Reincarnation Of A Swordsman: The Omni Mage

Kyle stood from his table with the books in his hands. He shaked his head in disappointment as he prepared to leave the reading area.

But just before he left, he glanced around, noticing the sheer number of students still immersed in their studies. Rows of tables were filled with people flipping through books, jotting down notes, and occasionally casting minor spells.

The entire room was alive with silent activity, thanks to the air bubbles that muffled sound.

'They're all hardworking,' Kyle thought. 'After a full day of classes, they're still here.'

As he scanned the area, a particular table caught his eye. It was hard to miss, as it had a fortress of books on it. Behind the pile sat a familiar figure. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, and her green eyes were glued to the pages of a thick textbook.

Kyle smirked upon instantly recognizing the figure. 'Speak of the devil.'

Without hesitation, he walked over to the table and stood a few feet away. "Riya," he said softly, not wanting to disturb others. Predictably, she didn't respond, like everyone else, she had her sound bubble active. No one in the room had even twitched at his voice.

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'Well, this isn't going to work,' Kyle thought. He agd no other option than to wait, hoping that she'll look up from her book soon and notice him, many minutes passed, but Riya remained utterly absorbed in her book.

He decided to go for more obvious measures, going for waving his hand across her face. She obviously noticed him after that and looked up, after meeting the reason for her disturbance, her expression darkened instantly.

Her lips moved in a question he couldn't hear, so Kyle mimicked the motion of popping a mana bubble around his head. Riya rolled her eyes and reluctantly deactivated her bubble.

"What is it, Kyle?" she asked immediately. "I'm busy."

Kyle raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, I didn't mean to disturb you. I just—"

"You are disturbing me," she cut in with a sharp voice. "What's so important that it couldn't wait?"

Kyle opened his mouth to reply but hesitated. His gaze flicked around the room, noting the focused expressions of the other students. "We can't talk here," he said finally. "Let's step outside. I promise I won't take much of your time."

Riya frowned, glancing at the mountain of books on her table. "Kyle, I have a lot of work to do. Can't this wait?"

"Please, Riya," Kyle said with a pleading tone. "It's important. Just give me a few minutes."

She sighed, muttering something under her breath as she began gathering her things. "You'd better make this quick."

Kyle waited as she packed up, then led the way out of the library. The transition from the warm, book-filled atmosphere to the open air was a stark contrast. Outside, the academy grounds were quiet and the sky had turned dark already, making Kyle realize how long he had spent going through all the books.

Riya crossed her arms and fixed him with an impatient stare. "Alright, we're outside. What's so important that you had to drag me out here?"

Kyle hesitated for a moment, scratching the back of his neck. "I've been trying to learn Alchemy," he began.

Riya raised an eyebrow. "You? Alchemy?"

Kyle chuckled nervously. "Yeah, I know it's not my elective, but I've always been curious about it. I've been reading up on it in the library, but all the books are so... theoretical. I want to learn how to actually do it—how to brew potions, craft pills, all that stuff."

Riya's skeptical expression didn't waver. "Why the sudden interest? You're already neck-deep in Rune Making and whatever else you're up to. Why add Alchemy to the mix?"

Kyle paused, considering how to phrase his thoughts. "It's not sudden, really. I've always thought Alchemy was fascinating—the way it combines magic and science. But now I'm starting to see how useful it could be. Imagine being able to brew your own healing potions or make enhancers for battle. It's practical, and it could be a game-changer for me."

Riya placed her hand on her chin her and studied him. "So, let me get this straight. You're not just doing this because it sounds cool; you actually want to get good at it because it's useful?"

Kyle nodded. "Exactly. But like I said, the books aren't helping. They're all theory and no practice. That's where you come in."

Her lips twitched, and she almost laughed, but she quickly masked it with her usual stern expression. "And what exactly do you want from me, Kyle? Do you think I'm just going to drop everything and teach you?"

"Maybe? You're the best alchemist I know, Riya. You're always at the top of the class, and you're amazing at what you do. Who better to learn from?" Kyle responded with a sheepish grin.

Riya crossed her arms and tapped her foot with an unyielding gaze. "Flattery won't get you very far with me, Kyle. Let's cut to the chase. What do I stand to gain from this?"

Kyle's thoughts raced as he stared at Riya, trying to come up with something to offer her in return. 'Credits? I'm pretty sure she would be earning off her potions and she'd ask me if she needs any.'

'I could offer to spar with her or help her train, but I doubt that'll suffice.' He pondered over many other options before finally giving up.

"Alright, Riya," he said, running a hand through his hair, "what do you want? You name it, and I'll consider it."

Riya's lips curled into a sly smile and her green eyes glinted with amusement. She leaned back slightly and crossed her arms as if she'd been expecting him to say that all along.

"Okay, let's do it like this," she said with a casual air. "I'll teach you Alchemy, and you'll teach me Rune Making."

Kyle was startled. For a moment, he thought he'd misheard her. "Rune Making?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Since when did you want to learn Rune Making?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om