Chapter 7: The First Skill
Arios closed the door to his dorm room, the faint sounds of other students still buzzing in the hallway. The conversation with Liza Garnet had been a success, albeit a small one. The first step towards bonding was complete, and the system had confirmed it. Now, he needed to prepare for the mid-semester test. Fifteen days was not a lot of time, especially with the unexpected emphasis on magic swordsmanship.
He walked to his desk, placing the thick book he had picked up from the academy library. It was titled "Foundations of Swordsmanship: A Novice's Guide." He had found it tucked away in a dusty corner, seemingly overlooked by most students. For 3 points, he had also purchased a simple wooden sword from the academy's general store, a basic practice tool that felt light but sturdy in his hand. He laid the sword on his bed.
Before opening the book, Arios sat down, his mind already sifting through the vast amount of information he had absorbed from the anime. He recalled the fundamental principles of mana manipulation in this world. Mana, he knew, was the essence of life, an omnipresent energy that permeated everything. It could be found in the air, the ground, and particularly concentrated within living beings, from the smallest plant to the largest beast.
The core concept was mana gathering. Individuals could absorb mana from their surroundings, drawing it into their bodies and storing it within their mana core. This core, located deep within the body, acted as a reservoir, growing stronger and larger as more mana was accumulated and refined. The process was slow, methodical, and required immense focus and discipline. He remembered scenes from the anime where characters meditated for hours, slowly drawing in the ambient energy.
Mana, once gathered, could be manipulated into various forms. The most basic were the primary elements: fire, water, earth, and wind. These were the building blocks of all elemental magic. By combining any two primary elements, one could form secondary elements. For instance, fire and wind could create lightning, while water and earth could form ice. The anime had shown various characters specializing in these elemental affinities, using them to enhance their combat abilities or cast powerful spells.
Beyond the secondary elements lay the advanced elements. These were rare, incredibly powerful, and often unique to individuals who had reached the pinnacle of mana mastery. He remembered brief mentions of elements like time, space, and matter manipulation, abilities that could reshape reality itself. The magic system of this world, he knew, followed the typical progression seen in many mana cultivation series: from gathering to forming a core, then manipulating basic elements, progressing to more complex ones, and finally reaching the advanced tiers. It was a long, arduous journey, but the potential power was immense.
He also remembered that while mana manipulation was crucial, it was often combined with physical combat. The concept of Mage Knights wasn't just about casting spells; it was about infusing mana into weapons, enhancing physical strikes, and weaving spells into sword forms. This was where the swordsmanship came in. The 30% of the curriculum dedicated to magic and combat was clearly the most potent part, even if it was glossed over for most students. For Arios, it was everything.
Arios picked up the wooden sword from his bed. It felt balanced in his hand. He opened the "Foundations of Swordsmanship" book. The pages were filled with diagrams and descriptions of basic stances and movements. He flipped to the first section: Basic Guard Stances.
He stood up, pushing his chair back to give himself space in the small dorm room. He adjusted his stance, imitating the diagram.
The first stance was the High Guard. His feet were shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, weight evenly distributed. His left foot was forward, heel slightly raised, while his right foot was back, flat on the floor. He held the wooden sword with both hands, the hilt firmly gripped, his knuckles white. The blade was held vertically in front of him, pointing straight up, the tip roughly level with his forehead. His elbows were tucked in, protecting his sides, and his forearms were slightly raised, guarding his face. His gaze was fixed forward, imagining an opponent. He held the position, feeling the subtle strain in his legs and shoulders. It was simple, yet demanded balance and core stability.
He held it for a minute, then relaxed, shaking out his arms. He repeated it, focusing on the details: the slight bend in the knees, the relaxed grip that still maintained control, the straight line from his shoulders through his arms to the sword. He repeated the High Guard stance ten times, each time trying to find the most stable and efficient posture. His muscles began to ache slightly, but he pushed through it. This was physical exertion, something he hadn't experienced in months in his previous life.
Next, he moved to the Mid Guard. This was a more versatile defensive and offensive stance. He started with his feet in a similar shoulder-width position, but his right foot was now slightly forward, his weight shifted slightly onto it. He brought the wooden sword down, holding it horizontally in front of his chest, the blade pointing directly at an imaginary opponent. His hands were close to his body, elbows tucked in, providing protection while keeping the sword ready for a quick thrust or parry. His eyes remained fixed forward, assessing.
This stance felt more natural, more ready for action. He practiced transitioning from the High Guard to the Mid Guard, smoothly lowering the sword and shifting his weight. He repeated the Mid Guard ten times, focusing on the fluidity of the transition and the readiness of the blade. He felt his core engage, his back straight.
He then moved to the offensive stances. The book detailed several, but he focused on the most fundamental: the Basic Forward Strike. Starting from the Mid Guard, he practiced stepping forward with his lead foot, simultaneously extending the sword in a straight thrust towards an imaginary target. His body moved as one with the sword, his hips rotating slightly to add power to the strike. His back foot pushed off the ground, transferring momentum. He imagined the tip of the wooden sword piercing an enemy. He retracted the sword smoothly, returning to the Mid Guard. He repeated this movement, focusing on precision and power. His arm muscles burned, and a thin sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead. He wasn't just moving; he was trying to understand the mechanics, the flow of power through his body.
Arios spent the next hour practicing these basic movements. He repeated the stances, transitioned between them, and executed the forward strike again and again. He wasn't aiming for speed, but for perfect form, for understanding the fundamental principles of balance, leverage, and momentum. He imagined Instructor Bale watching him, judging his every move. He imagined Kyousuke, effortlessly executing complex maneuvers. He pushed himself, ignoring the growing fatigue in his arms and legs. He knew he was a Novice, but he wouldn't remain one for long. Every repetition was a step towards mastery.
He paused, taking a deep breath. His body was tired, but his mind felt sharper, more focused. He had barely scratched the surface of the book, but he had physically engaged with the concepts. He felt a sense of accomplishment, a small victory in his personal war against mediocrity. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. He looked at the wooden sword, then back at the book. There was so much more to learn.
he stood there, contemplating his next move, a familiar translucent screen flickered into existence before his eyes.
[Skill Unlocked]
[Swordsmanship (LVL.1)]