Chapter - 35 The Path of Magic Swordsmans
The Next Day
Lucien and Aren woke up early in the morning and went to the dining table for breakfast.
Seris and Lira were already eating their breakfast.
Lucien and Aren also sat down at the table.
The old inn owner placed breakfast on the table.
"Thank you," they both said.
"What are you guys doing these days?" Lira asked and continued, "Seris sis and I watch you every day..... Are you learning something new?"
Seris was also curious.
Lucien continued eating while looking at them.
Aren thought for a moment.
"We're learning a new sword style."
He paused for a second.
Then, in a louder voice filled with pride—
"AND THE SWORD STYLE NAME IS MAGIC SWORDSMANSHIP!"
"Magic Swordsmanship?" Lira and Seris said at the same time.
"But Lucien is fine because he can use magic," said Seris. "But Aren..."
Before she could finish, Lucien cut her off.
"Aren also has a magic core."
"What?" Lira exclaimed. "Does that mean Brother can also use magic?"
Her voice was full of excitement.
Lucien looked at her.
"No. His magic core is different from ours," Lucien replied.
"Different?" Seris asked.
After that, Lucien explained Aren hidden magic core to them.
Minutes passed.
"I see," said Seris while thinking. "That's amazing, Aren."
Lira also nodded.
After talking with each other about Lira and Seris magic training, Lucien gave them advice, while Aren explained his own training and told them many other things.
The inn owner watched them and smiled.
After finishing breakfast—
They went to the training ground.
Training Ground
"So, let's repeat the process," said Aren.
"Wait," said Lucien.
"Why?"
"I think of a way to make the process easier," said Lucien.
"Easier?"
Lucien nodded.
"Then what are we going to do?" Aren asked.
Lucien smiled.
"Just do as I say."
Aren nodded.
After—
He sat down on the ground.
"Now release the mana from your magic core and slowly spread it throughout your body."
Aren nodded.
Then—
"Wait," he said. "Not into my arm?"
Lucien replied,
"Yes. Just do it."
While thinking about it, Aren nodded.
"It's easier this way," Lucien thought.
Aren slowly guided the mana through his body.
Minutes passed.
He could feel it.
The same warm feeling he had felt before.
Aren could clearly sense the mana.
It was flowing inside his body.
But it wasn't moving on its own.
Minutes passed.
"Stop," said Lucien.
Hearing Lucien's voice—
Aren's concentration broke.
The mana immediately disappeared.
"Hey! That—"
"Stop," Lucien interrupted. "Did you succeed?"
Aren calmed himself and nodded.
"As expected," Lucien thought.
Then he smiled and continued,
"Then repeat this process again."
"What?" Aren said. "Again?"
Lucien nodded.
Aren ground his teeth.
"Hey, why aren't you learning too?" Aren asked.
"Well, you know, right?" Lucien replied with a smile. "I can already use magic, so—"
"Okay! Okay!" Aren interrupted.
After that, Aren repeated the process from morning until night.
The Next Day
Aren repeated the process.
The mana flowed through his body as if it had become a part of him.
Aren breathed in and out.
Then he opened his eyes and looked at Lucien.
Lucien smiled.
"Now, release the mana into your arms," he said.
Aren nodded.
He guided the mana into his arms.
This time, the mana flowed through them with ease.
"Now your legs," Lucien said.
Aren released the mana into his legs.
The mana flowed smoothly through them as well.
Aren opened his eyes in excitement.
"I did it!"
"Good. Now it's time to move on to the next step," said Lucien.
Aren nodded excitedly.
Lucien stood in the center of the training ground with his eyes closed.
"Now, instead of moving mana through your body, we have to let it wrap around our muscles, bones, and skin."
Aren crossed his arms.
"So... we're coating our bodies with mana?"
"Exactly. Think of it as wearing invisible armor."
Aren nodded.
"Sounds easier than moving it."
"It isn't."
Aren sat down and closed his eyes.
He quickly located the warm mana inside his chest.
Slowly, he guided it toward his right arm.
The mana flowed smoothly.
"Now..." Lucien muttered. "Don't let it keep moving. Hold it there."
Aren tried.
The mana spread across his arm—
Then vanished.
"..."
He sighed.
"It disappeared."
He tried again.
Hours passed.
Every attempt ended the same way.
The mana refused to stay in place.
Instead, it slipped back into his magic core.
As evening approached, Aren finally managed to keep a thin layer of mana around his forearm.
It lasted only three seconds.
But during those three seconds...
His arm felt lighter.
Stronger.
Aren grabbed the wooden practice sword beside him and swung it.
The swing was noticeably faster.
His eyes widened.
"I felt it."
Lucien looked over.
"What?"
"My arm... it became stronger."
A smile spread across Aren face.
Encouraged, Aren tried once more.
This time, he managed to coat both of his legs with mana.
He pushed off the ground.
He shot forward much farther than expected before stumbling into the wall.
"Ouch..."
Lucien burst into laughter.
"You call that success?"
Aren rubbed the back of his head with an embarrassed grin.
"I moved faster, didn't I?"
Lucien laughed again.
Now they had proof—
Mana could strengthen the body.
Days Passed
Lucien and Aren trained every day at the training ground.
At first, maintaining Body Reinforcement for even five seconds was exhausting.
The mana would scatter, leaving their muscles aching and their minds drained.
But neither of them gave up.
Again.
And again.
With each passing day, their control improved.
Five seconds became ten.
Ten became thirty.
Soon, they could maintain the reinforcement for an entire minute.
"My mana isn't leaking as much anymore," Aren said.
They increased the intensity of their training.
Running laps around the inn while reinforcing their legs.
Holding heavy stones with reinforced arms.
Blocking wooden swords while reinforcing their bodies.
At first, they collapsed after only a few minutes.
By the end of the second week, they could train for over an hour without losing control.
One afternoon, Lucien picked up a wooden practice sword.
"Ready?"
Aren drew his own.
"Let's see how much we've improved."
The two charged at each other.
Their wooden swords collided.
Aren immediately noticed the difference.
The impact that normally numbed his arms felt much lighter.
His reinforced muscles absorbed most of the force.
Lucien swung again.
Aren blocked and counterattacked in one smooth motion.
Their movements were faster.
Their reactions were sharper.
Every strike carried more power than before.
After dozens of exchanges, both of them stepped back, breathing heavily.
Lucien smiled.
"We did it."
Aren looked down at his body.
A faint layer of mana covered his arms and chest without breaking apart.
Unlike before, it remained stable.
He nodded.
"Body Reinforcement..."
"I think we've finally mastered the basics."
Lucien laughed.
Another Week Passed
After countless hours of practice, Lucien and Aren had finally mastered the basics of Body Reinforcement.
They could now maintain a thin layer of mana over their bodies for several minutes without losing control.
It was time for the next step.
Blade Reinforcement.
The two stood in the quiet training room behind the inn, wooden practice swords in hand.
Lucien looked at his blade before speaking.
"We already know how to channel Aura into our swords."
Aren nodded.
"But now, we have to combine our mana with that Aura."
Aren frowned.
"So, instead of just strengthening the sword with Aura... we coat it with mana as well?"
"Exactly."
Lucien took a deep breath.
"First, pour your Aura into the blade."
Aren closed his eyes.
A familiar feeling spread from his body into the wooden sword.
Although it was invisible, he could feel the Aura surrounding the weapon.
"Now," Lucien continued, "guide a small amount of mana from your core into the sword."
Aren carefully directed the warm stream of mana through his arm.
The moment it reached the blade—
Crack!
The mana scattered.
"..."
Aren looked at his sword.
"It failed."
"So did mine."
Lucien sighed.
"The Aura and mana aren't blending together."
For the next several hours, they repeated the process.
Again.
Every attempt ended the same way.
Sometimes the mana vanished before reaching the blade.
Other times, it collided with the Aura and dispersed instantly.
Days turned into weeks.
Neither of them gave up.
One evening, while repeating the exercise, Aren slowed his breathing.
Instead of forcing the mana into the blade, he let it flow naturally alongside his Aura.
A faint shimmer appeared around the wooden sword.
It lasted only a heartbeat.
But it was there.
Aren's eyes widened.
"Lucien..."
Lucien turned around.
"You did it."
Aren looked at the blade in disbelief.
A thin layer of pale mana clung to the sword before fading away.
"It only lasted a second."
Lucien smiled.
"A second is enough."
Then—
Aren swung his sword.
The wooden blade sliced through the air faster than before.
Even the impact against the practice dummy felt heavier.
Aren lowered his sword, a smile forming on his face.
"So this is Blade Reinforcement."
Lucien nodded.
"We're still beginners."
"But we're getting closer."
Closer to becoming true Magic Swordsmen.
_________________________________________
END OF CHAPTER - 35
_________________________________________