From Gamer to Mage: The Reincarnated Hero's Tale

Chapter 2: Magic

In my mind's eye, the intricate patterns of magic danced and swirled, revealing the array of spells I had at my disposal: Time Stop, Meteor, Create Monster, and the most potent of them all... Invincibility. With a flick of my wrist and a chant on my lips, I began to weave the intricate threads of magic, bringing the spell to life.

As I spoke the incantation, my hand traced out the complex gestures of the somatic components. I could feel the raw power of the spell surging through me, as if I had tapped into the very essence of the arcane itself. And with a final flourish, I cast the spell.

"For the next six hours," I thought to myself, "my body will be shielded by an invisible barrier, impenetrable to any weapon-based physical attacks or magic of Rank 3 or below."

The spell was a masterpiece of enchantment, a complex web of interwoven magic that would protect me from harm. It was not unlike a finely crafted computer program, with every detail meticulously laid out, describing the target and the effects of the spell.

My hands were still bound, locked in wooden stocks, a symbol of my captivity. But as I surveyed my body, my eyes caught sight of the faint, misty layer enveloping me, my barrier. It was so subtle that I had to squint to see it, and I doubted that anyone else would be able to detect its presence.

Curiosity piqued, I reached out to feel the barrier near my abdomen, the cool touch of the ethereal substance sending a shiver through my body.

The spell was activated, and a rush of elation surged through me. "I really was able to cast a spell," I marveled. It felt like an eternity had passed, as if I had spent an hour trying to weave the intricate threads of magic. But I knew that it couldn't have taken more than six seconds. The rules were crystal clear, and even if I tried to rush, I couldn't shorten the casting time.

I sighed, feeling the weight of the knowledge settle upon me. It made sense in the context of a game, but the fact that casting a spell rendered me completely defenseless for six seconds meant that I would have to be cautious in how I wielded my magic.

Lost in thought, I spent a few minutes staring into space, basking in the quiet of my cell. But my peace was abruptly shattered by a cacophony of footsteps and voices, growing louder with each passing second.

"Hey, you! Get up. You're coming with us!"

"It's time for your questioning, pal! You're gonna talk!"

I turned to face the bars of my cell, where three men clad in dirty leather armor were shouting at me.

My thoughts raced, taking in the details of their appearance and the situation at hand. They were all white, I noted, but that was hardly important. What mattered was that they were bandits, and I was their prisoner.

And yet, even as they shouted insults and threats at me, I realized that I could understand every word they said, despite the fact that they spoke in a language I had never heard before. It was as if God had downloaded knowledge of their language into my mind, an unexpected gift in the face of danger.

"I said get up!" one of the bandits bellowed, his voice grating on my nerves. "Come on out of there!"

"Hurry up, idiot!" another snarled.

"Snap out of it!" shouted the third, his face twisted in anger.

The three men on the other side of the bars made a ruckus, their blond or brown hair and European features marking them as bandits. They were armed to the teeth with axes and swords, and their unkempt appearance spoke of a life on the fringes of society.

In my experience, gleaned from games and manga, these were the kind of men who thought nothing of killing and plundering. In a story, they might have been dismissed as small fry, but up close and personal, they exuded a bloodthirsty aura that made my blood run cold.