I Refused To Be Reincarnated

"Fusion spell: Earthfire Immolation!"

Instantly, a surge of mana left Thurin's palms, making the air tremble and the ground roar. The temperature increased by the college's main building gate as the water sizzled and evaporated in puffs of white steam.
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A thick liquid flame erupted from the dwarf's palm, searing the ground, casting bright orange lights and banishing the shadows on Adam's face as his eyes enlarged.

Shocked by the sudden attack, he lost his chance to negate the spell before its activation. However, he wasn't without a solution, either. In a flash, he understood Thurin emulated the magma element by fusing earth and fire to give his flames consistency and enhance their properties. Therefore, he channelled his mana, condensing it on his fingers before swinging his hand vertically.

"Water jet cutter!"

A thin stream of high-pressure water emerged from each finger like a magical beast's claws before slicing through the thick, magma-like earth.

PSHH

The noise of evaporation reverberated next as dense steam engulfed the place, their particles reflecting the moon's glow for a second.

As Thurin's spell exploded in a rain of fiery tongue licking the charred walls and slabs, Adam's silhouette blurred into motion. The wind whipped against his clothes, making his red coat flutter as he reached his adversary in the blink of an eye. Then, he grabbed the teacher's hand, locked it behind his back, and swept his leg, forcing the angry dwarf to the ground.

"Calm down, teacher Thurin. I ventured into Avaloria Frost Peak with Shiro and seldom came to your classes. It's really me."

His voice echoed, gentle and reassuring, as he felt Thurin try to break free for a second before trembling.

"How can I be sure? You may as well have investigated beforehand to impersonate Adam!"

Thurin's voice cracked with hesitation the next moment. Doubtful and unwilling to jeopardise the wounded students, he couldn't blindly believe him after the recent attack.

"If you can't trust my words, trust my actions. I can easily rip your head off in this position."

His soft voice sent an icy shiver down Thurin's spine. After all, he must have felt the iron grip clutching his arm.

Feeling the clamping hand's strength dig into his skin, Thurin hurriedly answered as he felt his bones groan in agony.

"I believe you. Let go before you break my arm!"

"Alright," he nodded, releasing his grip with a wry smile before adding. "I'll explain what happened to me after finding Shepard and the other teachers. For now, tell me how the college ended up in this state and if a healer is present."

Pushing himself off the ground, Thurin dismissed his mana, returning his thick beard and eye color to their usual state. Next, he spent a few minutes explaining how an explosion rocked the land, blasting Shepard's grand tower to smithereens. The conflagration's suddenness took them off guard, vaporising humans and buildings alike before they even realised what had happened.

A bitter taste filling his mouth, he pointed to the student and continued, jaws muscles tensing in anger.

"Only Elysia had some proficiency in healing because of her nature affinity. Since she is gone..."

He shook his head, lowering his eyes to gaze at the ground in distress.

"We can only do our best to stop the bleeding until Beatrix returns from the Academy of Light Magic."

After a brief silence to calm the tremors shaking his body, he continued with a sigh.

"Shepard is wounded, too. Thadeus, Zenobia, and Shiro are monitoring his condition."

"Wait, what?"

Shocked to learn about Shepard's injury, Adam's head jerked back and his pupils constricted. Even a mighty arcanist suffered from the blast, forcing a realisation.

'Their bodies are a glaring weakness even in the sixth tier!'

That's why he defeated Gabriel without too much trouble. His space blade cut through his body like paper, leaving him no way to survive after he weakened the cerulean bulwark protecting him.

'Do they fix it after becoming archmages?'

He pondered, remembering how Julius trembled and fainted before Vivian and the beast emperor. There was no way they could govern such large territories against beasts if they didn't. After all, even if they could obliterate countries, a single blow from the dreadful creatures would end them.

But it wasn't time to think about that. As quickly as his mind drifted off course, he refocused on Thurin, nodding at him.

"I'll go see him. I brought back five hundred new students under Shepard's orders. They are in dormitory three. One of them knows medicine. Search for Gwen. Oh!

And don't worry about their appearances."

Without looking back, he passed through the once lively corridors, now turned dreary with the scent of blood, the noises of agonising groans, and the downcast faces of young students. Everything he witnessed on his way forced a worm of doubt to appear in his usually clear heart.

'Can I really let Nathan go after this?'

For the first time, he considered going back on his promise. Despite the benefits of having him around, the devastation he sowed cleaved his moral values into two fighting parts. He didn't know...

But what he knew for sure was that words must have value. Because if they didn't, how could he trust anyone?

As his leather boots echoed against the floor, he pondered more to find the answer and shape his uniqueness further.

Could anyone live without trusting another? If yes, how? The question stumped him for a second before the evident answer crashed into his troubled mind.

'Choose your friends carefully... or become a manipulator like Gaston.'

No! He would never become like the nightmare he hated, even today. Just thinking about the man made him grit his teeth in anger.

'Even if the world lies in my face, I'll keep my words true!'

He asserted his determination, eyes glowing and fists clenched. For better or worse, he would let Nathan live even if he didn't want to.

'Who knows? He'll maybe reform himself if surrounded by good people...'

A slight hope flashed in his eyes as he clutched the alchemy class door handle. Then, he dismissed his moral dilemma.

It was time to see Shepard.