I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Adam's heart raced with excitement as he read the message. An unexpected opportunity for growth and advancement presented itself, and he couldn't wait to see what lay ahead.

His heart drumming in his chest, he said, "Yes!"

[Advanced class Primal Weaver obtained.]

[New passive skill unlocked: Universal Affinity Mastery.]

A dazzling smile blossomed on his face, happy to earn a new passive skill after such a long time! Without wasting a second, he checked its effect.

The individual can combine multiple elemental affinities to create unique and powerful effects, achieving perfect harmony and balance between them. In the hands of a Primal Weaver, the elements are not mere tools but extensions of their very being, harmonising the chaotic mana of nature into a symphony of power.

Upon reading the message, his eyes bulged as the realisation of his success settled in his mind. Not only could he wield and combine elements, but his affinity was perfect! Precision and efficiency were guaranteed with such a high rating.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

'Making the circle this large turned out to be an incredible boon,' he thought, feeling that losing his body in the dream place wasn't that big of a deal anymore.

Anyway, he would build his puppet in the following months, and he didn't doubt this temporary body would be projected here, just like the items he brought back from the real world.

"But isn't this affinity a bit too strong?" He muttered before shaking his head. Most of the materials were of the legendary rank, while the sigil was one of this world's few tier-eight items. Considering the daunting task of gathering everything, he shook his head.

Of course, he wouldn't boast about the method since he relied on others and luck to get the essence and Selene's grimoire. Besides, wasn't his intellect a crucial part of his strength? Not to mention he and Julius almost died many times on this quest. So, no. The effects weren't too much. Instead, they were the bare minimum he would accept!

As his eyes glistened and his smile broadened, he channelled mana, eager to try his new powers. His heart raced with anticipation. However, a searing pain assaulted his circuit instantaneously, causing him to growl in pain.

In a split second, he cut his mana output and exhaled. Triggering the ritual had already stressed his circuit more than he was comfortable with. Yet, what happened next truly damaged them, making him understand that using mana would only worsen his state.

He sighed, feeling the weight of frustration settle in. He had to understand and fix his circuits, no matter how tedious the process was or this situation would occur for a third, then a fourth time.

With everything checked, he closed his luminous eyes in trepidation, hoping Julius had left the beast temple safely.

*****

The next second, he reopened them in an unfamiliar place. Beautiful starlight filled his vision as an old bearded man wearing dirty clothes gazed at him.

"You took your time to wake up," said the man, causing him to frown.

"Who are you?" He asked, believing he was a beggar or a fallen noble too proud to put on commoners' clothes.

"Your friends are behind you. I'm Orion, an arcanist and this school's dean," Orion said before pausing to give him time to catch up on the events with Julius and Shepard.

Half an hour later, Adam had a basic grasp of the situation. Grateful for his mentor's help, his voice echoed, solemn and filled with honesty. "I'll repay you."

"You just have to end first and make the other dean cry blood," said Shepard, smirking as his betting plan resurfaced.

Next, Julius seized the occasion to ask a question tormenting his mind before Orion made his proposal. "Was the ritual successful?" He asked, fearing the worst had happened. To his dismay, his brother only gave a mischievous smile and a shrug, leaving the mystery unresolved and his thoughts in turmoil.

"Alright, now that you caught up, let's switch to business," said Orion, standing up to face Adam. "Do you want to study astral magic and divination under me in a year or two?" he added, extending his palm with a confident smile tugging at his lips. Unfortunately, he suffered the same refusal Shepard did.

"No. I don't need teachers or mentors. And truthfully? I don't want to learn divination at all! Would I live my life if I knew future events or only follow a script?" Adam's words cut through the midnight wind, stunning everyone present. His firm stance surprised even himself, but he couldn't deny the truth in his words.

The thought of a predetermined fate clashed with his belief in free will, and he refused to surrender his autonomy to such practices.

Orion squinted in response, pondering with a frown. Then, he adjusted his offer since divination wouldn't be relevant when dealing with powerful entities. Well... except if you were named Elisabeth and mysteriously circumvented the problem. "I can teach you spiritual and mental healing.

You'll also learn to separate your consciousness to navigate the endless universe and communicate with otherworldly beings."

"Hah? Why didn't you say that first?" Adam grinned, winking at the old arcanist. With how often his soul ended up wounded and how secluded and few the astral mages were, learning to heal himself didn't sound like a bad idea. The other subjects also intrigued him. After all, which man never dreamed of travelling the universe? "I'll come to study next year."

"Great! I'll impatiently wait for our next meeting. But for now, you'll have to excuse me. My old bones need to rest," Orion said, a fire alight in his eyes. Sadly, the exhausting healing he had conducted and his advanced age overwhelmed his excitement.

After bidding goodbye, the trio crossed the Gate to return to the college for the night.

On their way to the dorm, Adam frowned and shared his problem with the arcanist. "Is it possible to upgrade or fix mana circuits?"

"Mhhh. That's a complex field fraught with failed experiments and blood. I'll be honest. It's forbidden knowledge no one researched for centuries. So, I don't know," Shepard said, shaking his head to show his ignorance. Everyone wanted to upgrade their circuits, even him since they were the veins used by mana to travel around their bodies.

With better circuits, their energy flow would be faster and smoother, increasing their casting speed and mana gathering, allowing more mages to exist.

"What a shame," Adam bitterly smiled, realising his weakness wouldn't find a solution in the foreseeable future.