Chapter 45 - Finding enjoyment
How would Silas spend the night? The current situation of the party was not the same as usual. There were a few people and new people joined the party as well.
Normally, Silas slept alone in the carriage free from bugs and cold. But he couldn’t do that. To put it bluntly he could but he now had a fiance by his side.
Because of that he had an obligation to protect her. No. It was not just an obligation. He needed to be safe. After all, she was the key to the war he was going to participate in.
So, Silas let her sleep in the carriage and he slept outside. Surprisingly, she invited him to sleep with her but he declined.
Looking at the starry sky, Silas put a dried log into the firepit. The raging fire consumed the log and burned brightly.
He was on guard right now. He didn’t have time to train his body so he chose this time. Guard the site and trained his body.
It was an effective way to use his time.
Silas grabbed his sword again and took a stance. He then performed a series of techniques. Each movement followed smoothly.
He then activated the first circle in his heart. The sensation of deja Vu spread over his body and his body executed the stabbing motion flawlessly.
There was no lagging of energy behind his sword. Still, he was not satisfied with this.
The technique imbued in the first circle heart was a simple stab. There was no complex energy circulation behind the stab at all.
Even then, he couldn’t move past 120 percent of the power.
The heart circle worked very differently than the mana core.
The circle in mana core held the crest. Because of that with a thought, you could perform a spell instantly.
Of course, there were still some restrictions around them but it was simple. What you needed was talent to create a circle and the ability to find the crest or create a new one.
Silas had those so his mage path was simple. In fact, he was a superior mage for his age.
Now for the heart circle. What imbued this circle was strange. Silas never understood the full extent but it was a mix of energy circulation and feeling.
By tapping your energy into the circle, your body moved in reflex and performed the technique you desired.
In the shirt, warriors were more freakish than mage. Mage needed calm and cold logic to fiction while warriors only needed their instinct.
Silas performed another stab. His sword pierced through the air at lightning speed.
He won’t rest until he manages to perform 150 percent of the power behind the stab.
Sweat dropped down, blood gushing out from his hand as he tightened his hand again. He grinned his teeth and performed yet again another failed attempt.
As long as he preserved his will, he would reach the state.
120 percent of the technique was beginner level.
150 percent of the technique was intermediate level.
200 percent of the technique was advanced level.
As for the rest, they were beyond him.
Only a demi-god level warrior could perform world shattering technique.
"Stop. Stop. You will damage your body."
Roland said out loud.
Silas followed his words and stopped, wiping the sweat from his face. He was now bare, not covered in bandages.
Subconsciously, he turned away from Roland.
"You think too much when swinging the sword. Cast aside your thoughts and focus on the technique. Enjoy the sensation of steel and burning of the air. Influence energy with your will and bend nature."
Roland explained and took a similar stance to him as well. He then extended his arm, the sword followed.
It was 150 percent of the technique.
Silas’s eyes widened. "You break through the circle?"
Roland shook his head. "No. It is just technique."
"I see."
Like mages who can use other spells beside their core spells, warriors can do the same as well.
"Don’t be too surprised. I can perform this kind of power in the middle of the fight."
"But still, you are incredible."
"Haha. Thanks but I am currently retraining my basics." Roland said and tilted his head, staring up and down at Silas. "I can’t understand. Normally people with mediocre talent can perform the stab to intermediate level if they are used in the circle. But why are you still stuck in basic."
Silas smiled.
"It is not like you are not worse either. Infact, your talent in the sword is quite good. After all, you managed to do an air slash and got a second circle."
Silas rolled his eyes. Roland was the person who did the air slash even before he got the first circle. His talent was equal to his sister.
"It must be because of your mental state." Roland said after thinking.
"Huh?"
"Let’s see. Tell me your mental state when you learned the air slash."
"I mean I was happy. Who wouldn’t want to make a flying slash with a sword? It looks cool."
Roland snapped his fingers and pointed at Silas. "That is it. Enjoyment."
Now, Silas was even more confused.
"You see, you always view martial arts with cold logic. Martial art is not the same as spell."
"I know. It is about instinct, right?"
"Hmm. I don’t know. It is hard to explain. What you say is not wrong but it is not correct either. When I am performing technique, I think about the enjoyment."
"Even when killing."
"A small part of me did." Roland admitted. "After all, the martial art was born to kill."
"I thought it was born to protect oneself." Silas mumbled.
"At the start but slowly, all the technique came down to the art of killing." Roland said.
Silas looked at his sword and let out a sigh.
"Don’t be dejected. Your energy level and understanding of the technique has reached intermediate level. Or even higher." Roland placed his hand on his shoulder and consoled him.
Silas shrugged and sat down.
The sun was coming down. He needed to clean his body and prepare his face.
"I guess, I will wait till I find enjoyment." Silas said out loud and started stripping his clothes.
He took a shower with spells and wore new clothes. He then used new bandages to warp his face.
The breakfast time was short.
The ice-pick was still yawning.
The carriage resumed without a hitch.
***
Standing on the highest peak of the mountain, a man with soft features stared down. His aura was composed. His complexion was pale and he looked like a young hero from the legend.
His long golden hair flew behind him as the wind played with it. Nature Spirits around him danced and sung praise to his honor.
The man’s eyes softened as his eyes landed on the giant tree beneath the mountain. He extended his hand and tried to grab the tree with mana as the tree rejected him.
The man let out a defeated laugh and withdrew his hand. He looked down at his soft hand and saw his finger twisted in an unnatural manner.
He chuckled. "Looks like I tease too much."
He waved his mangled hand and the spirits immediately came to his side and healed his hand.
"Hmm.. Time is getting closer. I need to prepare to face the other fours." He muttered to himself. "After I get the treasure, I will leave this place. I have spent too much time here."