Chapter 92: Preparation
Soon, Barton began teaching Ryan the techniques used in close combat, known as Burning Decision.
How to instantly cast a miniature earth elent spell within an arm's reach to create a shockwave that disrupts the opponent’s balance, while simultaneously stepping aside to create space; how to release a thin layer of frost or static at the point of contact during a block, causing the opponent to stiffen or slow down for a mont; how to focus mana at the point of impact when a blow cannot be fully avoided, creating the strongest localized reinforcent...
These techniques seed trivial but were extrely practical, requiring the caster to have excellent physical control, precise mana manipulation, and a keen sense of battle rhythm.
Ryan focused intently during each training session, exhausting both his physical energy and ntal focus. By the ti he returned to Room 207 in Silver Fir House, he was often soaked in sweat, his clothes covered in the dust from the training ground, sotis with bruises on his arms and shoulders from the practice sparring.
Whenever this happened, Cosette would always rush to greet him, her hazel eyes full of concern.
She had prepared warm water and a clean towel, sotis even taking out so blood circulation ointnt she had bought.
The little maid wasn’t particularly good at saying comforting words. She simply pursed her lips and, with extra gentleness, would help him wipe off the sweat or carefully apply the ointnt to the bruises.
Fortunately, the nutritious, well-balanced als delivered on ti every noon by Princess Cecilia had beco the most solid logistical support for him.
These carefully prepared, hearty dishes provided the high-quality protein and energy Ryan needed after his intense training, allowing his body to recover far more quickly than when he relied on the cafeteria’s als.
This soft food really packs a punch.
Ti quietly passed in the flow of sweat and mana. The day of the selection tournant was fast approaching.
About a month had passed, and subtle changes had begun to take place.
The most obvious change was in his height. Originally about 1.75 ters tall, he seed to have grown a bit taller, now approaching 1.80 ters.
This might be partly due to the fact that his puberty wasn’t completely over, but the ample nutrition and the regular, intense training certainly accelerated the process.
The changes in his physique were more internal. The long-term combination of mana-enhanced physical training had subtly altered his previously slightly slim, mage-like build.
On the outside, he still looked like the sa Ryan Velt in his academy uniform, with a cold, aloof deanor, but his back seed straighter, and his shoulder lines had broadened slightly. Overall, he remained tall and lean, not bulky.
However, only when he took off his outer clothes could the true difference be seen.
The muscle lines sculpted by long-term training had begun to show. Though not as explosively bulky as Barton’s, his muscles were smooth and firm, covering his bones, with a restrained sense of strength.
The contours of his chest and arms had gained more definition, his abdon was no longer flat and thin, and the muscle groups in his waist and core had grown denser from continuous impact resistance and force training.
Perhaps it was during one of these training sessions that Cosette, blushing as she handed him clean clothes, accidentally brushed against his exposed midsection. The firm and resilient feel made her recoil as if burned, her ears turning bright red, and she didn’t dare to look up at him for the rest of the night.
Ryan also felt the changes in his body. His strength, endurance, reaction speed, and coordination between mana flow and physical movent had all improved significantly.
Though he was still far from being a true magical martial arts expert, at least he was no longer the traditional mage who struggled when faced with close combat.
Ti slipped by, with sweat and the turning of book pages, and the day of the Whispering Forest Selection Tournant drew closer.
The atmosphere within the academy had subtly shifted as well. While the connection between the tournant and the subsequent Starfall Ruins exploration had not been officially announced, the signs were clear enough for the observant students to sense the change.
Recently, many mid- and high-tier mages from the academy had been frequently entering the Whispering Forest for so sort of inspection or preparation.
The pre-tournant lectures had also shifted from their usual focus on combat techniques to survival skills in the wild—how to navigate the forest, find clean water, avoid dangerous magical creatures, and use the environnt to conceal tracks. So of the lectures even included basic archaeology and ancient runic studies—allegedly to assist in finding specific runic items needed during the competition.
Naturally, Ryan attended these lectures as well and, in his spare ti, spent more ti in the library studying relevant materials—more detailed internal maps of the Whispering Forest, beast catalogs detailing the magical creatures that could appear in the mid-forest regions, and scattered notes left by previous explorers.
He knew that the areas explored during the Summoning Departnt’s experience class were only the outermost folds of the massive forest, barely covering one-twentieth of the entire area.
The core of this ancient forest was a dangerous place where the academy had spent generations trying to clear and make relatively safe teaching areas.
The venue for this selection tournant, however, was clearly pointing to a deeper section of the forest, where the danger level and unknowns far exceeded those in the outer areas.
Of course, the academy would never send students into a deadly situation. There would certainly be high-tier professors secretly following to protect them, but that was an unspoken safeguard. The primary concern for every participant was still to do everything possible to ensure their own safety.
That afternoon, Ryan closed a hefty book titled Analysis of Mid-Level Magical Beast Behavior in the Whispering Forest and rubbed his slightly sore temples.
On the desk beside him, Cosette was engrossed in Basic Mana Shaping Guide, her brow furrowed slightly as she unconsciously traced patterns in the air with her fingers.
Ever since she had successfully sensed mana and learned the Light spell, her thirst for magical knowledge was evident. Ryan enjoyed the quiet ti and let her explore on her own.
Just as Ryan was tidying up his books and preparing to leave, a slight stir and a low murmur of surprise ca from the entrance of this quiet corner of the library.
He looked up.
Cecilia was walking toward him, breaking the usual stillness of this area.
She and Ilis were both wearing the standard Saint Roland Academy uniforms—fitted dark won’s jackets, white shirts underneath, paired with knee-length dark pleated skirts, and white knee-high socks that accentuated their long, slender legs.
The princess’s golden hair was not styled elaborately; it simply cascaded naturally over her shoulders, gleaming softly in the warm glow of the library’s magical lighting.
Her outfit reduced so of the distance one might feel from royalty, but her own aura and the calmness in her steps still made her stand out.
Ilis followed half a step behind her, similarly in uniform, though her black knee-high socks matched her hair color, and her long hair was tied into a high ponytail. Her purple eyes were calm, as though everything around her was of no concern.
Their arrival sent ripples through the room.
It was rare for the princess to visit the library, and her direct path clearly led to the area where Ryan Velt was seated, causing all eyes to imdiately focus on him.
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