Fluidity

"Water"

Arno nodded and took out his pouch, from his pouch, he took out a blue cube and placed it on top of the blue-covered book.

Leus inspected the cube for a couple of seconds

'It's just a blue cube, it doesn't look special'

Leus looked back at Arno for an explanation.

"This is a Suction Cube"

"Suction Cube? What does it do?"

Arno pointed at the shelf behind Leus, the one that had all the Mana Crystals on it.

"You'll use a Water Mana Crystal, that'll essentially turn the Barrier into a lake.

Once you deactivate the barrier, you're gonna flood the entire room with water, that's not the brightest idea, is it?"

Leus looked back at the cube and asked

"And how will this cube solve that?"

"All you have to do is add mana into it, then submerge it under the water, it'll suck all of it instantly."

Leus held the cube with interest

'Interesting ... '

"Sure, I'll do it"

Leus took the cube and put it in his pouch, then held the book that was under it and read its cover

"Water: The Elemental Abstract of Fluidity"

'Fluidity?'

The name was a bit vague, so Leus opened the booklet and began reading

(Water: The Elemental Abstract of Fluidity,

By: The Supreme Librarian, Seraphina Aquastra.)

'Oh god no ... not this one again ...' 

Leus sighed and flipped the page

(The Abstract of Fluidity, alternatively known as The Abstract of Hypermobility or The Abstract of Hyperlaxity, delves into the intricate manipulation of Water Mana to enhance joint mobility beyond the normal range of motion.

With mastery over this Abstract, one achieves remarkable suppleness, enabling the contortion of limbs into seemingly impossible positions.

Picture effortlessly turning your head 270 degrees in either direction, extending your hands beyond conventional limits, or even bending knee joints backward.)

'Right Ma'am, another useless Abstract, maybe I can use it to work in a circus.'

With annoyance, Leus flipped the page

(The utility of this Abstract extends far beyond mere aesthetics.

Beyond the impressive visual display, it enables unparalleled versatility in combat.

Picture the ability to strike and defend with your sword in ways that confound your opponent's predictions. Moreover, it empowers the isolation of body parts, allowing actions such as looking behind you without physically turning or executing sword maneuvers without requiring full-body movement.

Imagine effortlessly blocking attacks from different directions, a feat unattainable without the mastery of Fluidity.

Beyond combat, its application extends to refining basic skills, enhancing running, climbing, and developing intricate sword techniques.)

'Now that I think about it, this Abstract, along with the previous one, is useful only for knights against other knights, could this so-called Supreme Librarian be a physical fighter, not a magician?'

Leus flipped the page

(Indeed, the application of the Fluidity Abstract finds its peak among swordsmen, knights, and physical combatants.

And while it is not specifically tailored for magicians, it will become a potent tool against them, someday.

Unlocking this Abstract is an intricate process involving the careful gathering of Water Mana around joints, bones, muscles, and tissues.

The mana-filled water essentially transforms into a supportive cushion for these vital components, granting them enhanced functionality and power.

The unlocking process is a testament to one's mastery over Mana, limb, and joint control, achieved through the precise manipulation of Water Mana and movement.

Once your control surpasses a certain threshold, the Abstract will unlock.)

Leus flipped the page and the booklet was ... over

'Wait, what?'

'She didn't elaborate on how to use it against Mages!'

'What do you mean by someday? Is that a riddle?'

Determination lit Leus' eyes

'I'll remember your name, Seraphina Aquastra, and I'll never read your useless books again'

With an annoyed expression, Leus closed the book and placed it back on the desk.

Then he looked at Arno and muttered

"I'm ready to start"

Arno ignored Leus' annoyance and replied calmly

"Alright then, proceed"

Leus went and picked up the Water Mana Crystal, which looked like a blue ball of glass, then he went and stood in the middle of the Barrier, but before he could activate it Arno stopped him.

"You might wanna change, I suggest leaving your clothes outside"

"Ah - .. right, it'll be like a lake you said"

Arno nodded

"I'll leave the room now, if you need something let me know"

"Thanks, Master"

Arno headed towards the door, but before he left, he turned around to Leus and said

"By the way Leus, don't start with your neck, okay?"

Leus was confused for a second but he quickly replied

"Hmm? Okay ... sure"

'Such a strange remark but whatever'

Arno left the room then Leus removed almost all his clothes, keeping only his boxer shorts on him, then went back to the Barrier again.

'Well now, let's start'

He activated the Barrier and then put his hand on the Mana Crystal

'Release'

The Crystal released its mana which instantly flooded the Barrier.

At first, it was Like a cloud was slowly forming inside the Barrier, and while that was happening Leus noticed something else

'This Mana ... it's different'

It wasn't like the average Elite Mana he always felt

'It's much clearer and purer than any other Mana I felt'

It felt so good

'It's really different'

Leus didn't know how to describe it

'Undiluted, unalloyed ... I don't know, it's just perfect'

The cloud kept expanding until it encompassed the entire Barrier, and when it started hitting the Barrier's walls it began ...

'Melting?'

Slowly, the cloud started dissolving, Leus felt his legs get wet like water was gathering under it, and slowly, the water started to rise.

Leus genuinely enjoyed being in the Barrier right now.

First of all, he had an affinity for Water, which made Water Mana feel lucid and more perspicuous to him, on top of that, this Water Mana was unlike anything else Leus ever experienced.

'Could this be, Arno's Mana?'

Despite being much stronger than any other Elite Leus has seen, Arno was still an Elite Water Mage.

'It actually makes sense, the difference is striking'

For a while, Leus just enjoyed the feeling of being encompassed by such a clear, pure, and lucid Mana

'So Exquisite'

As time passed, the cloud began disappearing, and water kept rising until it reached Leus' neck

'It won't drown me, right?'

'I know how to swim because once in -'

He lost interest mid-sentence and didn't continue.

Regardless, knowing how to swim would be of no point if the entire Barrier was full of water

'I wonder if I can control the Cube to suck only some water not all of it.'

But Leus' worries were for naught, the water rose to a height of about 3 meters and then stopped.

'Still, swimming is boring, I don't want to spend all my time here swimming to be afloat.'

Leus used the Abstract of Levitating to keep his neck above the water.

The water was still and clear.

'I'm tempted to drink it'

But he decided against it

'I'm almost certain it's Arno's Mana, I'll ask him to give me a glass, actually, no, I want bottles.'

Leus laughed at his thoughts, then pushed them all away

'It's time'

'I will become stronger'