Sword God in a World of Magic

"I didn't expect you two to be here," Shang said as he looked at Duke Whirlwind and Mattheo.

Mattheo only smiled politely. "I am the future Duke, and father involves me more and more in these kinds of things."

Duke Whirlwind smiled with pride as he put a hand on Mattheo's shoulder. "He hasn't had it easy, but there is already no more doubt in my mind that he will reach the High Mage Realm. He will probably become even more powerful than me in the future."

Mattheo's expression didn't change at his father's words.

Shang could feel a certain distance between Mattheo and his father.

"Anyway, Shang," Duke Whirlwind said with a smirk. "I bet you thought yourself quite clever after snatching Old Ice Octopus' Mana Source and successfully hiding it from me."

Shang felt a mix of nervousness and a bit of guilt. After all, he had essentially stolen something from Duke Whirlwind.

"But it's fine," Duke Whirlwind said. "Honestly, if I were in your place, I would have done the same thing."

"What would you have done if I had told you?" Shang asked.

"I'm not sure, honestly," Duke Whirlwind said. "But I think I would have asked you to demonstrate, and I would have very quickly noticed that your Affinity was very strange. I think I would have taken you with me to find out more about your Affinity."

"You mean experiment on me until I died?" Shang asked emotionlessly.

Duke Whirlwind snorted. "Now, Shang, something like that would be idiotic."

"Idiotic?" Shang asked with a raised eyebrow.

"There was obviously more to your Affinity, which means that there was more to be discovered. After a while, I would have probably delivered other Mana Sources to you to see what would happen."

"And then, I would be interested in what would come of your Affinity if you were to become more powerful."

"But since you have a warrior's body, you obviously can't become a Mage. That means you would have ended up in the Warrior's Academy either way. The Dean would have noticed your particular talents as well."

"So, in the end, we would still be here," Duke Whirlwind explained.

Shang wasn't certain if he should believe Duke Whirlwind.

On one hand, everything he said appeared logical, but on the other hand, it seemed too good to be true.

"What about the Mana Source?" Shang asked.

fine," Duke Whirlwind said. "You can see it as

"But…"

Shang furrowed his brows.

you to tell me everything you know about your Affinity. Your Affinity is one of a kind, and I am

spells? Based on your Affinity, I can create a couple of them. They won't be anything fancy, but they will give you

patted his son's shoulder

be with you when you try the spells. You two can work

you say?" Duke

Trying out spells?

interested, but he also

a High

of spells he could

would destroy Shang's consciousness and make him into a

looked over at

to the Dean. If I were to die suddenly, his procedure would look like a failure in the public's

he would throw the hard work of the Dean

being, I should be safe. If Duke Whirlwind were

the source of his curiosity, and by killing me, he

why

not sure about my Affinity, and I'm also

great to hear! I will prepare a couple of spells later for you to try out. Of course, if you are still uneasy about the effects of

bit more careful with the Spells involving the Light and Darkness Affinity. Some Mages might be suspicious about how you got

nodded. "Thank

we will be working together to a certain degree from now

looking forward to it,"

of

and I will

Duke Whirlwind and Mattheo waited at one wall, Vice-Dean Soran waited near

silently

and Mattheo spoke in a lighthearted and relaxed tone, the entire atmosphere of the room felt

with solemn eyes, and

the bloodstained table and the unconscious thing in the corner,

willingly, but for some reason, he

people in the room, only Mattheo was slightly on

already

were even in

random

were the most powerful people in