Reincarnated as a Genius Mage
Chapter 71: Chakram

Chapter 71: Chakram

We have just four more weeks until we leave for the Orcan war.

Shing!

Right now, I’m on the ground, at the corner where training dummies are piled, I’m sharpening my ring-like blade.

Shing!

I think I’ve already decided to call this a chakram before. But, this one has more weight and is slightly larger than a normal Chakram; one that’s meant to be a throwing weapon.

Shing!

K’s started teaching me how to fight with this.. Chakram.

It’s morning. The sun shining on me keeps reminding me.

But, strangely enough, I’m not even sweating.

The hard, smooth, black rock I’m holding on my right hand— I’m using it to sharpen the edges of my Chakram.

Shing!

It’s a pretty good weapon.

Shing!

K forged a wooden handle for me to hold onto the blade. It divides the Chakram like the diameter of a circle.

Shing!

"That’s enough sharpening for today, don’t you think?" K’s voice cuts in.

And I turn my neck— my eyes catching the sight of his wide grin as he slowly walks down from his house. His long sword resting on his shoulder.

I turn back— flicking my gaze back to my Chakram.

"Yeah, I think so too." I reply, still sharpening the edge of the blade.

I drop the rock on the ground gently as I stand up, gripping the wooden handle of the chakram firmly.

I walk toward him, and stand in front of him.

"I hope you haven’t forgotten what I told you about swordsmen?" He asks as he looks down at me.

"I’m not a swordsman." I reply bluntly.

He rests his palm on my head with a soft, threatening smile on his face, "do you remember?" He asks.

"Yes, I do remember. Swordsmen and spearmen, and pretty much every other weapon user that isn’t a mage do not manipulate mana like mages. Mages use their breathing techniques to turn the pure mana they breathe in into their respective elements. But weapon users, they breathe in pure mana normally, without converting to any element as most of them don’t have affinities (if they did they’d be mages, no one wants to destroy themselves like I’m doing)–"

"Don’t trail off again." He cuts me off.

I nod, "Mages form circles, store their elemental mana there, and use their stored mana to influence their environment through spells.

But weapon users— and the guys that don’t use weapons but cultivate mana like them— form cores, store pure mana in them, and use it to influence their bodies or weapons. Also, just like how the more circles for mages, the higher their power, it’s the same for the cores and th–"

K rubs his forehead with his thumb and index finger, "alright, alright. I get it. You’re a genius, you remember everything. But it’s enough, you’re giving me a headache with how fast you’re talking."

"You’re the one who asked for it." I reply, my lips curving with a cheeky smirk.

His right eye twitches, and the grip on his sword hilt tightens. He lets out a soft sigh, and his grip softens. "I want to make sure you know how different you are from other weapon users. You have three circles of a mage in your heart, and in those three circles, there’s mana of two different elements. Air and Fire."

My eyes widen as I listen to him explain.

And he pauses for a moment. Then he speaks, "what? You thought I didn’t know you’re a dual affinity mage? It’s not a secret anymore. I’m pretty sure everyone in the mercenary guild knows you’re a dual affinity mage. Well, except the stupid ones that can’t perceive the elements of mana properly."

No. I know that almost everyone knows I’m a dual affinity mage. I don’t even bother to hide it and no one asks me anything about it. But, I’m just surprised that you, like others, think that I’m a third circle.

"Yeah, you’re right. I’m so shocked." I reply.

"Hmm. Okay, let’s begin." He says with a low voice as he raises his sword up slowly.

A wide grin stretches on my lips as I grip the handle of my Chakram tightly.

"You know what to do. Come at me like you want to kill." He says, flicking his wrists at me.

Wind step.

First slash, a diagonal cut, aiming for his mid section.

Clang!

It clashes with his blade as he parries my Chakram— pushing it to the side. And the rough sole of his sandals clashes with my chest.

Crunch!

I resist the force, but it pushes me back slightly.

That crunch sound. That was a ribcage.

His face is blank. A stern expression. No play, no smile, no jokes.

But..

Why am I smiling?

Why is my heart..

Badump! Badump!

He blinks. A flash step. He swings his sword horizontally— aiming to severe my neck.

I block his sword with my Chakram, my knees still hard on the ground.

Heh. That one wasn’t bad. I didn’t fly away.

My grin grows wider as I stand up immediately. Jumping high in the air, and my left, free fists coat with fire. I clench it— aiming to land a blow on his jaw.

As my fist almost reaches his jaw, I take my left fist back, twirling in the air as I clash my Chakram instead toward his neck.

Clang!

Haha, he blocked that too?

The force of the blades clashing pushes me to retreat.

"Now. Release your killing intent, Blank." He speaks, taking slow steps toward me, he drags his sword on the ground behind him— leaving trails on the sand.

There’s this thing weapon users do that I’ve been trying to copy.

I think they call it force.

The art of coating their weapons with pure mana.

K says it doesn’t matter the number of cores a weapon user has. What they need to wield the force is mastery.

I’m not a weapon user though. I’ve not trained all my life with weapons.

But I’ll do this my way..

The way of a mage.

The fire mana inside my circle stirs as I will it.

It surges through my pathway to my right hand. And I channel it toward my Chakram.

Mastery? Bullshit.

And fire mana coats the sharp edges of my Chakram.

Fire mana manifests from my body physically. Not fire. But fire mana.

It’s red, and as hot as the flames it births.

K’s face finally lightens up with a messy, grotesque grin. "Yes. That’s more like it. YES."

Immediately, I start running toward him.

K said one can’t thrust with the Chakram.

One can’t stab with it too.

But, the things I can do with the Chakram...

I jump. Not high, but high enough for K to think I’m actually jumping.

And the moment he raises his sword up to cleave me in two— I slide through his open legs.

I slash his ba–

Clang!

Jesu– what?

He blocked my slash by bringing his sword to his back— blocking the area I aimed to slash.

"Don’t space out now." He says.

Immediately, with his heels, he kicks my jaw. Sending me flying upward.

On the air, I try to prepare myself to land well. But I see K.

He jumped too. He clenches hilt of his sword with both palms— trying to stab me mid air.

I block the sword with my Chakram, and I twirl mid air.

Boom!

The sand ripples as I land on all fours— inches away from where he landed.

I can throw the chakram..

I throw the flame coated Chakram immediately toward his direction.

He flinches slightly, it seems he didn’t expect that one.

Clang!

He deflects it easily with his sword.

His lips part, "Great. You’ve lost your weapon. Now you’re dea–"

Wind step.

The area where my Chakram landed after he deflected it isn’t too far from me, and as I reach it, I grab it immediately.

I flick my head upward to stare at the–

He’s right in front of me.

His sword is raised high.

"This is your fourth death today." He lets out a soft sigh as he brings his hands down and throws his sword on the ground.

"Still, I didn’t pass out today." I say, dropping my Chakram on the ground and sitting on the floor.

–Huff... Huff–

My chest rises and falls as I take in heavy gasps of breath.

I can feel it now. No, I can see it now. It’s almost time.

My gaze is focused on the bright, blue sky.

We’ve sparred from morning til afternoon. It’s almost evening.

Heh. Hehe. Yes, that’s it.

"Mind you, I fought you the same way I used to fight when I was a one core swordsman. A.. what do they call one core swordsmen again?" He asks.

Great way to break the mood, K.

"How would I know? I’m not a swordsman." I reply bluntly.

"Are you giving me the attitude again?" He asks, walking slowly toward me as he cracks his knuckles.

"No! I’m not! Stop!" I yell, waving my hand to stop him.

He scrunches his nose as he halts.

"Tch. Go inside. We’re done for today. Go take a bath, you stink." He says as he pinches his nose.

Acting like it isn’t his fault I stink.