I Refused To Be Reincarnated

In less than a minute, Adam's torso rose from the cold tiles for the thousandth push-up. His arms didn't show the slightest twitch through his coat, even when most teenagers' would have been burning. His breathing remained as steady as when he entered the reward hall, and not a single drop of sweat spoiled his smooth forehead.

These details didn't escape the attention of Matthew or the other magi.

Mana affinity, promising control, and incredible physique—Adam had everything. A bright path was already unravelling beneath his feet. Just like Quintella, he only needed the right mentor to guide him.

Most magi curled their lips into grins. They nodded, jotting down and circling Adam's full name in red ink inside their private notebooks. The same thought blossomed in their minds—this academic year promised to be chaotic and full of surprises.

But protocol took precedence over their eagerness. They closed their notebooks, gripping their armrests to remain seated and not rush to offer mentorship immediately. Later. After Adam settled, this year's opening ceremony passed.

The sound of Adam dusting his hands, accompanied by Quintella's amazed compliments, broke the silence. The girl had remained silent, terrified by Matthew's pressure. Now that things had calmed down and her big brother had shown her things she thought impossible, she forgot about it.

"So strong! I couldn't even do one push-up. Do you think I'd be able to do one thousand like you one day?" She jumped around Adam, pink eyes blazing, chest raised in pride.

With a satisfied grin, Adam patted her blonde hair. "Train well and you will."

Then, he turned toward Matthew. The magus bore a complex expression. Lips pressed in a tight line, a thoughtful frown, and the shifty eyes of someone who was reassessing his views of talent.

But time was ticking, and Adam had never liked to squander it. "We should be done with tests, so let's proceed with payment and call it a day."

A muscle twitched in Matthew's jaw, his hands slightly crumpling Adam's enrollment form as he began to fill it.

Mana, control, and physique: off the charts. He then crossed out all the training courses, introductory mana classes, and other general courses Adam didn't need.

Once done, he stretched his palm. "Twenty million for both of you. It'll cover everything you'll need for this year, including food, lodging, and the materials you'll need during general classes. Private lessons and experiments aren't included, but your mentor should provide for you."

Adam chuckled when he shook Matthew's hand and felt a large amount of Prestige vanish. Yet, he didn't let go just yet. Instead, his sky-blue eyes ignited as he spoke. "You mentioned records, another individual with mana affinity. Who was it?"

Matthew's gaze shifted to something akin to confusion, not about the question, but about Adam's ignorance. With a tug, he effortlessly freed his hand and shrugged. "Who else? Leviathan, of course." He waved a dismissive hand. "Now leave. I must finalise your enrollment and send the documents to the rector. Oh, before I forget, the ceremony is scheduled in four days. Make sure to settle in the temporary dormitory before then, or we won't accept you."

Adam held Quintella's small hand, nodded at Matthew, then left the hall. His mind raced along the way, memories of Leviathan's eyes resurfacing. They indeed shared the same uncommon sky-blue color and, somehow, the surprise didn't strike as hard as it could have. After all, he had met her, felt her power, and had learned about her millennia-old legends in the drowned city of Kumari Kandam. The memory of the sea parting, how she forged Quintella and his identities, and how she teleported them across the sea were other proofs he couldn't deny.

Instead, he would have been much more surprised if the mysterious individual turned out to be the rector. He found himself laughing at the thought. Now that'd be a dull twist.

Beside him, Quintella skipped through the gardens, swinging her hand with his playfully. "Are you also excited about studying? But four days... I wish it were tomorrow."

Adam set his pondering aside, smiling at her. "Didn't you want to try those noble cafes' pastries?" He winked at her. "Four days sounds just about right for us to have a little fun."

She rushed in front of him, planting her hand on her hip, her face solemn. "No take backs!"

"Of course not," he chuckled, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Eat well, buy a few clothes, and enjoy these four days. Then, we'll study seriously. No giving up, alright?"

"Yeah!" She raised her fist as they approached the gates, her voice loud enough for Astride, her colleague, and Robert, who had been waiting for them, to hear it. "We won't give up until we can do..." She counted on her fingers, scratching the back of her head. After a moment, she just gave up and used the biggest number she knew. "Seven million pushups!"

"That... might be a bit much." Adam rolled his eyes. Even if they could, how long would it take to do seven million push-ups? Ridiculous.

By the gates, Robert waved at him, but Adam gestured for the man to wait. Instead, his eyes locked onto a teenager his age. He was moving into the college, a leather satchel tucked at his shoulder over an elegant blue-marine robe.

Adam couldn't quite make out the emblem beneath the satchel's strap. No matter—the boy himself looked far more interesting.

With three confident strides, he closed the distance to the teenager, who took a half-step back and frowned at his approach.

"Hello, fellow student. I'm Adam, and I just enrolled and noticed you on my way out. Just thought about asking a few things to a knowledgeable senior." Adam smiled while Quintella bounced on her toes behind Adam, her enthusiastic nodding making her blonde braids swing.

The teenager's eyes darted between the duo, eyes narrowing for a moment, before he nodded as if he had decided he could waste a minute of his time to answer. "Ask away."

His voice carried a sense of contentment that surprised Adam. Did he enjoy being called a senior? He coughed, continuing. "Just curious—at yesterday's auction, I heard the college awards Prestige for meritorious deeds. What sort of accomplishments typically qualify?"

While Adam began to collect information, back in the reward hall, Matthew's quill danced on Adam's enrollment form. Not with new classes, but with a short yet meaningful sentence addressed directly to the rector.

Very high potential to become an anomaly, perhaps even the fool.