Nathan sighed, watching the gears turn in Merlin's head. "Great. Now he's thinking even harder. I hate when he does that."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "So, what's the plan? Are we gonna throw a bunch of books at his head until he magically understands combat better?"
Merlin ignored them, flipping through the pages with renewed focus. What Seraphina and Liliana had pointed out—it wasn't something he had truly considered before.
Up until now, he had been reinforcing his body instinctively, prioritizing raw durability and brute strength. But speed—reaction time, perception, efficiency—those were different aspects entirely.
Seraphina tapped the page. "Start here. This passage discusses using reinforcement to heighten sensory input. If you can accelerate your perception, you might not need to match her speed completely—just predict her movements fast enough to counter."
'Fantastic. The author never actually explained how these things worked in the novel.'
Merlin absorbed the information, scanning the mana flow diagrams and application breakdowns. The principles were sound. If he could apply them properly, it might give him an edge.
Liliana tilted her head. "Of course, overdoing it has risks. Increasing perception too much can cause a sensory overload—your brain processes more information than it can handle, which slows you down instead."
Nathan perked up. "So you're saying if Merlin screws this up, he might just stand there drooling while someone smacks him across the face?"
Liliana sighed. "Not exactly how I'd put it, but… yes."
Adrian grinned. "Suddenly, I support this experiment."
Merlin shot them both a flat look before returning to the book. "I won't mess it up."
Seraphina nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then test it."
Nathan blinked. "Wait—test it? Right now?"
Seraphina was already standing. "Why not? The training grounds are still open. If he's serious about improving, he should see if the application works in practice."
Adrian groaned. "You people are relentless."
Merlin was already closing the book. "Fine."
Nathan threw his hands up. "And just like that, we're doing this. Again."
Liliana gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "You knew what you signed up for."
Nathan muttered something under his breath as they all stood, leaving the quiet of the library behind.
The training grounds were mostly empty this late in the evening. A few students lingered, practicing individual drills or light sparring, but the space was otherwise clear.
Merlin stepped onto the floor, rolling his shoulders. His body still ached faintly from yesterday's exertion, but it didn't matter.
Seraphina watched him critically. "Use your reinforcement the way we discussed. Don't focus on just speed—focus on processing speed. Keep your movements efficient."
Merlin exhaled, focusing inward. He had already mastered standard reinforcement—now, he needed to shift his approach.
Beneath his skin, mana pulsed.
Slowly, he adjusted the flow, guiding it toward his senses instead of his muscles. Enhancing—not just his body, but his mind's ability to register and process movement.
His heartbeat steadied.
When he opened his eyes again—
The room felt sharper.
Every movement in his periphery was more distinct—the way Adrian absentmindedly shifted his stance, the way Liliana adjusted her footing, the way Nathan blinked just a fraction slower than before.
Seraphina tossed him a training sword. "Let's see how well."
Merlin caught it without looking.
Adrian smirked. "Alright. Let's see if this stops you from getting your ass kicked."
Merlin adjusted his grip. "It will."
Nathan leaned back against the wall. "I'm taking bets."
Liliana sighed. "Of course you are."
Seraphina raised her own sword. "Whenever you're ready."
The air between them tensed.
Merlin's grip on the sword tightened, his stance shifting as he exhaled. Seraphina's expression remained calm, her blade steady in her grasp. No wasted movement. No openings.
The moment his foot touched the ground, he moved.
Mana surged through his veins, sharpening his reflexes, reinforcing his body. His sword cut through the air in a clean arc, aimed directly at Seraphina's open side.
She reacted instantly.
Her blade flicked up in a precise parry—except this time, Merlin was already adjusting.
The second he felt resistance, he twisted his wrist, letting her deflection guide his momentum rather than stopping it. His blade curved with the motion, seamlessly flowing into a follow-up strike.
Seraphina's brow furrowed.
Her footwork adjusted—barely. She stepped back, angling her blade to counter—
Merlin pressed forward.
A sharp feint to her left. A flicker of hesitation.
He shifted directions in an instant, cutting toward her right instead. Seraphina's eyes widened—not much, but enough.
She barely brought her sword up in time. The force of the impact sent her skidding back a step.
Adrian let out a low whistle. "Oh, that's new."
Nathan leaned forward. "Did he just—"
Merlin didn't let up.
His strikes came faster now, each one flowing seamlessly into the next. There was no overcorrection, no hesitation. Every movement was calculated.
Seraphina's defense, once flawless, was beginning to crack.
She shifted to block—but her form was just slightly off-balance.
He moved in, closing the gap before she could recover.
A reinforced step—his sword angling upward—
Seraphina twisted—too late.
The flat of Merlin's blade pressed against her collarbone.
The training hall, once filled with the rhythmic clash of blades, was suddenly still.
Nathan's mouth fell open. "No fucking way."
Adrian blinked. "Huh."
Liliana, watching intently, slowly smiled.
Seraphina stood frozen, silver eyes locked onto his.
Then, after a long moment, she exhaled and lowered her blade, her mouth twitching. "…You won..again."
Merlin pulled his sword back, breath steady. His muscles burned, but he barely noticed.
Nathan finally snapped out of his shock, throwing his hands up. "Alright, that's it. I've seen everything. Merlin won against Seraphina again."
Adrian smirked. "I mean.."
Liliana shook her head. "Another win for Mr.Merlin."
Seraphina studied Merlin for another second before nodding slightly. "…Your movements were more refined. Less hesitation. You're improving…way too quickly. Like a damn monster."
Nathan gasped dramatically. "Is that actual praise? From Seraphina Alden?"
Seraphina shot him a look.
Nathan grinned. "Don't worry, I'll treasure this moment forever."
'It felt way better..I could have swept the floor with her if it was just raw strength. But this technique makes me…feel amazing.'
Merlin rolled his shoulder, letting his body relax. The fight had been close—closer than he would've liked. But he had won.
And that was what mattered.
Adrian stretched. "Alright, great. We've had our dramatic battle moment, now can we eat?"
Nathan groaned. "Please, yes."
Liliana chuckled. "I'll admit, I'm hungry too."
Seraphina sheathed her sword. "…Fine."
Merlin exhaled and finally relented.
As they left the training hall together, he flexed his fingers, recalling the feeling of that last exchange.
It was just the first step.
The dining hall buzzed with energy, students scattered throughout the vast space, some deep in conversation, others hunched over their plates after a long day of training.
The scent of roasted meat, fresh bread, and rich stews lingered in the air.
Merlin and the others stepped inside, their presence barely drawing attention at this point—except for a few passing glances.
Nathan stretched his arms over his head. "Alright, I'm calling dibs on the best food before Merlin inhales everything like a starved beast."
Merlin gave him a flat look.
Adrian smirked. "You say that like you don't eat just as much."
Nathan gasped, placing a hand over his chest. "How dare you? I am a refined eater."
Seraphina ignored them entirely, already heading toward the line. Liliana followed with an amused shake of her head.
Merlin rolled his shoulders, feeling the dull ache of fatigue settle in. He moved toward the counter, scanning the available options.
Nathan, standing beside him, nudged his arm. "So. How's it feel?"
Merlin didn't glance at him. "How's what feel?"
Nathan grinned. "Winning."
Merlin paused slightly. His grip on the tray tightened, but his expression remained unreadable.
Nathan raised a brow. "Oh? No satisfaction? No smug sense of accomplishment?"
Merlin grabbed a bowl of stew. "If I had lost, I would've trained more. Since I won, I'll train more."
Nathan stared at him for a long moment before sighing heavily. "I genuinely worry for your mental health sometimes."
Adrian, grabbing a plate of roasted chicken, snorted. "That's a lost cause."
Liliana appeared beside them, balancing her tray effortlessly. "Honestly, I'm just relieved he's actually eating again."
Seraphina, already seated at a nearby table, barely spared them a glance as she cut into her meal. "If he passed out from overwork, it would only waste more time."
Nathan smirked. "Ah, there it is. The classic 'I'm concerned, but I refuse to say it outright.'"
Seraphina shot him a withering look.
Nathan grinned. "I'm sorry."
Merlin ignored their bickering and sat down, pulling his plate toward him. The warmth of the stew seeped into his fingers. He took a bite—savory, rich, filling. His body, despite its exhaustion, welcomed the sustenance.
Across the table, Adrian propped his chin on his hand. "So, what's next for our resident combat maniac?"
Merlin didn't pause. "Training."
Nathan groaned. "You just won, can you at least pretend to relax for five minutes?"
Merlin met his gaze. "If you have time to complain, you have time to train."
Nathan looked genuinely offended. "That's my own line thrown back at me, and I don't appreciate it."
Liliana chuckled. "You walked into that one."
Adrian smirked. "Look on the bright side, at least he's consistent."
Seraphina took a sip of her tea. "It's better than complacency."
Nathan sighed dramatically, stabbing his fork into his food. "Fine, fine. But if you drop dead one of these days, don't expect me to carry your body."
Adrian grinned. "I'd loot his stuff first."
'I need to get stronger…a major event is approaching.'
His mind was already elsewhere. Reciting the events of the novel.
Today had been a step forward.
But he wasn't satisfied. Not even close.