Reincarnated as a Genius Mage

The air smells of ashes and blood. The light from the cleaved moon showers on the ruins that lay on the street, littered with blood.

My body reeks of sweat and blood, and the red blood clings on my skin like grime.

Huff Huff

"That.. was fun.."

His voice is shaky, coming out between heavy breaths.

A deep groan rumbles from my throat.

I'm lying on the ground. My breath heavy and loud. My clothes torn, my body bruised. And sword marks are on my bloodied back and stomach.

It was a good fight. Although it ended in a draw.

The inn we were, the homes, shops, and the the entire street has been reduced to ashes, and sword marks decorate the ground and the entire vicinity. A testament to our battle.

They all ran away– the commoners, the nobodies. They left their homes, deserted the streets, leaving us to enjoy our battle. And we did. It lasted for 2 days.

Although I can tell...

My neck– I turn it slowly, fixing my gaze at the direction where the madman is seated.

He was holding back.

Well to be honest, so was I.

He's sitting, his back leaning on the wall of an undamaged building, hands holding his ribs, I made sure to burn him well. His dented sword is lying on the ground next to him.

He's bruised, battered, and burnt. But somehow this white-maned madman is still grinning like he just ate a good meal.

"I never thought a fight with a mage would ever be so thrilling, kuhahaha!"

His boisterous laughter is loud, and filtered through heavy pantings.

"How absurd, an elemental mage who engages in close combat and fights with his body instead of hurling spells from a distance like a coward. You left some real nasty bruises on me."

He spits out blood as he speaks.

Enduring the searing pain– I stand up and make my way toward him.

Next to him; I sit down, leaning my back on the wall where he's leaning his.

"You.. you're one of the only people in this world who can put up a fight with me." I tell him.

His brow curves up.. and then it drops back. He lowers his head, and gives a bitter smile.

"What an honor."

From the strap on his waist– he takes out a wicker bottle filled with water, and he drinks half.

And then he offers the remaining half bottle of water to me.

"Here, for dehydration."

The bottle– I glance at it, then gently; I take my eyes of it and glance at his face.

His golden eyes are dull, and worn out.

A wry smile stretches on my lips, and I take the bottle, and drink the water.

"Thank you."

Truly, a good battle unites warriors.

But I'm still curious about him. He looks like me– those same eyes, eyes devoid of depth, eyes that only belons to one who's lost everything– he carries them.

"So... what brought you to Jalozi?"

Politely, I ask him. My voice is calm, for he has earned my respect as a warrior.

"Kuahahahaha! you're a real straightforward guy aren't you."

His grin ever so wide, and his eyes locked on mine.

"It's a simple reason. I ran away. I ran away because I'm a coward. Because I couldn't fulfill the terms of the battle. Terms that were negotiated between me and [Him]."

His loud and energetic voice drops low, mixed with a twinge of shakiness that shows exhaustion, regret, and... fear.

How absurd. This man can feel fear?

"Just who is this person that you— the Golden Swordsman ran away from?"

"You know when you said I was one of the only people in the world who could put up a fight with you?"

I nod calmly.

"Yes"

"Well, you were wrong. I would have defeated you if I was in good shape. And there are still people out there who can kill you whenever they want– with a flick of their finger's even. And [He] is one of them."

He frowns his face as he speaks.

My eyes narrow, the words he speaks are.. they're. Is it possible?

"And.. who is He?"

He smiles, and raises his head, his eyes focusing on the bright cleaved moon, reflecting on his golden pupils.

"He is.. The Moon Cleaver."

Huh?

Words hitch in my throat, refusing to come out.

A strange tingle rushes all over my body, my heart skipping a beat.

"The First Sword of the Nuncapor continent. The now first and strongest of the ten great lances..."

The dread rising from my stomach increases. It's hot, like boiling lava, rising, and it reaches my throat. And then he says;

"The Emperor of my Homeland– Kafer. Delarus Matir Kafer."

I have no idea what my facial expression looks like right now. But I'm sure it's horrible. My brows are furrowed and I barely stopped my mouth from opening wide.

"But, isn't he?..."

He looks at my facial expression with a stern expression, and then, he laughs.

"Dead? You really believed all that bullshit? He faked his death! Although he should have died... He went on a journey to the unknown Eastern continent."

My face hardens.

Impossible.

Ever since the dawn of transportation and the creation of ships.

Every Empire and Kingdom in the three known continents– the Western, Northern and Southern continents– they've all sent their best warriors on voyages and ventures into the Eastern Continent.

But nobody has ever come back.

It is said that if a ruler commands any of their citizens to journey to the Eastern Continent, he/she is giving them a death sentence.

"Nobody.. no man knew of his journey. Oh, there were some men that knew. They were the few nobles he trusted.

He was away for twenty years. He left as a grand swordmaster, and came back as a... monster. Nobody knows what he experienced. He has sworn to never tell."

My body quakes, and immediately, I stand up. My legs wobble a bit, but I maintain my balance.

Something feels wrong, terribly wrong. Delarus...

The goosebumps on my body like tiny pimples.

"So you lost to that monster?"

He nods.

"I was poisoned before the battle.

It seems he really wanted to kill me. After all, I was the strongest swordsman before his return.

He must have deemed me a threat. I almost died during the battle, but I escaped and ran away.

He sent assassins to chase after me in my weakened and run-down state for weeks. That's when I smuggled into a ship that was traveling from the Northern continent to the Southern continent. I didn't even know that I'd end up in the Empire of Jalozi. I expected to end up in any kingdom or Empire."

The shock I feel.. I can't express it.

"Unbelievable."

He chuckles at my exclamation.

"Unbelievable indeed...

I used to think that I was at the top..."

He coughs,"that I was at the pinnacle. For years, I questioned my life, my worth, and my purpose.

I had attained the unattainable– the pinnacle of sword prowess, and I achieved all my life goals. But at the cost of... every other thing.

I found myself asking why? And what next? Living in solitude, everybody was scared of me, I had no real human relationship, nobody to connect to..."

He lets out a dry laugh.

"Who'd want to connect with a monstrous old man like me anyway?"

As I thought. He's just like me.

The similarities we both share; I can't help but feel them.

"But, you know what? I was wrong!

There was a pinnacle above the pinnacle! And it showed up when I least expected it.

And now... everything has lost meaning to me. Everything I worked so hard for, that I lost everything for, it's all g–"

"That's enough."

I don't want to listen to him anymore. He.. he reminds me too much of myself, and my past.

All the wrong I committed to attain power. That very same power that's shackling me down, and leashing like a dog to Jolari.

I outstretch my hand toward him.

He looks up at me– into my eyes, and he smiles. He grabs my hand, and I pull him up.

"I don't know how you can get revenge on the monstrous man that poisoned you, but.."

My voice is laced with seething venom.

He looks at me with raised brows, and he tilts his head.

Then he shakes his head. Chuckling softly.

"Revenge is foolish Alexander. It's something that only losers– People who aren't powerful enough to prevent their loss, fall to. I do not seek revenge. No, what I seek... is blood."

Huh? Isn't that the same thing?

I shake my thoughts off. The thought process of a madman isn't something I should try to understand.

"I see... But you should follow me to the Capital– to the Emperor. You have to report the reason for your.. visit, and ensure you mean no harm to our Empire. It's just formalities."

"I understand then. Take me to meet him– that Emperor of yours."

He chuckles, "but I heard he's a much greater horror than Delarus. I heard that he's pure evil, I heard many things about him, including a rumor that he has you c–"

"Just follow me Kairo,"

This mission.. it's over. Now I can go home. I wonder if that cake shop still has Vanilla. I really need something sweet after all this bitterness.