It's been exactly four years since the grand wizards visit.
Throughout those years, Luke didn't go idle with his training. For those four years, Luke had successfully become a nine circle grand mage, using his revised techniques his powers was many time more powerful than the most powerful ninth circle wizard of the entire continent.
He who had dedicated his few years of learning and creating more and more better techniques only fueled his desired to grow stronger.
"Now, I think it's time to enhance my body future."
Luke waited years and years for his secret self created technique to come into fruision, even when he was a Suana, he hadn't used this technique all his entire life.
This process was a bit tricky and dangerous that one single misstep could lead to a certain burse of energy that might be enough to detonate like a world destroying nuclear.
Luke's condition now was nothing more than a ticking time bomb.
"Now let's proceed."
Luke let out a cheeky grin, amid to the complicated risk he was about to do.
He sat crosslegged and starts the process by sacrificing his nine circles by enhancing his powers further. It might be like going to process after advancing to high level and going back to the first level with higher foundation.
This is the technique that required a nine circle wizard that was still in the body of a child, I am now using this much effort to further strengthen my constitution to bound new heights.
As the child's body was far more undeveloped than adult. This is one of the few reasons why this technique only worth to kids my age.
'It might be tricky, but at least it's worth a try.'
The process starts smoothly, but as minutes passes the pain started to become visible with no way of subsiding.
"Grrrrr"
Luke gritted his teeth as the painful process involves reconstruction the bones, tendons, muscles, skin and purifying his already purified energy.
"Ahhhh"
The pain was so severe that it if an ordinary normal human try this type of breathing technique, they might passed out.
The pain was spreading as if travelling from every veins and into his very cells.
The breaking of bones and then reconstructing it after it healed was much more complicated that I thought. But still I can't give up since I had already started the process.
Everytime the bone heals and reconstruct, his skeleton was becoming much more stronger, turning it into a transparent golden light.
"It's too much. I hadn't even started to skull yet."
The skull was hardest part to reconstruct, as it was near through his brain. Taking deep breath, Luke challenge himself to get used to the pain imagining his days as a Suana.
As this is his first time using this newly created method. Luke still had no idea what other benefits and changes might this bring to himself.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck."
Luke let out a curse, he hadn't said for many years since rebirth, this wasn't only training his physic but also his mental instability.
'I can't lose out of this sensation, I need to force my self more.'
The magic circles began to compressed tightly as the power was being absorbed by Luke's physique.
"Ahhhhh."
The magic circles began to let out small threads of endless spring as it spread into his whole body. It's like a nutrients that was constantly absorbed by cells making his body more powerful.
At this point even if if was reduced with zero circles, he can still used his invisible physical strength.
The process already took hours yet his muscles and bones are still breaking and reconstructing back and forth with no any sign of ending.
Until all the nine circle he had work so hard had been finally absorbed by his entire body.
If course it was bitter sweet since it means he had to create a new bunch of more improve and powerful magic circles.
The pain had finally subsided and all those pains was replaced by a refreshing and soothing sensation.
Feels like he had been reborn, his height had grown taller comparable to a fifteen years old and not only that his heigh would grow as the days process.
He felt more energetic and powerful. He might had lost countless abilities thanks to him absorbing his magic circles but that's okay since he can still replace them with a more powerful one. With this body, if he successfully create his first magic circle, his powers might be comparable to a fifth circle wizard. Meaning he only needed five cickes to become the most powerful mage of all continents.
Still now that he was back to square one, but the best feeling was after surviving this process, it felt like he had touch the barrier into surpassing his previous self who had lived thousands of years.
"My life force seems unique, I wonder how much it had expanded."
Ordinary humans are different as their lifespan was only limited 120 years, but now it felt like his life force had greatly expanded and slowed down.
He can already tell that this body can now live thousands of years or even had already surpassed his previous life, now that he had finished improving it. Humans are indeed creatures with boundless potentials.
This accomplishment wouldn't have been possible without him risking his own life, but it somehow paid off as he had achieve a divine body that is comparable to a demi-god entity.
"Now, I can finally go to the academy. But I should take a deep rest."
***
I didn't intend to go to the academy in the first place.
Without the aid of the academy, I think I am strong enough to send off myself but I think going back to square one and understanding a wide scope of knowledge might seems too far fetched.
'I still need to understand how humans teach one another."
Father and Baltazar had been meeting far to often in the recent four years.
In fact, Baltazar never gave up but it only fuel his desire to want me more.
The duke could already guess what's this scammers full intention was but still forced himself to struck a conversation with this wicked old man.
The narcissistic self absorbed old man was like a snake waiting for it's prey, and that prey me obviously.
"Duke, long time no see, I brought you some delicacies only seen in Avria."
"... ... .."
"Duke had your son already started his mama training yet? If you don't mind maybe I could be of any help."
"... ... .."
"Duke..."
"Shut up!"
Thankfully my dad wasn't fool enough to be swayed by his petty tricks and schemes.What kind of father would let their child in the hands of a stranger to a neighboring Queendom.
Although, I been reincarnated as a mere human, I had finally gotten used to it and set my very own goals in life. I will enjoy anything on what's life would offer. I will write my own destiny and enjoy life like to the fullest.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here."
Ah this leech could never leave me alone, even at the tree trunk, this stalker seems to follow me. And even daring use his powers to spy on me why I was sleeping.
'Ahhh! This can't go on. I have to somehow avoid this cunning human at all cost.'
But seems like all my hopes are bound to fail, as this guy only further his intensions of being annoying.
'Absolutely not. This is not possible.'
There was only a time that he starts to use some brainwashing spells just to make me closer to him.
'This dude is far more problematic and obsessive than I thought. I need to get away as soon as possible."
Having reach nine circle was a clear testament for a wizards could achieve, until this wicked man eventually shows up flaunting his circle reaching a huge milestone.
An achievement that an ordinary human being would not be able to achieve.
The great Grand Wizard of Avria had finally broken his shackles of becoming a ninth circle wizard. Even after gaining more reputation, he couldn't stop his intentions on pursuing me more.
'This is troublesome."
But he was no ordinary human. He had grown more powerful since the last time we met and I lost all my rings of power after sacrificing them for my further growth, I still even hadn't formed my first mana circle yet.
"Luke, would you like to try doing magic practice."
"Okay! Let's try it."
"Since you had already agreed then let's go the backyard, this grandmaster is gonna show you just how awesome the wizards profession is."
I just nooded and followed him since I got nothing to do anyway, so why not just trying it, maybe I would gain an enlightenment?
I just blurted that out but after an hour...
"What I never expected that I would gain some tricks and lessons from his few teachings." My mouth wide agape as I had never expected that magic can be also be done in other ways.
Almost all magicians have different techniques and had spends most their lifetime perfecting it through enlightenment.
That's why most wizards are helping one another to the point of creating a social circles to expand their wide area of knowledge. As there was a saying 'No man is an Island.' it also apply to the wizards.
"Now let's start to the better part, since alI felt like your body is almost ready then let's start and try meditating to form your first magic circle."
Seeing the opportunity that doesn't come across. I immediately agree since a ninth circle wizard is gonna aid me this time.
After I sat crosslegged, Blatazar also followed suit and tried to touch my back using his hands.
Whoooosh!
As his mana spread into my back, I began to use my improvised breathing techniques and since I also casted an illusion to protect my secret technique from discovered, he would not find it had for him to know what was I doing with my body.
"Luke, now breathe."
"... ... .."
"Close your eyes and breath."
I began to follow his words and try meditating.
"Feel the mana in the surroundings within you and try to feel a connection."
As I was controlling my own breath, the mana that had been surrounding me earlier soon entered in my body.
Unlike when I was just a little child, this time the mana wasn't awkward anymore.
Whiiiiish.
I could hear the mana particles dancing through the air as they whispered in my ears.
Boom!
It didn't take long for the mana to finally entered my body, without stopping even Baltazar began to feel something strange, but still closed his eyes trying to focus.
His hands that are constantly injecting mana into my body started to move more faster.
"Ahhhhhhh...."
Baltazar tried himself not to sound like he's in pain as he doesn't want our session to fail.
"If it's not me then maybe..."
Seeing that Luke's was the one trying to absorb his mana, Baltazar was mesmerized and released more mana.
'What? What is this?'
After examining the Luke from the insides, he noticed a single circle started to emerge, the magic circles seems strange as it's bigger and thicker than any wizards he had trained before.
'A genius. I had given birth to a genius prodigy. Ha haha!'
It brought him great shock filled with endless joy seeing the unique magic circle forming in Luke's heart.
'This, this is more that what I hoped for.'
I saw it differently, the magic circle inside my heart is indeed extraordinary, not only it's big but is also filled with infinite runes that are small, even a ninth circle wizard like Baltazar could see.
The magic circle also had strings with tiny stars circling around it. This stars orbit similar to a planets.
The lines was too thin that it almost nonexistent and just right to form a bigger circle when compressed tightly.
'The mana entering inside my body aren't stopping anytime soon.' a thinking for a little bit, Luke's cunning smile began to form in his lips. 'What if...'
***
It's been few hours until finally forming the circle but Baltazar feel like the child's body was sucking him dry, although not much.
Boom!
'What the fuck!'
Baltazar couldn't hold his expression after seeing a newly emerging two circles.
'This kid, he was trying to form his very own second and third circles. How is this even possible? No if this continues, I'm afraid he might burst out. I have to stop him him somehow."
Boom!
Baltazar expression froze as his mana that was constantly infusing Luke, are moving faster and faster.
"What, what does that mean?"
If Baltazar ever removed his hands, he might be afraid that it would only cause further damage to Luke's development. Seeing Luke's calm demeanor, it made him wait a little bit.
'Maybe, if this child. He could do it.'
He finally surrendered and put all his faith to Luke as something is telling him that this child might be able to do it.
'Ahhhhhh!'
Luke screamed in his mind as he tried so hard to form not just one but two more magic circles.
Baltazar's mana which is already pure was filtered in my body, the sensation of transforming other wizards powers into my own only brought desperation in my mind that many I could somehow do it.
The scope of the environment where the mana was being devoured was now expanding beyond the residential area. If this continues, I'm finally going to achieve forming my third circle.
The latter rings of power was more powerful the the former one. The second and third circle only made his powers grow to unimaginable heights.
'I'm tired it felt like I'm sucked dry.... How much this kid needed? Even at my time being an eighth circle wizard, this is the first time I've been humiliated to this extend. And not only to a grown man, but to a mere child?'
All of his energies are being absorbed by Luke, it might become more embarrassing if he a ninth circle wizard would passed out.
Luke wasn't still contented as he needed more to perfect his second and third circles simultaneously, unbeknownst to him though, Baltazar is grasping for breath as he started losing energy.
'Help, Help, I'm going to lose my mind. This child. This child was a monster.'
Baltazar's expression now was similar to a drunk man whose sucked dry by prostitution
'Finally!'
Luke let out a wide smile as he finally perfected his three circles.
"Zzzz... Zzzz..."
"What the heck?"
Luke saw the great Grand Wizard snoring intently while sleeping behind his back.
"Bwa hahahaha!" He couldn't help it but burst out of laughter at the sight of a helpless wizard in front of him.
If Baltazar saw this sight, he might be developed PTSD.
Luke tried to control himself as he tried to call out for help.
"Help, Help, Help, the wizard is dying."
Almost everyone in the manor heard his cry for help and soon drag the unconscious wizard into his suit.
It was quite a sight.
"I wonder what would he do when he find up next day." A devilish smile escape rome both corners of my lips.
***
The next day.
"I'll go. To that place called the Academy."
"Luke, but you can't do anything yet, do you? You don't even know how evil and sinister some people might be. In fact the situation outside if more dangerous than you can imagine."
Luke just let out a small sigh at Alia's worries and then show something in his small hands.
-Pfft!
"What, what is this!"
Alia saw a a phoenix like flame dncing in the palms of Luke's hands from and was taken a back in surprise.
"I want to go to the Academy."
***
Alia couldn't believe this day would come, that his beloved son would finally venture out to the world away from her presence.
She held it my hand while nonstop tear drops keeps flowing the every corners of her eyes, from the day she had given birth to me, she had been a great mother.
"Luke… Luke… My baby… …"
"Honey... Our Luke is gonna be okay. Calm down."
Alia's trembling hands shook slightly as she was still holding the transportation scroll with both of her hands.
She can't bring herself to see her son that had been with her for exactly twelve years, leave their dukedom.
"Luke, you can still change your mind."
Sadness overwhelmes Alia as she was trying to beg her son to stay with her presence but to no avail, Luke had already decided to enter the academy.
Despite seeing her son's talent in magic, she still couldn't believe it. She's was also the main reason why Luke was having a second thoughts whether if he would leave her ND venture out alone.
But after countless of begging, Luke had now finally decide to go into the academy.
"Alia, let just Luke go, he can't be stuck here with us forever, in fact he still had to learn how to socialize with kids near his age."
When Alia heard Leonardo's words, she bursed out crying at their was nothing she could do anymore.
Picking up Luke's luggage, she packed personally for him, she then handed it into Luke's hands.
Leonardo also picked up Luke's items, after swallowing his bitter tears he had finally been able to complete packing inside his large suit case.
After becoming a human I never would've imagine that leaving your family would also be bitter sweet.
It's been couple of days since he had once told themabout his departure, but the emotions in the atmosphere never seemed to die down. It's strange, it's really strange.
"What does the existence of having child meant to humans? Is it really okay to be this emotional? Why are they so affectionate?"
Countless questions struck Luke's heart as he wondered why was the situation end up like this.
When he was a Suana, it would be proud moment of liberation when they would let their cubling experience the harse environment in the wild without support system.
Compared to his days being a Suana, Human parents seems more affectionate. Of course, Luke knew that there where some trashy humans who treat their kids harshly, but his parents are different.
Some parents take for granted their child lives as to even sell their children into slavery, some heartless people are abandoning a children in an alley while the babies are crying soak in the rain droplets…
It took many tragic traumatic experiences for the Duke and Dutches to be able to successfully had Luke.
After countless miscarriages the gods have finally took pity with their situation who comes down like a ray of light in a difficult situation.
'Awkward'
Even if they had raised Luke for exactly twelve years, their roles as parents never seemed to die down, even if they opposed Luke's departure right now, they could never do anything with it.
No matter how much Luke denies it, his father and mother had already a special place in his heart. A small spark of doubt arise in his heart.
Is it really a right choice leaving his parents?
Am I really having a second thoughts?
This was the most difficult decision Luke had ever faced, he had never been like this in his previous life, he would venture around the wild when he was a cubling and lurked to the most dangerous corners of Plangia.
But the spark died down in less than an hour.
As I advance forward, I heard Alia's voice crying towards me. It's like every emotions seems to pierced into every corners of my heart.
That voice was so heart breaking, along with the nannies and butlers who had seen me grow inside the manor, they all have bitter expression.
I feel very ashamed of myself right now, it like all the thoughts that I harbor during this life had eventually vanished. My heart was still doubting, the more I stay here, the more I couldn't control myself.
Holding the transportation scroll in my hands and a ring that was the family heirloom. Something is pulling my back from behind.
'No if I turn back right now.... I'm afraid.'
Swish!
I could feel so someone was hugging me from behind!
"Luke... How could you, how could you leave your mother behind."
Tears started streaming again from deep within her eyes into soaking the shirt I'm wearing. I could hear hear voice, I could feel her sadness and I could feel her heartbeat from behind.
Luke rubbed his mother's back with his small hands and gave her a small kiss on the cheek.
"Don't worry… Mother."
"Sob… Luke!"
***
The journey had been very long since his departure.
The carriage that we were currently using had finally left my hometown, the Dukedom of Blanchett and just a few days later we entered the Kingdom of Armeo which was the where our Dukedom was loyal too.
We passed through many checkpoints after arriving at the Holy Kingdom of Florian, where my mother's maternal family rule among the Florian citizens. The Holy Kingdom relies their powers through faith to the god of love and wisdom, Florian.
It took us a long amount of time to finally enter the land of magic, also known as the Queendom of Avria, we first let ourselves rest inside the inns located at the fiefdom of Jonas.
Passing though endless checkpoints, we finally arrived at the center capital of Avria.
There are countless landscape, high maintenance buildings and tourist spots which was the main attraction in the Magic Queendom.
"Are you amaze Luke? You would be much more surprised when we finally enter the academy."
It's been countless days of suffering from Baltazar's constant blabbing. His mouth can't seem to shut up.
"It looks like we had finally entered the academy."
A large building can be seen not far from it. That building is said to be the Magic Academy.
Avria Magic Academy
The home where the most powerful and well known magician existence had bloomed, the most talented people were here to undergo testing.
The requirement of the test involves affinity examination. That's why countless students are present hoping they passed the test.
An academy where no one was discriminated against and only their skills were evaluated, with a strong system of their own, regardless of age, nationality, or status.
Most talented students from around the world gets to enjoy their time at the academy.
Since it is a place where skills are evaluated, the classes are divided into beginner to advanced levels regardless of age, nationality, or status.
The battle for admission seems stiff and competitive since the more the people enroll, the more the chances grow dimmer.
But Luke didn't care about the people and just walk around with a bored face.
He might be twelve year old but his mind's intelligence can program much faster than people gifted with photographic memories. His thirst for wisdom is endless, he can easily modify a theory and improvised countless techniques.
He had only one goal and that is to accumulate the certificate of high course in magic.
The certificate that will give him a cess across the most exclusive wizard library and enter the library of truth where most secrets of the magic were hidden.
That way I can find a way to improve his powers.
"Examinees here present, please gather around."
At that moment, a loud voice, as if using amplification magic, struck his ears.
As I followed the voice, the central square of the academy appeared.
Baltazar had offered to accompany me personally but I refuse his favor, saying 'It's far too fetched'. I saw many countless envious stairs looking from behind but I didn't care and just walking slowly while holding my big briefcase and luggage side by side.
It's a becoming too uncomfortable if you ask me, they could guess my age that I'm pass twelve years old but my height being talk to be mistaken as fifteen years old of your not focusing on my appearance.
'They look like owls.'
There are many that had failed after the mana affinity examination, some cried and others wore an expressionless look.
As names were called one by one, people entered the room, took the test, and came out, it was soon my turn.
"Luke Blanchett"
"Yes"
Just like how I was tested by Baltazar when examining my mana affinity. I walk confidently with my head's high inside the room.
The moment I touch the big rounded orb, the light begins to disturb by turning it into gold.
-Pfft!
"...?"