I spent the remainder of class summoning and re-summoning that greatsword. For every sample that I created, I was critiqued. This one had a funny grip. That one was flimsy.

After the fifth blade was rejected, I took a step back to study the process.

Step 1. Picture the greatsword in my head.

Step 2. Conjure a specific amount of mana to form the blade.

Step 3. Shape the mana into the image in my head.

It all seemed very simple. I could do better than that. My first experiment involved pushing out more mana than was needed. The result was a greatsword that was too massive to wield.

My creation was met with a chorus of laughter from the rest of the class. Mrs. Hawkins made her way over and sighed. “This is the result of trying to improvise. You’ve used too much mana. When the blade is made of pure mana, additional mana will only increase the size.”

Dissipating the blade, I decided not to reply and started to focus on my next attempt. I summoned some more mana and watched as another crude greatsword took shape.

The imperfections were so obvious that I was becoming concerned that the image in my head was flawed. Ignoring the teacher’s admonition, I summoned more mana while the first greatsword was still out. I used the mana to polish and shave away at the existing weapon. While looking at the greatsword hanging on the wall in front of me, I polished my design, trying to duplicate the original.

My progress was slow but steady. I molded the hilt until my fingers fit perfectly into the grooves. Turning my mana into a grinding stone, I sharpened the blade. I even used my mana to etch some designs into the side of the blade, making it look fancy.

However, I still wasn’t satisfied. While the weapon was improving, it was still just a normal mana blade. Masamune would frown on my handiwork.

Thinking about the blacksmith gave me another idea. I summoned more mana and attempted to refine the hardened mana within the weapon. Sweat formed on my brow as I did battle with the greatsword. It did not want to accept any additional mana.

I was about to give up when I felt the change. The weapon itself remained brittle as ever. That part was a failure. Mrs. Hawkins tutted at me when my creation vanished right when she arrived to inspect it.

She looked at the space where the mana blade had been for a moment before asking, “Why did you do that? It was your best one yet.”

Wiping the sweat from my face on the sleeve of my shirt, I explained, “I had an idea on how to make it even better.”

A hint of a smile appeared on her face as she asked, “What might that be?”

I didn’t answer because I was focused on my next attempt. The ball of mana that was forming in front of me looked a lot like the first step she had taught me. It was the same step she also criticized me for skipping.

She laughed and started, “Now you get it, right? You had to start with the fundamentals to…”

The ball of mana began to glow brightly as I crushed it together with as much force as my mind could muster. My body began to shake under the stress of condensing the mana as I forced more of it into the ball.

Once I was satisfied that the ball had twice the amount of mana as it normally would, I formed it into the blade. My new technique rewarded me with a greatsword that contained twice the mana while not being any larger than the original.

I was also pleased to see that the refinements to the design were still present in my latest version of the weapon.

Mrs. Hawkins watched in silence while I summoned more mana chip away at the imperfections I saw in the latest version of my greatsword. When I finished and took a second to catch my breath, she walked up and hefted the weapon in her hand, admiring my handiwork.

Nodding in appreciation, she said, “That was impressive. This sword passes the test.”

I shook my head, “Not yet. I can do better.”

I wasn’t satisfied until the class had been over for an hour.Mrs. Hawkins and the rest of the students stood around me, watching my progress eagerly.Some of the other students had even spread out to try to duplicate what they were watching me do.

Kalli, who had been watching through the connection, made her way over to my class. I could tell that she was sore from her workout. While she didn’t run with Alex anymore, she had paired up with some of the girls from Martial Arts and gone for a run.

By the time I was finally satisfied, I had compressed five times the usual mana into the greatsword. The compressed mana gave the weapon a faint glow from within. I still wanted to experiment with various elemental mana but my first weapon needed to be my pure mana with no additives.

Each time I made a weapon I added more flare to the design and the final result looked very good. The pommel of the blade was shaped into a clawed fist. The guard curled up stylishly and the blade looked similar to a sword I recalled from a cartoon I once watched.

Mrs. Hawkins examined the blade closely before saying, “While this looks nothing like the sample blade, it’s exquisite. I’ve never seen one like this before. What gave you the idea to do that?”

Scratching my head, I said the first thing that came to mind. “It just felt right.”

Come with me.

Kalli followed me, hand in hand, as I led her through the tunnel back to the dorms. Where are you taking me?

The makeout room.

She gasped out loud. Why?

Why do you think? I want to kiss you.

That statement was partially true. While she was embarrassed by what I said, she also winced with every step she took, exhausted from her workout.

I fumbled with the locked door when we got there, cursing myself for not getting Wendy to bring me a key. Kalli smirked at me and reached into her bag. You’re hopeless. You know that right?

My girlfriend produced a key and opened the door, sliding silently into the room ahead of me. I followed her in and pressed her against the wall, kissing her softly. While I had no clue if I was any good at kissing, Kalli seemed to approve. She kissed me back and allowed me to lead her over to the corner with the blanket on the floor, looking at me expectantly.

Okay. Get on the blanket. I’m going to give you a massage again.

She gaped at me. Is what that you were going to do? Well, I got news for you. You aren’t putting your hands on my body while you stink.

Kalli was right. I sweated a lot while I was working on my greatsword. She didn’t wait for me to give permission before she extended her hands and cast her spell.

“Pvruzth”

Knowing the drill, I stood still while her mana washed over me. She took her time, being sure to get every inch of my body before she doused her flame and lay down on the blanket, patiently waiting for me to begin.

I also took my time, using what I learned from my mana blade to reinforce her muscles with extra condensed mana. Kalli grunted as my mana seeped into the swollen muscles of her thigh.

Am I hurting you?

She sighed and whispered in my mind. No. It feels wonderful. Please don’t stop.

I won’t stop until you’re satisfied.

True to my word, I kept going even after I finished every muscle in her body. I was halfway through my second lap when she sat up and forced me to stop. With her sloppy smile that she reserved just for me, she said, That was not what I expected when you took me here.

I raised an eyebrow at the girl, not used to her being so forward.

What did you think we were going to do?

She answered with a kiss. We melted into each other, forgetting about the world around us. It felt like it lasted forever but it couldn’t have been longer than an hour because Kalli gently pushed me off of her and said, I need to be at work soon. Thanks for the massage. I feel much better now.

Remembering that I should also check in with Masamune, I stood up and offered her my hand.

I’ll go with you.

We split up again when we got to Little Tokyo. I made my way to the forge and was happy to hear the clinking sound of a hammer on metal.

Chogu’s gruff voice called out when I entered the forge, “Who’s there? We’re closed.”

I yelled to be heard over the din. “It’s me, master. Melvin.”

He growled as he swiveled his head to get a look at me. “Where have you been all weekend? There is work to be done. I took on a few extra tasks because of you and had to stay late to complete them.”

Making my way to the forge and being sure to stay clear of the sparks, I explained, “I take an adventuring class and have to do quests for the guild on the weekends. Sorry, I forgot to tell you.”

He shook his head, “Forget about it. I need you to infuse some ingots for me. I hope you’ve at least been refining your mana. That stuff you were using last week wasn’t up to snuff.”

Remembering I wanted to show off the fruits of my training, I summoned the sword I made in class and held it out to the weaponsmith.

He looked down at the weapon with a blank expression before scooping it up out of my hands and holding it up to the light, squinting at he appraised the weapon.

When he handed it back to me, I thought he was disappointed. He waited in silence while I allowed the weapon to dissipate. We stared at each other for a moment before he spoke. “How did you make that weapon?”

I explained, “I signed up for a mana fencing class. They taught me.”

He grabbed my shoulders a little roughly. “No. I’m familiar with that class and the weapons they use. I want to know how you made that specific weapon that you just showed me. That was no normal mana blade.”

Realizing that he knew what I did, I was excited to explain it to him. “I used the technique you taught me to refine my mana all weekend. When I formed the mana to make the weapon I compressed it until it had five times the normal amount of mana.”

Chogu’s mouth fell open as he asked, “How did you manage that without increasing the size?”

I shrugged and answered, “I compressed it. It took a lot of pressure to make it not grow.”

He gasped and asked, “You did five times more mana without increasing the size? You might be able to make a diamond with that amount of pressure?”

Thinking about diamonds, I walked over to a barrel containing lumps of coal for the forge. Chogu stopped me and laughed. “Fool. That coal is garbage when it comes to creating diamonds. If you even want to try, you’ll have to get a pure carbon sample. Also, even at five times, I doubt you are currently capable of creating the pressure required to make a diamond.”

Once he mentioned it, I just knew that I was going to make a diamond for Kalli.It would be a fun way to practice the technique I would need to create the ultimate weapon with my mana.

Chogu set me to work infusing some green ingots. I inspected the first ingot as I allowed my mana to flow into it.

Item:

Electrum Ingot

Components

Gold, Silver, Copper

Item Rank:

B

Item Level:

1

Item Owner:

Masamune

We quickly learned that five times the mana was too much for electrum. The explosion caught me by surprise and flung me back through the forge. Looking down, I realized my mana armor had saved me from being seriously injured. Shards of the green metal were lodged in the vest which had thickened to cover my vital organs.

Chogu rushed over to me to make sure I wasn’t injured too badly. “Start small with the mana. Work your way up to the metal’s limits. It will speak to you.”

It turned out that the electrum could only handle mana that was compressed to twice the normal pressure. I worked my way through half of the ingots and convinced Chogu to let me take the rest home to work on later.

I found my way back to the restaurant where Kalli worked. Wendy and Kalli were both there, chatting with customers as they took orders. My girlfriend ran up to me and beamed, speaking aloud. “Table for one, sir?”

Wanting to kiss her, I replied, “Yes, please. I heard good things about the spicy ramen.”

She grinned at me and turned to guide me to my table. You naughty boy. You just want to eat my mana.

Noticing me from across the room, Wendy decided to say hi too. Hi, Melvin. How was your job at the forge tonight?

I waved at the girl across the restaurant and announced, I think I learned how to make diamonds.