Chapter 29: The First Letter (29)
Chapter 29: The First Letter (29)
What is mana?
It was a question whose answer varied wildly depending on whom you asked.
Scholars would call it the primitive material that constitutes the world. Theologians would claim it is the seed of power sown by God Arus when he created the world in the primordial age. Mages would describe it as an infinite potential yet to be realized, capable of becoming all things through processing.
However, for swordsmen, the definition of mana was remarkably simple.
Everything.
Strength, agility, the intensity and duration of Aura, and even the control over one's body and mind—mana interfered with all of it.
With only a slight exaggeration, one could say mana was truly everything to a swordsman. Every capability a swordsman required was linked to it.
Of course, that didn't mean mana was omnipotent.
No matter how much mana one possessed, it was useless if they didn't know how to use it properly. Furthermore, its efficiency varied drastically depending on how it was controlled.
For example, imagine filling a canteen with water. One person might create a small, steady stream to transfer the water without loss, while another might try to fill it by splashing the water all at once.
Both could achieve the goal. However, the former would be overwhelmingly more efficient.
Mana was the same. Its efficiency was determined by how one invested the exact amount needed into the necessary areas. Thus, swordsmen paid as much attention to control as they did to the quantity of mana.
Even so, to use mana well, one first needed a sufficient amount. This was an undeniable reality.
Consequently, swordsmen born with an excellent mana capacity were naturally objects of envy. Even commoners could be married off to noble families like breeding studs if their mana capacity was high enough.
Given that, it was only natural for Teahn to show such pride. My mana capacity was below average.
To be more precise, if averaged across the entire Continent, I would likely be in the upper ranks. But this was the Academy. Naturally, the standard for 'average' was different.
And even by the Academy's standards, Teahn's mana capacity was outstanding. He held an overwhelming advantage over me in terms of the power of his strikes and his endurance.
To make matters worse, I was currently quite exhausted. Teahn might have been aiming for this exact moment.
I was the guy who had taken down seven of his gang members alone. If he could defeat such an opponent one-on-one, his grip over his group would only strengthen.
He was certainly a clever bastard. Unfortunately for me.
Thud. Teahn’s massive frame lunged forward again. It was a straight line. It was Teahn’s signature charging style—single-minded, ignoring everything except the target he aimed for.
I had realized through several exchanges that facing him head-on would only result in my loss.
Fortunately, Teahn wasn't particularly skilled at mana control. If I chose to clash, I could hold my own a few times. If my strike hit a vital spot, Teahn was still human and would have to go down.
But that would only last for a few exchanges. As time passed, it was obvious that I, with my inferior mana capacity, would grow increasingly tired and struggle. It was better to evade rather than trade blows.
If there was any silver lining, it was that he hadn't followed up with a strike as powerful as the very first one I had blocked.
Even now, at the spot where I first parried Teahn’s sword, a footprint remained hidden beneath the dust. A deep, hollowed-out indentation.
It stood as a testament to the sheer power of Teahn’s strike. It was terrifying.
Teahn’s sword swung down from above. Though it was still in its scabbard and lacked a sharp edge, the terrifying sonic boom it produced made it clear that a single hit would be fatal.
Predicting the path of the sword, my body twisted, narrowly avoiding the strike. But that wasn't the end.
Teahn swung that massive sword as if it were a mere fork. Following a heavy downward slash, he transitioned into a horizontal sweep without a moment's delay.
Naturally, I couldn't dodge it entirely. I barely managed to raise my blade to deflect the lethal blow.
Clang! My body was sent flying into the air. It felt just like when I sparred with Seria.
I rolled across the ground, that thought crossing my mind. I could feel grains of sand between my ragged breaths. It was because I had inhaled the dust.
Crazy bastard, I cursed inwardly as I scrambled to my feet. However, instead of rushing back in immediately, Teahn chose to whistle in admiration.
"Impressive, Ian. Your movements are truly unusual. To be honest, I didn't expect you to hold out this well."
"I'm doing more than just holding out. I'm planning to cave your jaw in later."
Teahn chuckled at that, as if he had just heard something hilarious.
"If you manage that, I'll accept my defeat like a man. A man of the Southern Kingdoms takes responsibility for the results of a fair fight."
A guy who leads a group to bully people from the shadows talking about a fair fight? Bullshit. I gnashed my teeth, but I could see why Teahn was so confident.
That’s how the Academy was. While one could fathom the talent of a 'prodigy' with human imagination, it was impossible to do so for those few called 'geniuses.'
It was truly a god-given talent.
The Academy was a place where talents from all over the Continent gathered. Those standing in the spotlight there possessed skills on a completely different level from the middle or lower ranks who bickered amongst themselves.
For instance, wasn't Seria like that?
If she drew her sword with the intent to crush an opponent, it was obvious that neither I nor Teahn would last long. The only reason she didn't was because there was a high probability she would kill us.
Teahn knew his place. That was why he subtly provoked Seria only to the extent that she wouldn't draw her sword, even going so far as to incite others to do it for him.
Does a man like that have the right to dig into Seria's painful memories?
No one had that right. Especially not someone like Teahn.
How? What should I do?
I only needed one strike. One counterattack would be enough. But I didn't have time to keep pondering.
Teahn was approaching once more.
I tried to move and dodge, but perhaps due to the lingering shock of the previous hit, my muscles creaked and refused to listen. In the end, I raised my blade to block again.
Thud, thud, thud. A series of strikes hammered down, and a suppressed groan escaped my lips. Finally, Teahn swung his sword horizontally.
Like a ball hit by a bat, my body was sent tumbling away.
Rolling on the ground, swallowing dust.
I looked pathetic. I regretted it slightly.
I had reacted too emotionally. At first, I was so furious I couldn't think, but now that I considered it, cleaning up this mess was going to be a problem.
My arms felt weak. I had to get up, but Teahn wasn't even rushing anymore. He was just walking toward me slowly.
"Back then."
Panting, I staggered to my feet. My eyes, filled with questioning, turned toward Teahn.
He was still on guard, watching my movements closely.
"How did you do it?"
"...Do what?"
"The day you first sparred with that rude brat."
I don't know either, I wanted to answer, but filling my lungs with oxygen was a higher priority. I glared at Teahn in silence.
Teahn tightened his grip on his greatsword and continued his approach.
"It was an attack that should have been impossible to dodge... but you avoided it in an instant. As if space itself had distorted."
Crazy bastard. If I could do that, I’d be the top student of the Academy.
Manipulating time and space was considered top-tier magic even among mages. There was no way a mere swordsman like me could do such a thing.
That was a realm permitted only to a few superhumans called 'Masters,' who could distort the laws of the world based on their mental imagery.
However, dodge.
For some reason, that word stuck deep in my mind. A tickling sensation, as if I were about to remember something.
And 'foot.' 'Foot,' huh.
My eyes landed on a specific spot in the dusty clearing. In the next moment, Teahn’s sword swung again.
I threw myself into a roll with all my might. Thud! An impact echoed from where I had just been. Teahn shouted.
"You'll tire yourself out at this rate... Ian!"
"Fuck off!"
I lunged again. Teahn’s sword path was honestly linear, as if he considered nothing else.
Right, I could finally hear a bit of leisure in Teahn’s voice. So I rolled on the ground, staggered up, and widened the distance between us.
Teahn watched me with a relaxed expression. He, too, realized I had reached my limit.
My breath was ragged; even my sword felt like a burden now. I sheathed my sword back at my waist.
It was a sign that I would focus entirely on evasion. Teahn seemed to find it quite amusing.
"You're going to try and recreate that dodge from back then? Fine, fine... this should be fun to watch. Huh?!"
Teahn kicked off the ground, not even considering a counterattack. In a linear leap, his sturdy legs, supporting his massive frame, reached the ground first.
That was when it happened. His posture faltered.
Crack. The sound of an ankle twisting rang out. "Huh?" Teahn looked down at his feet.
Though obscured by dust and hard to see, there was a concave indentation there.
The footprint from when I had first blocked Teahn’s strike.
It was only a shallow hole. Nevertheless, there was a clear difference in elevation compared to the surrounding ground. And when a massive body like Teahn’s moved, it generated a corresponding amount of momentum.
A tiny stumble was enough. That alone was enough to make him collapse.
But Teahn wasn't an easy opponent. Even through the pain of his sprained ankle, he gritted his teeth and tried to follow through with his downward swing, attempting to regain his balance in the process.
That was why I had abandoned my sword, wasn't it?
My body lunged forward, narrowly avoiding Teahn’s strike. Teahn’s bloodshot eyes met mine. A look that said he knew I wouldn't let it end like this.
A fine intuition. A hand axe was drawn from my waist like a bolt of lightning.
Thwack! A satisfying sound of impact echoed. My hand axe had slammed into Teahn’s jaw.
His posture was already failing. Combined with the weight of his body and the momentum of his charge, my hand axe rattled Teahn’s brain.
Even so, Teahn tried to endure. He had monstrous toughness. He managed to plant both feet on the ground. At that moment, I threw my entire body weight into him.
For the first time, Teahn hit the dirt. With his brain rattled and now rolling on the ground, he must have been completely disoriented.
However, I had already rolled on the ground so many times that I was perfectly adjusted. The moment Teahn gasped for air and looked up at me with panicked eyes—
I was already holding my hand axe, ready to strike Teahn’s face as I pinned him down.
Whack, whack, whack, whack. The hand axe repeatedly struck Teahn’s face, and with each blow, blood sprayed.
I wasn't using the sharp edge, but because the hand axe was short, it could be swung at a speed incomparable to a sword. This was also why I had given up the sword as a means to counterattack.
No matter how great a swordsman he was, Teahn still lacked experience. He was bound to be immature in judging how to respond to weapons other than a sword.
The hand axe struck Teahn’s head several times, and though he tried to turn his head to keep his consciousness, it was impossible.
Thud.
The butt of the hand axe struck his temple deeply. That was the end.
If Teahn’s toughness had been any less, he might have died instantly. But since his body, reinforced by mana, was beyond imagination, he would likely survive.
Teahn’s head slumped. He was unconscious. His face was already covered in numerous bruises.
He’s going to be a sight to see tomorrow, I thought as I stood up. Fatigue washed over me belatedly.
My body tilted unsteadily. I wanted to just collapse right there. But I couldn't.
As I was about to hang the hand axe back on my belt, I heard someone shout.
"I-I am Lupin, the third son of the proud Count Lainella family of the Empire!"
My gaze drifted behind me. There, the man of noble bearing had regained consciousness and was sitting on the ground, pointing a finger at me.
He was trying to act tough, but I could feel it. Fear was etched in his eyes. I hadn't even wiped the blood that had splattered on me while I was hitting Teahn.
With my hair and face stained with blood, I must have looked terrifying to a pampered noble young master.
"Y-You dare touch me?! If you kneel right now and beg for forgiveness..."
"Hey."
The man who introduced himself as 'Lupin' flinched at my low call and looked at me with eyes full of terror.
His pupils trembled violently. Instead of answering, I threw my hand axe.
Thunk! The hand axe narrowly grazed Lupin’s head and embedded itself in the ground. "Eeeek!" Lupin shrieked in horror and scrambled away on all fours.
It was a throw bordering on acrobatics. Even thinking back, I didn't know when I had acquired such skill, but it didn't matter now.
I was tired, and I wanted to go home. So, I trudged past Lupin.
I pulled the hand axe out of the ground. Lupin was now on the verge of tears.
"Is that how the third sons of Counts say they want to get beaten up these days?"
"Haa, haaa..."
Lupin only breathed heavily. He looked ready to burst into tears at any moment. Finally, I whispered softly into his ear.
"There won't be a next time. You learned today, didn't you? That I'm a psycho."
Lupin nodded his head vigorously. I patted his shoulder and straightened my back from where I had leaned in to whisper.
In the clearing, there were only seven groaning bodies and one man trembling in fear as if he were about to wet himself.
And so it remained, until someone discovered the scene.
* * *
The news of what happened to Teahn broke the next day during the Swordsmanship Practice lecture.
It happened just as several students were mocking Seria, making sure she could hear them.