CHAPTER 28: WATER BREATHING TECHNIQUES

By the time I arrived in my chamber, everyone had dismissed and made for their various rooms.

Muna had taken care of making sure that the demon trio found rooms where they could rest. That was a relief.

The lights soon went off, and everywhere turned eerily silent.

"Hmph," I exhaled and climbed to sit on my comfy bed.

Earlier, Milton had mentioned that me being a threat to every mage of Montana, especially my fellow Elements. His reference had especially tagged the heir of the Fire Duchedom.

"Heir of Fire Duchedom?" I murmured.

Although, I didn’t fully know how things were done in the Academy Test, I knew one thing. Once you’ve gifted your presence to the participation, there would be no turning back.

It was a life and death testing situation.

If it were going to be a duel method of test, then there should be no worry, since I assume no mage in my age grade should have reached my grade.

As well, I would be an edge above them in a moment’s time.

Thinking this, I took out my Spirit Pouch and checked for the Mana plants, but they were not there.

"Huh?"

"Sister Muna said to give this to Young Master. Vera has come to do that," Vera’s voice came as low as possible, yet almost shaking me out of my thoughts.

"You shouldn’t be wandering about in a night like this," I said, collecting the five plant orbs from her. "The night watchmen don’t give a listening ear."

"Anyways, thank you."

She bowed before me and turned to leave. Surprisingly, she was civilized compared to someone who should be tagged a demon.

"Wait," I said, and Vera halted in her steps. "You can’t step out at this time of night, let me show you where to rest for the night."

"Young Master shouldn’t worry about that at all. Sister Muna has provided a space for us to rest in your chamber," she reported.

"If you say so, then go on," I urged without listening carefully to her words.

"Wait, in my chamber? But there are many rooms in this noble environment," I complained after synchronizing her words clearly.

Vera didn’t behave like she cared as she slid open my room door and stepped out.

Before she closed the door back, she poked her head and muttered. "Vera wishes Young Master a sweet sleep."

"Thank you and same to you," I reciprocated. "Tomorrow, I will show you a new accommodation. Just rest well this night."

BANG!

The door closed with a loud thud.

"She still has lots of work to be civilized, I guess."

...

After changing into my pyjama, I returned to settle on my bed and called out my system panel.

’System.’

« ...? »

Seeing that the system was live, I dropped the five plant orbs on the stool I had brought near to my reach.

’Help me identify these plants.’

«↓ Identifier Activated ↑»

The system panel in front of me changed course, and a beam of green rays fell upon the Mana plants.

Then, after a while, words began to scribble themselves on the panel that had gone blank to give way to a writable surface.

The first plant it concentrated its beam of rays on was a delicate fern with leaves that floated like lotus petals, shimmering silver veins across their surface.

«↓ First Mana Plant Identified -|- Lotus Fern ↑»

«↓ Breathing Technique: Surface Ripple ↑»

Pattern: 3 - 4s inhale → 3 - 4s exhale.

Skills Available: Solo and Footwork Ladder.

The next had a tall reed with blood-red stalks and crystal-blue tips that hummed faintly as the brush of wind from my open windows passed.

«↓ Second Mana Plant Identified -|- Crimson Tide Reed ↑»

«↓ Breathing Technique: Tidal Surge ↑»

Pattern: Natural quick inhale → forceful short exhale through the strike (o.5 - 1s).

Skills Available: Heavy Bag and Partner Mitts.

The panel shifted once again and focused its lights on the third Mana Plant.

It had thick, rope-like roots glowing with faint blue light. These were the types of plants that could be found in deep underwater caves.

«↓ Third Mana Plant Identified -|- Azure Kelproot ↑»

«↓ Breathing Technique: Deep Current ↑»

Pattern: Slow inhale filling belly (4 - 5s) → slow controlled exhale (4 - 5s).

Skills Available: Continuous Cutting and Interval.

The fourth plant had a small translucent flower with petals like drops of frozen dew that glowed faintly under the rays of moonlight that pierced in through the open windows.

«↓ Fourth Mana Plant Identified -|- Moonwater Bloom ↑»

«↓ Breathing Technique: Eddying Focus ↑»

Pattern: Tiny inhale (0.3 - 0.6s) → tiny exhale right before the action.

Skills Available: Target Tapping and Reaction Drill.

And the last plant was the most arousing of the five Mana plants.

It has a wide lily pad with a pure white flower that never sways.

’A lily pad with a white flower?’ I thought, trying to reason out a cool name for it before the Identifier skill did.

But it was faster than my dull thoughts as the words immediately surfaced on the screen.

«↓ Fifth Mana Plant Identified -|- Stillpond Lily ↑»

«↓ Breathing Technique: Breath of Calm ↑»

Pattern: Inhale 4s → hold 4s → exhale 4s → hold 4s.

Skills Available: Sparring Pause, and Pre-match.

« ... »

The system was done with its identification, but the panel was yet to disappear. Its screen cleaned itself, and a chime followed next.

It was as if the notification was forced, but what was showcased was disappointing in its appearance.

«↓ Note that a mage of your rank is open to consuming 3 Mana plants. Hence, you are only able to absorb 3 Water Breathing Techniques. ↑»

"Only three Breathing Techniques? After all I went through in that rift?" I found myself verbalizing aloud.

However, Muna should be called a Blessed for introducing this fast method of gaining swordsmanship skills to me.

Looking at their patterns, I was almost convinced that I wouldn’t be able to gain such skills by mere physical training.

I might be intellectually fit to grab things fast and longer with my brain, but not with my hands.

Although none of the skills mentioned have ever been used by Muna. I wondered if there were differing plants.

Originally, becoming advantageous in combat, especially as a swordsman, took at least one year to master. And it all depended on the skill your master possessed and was willing to teach you.

Yet, Muna had almost gained and mastered the few skills she possessed within weeks.

’Maybe, the secret training she had with father was collecting the Mana plants and honing their skills into herself.’

That being said, it meant I would also need to hone these skills to perfection. The only problem was when, and where?

Plus, which of these techniques should I go for? Which three of them would be necessary for winning against the odds of the forthcoming Academy Test?

"Let me see," I muttered, collecting the Mana plants one after another.

Surface Ripple granted me Solo and Footwork Ladder skills. Although the system hadn’t explained how the overall technique worked, the skills sounded necessary.

With that consideration, I pushed the Lotus Fern to my right and picked up the next Mana Plant.

Tidal Surge? It didn’t seem necessary at the moment. At least, for a beginner like me, being able to succeed in the test. With that, I pushed the Crimson Reed to the left.

The techniques and skills the Azure Kelproot with the Stillpond Lily granted were also going to be serving as important factors in my winning.

I pushed them to join the Lotus Fern and motioned the other two plants into my Spirit Pouch.

"Tomorrow, I will prepare the tea from each of these plants and drink it."

I didn’t know exactly how to consume the Mana plants, but taking them as fluids should be the best option.

I can’t eat them raw, of course I couldn’t.

After all, herbalists often prepared liquid medicine from herbs. So, my decision wasn’t wrong anyway.

I tied the Mana plants together and went over to close my windows.

Returning to my bed, I took the light Spirit Pouch from the bed, and an idea came into my head.

’I should try asking Vera and her companions to step into this Pouch. After all, it had mentioned its ability to store anything that can be motioned into it.’

"Tomorrow, I will try that out," I concluded and climbed into my bed.

Moments later, I was able to smile myself to sleep.