What I wanted was a force that would strike faster and stronger.
However, the Internal Energy and aura imbued with the energy of Thunderclap did not easily obey my will and rampaged in all directions.
The Internal Energy I had cultivated for a long time contained the energy of the sky, blue and generous. The image of lightning overlaid on the newly acquired aura had to be grasped with resolute force, but that was not easy. When the aura gained power, the Internal Energy, pushed by that energy, lost its strength. Therefore, it was difficult to immediately seize the reins of the rampaging energy.
I even considered seeking Professor Angela Sting’s help, since it was close to the path of magic. However, Boulder was already engrossed in it with all his heart and soul. There were many who knew more about magic than I did, so if necessary, they would have already discussed it.
The path of martial arts is ultimately one that cannot be advanced unless one seeks and realizes it for oneself. I rebuked myself for constantly harboring the desire to rely on others and calmed my mind.
In the meantime, time passed quickly.
Friday, the fourth week of March.
When I received Rubel’s letter this month, I didn’t tremble as much as last time.
Although it was affectionate, I wasn’t as agitated as before, and I didn’t get lost in thought. It was thanks to diligently cultivating my mind by contemplating my inner self morning and evening, and focusing on Breathing and regulating energy.
Without being unnecessarily distracted, I fully attended the morning and afternoon classes and returned to light the Magic Lamp late at night. The neat handwriting in the letter, opened under the gentle moonlight, was familiar to my eyes.
I read the phrases written carefully in beautiful handwriting.
It began with a meticulous account of the current relations with the five kingdoms, which I had not fully learned at the academy, and the encounters with the envoys of each kingdom.
Which kingdom wanted to use what for trade, and which kingdom checked each other and expressed what opinions… It was funny that such detailed stories were written down, to the point where I wondered if there was a need to tell me even this.
It was also written that Wesley Kiadris had not yet returned to the Imperial Palace. It could be seen as suspicious that half of the Imperial Palace royal guard had followed him to the Yuil Mountains, but no one suspected that the Knights, who were not related to each other, had set out to clear Monsters with a sense of chivalry in their hearts.
He also wrote that he was striving to become a Sword Master like me. However, he said that controlling aura as he wished was not as easy as he thought, so he was waiting for the day when Internal energy cultivation method would become widespread. He didn’t forget to write that he cherished the dagger I gave him, showing off his cuteness.
He also wrote about the accommodation for the Hunting Festival and wondered about my academic achievements. He often made cute noises, saying that I appeared in his dreams. I couldn’t help but wonder what I looked like in his dreams.
Seven out of the total eight pages of the letter were written in such a calm tone.
However, the last page was written with slightly thicker letters, whether it was written with a time gap in between, using a different pen, or simply written with plenty of ink. I traced the familiar traces of his worries with my fingertips.
“And there’s something else I’m curious about, Mika.
Please forgive me for writing this in a letter because I don’t have the confidence to ask you face to face.
If it’s not rude, can I ask about the meaning of the confession you mentioned last time?
I don’t remember what I answered. I’m worried that I might have troubled you. If you were disappointed in me, none of that was my true intention.
I don’t want to hide anything from you. I want to tell you and let you know anything you want to hear. If you have any other questions, I hope you’ll give me time to answer.
I’ll be waiting for your reply.
-With heartfelt sincerity, your Ruben.”
…It’s so strange. Before opening the letter, I thought I would be able to remain calm no matter what cute things the child wrote, but after reading this anxious writing, I laughed again without reason.
I made the child surprised by doing something unnecessary.
I tried not to show that I was upset, but I was caught after all. The sight of the weak-hearted child being impatient was lovely and pitiful, and I laughed. It was as if I could hear Rubel’s voice calling, “Mika.”
Come to think of it, the child didn’t say anything about the last greeting in the letter last time. Your Mika. He didn’t even know how much fuss he made when he wrote those four letters. I was embarrassed that I was unnecessarily excited by a phrase written out of courtesy, so I cleared my throat once for no reason.
Just as the child was swayed and anxious by every word I uttered, I was surprised and anxious by the words that Rubel uttered without meaning.
I swallowed my laughter several times. My Rubel. How could such a grown man so easily say such cute things? I thought that I should point this out to him next time.
Next time, someday. For now… it’s cute, so I’ll just leave it.
I took a pen dipped in black ink and carefully wrote down the greetings on the beautiful paper. I now know how to easily create writing. If it was a letter of greeting, not a love letter, there was no need to hesitate.
“To Rubel.
The days are getting hotter and fresher day by day. I wonder if the evergreen trees in Rubel’s palace are still bearing cute fruit. Although they are said to be green in every season, how can they not be affected by the seasons since they were born as trees? I wonder if they are called evergreen trees because I am curious about their appearance in summer and winter.
I knew from early on that Rubel’s letter would arrive today, but the contents were unfamiliar, so I looked at it for a long time. I know very well that you don’t want to hide anything from me, but the political situation of the five kingdoms is difficult to understand even after reading it over and over again.
In particular, it is very difficult and vague to determine whether the requests from Felix are excessive or cheap. If this is also necessary for me to act as Rubel’s sword, I will learn and master it, but I firmly believe that Rubel will help me by my side.
…
As you said, I am constantly training these days.
In Professor Douglas Mustang’s class, I am practicing adding the properties of elements to my Sword energy. You might think that I am trying to imitate swords that produce fire or water, which are commonly seen in fairy tales, but what I covet most is something that resembles lightning.
I remember saying once that I was coveting a sword containing the energy of the King. After I have mastered it, learned it, and proven its effectiveness, I hope that Rubel will also master the same sword.
The reason why I want to convey a new swordplay rather than the swordplay I conveyed before is because I think that the most righteous and upright sword would suit Rubel.
…
Also, although I didn’t mention it when I saw you last week, I am also learning more about the affairs of the organization from Professor Wilton Roberts. These days, I am learning about poisons.
I have a lot to say about this, but I am hesitant to write it down, so I am waiting for the day I can see Rubel again. If I forget what I am saying again, I hope you will give me a hint.
…
You don’t have to worry deeply about what you added. I hope you will take it lightly as I have been thinking too much and made a slip of the tongue. I am even embarrassed that I seem to have disturbed your mind with unnecessary words.
How can I not know that Rubel’s appearance to me is upright and righteous? I know your kind heart well, so I will not have any unnecessary thoughts, so you don’t have to worry about anything. I am looking forward to the day we will meet soon.
P.S.
I am asking this because I heard that it is polite to get permission in advance.
I have made a bet with my friends to catch the most precious and best thing at this summer’s Hunting Festival. If Rubel is okay with it, I would like to ask you in advance to accept the beast I catch.
If there is no one else designated, may I have the honor of becoming Rubel’s bow?
-Your Mika.”
I added answers to each sentence the child wrote and wrote a reply, and it was well over ten pages. Unlike the last time when I barely sent one page of a letter that was close to a memo, the envelope was thick and even made me feel proud.
Yes, this is right. Doing this is…
Before any more feelings of resentment settled in, I took out the letters from my family. It was very strange that my mood was elated and then subsided several times. I wondered if I should still be so clumsy at controlling my mind, so I took several deep breaths to calm myself.
❖ ❖ ❖
Monday, the first week of April.
The last unit of the Understanding of Circle subject was about the distinction between Mana, aura, and Divinity. It was also the part I was most confident in, having learned it through physical experience.
Mana was the original form of energy that existed from the beginning. All invisible forces that clearly exist in the atmosphere were called Mana.
Magic, aura, and Divinity were created by transforming this in some way. Internal Energy, which only I am using in this world, is also one of the results of transforming Mana.
Swordsmen transform Mana into aura by using their bodies, priests can select the purest part of Mana and use it directly. And Circle was a tool used by Wizards to transform Mana.
“It is often misunderstood that swordsmen do not have Circle… That’s not true. Swordsmen who have reached a certain level can transform the form of Mana by using their bodies as an axis… so the body itself can be seen as Circle. However, because it is not a perfect concentric circle, in terms of activation form…”
I took notes on the class content and secretly hoped that this content would be heavily featured in the upcoming final exam. I had memorized the book almost entirely, but I was still not confident in magic. I found it much easier to learn through physical experience than to use my head.
The notebook, filled with dense writing, was tattered. I folded a corner of the notebook into a triangle to mark it, in order to check what I had learned today once more.
As soon as the class was over, Professor Angela Sting called me separately. I felt a little puzzled, but I followed obediently.