SWNOVELXO Chapter 6: Fake Mage
"Tsk. As a modern man, understanding this stuff personally is really hard. Why do these kinds of things sound so easy in novels?"
Scratching his head as if trying to crack it open, he found espera and exorcism anything but easy.
"Espera… Based on Noire's knowledge, it's a type of energy particle, the essence of life and death. It's usually used in techniques, spells, and tools to defeat curses or demons…" Vonn pondered, noting similarities to the appearance of the demons and monsters in this world. "Is it safe to assume I could use this on monsters too? They all look ugly in the same way."
Understanding better now, he realized espera powers offensive skills. Its purpose was similar to mana's, but it was a more complex matter: espera governed life and death, while mana was for magical feats. Overall, their special meaning was the only key difference.
"Hmm…" Vonn's tiny hand reached for his chin, his eyes closed, contemplating like an old man. "Espera connects more with souls rather than the body. It doesn't have a physical pool like a Mana Heart."
Grasping this, a smile appeared on his face. "Even with a broken reincarnation, I should still be able to touch Noire's soul."
Nodding to himself, Vonn realized he'd learned something crucial. As he continued delving into his memories as Noire, the exorcist, he found plenty of techniques and spells that were uncannily similar to magic. In fact, magic and exorcism appeared quite alike in practice!
"Hehehe…" Vonn grinned widely, almost maniacally. "Let's do this… This is getting more exciting."
He exhaled and focused, trying to find a way to connect with his soul. Diving into the sea of his soul, he felt helpless, endlessly swimming in the memories of his three different lives.
Not giving up, he continued his search, hoping to find a better way to at least touch his soul. By doing that, he could reclaim the feats Noire had achieved in his previous life, and maybe, even without natural espera, he could still use them.
The splash of the sea slapped his face, its force pushing him back and forth, keeping him from reaching his unknown destination.
"Just how could I…" He looked at the endless sky, the light above seeming suspiciously bright. "Why would there be a light here?" He mused, hit by a sudden realization not part of his usual memories.
"Ah… This feeling… Could this be exorcist intuition? That light isn't just light… It's my soul!"
Smiling with discovery, he tried to grab and reach the light. But his efforts were useless. He couldn't quite reach the sky.
"Just how can I touch my soul? Reaching my soul is the only way to activate my powers as an exorcist."
He kept stretching his hands out, feeling helpless as he failed again and again.
Abruptly, he opened his eyes. "Shit… That light is unreachable! Just when I had an opportunity to change my fate. If I became an exorcist again, I could fake my way as a mage despite not having any mana!"
Clenching his jaw and his fists tightly, he felt the frustration of his failure. After a moment, he gathered himself and sighed, trying to calm down.
"Okay… okay… this is just the first chance… I can do this in future attempts…"
Determined to escape the doom of this reincarnation, Vonn reassessed his approach to reaching his soul. Maybe… while attempting this, he might find some ways to control mana from the surroundings too.
"I won't focus on just one thing. I have three useful past lives. One as a reader, the second as a mage, and the third as an exorcist. I can do this! I know I can! I feel it! While I search for my way as an exorcist, I'll also revisit Frain's memory to learn more about the unorthodox use of mana."
Vonn was full of resolve, so much so that he didn't notice his eyes failing him, slipping shut as he fell asleep instantly.
***
"I've overestimated this body." Clicking his tongue, Vonn got up from his bed and paced around his room. "At this young age, I should start improving my endurance. Mental exhaustion in this world takes a toll on the body too."
"Alright! Let's do some push-ups!"
Vonn's chubby hands pressed against the floor as he got into a push-up stance. He lowered himself down, then pushed against the floor to lift himself.
"Ha…" He kept pushing, but he found himself stalled just above the floor. "Why can't I push up?! This should be easy!"
Overestimating his young body again, Vonn couldn't believe that a simple push-up was giving him trouble.
"Come on… I have to be better. I still need to prove myself to my cold mother. I need the resources…"
Pushing himself once more, he felt a tiny bit of progress. He smiled wide, taking it as good news.
"Just a few more years, and I'll be able to rely on my body. It's good to start at a young age. I don't have much else to do besides studying with the tutor and my memories."
Finding solace in the memories of his previous lives, Vonn kept pushing himself up. This life didn't seem so gloomy after all—there were things worth doing, and he longed for adventure!
***
"My Lady," a male figure knelt on one knee before a woman hidden behind the canopy of her bed. "A report about the second young master, Vonn. He's been acting strangely these past few days, talking to himself often and pacing around his room. We've heard a few clatters from his furniture, but we can't make sense of his actions."
The lady behind the red canopy nodded, then lowered her gaze to the baby in her hands. "And the third one? Another useless child?"
"The third young master, Linn, still hasn't shown any signs of progress. He still fails to read simple letters. Furthermore, he's shown no interest in the sword."
The lady clicked her tongue. "Useless children… A waste of two whole years." She grumbled, but her gaze softened as she looked down at the small human in her arms, as if she had finally birthed the child she truly wanted.
"But this one… He has potential. He wasn't a failed product." She placed the baby at her side, and a maid stepped forward to take him. "Go on… Prepare the training for this child over the next three years. Expose him to intense mana residuals. He is the future of this family."