20 Knowledge

Feeling the rain pouring on my face, I closed my eyes and let my mind analyze the knowledge that had just been unlocked.

The information ranged from the way one can hold the sword, to the way to swing it with more precision and power.

It was very useful.

Click...

I lifted my weapon and opened my eyes, scanning its blade.

Although it was the same crude sword from before, I could tell that my understanding of it had evolved.

Swish... Swish...

I swung it a few times to access the new-found depth of my mastery and it was honestly very satisfying.

If previously it felt like a mere tool in my hands, now it felt like an extension of myself. It wasn't perfect yet but I could tell that with more practice, I would master it completely.

"Not bad."

I muttered whilst sheathing the sword back into its scabbard. All the grueling training I did was starting to pay off.

"Okay, now it's time to train my Mana."

Dropping to my knees and wriggling into a lotus position, I closed my eyes and began to focus on the flow of energy around me.

Apart from sword training I also began to train my Mana since it was an essential aspect of my journey to become strong. Without a strong and developed Mana, my abilities and power would always be limited.

"..."

As I kept my eyes closed, I allowed my mind to quiet down and my body to relax. It didn't take long before I began to feel a subtle shift in the energy around me. It was like vast currents of power were swirling and pulsating in the air.

Mana.

Like a flowing river it connected everything, from the depths of my being to the world around me. It was energy that permeated every aspect of existence, a force that could be harnessed and channeled.

Swoosh...

I focused on my breath, letting go of any distractions and allowing my consciousness to merge with the energy of Mana.

I tried to tap into its power, divert a small portion of it toward myself.

And I was successful!

I could feel the energy slowly coalescing within me, filling me with a sense of vitality and strength. It resonated with Mana already stored within my core, circling around and intermingling with my essence.

Huff... Huff...

As I continued to breathe and harness the Mana, I could feel its transformative effects. The sore muscles in my body began to relax, and a sense of calmness washed over my mind.

It felt like I've just taken a good nap, had no nightmares and no hallucinations haunted me after I awoke.

"That's enough."

After a good hour, I whispered, breaking the connection with Mana and opening my eyes. The sun was already hovering high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the courtyard.

I had spent a little bit too much time training.

Rising from the ground I began walking back to my dormitory, intending to rest and recharge before my second training session.

Along the way, I observed as students gathered in groups, chatting about some useless stuff like the latest fashion trends or upcoming events. I could even see some of them making-out in public, completely disregarding the gazes thrown their way.

'Go to your room!'

Even I cringed at the sight, cursing the couples.

However, my eyes were soon drawn to a different group of students.

A youth with blond hair and red, crimson eyes was surrounded by a group of students, his handsome face too calm and serene for his character.

"Arthur."

I instantly recognized him, how could I not? His sheer presence was too strong to go unnoticed.

My eyes instinctively narrowed as I turned to scan the people surrounding him, however, upon seeing their faces, I sneered internally.

I knew them, they were Orion's lackeys. He probably ordered them to lure Arthur into some distant corner of the academy and teach him a lesson.

Now that I think about it, it's probably that time.

The time that Orion tried to mess with the protagonists, drag Luna to his bed, got completely taken out by Eldric and never appeared in the story again.

This was probably his attempt at revenge for the previous humiliation he suffered in the Cafeteria, using his underlings to do his dirty work.

'Fucking loser.'

I shook my head, avoiding getting involved in their drama. I knew that the protagonists would deal with this situation on their own, and I had no desire to get tangled up in the mess.

Walking past them, I heard fragments of their conversation. It was a mixture of insults and threats, with Orion's lackeys attempting to intimidate Arthur.

The funny thing is that Arthur wasn't intimidated in the slightest. He was actually cursing them back with a calm expression.

It was quite amusing to witness their futile attempts to break his composure.

'Well, they will get their jaws broken.'

I chuckled to myself, knowing that Arthur had the strength and skill to easily handle this situation. He was probably just bantering with them, having some fun with idiots.