Chivalry of a Dark Knight [Batman x Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry]

CH8: The Worst One and the Tenkousei (prt 3)

Bruce was internally thankful that there was no one else in the recreational area besides him, Nagi and Shizuku. The open ground behind the main building was adjacent to a collection of trees while having a few picnic-style tables in the middle, a perfectly quiet spot for students to study...or do some training.

Keeping a distance away from the two males, Shizuku perched herself atop of a raised concrete structure near a staircase while swinging her legs with impatience. She watched Nagi giving Bruce a basic run down on the usage of Mana, Mana emission and Mana defense. Frankly, she was getting annoyed and bored; all these things were elementary to a prodigy like her.

But for Bruce on the other hand, despite his brilliant analytical mind, he was beginning to feel a little lost.

It's not like he didn't understand what Nagi was saying to him, he did. He understood that Mana was a mysterious vital energy that all Blazers possessed in varied amounts, he understood that this energy can be manipulated to form a strong barrier around the body (Mana defense) and that it can be funneled through the body to increase performance like strength and speed (Mana emission).

The problem was that when it came to explaining how to actually use Mana, Nagi spoke like it was the most natural and obvious thing in the world.

Of course it would be to him. After all, Blazers grow up with magical powers and it was second nature to them but not in not in the case of Bruce since he only became a Blazer two nights.

"What in heaven's name have they been teaching you over there in the States?" Nagi asked while looking at Bruce weirdly.

"Look, it doesn't matter." Bruce responded with exasperation. "Just pretend I never used magic before and tell me how I can start."

The lavender-haired boy sighed and then caressed his chin in thought. Bruce had asking him all kinds of silly questions so far and this one took the cake. How to start using magic? There's no answer for that, your powers awaken and then you just...start using magic. But Nagi was a patient lad and tried to explain the best he could.

"It's not like I can speak for everyone else, every Blazer's abilities manifest differently. But humor me for a moment: a Blazer's magical abilities are normally grouped in four basic types, do you know of them?"

Bruce nodded, recalling that he previously read about it.

"Body Enhancement, Nature Interference, Conceptual Manipulation and Causation Manipulation."

"Exactly. My shadow abilities could be classified as a Conceptual Manipulation type."

"So it's safe to assume that my abilities are of the same type?"

Arisuin grinned in approval.

"Now you're getting it. When I use my Noble Arts, well, the best way I can describe it is that I focus on a visualized concept as a blueprint, then use my Mana as building blocks to give it form. Naturally I can't create just anything, that depends on the building materials. In other words, my Mana. This is where Mana control comes into play and believe me, it's easier done than said. Observe."

With that said, Nagi walked towards the picnic table where a box laid on top. Bruce noticed the effeminate boy had it with him when the three of them rendezvoused here, it did make him curious and it looked like now was the time for the box's mysterious contents to be revealed.

When the boy opened it, he found that inside was what looked like grey colored putty.

"What is that thing?" Bruce asked warily.

"Relax, it's just Golem Clay."

"Of course it is."

Nagi ignored the dry comment and then outstretched an open palm towards the box. Immediately, the clay was surrounded by a soft blue glow before it levitated in the air.