Reincarnated as a Genius Mage

"To use mana.." I breathe in, and I breathe out.

I'm sitting on the cold tiles in my room. In a lotus position.

"One must stir their mana pathway, and focus their mind, willing the mana in their cells to go where they want it to."

I'm recalling the lesson on how to manifest mana— Klaus taught me.

I've stopped going to the training center, now I only learn with Klaus. Well, there's nothing more to learn from him because I've learned everything there is to learn, but he still insists on guiding me.

I gotta admit I'll miss that guy, but not his beatings.

All that's left now is to form my first circle.

When a Flameworth or any other noble in the training center forms their first circle; they head to the Imperial Academy. Which I'm not going to go to because I'm running away to Ludia.

And to officially graduate from the training center as early as I can, Alexander gave me a condition— to defeat the strongest kid in class 10 in a spar. A kid who's age is double my own.

Those class 10 kids have all formed their first circle, or are on the verge of forming it.

But.. it's easy. I can't even imagine myself losing to a kid, even if he's a first-circle kid. My high confidence is especially due to the fact that I've been receiving beatings from that brute hulk for two years.

Yes, that's right. I'm seven years old now— physically. But mentally, I'm forty-two.

Weird growth fact is that my body is like that of a 16-year-old teenager who hit a growth spurt and suddenly became a gym bro. I'm used it now though.

But nobody outside this estate would believe that I'm just seven years old. And that's just perfect for me.

Breathing in— I feel the pure mana in the air, entering my nose, flowing to my lungs. And from my lungs, they rush inside my mana pathway.

And I apply the breathing technique— filtering just enough oxygen, and mixing the remaining with the pure mana, turning it to flame mana. It spreads from my mana pathway to every cell in my body.

My fingers— I steeple them. Raising them to chest level.

Will it. Command your mana, and it shall heed your command. You are its owner and it lives in your body as your resident.

Fwoosh

A shapeless swirl of fire, crackles and flickers, forming in the middle of my steepled fingers, distorting the space around it with it's intense heat.

My eyes slowly open to meet the sight of the flames, and my brows furrow immediately.

"Tch. Another dud."

For now, I can 'barely' control the elements of Fire and Air.

I haven't learned any spells yet, but once I gather enough mana and form my first circle, that'd be the first thing I do.

As for the other two elements of earth and water... I'll learn— to be honest I don't even know how or where I can learn them.

Forget about that. Right now, I'm working on something. Something that Alexander showed me once.

–"Fire is not just a destructive element. It manifests what its user wills it to manifest, and that can be destruction, or— Creation. It can bring intense heat, or..."

He wrapped blue flames around my body and making me wince, and brace myself for the charring heat. But instead of hot, it felt "Cold."

And ever since that day, I've been trying to summon cold fire.

Since logic doesn't work in this place, I'll adapt to their illogic.

One other progress that I've made over this past two years, is the success in gaining knowledge about this world.

Because I never even spent time to explore the training center— and I never knew of the existence of the large library in the middle floor of the library.

Klaus was the one who told me about the library, when I asked him the nearest place I could gain knowledge through a book or something.

And I read about it— this planet, and it's history.

The planet that has become my reality now is called 'Cryst'.

It's like another version of Earth. But it's a planet that's backward in technology and stuff.

They didn't even know that the planet was round, or that space existed until the first Anomaly– Krian the Great, flew up and beyond the skies. He claimed that all he saw was darkness, and that the world below him was not flat but like a sphere.

Speaking of Anomaly, that's something they call me, they call me the second anomaly after Krian the Great. But honestly, I don't see how I can compare with that guy.

He has some really amazing feats. He was a mage born with affinity to no element.

He controlled something else; Light. He's the world's first and only light mage.

Rumors say that he eventually transcended the ninth and tenth circle, and he gained divinity, and is now the god that the diviners in the western continent– Hubolt, and the religious people of this world worship.

It sounds like utter bullshit, gain divinity? Become a god? How's that even possible?

And he's the only god they worship in this world, not like Earth where they have thousands of religions.

But.. the religion of light do not worship Krian the Great. No— they worship the god of light.

But some part of me believes this nonsense. And I think it's because of his connection with light. He was the only light mage, and now he's the only light God.

I swear.. it doesn't matter to me. I don't care about all that. The possibility that one can become a god is not something that I can even begin to comprehend. So I'll erase that from my mind.

And... yes. The world.

Cryst is divided into four continents. They're the only continents in the world. And there's a huge forest that divides this four continents. The Forest is as big as a continent itself. They call the forest 'the great ancient equator.' Elyrus.

The Northern continent is called Nuncapor, it's a continent with many kingdoms, but the two great Empires that are powerhouses there are; the Kafer Empire, the Empire of Knights and Swords. And the Japur Empire, the empire of b**********.

The southern continent is named Levaria. It houses the Jalozi Empire, where my family resides, and the Ananca Empire. They are the two main Empires in this continent.

In the Jalozi Empire, there are four duchies. The duchy of the North and the Sovereigns of Air, The Aurora family.

The duchy of the East and the Monarchs of Water, the Hetchtors.

The duchy of the West and the Rulers of Flames, the Flameworths.

And the mysterious duchy of the south. No one knows much about them as they're veiled in mystery and secrecy. They are the Kings of Earth, the Grimlocks. And they do not serve the Emperor.

One more thing..

Ludia, the city I'm supposed to go to, is a city that's close to the Imperial Capital. The city borders a neighboring kingdom. It's the city of beginnings.

And I'm going there soo–

"You're doing it again."

Suddenly, I hear her voice— sweet and stern. It's Jennette. She interrupted my meditation.

She walks inside my room, and she sits on the floor next to me.

I open my right eye and peek at her. She's looking up at the ceiling, holding her knees.

"I can't help it, Klaus etched it into my body."

"Yeah, you've told me before."

"Oh... right."

"..."

It's silent, no words are being said, and I close my right eye again.

Why is she being so awkward?

"Lately, I've been getting this sense of.. desperation from you. It feels like... Y–you're chasing something, like you want to... leave?"

My body quivers slightly, but I'm almost certain she didn't notice it.

"Leave? No, I don't have such plans."

My eyes are closed but I don't have to see them. I can feel her deadly glare on my forehead. 

"I'm a second circle air mage, Charles."

A cackle threatens to break free from my mouth. But I hold it back, and speak; "I know."

"Yeah, I've been hi– Huh? You do?"

"Yes, I do."

I can tell from the two green rings around you.

"I'm not going to ask how you know that. But I just want to say that, although I've not been able to break through to the third circle, I've been researching, and trying hard to... and. I'm confident enough in my strength."

"So?"

"So... take me with you if you're ever leaving."

My heart sinks down to my stomach.

I see her as a sister, a friend, and the mother I never had.

But the path I must walk is far too great. It will only cause her demise if I bring her along with me.. I think? No. I am certainly sure, after all, the path to gathering the strength to tear, and cross dimensions cannot be easily walked upon.

I nod my head once, I don't want to assure her anything.

I'm sorry, but... It's something I must do to see go back to my world, my family— to Marcelle.

"So... how about Sin? Have you made any progress with him?"

I lighten up the mood, immediately changing the topic.

"Fuu, that guy is as hard as a rock. I'm sure he's never had a romantic relationship with anyone before. I do find it charming though," her cheeks are slightly flushed, and a warm smile stretches on her lips as she says.

"I can help you though." I press.

"Ah! No, don't!" she nudges me, making me chuckle softly as I tease her endlessly.

***

It smells like metal...

Finally, it's time to spar with him.

My gaze locks with his.

Richardson Macilavielli. He has one ring shimmering a red rue, and revolving around him.

His blue uniform contrasts to his silver hair, and his bright green eyes never leaves mine. His eyes— they carry grace. The type of grace only a person with utmost confidence can carry.

He narrows his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips, and then he crouches into a combat stance.

And I do the same.

We're in the training grounds. The air is hot, and filled with tension. A dreary tension that only I and Richardson can feel.

The large crowd of spectators gathered around the training grounds like a coliseum are cheering for Richardson, highly anticipating our Battle.

Even the Patriarch and the Matriarch are present. At the highest seat in the audience.

My heart is pumping faster and faster with each passing second. The anxiety I feel is like fuel to my beating heart.

How would he attack? Where would he attack first? What spells would he use?

Fweeet!

My thoughts are shattered by the sharp, slicing sound of a whistle.

"Begin!"

It's time.