Ambient Mage

School had started once again, and so had the week.

Walking in between classes introduced some things to me.

I had heard many rumors including: "There's no way he killed the tyrant."

Or "He was not that important to the dungeon camp."

And interestingly enough "She would immediately lie for him, that -----"

In reference to Aura, that was enough to be punished, not by me however.

Despite my newfound rise in status it meant nothing in the academy walls as well, status isn't very distinguished.

Don't get me wrong there's a difference between princess and commoner, but it's like the difference between a chameleon and a komodo dragon.

Also it's not like I haven't been harrased a few times, because I certainly have for associating with Charlotte, and Aura.

Now I was for sure going to recieve flak for associating with Morgan, but whatever.

Anyways, this week was the first of the 4 until the next episode.

This was also a new 3 weeks meaning a new mentor and partner for 3 weeks in the concept mage class.

My first was Armen Arjing, followed by Aika.

So I wondered who was next.

Class was already starting so I took my seat.

I knew I should also be ascending into the 4th circle any time soon.

I just wasn't exactly sure how.

The game's mechanics behind ascension were just that it happened.

It provided little clue as to how to do it, or how it felt when you were doing something right or wrong.

Despite this, everything in my body told me I was ready to ascend, and I assume I was just missing a concept.

Maybe I should ask Morgan see what she has to say.

"Lucas. Lucas."

"Ah, sorry, hello."

"Hi, I'm Geteronzo."

"Cool. Got any plans?"

"Well I originally planned to test to see where you are, but honestly I just want to know the truth."

"What do you mean?"

"About the rumors."

"Alright, shoot."

"Did you really kill the Ninmurta and Tyrant?"

"Yeah, it was chained up inside the prison, but I did, and the tyrant almost ended my life multiple times, but I killed it too."

"Wow, how did you damage the armor of the monsters then?"

"I'm a 4th star swordsman so with aura mostly."

"And what about you coercing the king and princess to get your noble title?"

"The what?"

"Sorry, I just wanted to know if that had any truth whatsoever."

"Uh yeah that's fine, but nope, never happened."

"And uhm, lastly are you dating Morgan Genoa?"

"Nope, she is merely sponsored by the Svarmet duchy."

"Understood."

"Mind if I asked a few questions?"

"Not at all."

The big guy leaned back in the chair.

"Who made these rumors and when did they start?"

"I assume they started off as concerned whispers and evolved into full blown rumors, but as to when they started, probably as soon as the corpses of the monsters you killed were ascertained."

"They found your marks on some high rank emergency beasts too."

"Your combat sheet has a few 5th tier, a sixth, and a seventh."

"That's insane dude."

"Imagine saying 'Oh I killed a destructive and catastrophe grade monster back to back.' people would not believe you my guy."

"True."

I responded.

"What do you want to test first?"

"Honestly your combat prowess has been shown by your killing of those monsters, but I'm not a great sage who can see through your person, so I have no idea what kind of power you used to kill the things."

"So you want me to display my martial, weaponized, and magic power and control?"

"Precisely."

"Alright."

With that we walked out into the training field.

"This is far enough from everyone. Let's begin with the control aspect of your magic, followed by your martial, then your weapon if that sword on your waist is indicative of anything."

"Sure."

I raised my mana in such a way that felt like rolling over after sleeping on an object that had left a mark on the skin because the person laid on it for too long.

"Your magic cycling seems sluggish, is that normal, or is that not?"

"The magic training I did yesterday was my normal routine, but after I sustained injuries with the dungeon, it seems I've overdone it."

It was true, Genoa did relent after we told her the events that had occured, and in fact felt sorry for scolding us.

However that didn't change the fact that we technically tried to get out of her training.

Also the fact that she made us do our normal routine, was due to the fact she could adjust the pain and toil the body would endure in her realm.

So I suffered more soul damage than physical, which hurt a lot more, and made me a lot better in return, truly pain is one of the best teachers of perfection.

Obviously the soul damage I took was nearly phantomlike because any true damage on the soul is 90% unhealable.

"I would say you've overdone it by a lot."

"Your mana roads look like an overheated pipe that's ready to corrode."

"It's not that bad."

I responded.

"That's close though, your mana paths are wrung out, but just from your summoning of your mana I could see everything, so let's move on to the others."

I began to show my martial finesse, to which I was questioned again about my slower reaction time.

"It seems that combat for you is out of the question for the next week or so."

"Well, it's true that my combat power has been reduced due to the dungeon fatigue, but I should be able to fight at full power, if even for a more limited time than before."

"Don't worry about that, I only want to see a third of your full power."

With that I finished up with my sword techniques and continued with my power evaluation.

"It all actually looks good. On paper you should be moving onto the 4th circle, but for some reason you can't. Do you not have a concept or something?"

"Actually I don't."

I told the truth.

"How? I mean you can literally make one if you can't get enlightenment. Have you tried that?"

"Of course, but it didn't work, my mana never responded."

"And you know the feeling of it because you've attained the 4th star of swordsmanship. Are you sure you're cut out for magic?"

"Actually my magic talent is greater than my sword talent."

"What?"

He looked at me astonished.

"From what I gathered you've only been practicing the sword for 6 years, reaching the 4th tier, and you're saying your 3rd circle magic is actually a fluke?"

"Uh, Yeah?"

I nodded in agreeance with his statement.

"Wow. I mean I would tell you to fight me right now to see if that enlightens you, but after fighting the Tyrant and Ninmurta, not only am I not sure about the help I could provide, but I'm not sure about the negative effects it could have on your recovery."

"That's alright. So what did you have in mind?"

"For this week let's focus on three things, one -your recovery, two- your concept, and three- the maintenance of your finesse."

"That sounds good to me."

"Great, then I'll start on a schedule, for now, you can just circu- oh you're already on it."

I had already sat criss-crossed on the ground circulating my mana throughout my body.

***

With that first session, my next four that week were extremely beneficial to my recovery.

My body and mana was no longer fatigued, but some of the injuries were still ailing me.

Most notably my mana pathways.

Moving my mana from one side of my body to the other wasn't painful, but tedious and a little slow now.

Rapid fire casting of magic wouldn't be possible currently.

Thankfully my ambient magic was completely unaffected by this, so escaping danger was no issue- not that I was going to get in any.

With that in mind I continued onto the second week of mentoring under Geteronzo.

"Are you sure you can fight effectively today?"

"Yes."

"Just because my projections of your healing were set on today, does not mean you have to conform to them you know?"

"I do, but I am really healed, mostly."

"Okay then, a basic spar, no magic enhancement, no weapons, and obviously no magic."

The next few days passed like this too.

Occasionally Aura would ask about my situation and my recovery.

When I told her I was sparring she told me she would come to watch me spar one of the days.

Of course I told her it would be okay to do so.

And she did.

"Hey Lucas, did you miss me?"

She sauntered over to the training grounds with a friend in tow.

"Hi."

She smiled and waved at me.

Which I returned back to her.

"What are you doing right now?"

"I just finished my first spar of the day."

I said to Aura wiping the sweat off my body.

Aura's friend waved bye as Aura turned back to me to speak.

"Look at this?"

A beligerent voice was heard.

Geteronzo, Aura, and I turned to the voice.

"A lowly knight is visited by his master, and he doesn't even face her while speaking."

"It seems I should teach you the right position to adopt."

She placed a gravity circle around me.

However before it could take effect I jumped back out of it's radius.

"Truly a worm can turn can't it?"

"Who are you to touch my knight?"

"There's nothing wrong with me disciplining this rude servant right?"

"How I discipline my servant is up to me not you."

"My. My."

She put her hands up to her face.

Karine, eldest daughter of the Iproline line, and here to obviously start trouble.

"Leave, if I catch you trying to lay hands on my servant once again, you'll regret it."

"My lady, if I may."

"Aurelia-"

Geteronzo and I tried to de-escalate the situation.

"No, stop. Did you just threaten me?"

She cocked her head to the side.

Aura began to open her mouth to speak.

But as the air left her mouth Karine interrupted her, almost as if waiting for Aura so she could do so.

"I Karine Iproline request a duel with Aurelia von Svarmet in the name of the marquis."

She threw one of her gloves directly at Aura's face.

Aura, not one to be disrespected caught the glove.

"Good, then in 2 hours you and I will fight."

With that she turned around and left the training ground.

She came and left like a hurricane, to what mess with me and Aura?

At least that's what I thought until she challenged Aura to a duel.

I realized that she knew she couldn't challenge my authority as a viscount, so her real purpose here today was to debase and force Aura into a competition.

"Well, that was rather underhanded."

"I agree, but Aura why did you get so angry with her?"

"She insulted and tried to hurt you."

"Just let small dogs bark, who cares? Besides she's a 6th circle mage."

Karine Iproline, a second year, and a gravity centric mage.

"So what? I can just fight her, even if I lose, she's a second year it's meaningless."

"It is meaningless, so why agree?"

"Why do you like to pick fights with me?! Was me not sticking up for you satisfactory?!"

"It was."

"Hmph."

She started on her heels and gated back to the dorms.

I turned to Geteronzo.

"Don't worry about her too much she'll be fine."

With that I left as well.

But I knew better.

She was hurt and angry.

I screwed up big time.

***

*Aurelia's Pov*

All I wanted to do was see him.

Why did it go so wrong?

I let the tears run down my face as I gated back to my dorm room.

I was angry at him for not comforting me, for blaming me.

I was angry at myself for going overboard and yelling.

For picking a unwinnable fight.

I left hoping he would chase after me, to tell me he didn't mean it.

But he didn't.

So I laid down on my bed staring at his visage imprinted onto a pillow that was shaped like him, and cried my sorrows onto it.

***

*Lucas' Pov*

I left the training grounds right after and contacted Matthew to see if there was any way to get the duel thrown out.

Unfortunately I was made aware of the Marquis passing by the academy.

This was no coincidence, but a plan of the Iproline line.

Well, I had no choice to accept I had fell for their little scheme.