Before returning to his room, Regis strolled through the garden, admiring the field of flowers blooming around the house.
Many flowers were visible, some common like tulips and roses, while others were unfamiliar varieties.
“Watch out!”
A warning came from his right. Instinctively, Regis dodged, and a sword fell behind him, embedding itself into the wall.
“An assassination?!”
He had just survived an attempt on his life.
Perhaps it was the work of men sent by the mistress of the house.
However, Regis was sure she wouldn’t act so blatantly, or perhaps he had underestimated his opponent.
This was a grievous error in judgment, and he might pay the price for it.
Regis remained on guard, scanning his surroundings, pushing his senses to their limits, searching for the assassin at all costs.
“Sorry.”
However, the apology came in a familiar voice. His older sister was watching him with an odd expression.
She stared, then her gaze turned hesitant.
Perhaps she thought it would have been better if he had died accidentally.
Looking at his sister’s face, Regis thought she might be contemplating just that.
But the anxious looks of the soldiers behind her forced her to voice her apology.
“It was a mistake. Not an assassination attempt.”
He listened, then replied instantly, “I know.”
Regis shook his head and resumed his walk.
Of course, he stayed vigilant. Who knew if his sister might deliberately throw her sword next time?
Meanwhile, Bellati watched her younger brother. Why does it feel like he’s changed?
Conflicting emotions crossed her face, but she quickly resumed her training upon hearing her combat instructor call out.
When she returned to the training center with the other soldiers, Regis leaned against a railing.
He had moved to a hidden spot out of sight, intrigued by the situation, even though he wanted to leave quickly.
Even in this era, some people still wielded cold weapons.
Well, cold weapons might remain popular even in worlds filled with rifles and guns.
As if waiting for her cue, several sword-wielding soldiers rushed toward Bellati, surrounding her as they sprinted.
She raised her sword and pointed it upward. “Aegis!”
A blinding light illuminated the training ground, but Regis could still see through it, accustomed as he was to similar flashes in the library.
Bellati seized the opportunity to sprint forward, rushing directly into the midst of the disoriented soldiers.
She spun her sword in a circle, striking the solar plexus of the closest soldier before blocking an incoming blade behind her.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Jumping backward, she deflected several swords until a blade finally slipped past her guard and grazed her face.
But a blue sword appeared between them, repelling the soldier’s weapon before sending him flying to the edge of the field.
In mere seconds, the fight was over.
“As expected of a local-level Aegis user!”
The soldiers praised her, but Bellati remained impassive, staring down at the sword in her hand.
“...It’s not enough.”
Regis shook his head and continued walking.
It seemed there was a hidden intrigue, but it wasn’t his problem.
Still, this battle had broadened his horizons.
“Manipulation, manifestation, and distortion...”
It seemed his sister had already reached the level of manifestation.
But hearing that she was only at the “local” level bothered him.
He wondered what the power of a continental-level Aegis user would be like.
Eager to know, he returned to his room and changed into comfortable clothes.
To manipulate one’s ego, he thought, one had to do so consciously in an environment conducive to focus.
He closed the curtains, shut out the drafts, and eliminated anything that might disturb his concentration. This was a serious matter.
When his preparations were complete, he sat cross-legged and focused.
Good.
Concentration. Concentration...
He exhaled heavily, repeatedly.
Minutes passed, perhaps hours. His focus became so intense that time lost meaning, and his vision blurred, dulling into colorless tones.
Soon...
But with his breath caught, he abruptly withdrew.
“Pwah!”
Reopening his eyes fully, Regis felt his strength leave him.
Unfortunately, he had failed on his first attempt.
Well, even as a protagonist, succeeding on the first try would have been too easy.
This was reality, nothing amusing about it.
Regis shook his head, resting his chin on his hand.
His room was a mess, heavy with the stifling scent of his breath locked inside.
He felt he was missing something. What was it?
“An Aegis user manifests their mana through three processes: manipulating their ego, influencing their surroundings, and distorting the world.”
He remembered Gretel’s words clearly.
This time, recalling them wasn’t enough. He needed to understand the meaning of each sentence individually.
First, an Aegis user possesses mana but doesn’t consume it. They manifest it into the world creatively.
The problem was that he couldn’t sense mana within his body.
Already, the first obstacle blocked him at the start.
Sighing, he picked up a book from his desk and flipped through several pages.
[Mana Manifestation]
[Rudger Celsi]
“Mana manifestation must be learned by the individual. It is an innate talent brought forth by the will of the world. When the conditions are met, mana manifests miraculously.”
Conditions.
“The conditions are as follows: meditate in a mana rich environment, connect with nature, and modify your personality.”
He raised his eyebrows.
This contradicted all his previous actions. Meditating in his room had been a bad idea from the start, especially since there was practically no mana in it.
And the last point, modifying one’s personality, he thought he had a clue about that.
For now, he needed to find a solution to his predicament.
Regis stood up, but the stench of his sweat forced him to call for some servants before leaving his room and heading to the garden.
“Young master, please return.”
He was stopped immediately.
“Why?”
The experienced soldier replied, “By order of the master. You are forbidden to leave under penalty of punishment.” His expression was intimidating.
As a modern man who had endured the scoldings of university professors, Regis wasn’t fazed. It was almost comical.
The soldier was briefly surprised, but quickly resumed his usual expression.
Ultimately, Regis had to opt for a different environment.
The garden, perhaps less ideal than a forest would suffice.
Touching the well-maintained grass, he felt a faint but perceptible connection to nature.
He had made the right choice to change his setting.
Ensuring the area was deserted, Regis removed his shirt, leaving only his pants, and sat cross-legged again.
This time, his concentration had to be stricter than before.
Regis closed his eyes and focused his mind on one thing, changing his personality to harmonize with nature.
It was almost second nature to him as a forum administrator.
Maintaining a steady breath, faint blue auras began to form at the base of the surrounding flowers.
But Regis didn’t let himself waver and concentrated even more deeply.
Modification.
He had already gained a clue during his reincarnation.
No, more than a clue it was proof.
As if to confirm this, mana began rapidly and heavily concentrating within his body.
Sweat poured from his body. Blood trickled from his nose and mouth.
He felt his organs churn under the sudden manifestation of mana, but he was resolute.
His instincts told him this was the correct path, and he pressed on.
Again and again.
How many hours passed?
Finally, with a smoky exhale, Regis collapsed backward.
The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was the starry sky, filled with countless shooting stars.
Unfortunately, parts of the sky were shrouded in toxic smoke from nearby factories.
Raising his left hand, he saw mana coursing faintly through his skin.
Clenching his fist, the mana burst outward.
“It’s done.”
The first condition to becoming an Aegis user had been achieved.