I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Elara covered her chest and stepped back as her eyes trembled. Mana coursed through her circuits as she prepared for the worst.

It was the first time she witnessed Adam's emotions spill, and the spectacle of dancing lights suffused with potent mana made her heart race against her chest.

Fortunately, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. After a moment, the ambient mana stalled and dissolved into the air, leaving behind a tense silence.

"Sigh. Let's begin our training."
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His metallic belt clicking against his wooden hips, he moved to the anvil.

"Demonstrate your best techniques with a few words of explanation. I'll replicate them afterwards while you correct my mistakes until it's perfect."

Elara's heart pounded in her chest as she nodded.

That's how she enjoyed teaching. By correcting his mistakes directly, she knew the lesson would be more impactful and memorable. It was twice as accurate for someone as prideful and skilled as Adam.

Without wasting time, she grabbed and melted an unrefined ore from the workbench.

Her explanations reverberated in the forging room. Occasional nods and sharp questions accompanied them as Adam's eyes sparkled.

The clanking of hammers hitting scalding metal resounded next.

Just like that, they spent the entire evening in an atmosphere of tense concentration and excited learning.

Before separating, Elara retrieved a small stack of handwritten documents.

"Please do not share this spell with anyone."

Her voice, a low murmur, resounded in his ears as he saw the hints of panic dancing in her eyes.

"I'll trust you since you did the same with me and your secret."

She continued, making him understand how honest she could be. Feeling advantaged in their cooperation, she gave him something to ease his mind. After all, self-made spells were a mage's ultimate secret. Even his mentor didn't offer to teach him.

With a nod, his hand met her shoulder in a soft, comforting pat as he felt her flinch at the sudden physical contact.

"I'll burn the papers after learning it. You have my words."

With a last word of goodbye, he returned to his room and asked about Nova's day. Their voices enlivened the empty place for half an hour before he retreated to his soul sea.

Sitting on his material box, he read Elara's spell, decorticating its chant and workings with sparkling eyes. Accompanied by the gentle breeze ruffling his hair, he relentlessly worked towards balancing his technique composition.

Until now, he relied on offensive and defensive ones but lacked in everything else. Unlike other magic practitioners, he couldn't scan items like Vikram or detect traps like Shiro. Therefore, Elara's spell accuracy fascinated him.

After an hour, he switched to studying hammering techniques. Then, the noise of vigorous hammering reverberated as he practised Elara's earlier teachings. Finally, he delved into the complicated enchantment theories Durgrim's soul orb contained.

To keep his mind sharp and stave off the creeping tendrils of boredom, he used his preferred method: studying in focused rounds.

Days, then weeks, and finally two months any spectator would find dull passed.

Yet, his eyes never dimmed, and his focus never wavered. Each sunrise was a renewed personal challenge to conquer the man he was yesterday.

Despite his willingness to learn, however, he had to stop now. Not because he didn't want to continue but because he couldn't improve anymore.

"I mastered anything under the fourth tier. To continue, I'll need better materials."

His soft mutter resounded in his soul sea as he eyed the branches in his box.

"Nop. Still not good enough for tier seven materials."

He scratched his hair, a hint of frustration flashing in his eyes.

"No choice. I'll have to explore the wilds and hunt beasts."

His mind set, he opened his interface chat box.

[Party of three looking for three members to challenge the tower's second floor.]

[Light mage available to heal your injuries. Fifty silvers only!]

[Want to sell tier one and two magical herbs. I'm in the plaza. Come and check my top quality goods!]

[Guys! When will Adam check the chat? I don't want to look forceful, but we'll die soon. If you can contact him, please do it ASAP.]

Upon reading the last message, he fixed his lazy posture on the box and frowned.

[What's wrong?]

The moment he posted his message, a flood of hello streamed before everyone calmed down to let the individual explain his predicament.

[You are here, great! We are a group of sixty stranded dwarfs. The stupid royals sent us to train in the forest after they learned we could level up. That's when we met... predators. Intelligent ones.

They shattered our slave spelsl and have been studying us for a week, but I can feel their growing impatience and the hungry glare they cast on us. Please, we don't want to end up in their stomach!]

Instantly, he paled as an audible gulp disturbed the silence.

[Please, don't tell me that... you are in the werewolves' territory.]

[How did you know? I think they are, even if different from the ones in Earth's movies. They can shapeshift whenever they want and control darkness!]

'Shit.'

He clutched his forehead with one hand and massaged his eyes with the other.

'I'm not ready to confront them. I'll only send myself into their jaws like a tasty snack.'

But could he let sixty friends die? The choice weighed on his shoulders like a mountain.

Amidst the silence, and despite the vision of their trusting faces dripping blood and glaring reproach, he made up his mind. Despite the bitter taste filling his mouth, risking his life on an improbable chance would be stupid.

[I'm too weak to save you. For how long can you survive?]

[I-I don't know. I would say a week or two.]

[Alright. Don't succumb to despair. I'll find a way to help you!]

Then, he sent another message.

[To the others. I urgently need coordinates for locations with a high concentration of tier-four magical beasts or lone tier-five creatures. I'll give you their meat as a thank you.]

[Me! Me! I know of a few. We can meet in Durazmarn. I only need you to shatter the slave spell binding me in exchange.]

[I can try. Let's meet now. What's your name?]

[Anya! I'm leaving now.]