Chapter 56: Creating the First Circle.

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Creating the First Circle.

Chapter 56: Creating the First Circle.

"For today’s lesson, I’ll show you how to draw your first magic circle, my lord," Julie said.

Osborne raised a brow. "So soon?"

"Is there a problem, my lord?" She asked, a bit worried.

"No, I just thought that there was. It’s nothing. Please continue." Osborne stopped himself.

It seemed magic and aura really were two separate things.

If she was beginning with drawing his first magic circle, then it could mean that unlike aura, magic was more innate.

To be specific, one’s magical talent couldn’t be increased from the beginning, or at least that was what he concluded.

Julie then went on to show him how to draw his first circle in order to become a first circle mage.

"Drawing the first circle doesn’t necessarily make you a first circle mage. To truly become that, you first need to learn some first circle spells as well—at least five at each circle, my lord," Julie explained.

"Understood." Osborne nodded.

Julie paused. She hadn’t expected him to pay such adept attention to her lecture.

Nevertheless, she was happy he did.

"Forgive me, my lord, but I have no spell books in my possession, so I’ll be teaching you the ones I know," Julie said.

Osborne paused before asking, "Will a spell book make that much of a difference?"

"Well yes..." Julie said, lowering her head in shame, thinking to herself that he would be upset.

"Then next time, tell me beforehand. The household can procure the books directly. You need only but ask," Osborne said.

"B-But they’re quite expensive."

"Do you think this household can’t procure such things on its own?"

"Of course not, my lord. I just thought such responsibility should fall onto me as your teacher," Julie said.

"You being my teacher doesn’t mean you can’t make requests if they’re in order," he said.

Julie turned silent before nodding. "I’ll keep that in mind going forward, my lord."

"Good." Osborne let out a quiet laugh. "Just ask Lady Guinevere next time you need something."

He wasn’t completely ignorant. He knew that spell books were indeed expensive, so much so that even noble households struggled to purchase high-grade ones.

’It’s not like it’s my money. Plus, that woman should at least be useful for this much.’ Osborne couldn’t help thinking of Roseline.

Since she promised she would invest in his growth after he completed the task she assigned him, which he already had.

---

"Try to concentrate, my lord. Feel the mana around you..." Julie stood behind Osborne, who sat cross-legged on the floor, and said.

His eyes were currently closed at the moment, as per her instructions.

Osborne limited his senses towards his own aura and instead focused on the second power within his body.

Mana.

The moment he did that, his second heart began to thrum.

Julie’s eyes widened for a moment when she felt all the mana around him suddenly swirling around him like a small vortex before entering his body.

She was amazed because she had never seen anyone with this level of mana control before.

Most beginners could barely sense it, while others could only control a string of mana. Even some prodigies she had been lucky enough to meet once could only control a stream, yet here he was.

She herself felt the mana within her was in an uncomfortable position. Unlike the first time when his second heart was forming, the feeling wasn’t as noticeable.

Osborne felt as if he was submerged in a lake. The water didn’t feel suffocating; instead, it made him feel calm and refreshed, as if it was natural.

"Now, young master, try to condense that mana you’re sensing and use it to form a ring around your heart," Julie whispered so as not to break his focus.

Osborne, who was enjoying the feeling of being submerged, nodded.

He tried doing as she asked, gathering the mana around him.

He was able to gather a good amount, but before he could create the first circle, Osborne paused.

Thinking to himself, was this all there was to it? Right now, even though the amount of mana in his grasp was decent, he felt as if he could hold far more.

Julie, who was observing, was taken aback when more and more mana began moving towards Osborne.

In a short amount of time, the mana he had gathered doubled in size.

’Incredible. If the young master uses this much magical power to create his first ring, it’d be difficult for others of the same circle to stop him.’

’Even if they’re more skilled, his mana reserves will outclass them by far,’ she said.

Only to be left in shock when she saw that the magical power in the area didn’t stop coming.

In a few minutes, the total amount doubled again, becoming four times the original amount.

And yet, Osborne wasn’t done. He silently continued to gather more and more mana.

’Isn’t this a bit too much...’ Julie began to grow worried, because his mana reserves were beginning to near the peak of the first circle.

But even then, Osborne didn’t stop. He pushed even more. Fifteen minutes later, the amount of mana he gathered reached the peak of the first circle.

Yet it continued to grow.

At this point, beads of sweat were beginning to emerge on Osborne’s face, since this was his first time actively trying to gather mana.

Nevertheless, he pushed on, willing to see just how far he could go before being able to go no more.

Thirty minutes later, he finally reached his limit. The amount of mana he had managed to gather was beginning to show signs of destabilisation.

If he didn’t act now, he would lose all that he had gathered up to this point.

Not wanting to start over again, he took a deep breath, steeling his focus.

Then came the hard part: condensation.

Osborne gritted his teeth, crushing the large amount of mana, pressing it down and down again.

By this time, his entire body was drenched in sweat from the tiring process.

’Just a bit more...’ he said to himself. Since he had taken the risk of gathering so much, he refused to let it all be for naught.

He continued to persevere until all the mana was condensed into a thin stream-like form.

Which he carried all the way to his heart. Osborne then completed the final stage of using the stream of highly concentrated mana to draw a circle around his second heart.

During this period, he felt as if he was walking on eggshells, because he knew that one slight mistake would be disastrous.

---

"I did it!" Osborne gasped with relief.

He turned around only to see Julie sweating just as much as he was.

The poor woman had been worried sick that he might kill himself in the process. Even she hadn’t expected him to take this process so far.

Because she wasn’t sure if she should go get help or not, she had been standing there mortified.

If he ended up dead, the gods could only guess what would have happened to her.

"So what next?" Osborne asked.

"I think that’s enough for today, my lord." Julie placed a hand to her forehead. After the scare he had just given her, there was no way she could continue to teach him today.

She needed to take a rest, but first, a bath.

Osborne felt partially responsible, so he didn’t stop her.

---

Sometime later... At night.

After spending the day exercising without the sub-space, Osborne finally returned to his chambers, of course after taking a well-earned shower.

"You actually came... And here I thought you wouldn’t dare to set your foot in here again." He opened the doors to see Roseline seated by the edge of their bed, one leg crossed over the other, an icy look on her face.

’Didn’t expect her to still be mad even now...’ He thought to himself.

"And why would I run away?" Osborne asked, not a crack in his calm expression. "I don’t recall doing anything wrong. Unless you consider voicing my opinion a crime punishable by death."

"..!!" A heavy pressure pressed down on Osborne, bringing him to his knees.

"I, for one, have had enough of your arrogant tongue. The next time you speak to me in that tone again will be the day I rip it out myself."

"Don’t mistake my restraint for silence and forget your place," Roseline said.

"The apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree." Osborne struggled to say while coughing, yet the edge of his lips curved upwards.

"My place? I’m very much aware of that. After all, to you, I’m nothing more than a stud. The only reason I’m still breathing is because you allow it. I’m very much aware of that fact."

"You don’t need to remind me over and over. At this rate, some might mistake you for a sadist who loves flaunting her power up and down—"

"ARCK–!" Osborne was caught unaware when she reached him, her right hand clutched tightly around his throat.

His hands unconsciously grabbed at hers. Right now, they felt like steel bars rather than flesh. He no doubt believed that no matter what he did, he wouldn’t be able to get them to budge.