence amidst his busy academic life.
With a steaming cup in hand, his thoughts wandering as he mentally prepared for the upcoming classes. His previous life had been one of tranquility, devoid of the need for combat skills. Apart from his brief time spent into kickboxing, during a free trial period, had been more of a hobby than serious training.
Once the trial ended, he had little incentive, and with limited finances, he had left that pursuit behind. Apart from that, Sorin had utterly no combat experience.
So when he found out that today he would have a combat lecture, he couldn't afford to miss it. It was an opportunity to acquire skills he had never possessed whilst also needing it if he were to progress his journey as an Arcanist. The life of an Arcanist is filled with danger.
Sorin carried on with his morning. He quickly took a shower, allowing the cascading water to wash away the remnants of sleep. He dressed himself into the Academy's uniform.
With his cup drained and his mind cleared, Sorin began analysing the changes that happened to his body.
His body, now a Tier 1 Arcanist, was brimming with vitality. His skin looked slightly smoother than before and his senses feel more sharp.
The Mana that surrounds him seems to be fluctuating with every small movement of his body. It felt as though Sorin now had a lot more control over Mana.
Sorin then began to peer into his consciousness without having the need to meditate as he feels he had more control over his mind. The Cube emerged within his sea of consciousness, where Sorin began to observe the changes.
He noticed that the Cube was now filled with Mana, possibly absorbing it when he was asleep. He noticed the Cube looked more brighter, subtly releasing the pure wind magic it contains.
He also noticed the Cube now had small bits of writing signifying his two tier 1 spells he had learnt and permanently fused into the Cube. The two spells he learnt were Wind Formation and Heat Wave.
Learning the spell Heat Wave took Sorin much longer than it did for Wind Formation. Heat Wave branches under the Aurora Cube and the Crimson Cube being it's main affinity.
So though it took longer to learn, it wasn't too bad as he had a wind affinity. As Arcanists, you could of course learn other elements however the spell would be tremendously weaker, take more Mana to cast as well as being harder to control.
Sorin choosing this spell and especially engraving it in his Mana Cube would leave many bewildered and confused, even laughing at his stupidity, however Sorin has an idea on how to use this spell.
After finishing his observation on his Mana Cube, Sorin began preparing for his second lecture which Professor Alexander will be in charge of.
-
Entering his class that was filled with quite a few students that are chatting to eachother, Sorin had arrived a little early. He searched for his seat where he usually studies in before he heard a voice he was familiar with.
"Sorin! You weren't in the first lecture, everything okay?"
Turning his head, he looked at the grey haired beauty who spoke to him casually. That person being Nevery, who sat next to him in his lectures with Professor Alexander.
Truth be told, he thought she would be more reserved and the 'cold beauty' type that doesn't interact with anyone. However looking at this person with a bubbly personality, some might forget she had an assassin backround.
Though Sorin read over a thousand chapters of the novel, it must be known he is definitely not omniscient. He simply read the novel in the perspective of the protagonist.
He knows the protagonist's lucky chances, a few notable characters within the novel, as well as bits of information about the world and a decent understanding towards the path of an Arcanist the protagonist went through.
Other than that, Sorin would be your average person, minus his slight sociopathic tendencies. So it made sense that Sorin didn't know about Nevery's true personality. This is also evident in how he had no clue on who his Upperclassmen Vivian was in the novel, which also made sense as she was a second year.
After thinking a little on what to say, Sorin replied in a casual way.
"I just overslept a little and decided not to go to the first lecture." Sorin laughed lightly as he spoke.
"Tsk, tsk. You shouldn't slack off, Sorin. If you want to become a strong Arcanist, you need to put in lots of work! As your one and only friend, it's my duty to remind you!" Nevery spoke in a rather smug tone.
Sorin smirked, his gaze playfully fixing on Nevery.
"Yeah, yeah. It's no big deal, only one lesson I missed. Also, who said you were my only friend? Unlike you, I can actually start a conversation with a stranger," he retorted, the hint of mischief dancing in his eyes.
Nevery pouted, a feigned expression of indignation. "Hey, I'm plenty sociable when I want to be!"
Sorin chuckled softly, finding her reaction a little endearing.
"Oh, I don't doubt it, Nevery." Sorin sarcastically said.
After his small interaction with Nevery, Sorin went to his seat with the girl sitting next to him. He had actually wanted to get closer to Nevery as she was an alchemist, an occupation that was respected by many people as they provide and create potions to help people advance up a stage, treat wounds and give boosts to physical and mental abilities.
However, he didn't expect her to be so lively. It seemed her backround as a family of assassins had made her social life quite terrible.
Now adding her occupation as an alchemist where she has to constantly stay cooped up in her lab to refine and create new potions, she rarely interacts with people. So she probably craved a little social interaction with others.
However as she can't really start conversations, the majority just avoided her or they would be quick to leave their current location despite her being quite the beauty.
The lecture quickly flew by as Sorin began preparing for his last lecture of the day, the one he was looking forward to. He chatted and spoke to Nevery along the way as he arrived at the training ground. It seemed quite a lot of people had gathered already.
As Sorin patiently waited for the arrival of the Professor who would oversee today's combat assessment, his sharp eyes caught an amusing sight.
Among the bustling crowd of students, it was evident that the protagonist, Leo, was being singled out for bullying.
Leo, despite his evident weakness, carried himself with a resolve befitting a typical protagonist. His lack of Mana affinity had made him an outlier in the magical world, but that didn't deter him from pushing forward.
He was an embodiment of determination and resilience, qualities that mirrored the protagonists found in many stories.
However, these very qualities seemed to draw the attention of minor villains like Louis. The latter had clearly decided to take Leo as a target, likely driven by jealousy. Louis was known for his malicious antics, and today was no exception.
Sorin observed with an intrigued glint in his eyes as Louis and his lackeys circled around Leo, taunting him with spiteful remarks. Leo, with an unyielding spirit, stood his ground, refusing to back down. He was not one to be easily intimidated, and he defended his ideals, even in the face of adversity.
What Louis failed to grasp was that Leo had already forged an unlikely alliance within the school. He had befriended the school's 'princess' a fellow student with a noble background and a strong affinity for Mana.
Their friendship had grown despite their differences, and it was this connection that had brought Leo into the crosshairs of envious rivals.
As the tension in the training ground rose, Sorin couldn't help but feel a mixture of intrigue and opportunity. The stage was set, one that would not only test Leo's resolve but also provide Sorin with fertile ground for his own schemes and ambitions. The combat assessment loomed, where the protagonist's will power and determination would be tested today.
