Reincarnated as a Genius Mage

"Yo!"

Lali walks in.

Her silver-colored, long hair flutters behind her as she walks.

She immediately sits next to me. Her half armor plate clinks on the wall of the wagon.

I straighten my back. Staring forward.

She leans closer, her eyes piercing at my jaw, then she whispers in my ear, "so? Aren't you gonna let me do the experiment?"

I ignore her, acting like she doesn't exist. I'm quite good at that.

It seems K has abandoned me, he ran to the far corner of the room.

"It's not gonna be painful at all. I just wanna know how a mage like you can use force, and how your body is this strong too~" she whispers. Her rough, callused palm wrapping around my left bicep, and she squeezes it.

She's pushing it..

I say, "I'm going to respectfully ask you to get at least an inch away from me, Miss." my tone's stern, harsh, and blunt.

Her face lightens up with a smile as her grip tightens.

With my right hand, I grab her hand holding my bicep, and I squeeze it fairly.

Her forehead wrinkles as she grimaces.

I squeeze her hand more. "You're an S-rank, yes?" I ask, the flame mana already starting to surge inside my first circle. "Then act like one." I say as I forcefully take her hand off my bicep and throw it away.

"Tch." She clicks her tongue as she moves an inch away from me. "You're boring. All of you." She folds her arms.

That's disappointing. I wanted to release my killing intent. It'd have been fun to see how she'd react.

"Where're you from?" She suddenly asks.

"Wouldn't you like to know." I reply. My tone is sarcastic and straightforward.

She turns her neck, her grey eyes glancing at me for a while.

She looks forward, then she slumps on the wagon, almost lying down. "I'm not originally a Jalozian." She says.

"..." I don't respond.

Do I look like I care?

She continues, "I'm from the Ananca Empire. You know, the one where–"

I stand up immediately, and walk toward where Jeriq is sitting and sit beside him.

"Hey! I was talking to you!" She yells in annoyance but I don't mind her.

She's got this weird vibe around her. I hate water mages, and I don't know why. It's really odd too. This is the first time I've even met one.

"Get your ass back here!" she yel– she's still yelling?

Maybe it's because of all those lessons in the Flameworths Duchy.

"Fine. I'll still find a way to experiment on you, one way or the other." she finally shuts up.

I just remembered Alexander. I wonder how that cake lusting mad man is doing. I wonder if the Hetchtors still send assassins at him every night.

"Pfft.. I just did like K; talking about Alexander." I mutter to myself.

"This is it.. you've got this.. thsnsnshaststeg… yes.."

What the hell is he even saying?

I turn to face Jeriq.

The guy's wiping off sweat from his forehead while looking down at the ground like the wood owes him money.

"Uh, are you okay, kid?" I ask. My eyes are narrowed as I stare at him.

He snaps, shaking his head as his gaze rests on me. "Oh, Blank! Yeah.. I– I'm fi– wait. Kid? I'm older than you." He says.

Oof. Yeah, he's right and not right at the same time. Why'd I call him kid? That's unlike me. Shit, I think K's pattern's rubbing off on me.

"You've been muttering nonstop ever since we entered here." I say to him.

"Yeah, uh.. I can't help it, you know. It's the only way to ease the tension I feel. We're going to a war, Blank. A war that's been ongoing for decades. A war that many have gone to and haven't returned. I think I have a valid reason.. a valid reason to be nervous." He says, his hands massaging his forehead.

His steel spear lies on the ground, just next to him.

I nod, "well, you aren't wrong. But, I think it'll help if you think of where we're going as another place for you to get stronger. A stepping stone of sorts. It has worked like magic for me so far." I tell him.

His green, blue tinged eyes stare at me with something that's a mixture of surprise and confusion.

"What?" I ask.

He just smiles and shakes his head, "um, it's just– thank you by the way. But it's nothing, just that.. you've never really replied to me with more than ten words before. On some days you just…" he nods his head in a mimicking fashion, "nodded."

A soft chuckle leaves my lips, "yeah, it wasn't my fault, you know. You kept asking me to join your team and take commissions. I didn't want that."

Of course that's just part of it. I probably didn't talk to anyone at all back then. I was too into the grind.

His soft, stupidly handsome smile widens, "it's nice to actually talk to you, Blank. You aren't a bad guy after all."

"What do you mean by 'after all' did you see me as a bad guy?" I ask. My smile under my mask widening.

He scratches the back of his blonde hair with one hand, and his smile turns to a nervous one as he waves with the other hand, "no no, t–that's not what I meant. I mean.."

"It's okay, haha. I was just messing with you." I speak in between my chuckles.

Now I see why K always teased me. Man, it feels good.

"I forgot to tell you thank you that day." I say, my tone is suddenly more serious.

"Huh? Thank you for what?" He asks.

"For trying to stop me from killing Raiden Lerand last year. You're a good guy too."

He scratches his cheeks, a slight blush creeping on it, "I just did what I had to do. But, you're welcome."

I nod.

"Your nervousness should be gone by now, right?" I ask.

My smile widens under my mask as my plan was successful.

"Oh! You're right! I spent so much time talking to you that I forgot the reason I was nervous in the first place." He speaks, his wide smile still on his lips.

"You're welcome."

"Thank you!" He says.

Now his hands are no longer shaking. His face is brighter too.

I extend a hand toward him, "let's do it properly this time. Our first meeting. I'm Blank."

He grabs my hand immediately and shakes it, "I'm Jeriq. Nice to meet you, Blank."

I nod, then take my hand off. I glance at K who's looking at me with a faint smile on his lips and his chin lazily resting on his fist.

I stare at Terran again. I swear I don't know if the guy's sleeping or not.

Why does he never talk?

Hmm. This is pretty ironic. I'm the one complaining about someone not talking now. I mean, it doesn't matter to me, he doesn't mean anything to me.

Lastly, my gaze lands on Lali who's conveniently lying at the spot where I was; sleeping with her mouth wide open.

I shake my head slowly in disappointment.

What an S-rank.

A soft yawn leaves my mouth as I stretch.

"Ah! Don't yawn.. you'll infect me with your sleepiness." Jeriq says.

"Huh? Just sleep, man." I say as I lie down. Resting my head on my biceps.

"No. I want to witness the entire journey." He says.

Knowing K, he's already sleeping while sitting down. Lali too, and even that assassin guy's probably sleeping. So why doesn't he want to sleep?

Meh, not my problem.

"Suit yourself then." I reply as I close my eyes.