NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3_ Feeling Mana
— The Following Day —
“Mea, are you here?”
“I’m right here, Lord Jin.”
“What the!?”
Mea’s sudden appearance behind me startled me. I was so taken aback that I nearly stumbled, but Mea was quick to catch me and steady me.
“Thanks… although, I have to say, this is all Mea’s doing.”
“It’s your fault for not noticing, Lord Jin.”
Well, she had a point. But come on, I’m practically a child, and if someone as experienced as Mea, who’s 217 years old, disappears suddenly, how am I supposed to notice that?
…I’d like to express my frustration, but it’s Mea we’re talking about, so I can’t really stay mad. In fact, I wouldn’t mind if she played more pranks on me. It somehow makes me feel closer to her.
Oops, the conversation took a different turn or rather, completely changed. Let’s get back to the main point.
I turned to Mea and froze. It’s not like I was under a magical spell or anything, and I certainly wasn’t feeling threatened. It’s just… Mea’s posture was just incredibly cute.
“Uh, um, hey!”
My words stumbled out as I tried to regain my composure. If only I could just disappear into thin air right now.
“What’s the matter, Lord Jin? Are we going to have our usual sword training?”
“No, actually, starting today, we’re switching to magic training.”
“…Huh?”
Mea’s eyes widened in surprise as my announcement caught her off guard. Well, I can’t blame her for being taken aback.
In the game, Jin seemed to be entirely focused on perfecting his swordsmanship, always seen brandishing a sword. But from my perspective, that approach seemed rather limited. Yes, my family has a distinguished reputation for swordsmanship within the kingdom, but does that mean I’m confined to using only a sword? Besides, I could easily replicate the Sword King’s moves with magic.
“Mea, you do realize that I have absolutely no aptitude for swordsmanship, right?”
“Of course. I’ve always wondered why you were born into this family.”
“Hey, I didn’t ask you to go that far.”
Well, I’ve often pondered the same question. If Jin’s consciousness truly inhabited this body, he would most likely be grappling with an identity crisis.
“Ahem! Anyway, I’ve come to terms with the fact that swordsmanship won’t be my path to becoming stronger. So, I thought about exploring other options, and that’s why I’m considering magic training!”
“Shall we head to the courtyard, then?”
“Yeah, the sudden temperature change is a bit disorienting.”
And so, I decided to give up swordsmanship and start practicing magic.
As we moved to the courtyard, Mea asked me if I knew about magic.
“Lord Jin, are you familiar with magic?”
“Absolutely. I remember the various magical attributes and how to sense mana.”
“Quite impressive.”
“!?”
Mea, the Archangel, was offering me a compliment with a smile.
My heart raced so intensely that it was almost painful. I was utterly overwhelmed by the rush of emotion.
Did you all hear that? Mea actually said, “That’s impressive!” Even Mea, who rarely praises anyone, said it! My crush praised me…
“What’s wrong? You’re clutching your chest.”
“N-No, I’m fine. I just got a bit too carried away…”
I was so swept up in joy that I even forgot to breathe. No wonder my heart was pounding more than usual, making it feel uncomfortable. I should be careful not to get so excited that I end up dying from joy.
“Alright, let’s get to work! First, I want to attune myself to the flow of mana. Mea, would you mind guiding some mana towards me?”
“But… shouldn’t you try to sensing it on your own?”
“W-Well… you see, working together might expedite the process, don’t you think?”
I stumbled through my explanation, making it sound somewhat plausible. I can’t let my secret plan be revealed here.
“I understand, but…”
Mea seemed unconvinced. Nevertheless as I urged her on, she sighed and took my hand—Fooh!
“Alright, I’m initiating the flow of mana now.”
A gentle stream of mana began to flow from Mea’s touch.
Mission 1: “Hold hands with your crush” – Cleared!
Mea’s hand was as soft as a child’s, an utterly delightful sensation. Honestly, I could easily find myself lost in this simple touch.
As I basked in the experience of holding Mea’s hand, I felt a warm current coursing from her hand to mine.
“Uh, I can feel something warm emanating from Mea…”
“That’s mana, Lord Jin.”
Ah, so this is mana.
The mana emanating from Mea’s touch gradually converged at the center of my being, gathering near my lower abdomen.
Apparently, this is where mana congregates, forming a reservoir of sorts.
This location housed not only the mana flowing from Mea but also a substantial amount of concentrated mana.
It appears that Jin indeed possesses an innate talent for magic. Not only can he sense mana, but he’s also attuned to the intricate network of magical pathways—magic circuits—through which mana courses.
With this newfound awareness, I might be able to manipulate mana without delay.
I concentrated my focus and attempted to manipulate the flow of mana.