Tuesday started out much like Monday. With me entirely too tired to find the motivation to go to classes. But I get up anyway. Because I have to.
Doing my usual routine. Though I try to go easy on my right hand today. Since it hurts a little. `Must have overextended my wrist a little during yesterday's training or something.`
I've been trying to add more different exercises to my training repertoire. But proper push-ups still seem a bit much. So I will continue to do them against the wall for the time being. Until my wrists stop hurting when I do them.
Regardless of that, I, of course, plan on going to class like normal. Since I can handle things with just my left hand anyway. Especially since all the classes for the next few days are theoretical.
So once again. Without worry or hesitation, I step outside my room and do what I always do. Following the same routine as before. And just like clockwork, I get bothered.
During breakfast. On my way to class. During lunch. Someone or other is constantly trying to belittle me or hurt my ego. Even if it is just by them making snide remarks as I walk past, or by them glaring at me.
I mostly just tune them out as I have. But it's also becoming clear that there are some repeat offenders in the people picking on me. Chiefly, the red-haired girl that thinks I upset Selvan.
She is really set on annoying me. Constantly interrupting my peace and trying to hurt my pride. Which is very funny to me. Because I think she might be the only one who chooses to pick on me for her own personal reasons.
`Well. I guess spite is a better motivator than getting orders from someone else.` Of course, I already knew that. I've gone through mandatory military service back on Earth. I know how good a motivator spite is.
And it's not just from my time in the military. Working a blue-collar job. Especially one that is customer-facing, will teach you a lot about how people tick and what motivates them. And across the board, spite and pettiness have often been the only motivators people need to put in a lot of effort.
Fortunately for the people picking on me, I'm above that. I could easily insult them back. Tear them a proverbial new one. Give them a verbal trashing like they never got before. But I just can't bring myself to care about their insults against me. `It's all so boring and predictable.`
So instead, I just roll my eyes at them and keep things pushing. Mostly just ignoring them or giving blasé, one-word answers. My nonchalant, iron-clad defense is still the best deterrent for their bullying.
While I do my best to concentrate on what's important. Classes.
Of course, I'm doing alright in class.
But it's all just me pretending. The knowledge I've managed to gather so far is all very surface-level. Except when it comes to the things that are the same as they are back on Earth. Chemistry and Physics, and such.
However, when it comes to the actually magical stuff, I'm behind everyone. And I'm not just talking about the people in the prestige class. I firmly believe that I'm behind everyone at school when it comes to theoretical knowledge of magic. Not to mention practical skills.
I know what we have been talking about in class. I remember almost all of it. But if anyone asks me a more detailed or fundamental question, it would be pretty easy for them to see I don't really know anything.
I've simply not had enough time to delve deeper into any topics or think about things more deeply. Not with having to absorb so much new knowledge all the time. Every day, I go to bed absolutely fried. I feel like my brain is about to leak out of my nose from all the strain I put it under.
"I can only imagine this is what it feels like being a college graduate during exam period." I muse to myself while I lie in bed. Staring up at the ceiling as I wait for sleep to claim me.
`At least no one bothered me after classes today.` Compared to yesterday, today was actually kind of peaceful. Even if it was just because no one bothered me after classes had ended. No mysterious knocking today.
But even a small victory still deserves to be celebrated. So I close my eyes and snuggle deeper into my silky covers. To get a good night's rest. So I can tackle Wednesday with renewed energy.
Wednesday, arriving in a flash after another cozy, dreamless night.
And the beginning of it plays out just like Monday and Tuesday did. I stick to my routine, and so do my bullies. It's all as per usual. `I'm actually kind of getting used to this.`
They were all just background noise to me anyway. Their petty words and actions mean nothing. Or rather.
They were turning into something similar to how some people use white noise to sleep. `If they suddenly stopped, I'd probably miss them a little.` I think to myself as I lazily watch some boy with dark blue hair and a monocle try to pick on me in the cafeteria during lunch.
"I cannot believe you. Even your silence is ill-mannered." He sputters out as I continue to ignore his snide little jabs. My one good eye drooping as I let out a yawn while listening to him prattle on and on about honour, station, and manners.
All things he clearly knows nothing about. Considering he was out here trying to bully someone he firmly believes to be beneath him.
`Bro should really listen to his own advice.` I think while shaking my head and walking off. Already having finished my meal while he was busy talking trash.
And though I would usually wait around a bit longer before going back to class, since it's Wednesday afternoon, I figured arriving early wouldn't be so bad. What with the whole afternoon being reserved for Mana control techniques.
Which is possibly the most boring subject we have. At least for me. But even considering that. I don't want to be late or miss anything. Since I can't afford to lose points.
Luckily. Or, unluckily, depending on who you ask, this week's classes are the same as last week's classes. With all of us just sitting around and circulating our mana as Calveth told us to last week.
Me being me, though I can't just sit around and do as Calveth says. I don't have the time to waste four hours of my life on something I can already do just fine.
So, even with the risk of being caught, which is not insignificant, I begin to experiment around.
Closing my eyes and diving deep into myself to try to manipulate the mana in ways different from what I did so far.
First, I try to really pinpoint the place where most of the mana resides. Back on that mountain, I didn't have the time or luxury to do so. And I just assumed it gathered either in the heart or lungs.
However. As it turns out, it doesn't. Not really. It's right next to the heart. So close you'd believe it gathers in the heart. But it's further in the back. Right between the lungs. Close to the spine.
It's also actually the spine it travels up instead of the airways or throat, like I previously thought. I could always feel a light tingling sensation when drawing up a big bunch of mana into my head. Like goosebumps going up and down my back. And now I know why.
`Not a whole new circulatory system squeezed into life on this world. Mana just travels along the nerves.` I'm sure I could have reached the same conclusion if I had read through the textbook of Anatomy for Mages in detail.
But this was a lot more intuitive and easier for me to understand. To feel things through my own body. `If mana travels along the nerves, then I should be able to gather it elsewhere as well.`
I have no idea if there is any point in doing what I'm doing. Or if it's even safe to gather mana anywhere but the brain.
Yet I try anyway. Because questioning things and experimenting is the first step to understanding anything.
And I've already felt that mana can go through different parts of the body. After all, once you have gathered it in your mind and given it shape through runes or circles, it still has to travel to the magical foci before the magic actually happens. Which the mana does through the body.
`So essentially, there are three stops for the mana before it can do anything. First, the chest. Then the brain. Then the foci.` I hum in thought. `Wonder if I can shorten that somehow? Maybe take one of the steps away?`
It would certainly give me an advantage over other mages. My casting speed would be faster than anyone else's. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait to test that theory out. `Can't exactly start slinging spells here.`
Instead, I go back to exploring my body further. To try to move mana in ways it may not be meant to go. Well aware that what I'm doing could potentially cause nerve damage if I'm not careful.
But try as I might, the mana always just flows the same way. From my chest to my head. Because so does my breath. The mana just does it in reverse. From bottom to the top.
Even after a solid two or three hours of trying, I can't do anything new with my mana. It refuses to bend to my will. Just like how you can't force your body to breathe in through your hands. `Hmm. Might be impossible.`
I'm not going to give up. Three hours of trying something means nothing. It took me much longer just to feel mana after all. But considering classes just ended, I'd experiment more later. Or next week. I still have plenty of other stuff to do.
`Could set aside some time to meditate every other day.` I ponder if I should adjust my routine a little as I leave school for the day. To give me some time to meditate, every day I don't exercise.
"Yeah. That's probably a good idea. I've totally been neglecting magic and all that ever since coming here." I hadn't cast a single spell since entering the city.
Totally focused on exercising and studying. So much so that I forgot the most important and exciting thing about this world. The magic. And now that I know so many more runes and somewhat understand how to make circles, I'm sure I can have a lot more fun with magic.
So I set aside some time that I would usually spend studying to focus on exploring my mana pathways and doing some magic in general. `Two hours every other day should be good enough for now.`
Beginning today. Right after I finish my homework, I sit on the floor in my room. Legs crossed underneath me, I go back to exploring my inner world. My mana pathways.
Though I quickly get bored with that. Since I still can't do anything different with my mana besides circulate it like normal. So I get back up and begin to cast some spells.
Keeping to using just single runes for the time being. Since I don't know enough about circlecrafting yet. "Safely and steadily now. Don't rush."
Considering I already know that casting a spell repeatedly makes you cast it faster, and more precisely, I decide to settle on just a few simple runes for now. Those that I can practice in my room without attracting attention, and that could still prove useful in combat.
First among them is, of course, that spell that saved me before. Up on that dreadful mountain. Motion.
All while keeping in mind that in just two days, I'll have to face another of my classmates in a duel. And this time, they won't let me trick them so easily. I already know my next fight won't be easy. That's for sure.
`It's really just one day, though.` Especially considering I really only have today to practice magic. So I focus and try to do as much as I can. Knowing I'll probably lose regardless of how much I practice today.
Completely losing track of time while practicing. Going to bed way later than I intended because I was so absorbed in playing around with all the new spells I now know.
Dead tired throughout all of Thursday because of my mistake. Every bit of focus I can muster is solely reserved for what is being taught in class. Which leads to me barely registering the bullying that the people try to put me through.
Their hurtful words go in one ear and out the other as I fight to stay awake throughout the day.
The only time I feel even remotely awake and focused is when I work out that day. When my heart is really pumping.
However, even that doesn't last very long. I almost fall asleep in the shower. And do fall asleep after I'm done showering. Planning to lie down for just a little bit and nap before I study. But no such luck. I sleep right through the alarm I set. Completely drained.
Shooting up from bed on Friday, only once the sun kisses my face and wakes me up. "Oh shit." I mutter as I rush through my morning routine. Skipping my usual bath in favor of actually making it to class on time.
My oversleeping apparently serves as a great source of amusement to many. The red-haired bully girl among them. But I could not care less. I don't give them any chance to ridicule me. Just grabbing a quick breakfast before I'm off to class.
Which this time will start right in the training hall. From today on forward, we are also supposed to be changed and ready by the time Serathen gets there. So I rush to be first.
Even if just to avoid what happened last time. And my early arrival does seem to do the trick. As no one fucks with me this time. No magically blocked doors stop me from getting to the training hall on time.
I even have enough time to stretch and shake my body out a little before the other students and Serathen arrive. To calm down after my late morning and get ready for battle.
But once they are all here, we get right into it. With more duels. "Adept Keldra. Adept Falor." Thalis goes first this time. Winning her match by a hair's breadth because her enemy ran out of mana first.
And even though people looked like they wanted to complain, they didn't. Not with Serathen right there. Looking over us like a hawk, ready to pounce if anyone complains or whines.
The next duel is between Malovar and a girl called Thren. The girl wasn't nearly as skilled as Malovar's last opponent. But she still managed to walk away with a victory because of a match-up that was clearly in her favor.
Her wielding a wand barely gave Malovar time to react. Much less to formulate a proper defense against her attacks. Malovar eventually knocked on his ass after some back and forth.
And then it's my turn. "Adept Blackwell. Adept Loran." And this time, I'm once again facing off against one of the top ten in the school. `Bruh.`
`Not that it would have made a difference anyway, who I was up against.` I sigh as I get into the arena. Ready to get my ass beat. Everyone else is looking on with clear interest. To see how I might wiggle my way out of this one.