The behavior of Mana could be compared to the effect produced by dropping oil paint into a container of water and placing paper on the surface. This was a technique I had experimented with in my art class back when I went to school. The outcome of the process was always unique, as the shapes and patterns produced by the spreading of the paint were determined by chance.

If I looked closely at the paper, some resembled butterflies while others reminded me of snakes. Some people might recall heavy rain pouring down from the paper.

That was why traditional swordsmanship in this world was named after some natural phenomenon, animals, or objects. Identifying the flow of Mana was their priority, so swinging the weapon was a natural step following that.

Traditional swordsmanship didn’t deviate from that. This was similar to the magic principles that Yeon-Hee explained, and conversely, we could anticipate the trajectory of the opponent’s attack in advance by understanding the flow of their movements.

***

We came back to reality. Yeon-Hee’s real face was finally waiting for me. I had been tired of looking at Seong-Il’s face. Nothing had changed since we had entered Onir’s mental world.

Seong-Il was lying on the ground after having his pain soothed...