Arc 1: Part 25

Swords were swung around, but none of them hit the intended target. The body flickered, and several punches were coming, but only a handful of them hit the target. That was the case with Joshua and Nina.

{'He really improves,'} Kyle thought while watching the fight. Joshua had been facing an opponent who was far superior to his level. While he continued to be defeated, he also gained a lot. For example, he finally could follow her movement in his brain and eyes, but that didn't imply that his body was fast enough to entirely follow her movement. It was evident from him, being able to avoid some of her attacks, and those attacks he avoided the most were aimed at his vital points. Since he couldn't dodge all of the attacks, he had to pick which ones he should dodge and which ones he could take on. After getting hit by Ninia several times, his endurance was bound to improve, so some hits would no longer bother him.

Joshua's training has shifted from speed-only to speed-plus-strength after hearing about his potential opponent. Most of the time, Ninia would deliver her devastating punches, and Joshua had to avoid or block them.

Julian, according to Mina, was not your typical heavy fighter. He might be sluggish, but a speed fighter like Joshua wouldn't be a problem for him. For this reason, Joshua had to be much faster than he was now and capable of dodging or deflecting a lethal blow.

Of course, there was a possibility that Mina might trick Kyle, but this training was better than nothing.

After the training ended, Kyle walked to Joshua with water bottles and handed one to him.

"Thanks," Joshua said while taking the bottle. Kyle also gave the other bottle to Ninia.

"No problem. Anyway, we will stop the training on Monday night. You need to rest for one day before the battle," Kyle said. It would be problematic if Joshua fought in a tired condition.

Hearing what Kyle said, Joshua became happy. After all, he hadn't been able to rest easily ever since the training began. However, his happiness soon became a worry. His expression darkened, and he looked down at his hands. He wondered whether his training was enough to win against Julian Edelfert.

"Don't overthink things; instead, just focus on improving yourself. It won't help you if you are thinking about whether you can beat him or not," Kyle told Joshua upon seeing a serious expression on his friend's face.

"Thanks, but I can't help it." It was easy to say to not think about it, but it was difficult for Joshua to put it into practice. He was the one who had to fight Julian, so it was expected for him to be nervous.

Kyle sighed and patted Joshua's shoulder, saying, "Let's get home," before turning to Ninia. "Thank you as always, Ninia," he said to Ninia, who simply nodded in response.

At their home, Kyle began to speak. "Have you finished working on your new spell?"

"Not yet. It is kind of hard to pick apart and combine what you said to me," Joshua sighed. He wasn't a wizard who could instantly conjure up a new spell.

"But I did try to electrocute myself," Joshua shuddered. "It hurts like hell!" He had tried it on his hand, and it cost his hand feels numb for several hours.

Kyle laughed upon hearing this. "Then you didn't do it right."

"How do I do it right? Is there a way to make it harmless?"

"Ah, before that, I think I forgot to tell you that you need to electrocute your neurons as well. Also, remember, we are using magic; it is not normal electricity. If it is harmful to our bodies, then first we have to make sure it is not."

"That's easy to say," Joshua grumbled. There was a reason why elemental magic was dangerous. Lightning magic could electrocute the user, ice magic could freeze the user, and fire magic could burn the user. However, once the basics were mastered, the element wouldn't hurt the user anymore. Unfortunately, the so-called basics are often ignored nowadays.

Back in Kyle's old days, chants were not needed, and each person had their own special spells. Nowadays, spells were already fixed, and there weren't many new spells invented; most spells only had small alterations, and many spells from the past had disappeared as well.

"It is easy. Remember, you create the electricity from mana that has been processed inside you and become a part of you. This means the electricity is a part of you," said Kyle.

"Then why does it hurt me?"

"Because you don't think it is yours," Kyle said as if he had solved the biggest mystery in the world.

"What? It's that easy?" Joshua looked skeptical.

"Yeah, remember about magic theory? To use a spell, you need to have control of your mana, a great focus and intent, and a creative but firm imagination."

Joshua pondered over those words. He understood, but he didn't know what to do with them. He didn't know how to make the electricity his so that it wouldn't hurt him anymore. It was created by his mana. His mana was controlled by him.

"Control …. I did control the electricity," Joshua mumbled. He then pondered about focus. He did focus as well, and then ….

"My intent ... I just thought of it by electrocuting myself. I will be able to make my body react and move faster! I didn't think of it to not injure me at all!" Joshua said in a louder voice. His face was like a person who had a revelation.

"Then imagination, I didn't imagine it enough!"

Kyle smiled. He was glad Joshua had finally found the answer. The basics were those, and it had been repeated many times.

"But it is not enough," said Joshua. "It is not enough to make a new spell; I need to make a research, greater control, focus, and intent, and also imagine how it works."

"You have finally grasped it." Kyle smiled. "This is what the master of mage would have known. When they have learned many things and don't know what to do. Some of them probably pondered again over the lessons they had taken, and if they found it, they finally realized that they were thinking inside the box and expanding it from the inside, but never once did they try to think outside of it."

"Woah, how did you know so much?" Joshua wondered. "It feels like you know everything."

Kyle smiled smugly. "If you wish to be like me, then you have to read many books, and then you have to ponder everything in this life."

"What? Ponder?"

"Yes! What life is, what my existence is for, what magic is, and so on! Ultimately you will then try to solve these questions! Well …. not all of them, but you know what I am saying."

Joshua didn't say anything about it afterwards. He thought that what Kyle said was weird. If all it took was just by reading books and pondering everything, then a philosopher would be the strongest person in this world.

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Author: Aida Hanabi

Proofreader: Lola

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