Too Much Thinking

"The situation between my country and our neighbors is somewhat complicated. It's not bad but it's also not good. Morally, it's wrong but it helps boost the country's economy. Why was this compulsory knowledge for us kids to memorize? I'm merely a crippled orphan with no ideals! Not someone who will become a hero or a sage in the future! Go to hell, civics!" 

After thinking back and forth repeatedly for 5 minutes or so, Ivan finally let out a pathetic and annoyed wail at the now dark sky. 

At the young age of 7, the children of Basic Elementary School were given lessons on the history of their own country and Ishgar's methods for improving their industries over the centuries. 

Besides that, they also had to memorize all the rights a citizen of Ishgar possessed as well as learn about their duties and obligations as a citizen of the country.

Ivan personally hated civics since it made him more aware of the world's current situation and the problems riddled around it. 

If only his elementary school hadn't forced him to study that crummy subject, he would have been able to stay as an ignorant young child for a few more years. 

Alas, Headmaster Na had strictly ordered that every student of his school must be aware of the country's affairs with the world. He also said it was best to be open minded when the children learnt the black side of their country. 

As for the headmaster's aim? No one but the headmaster knew of his own true intentions.

After Ivan left the school's gate and started walking back home, a black clothed figure jumped out of a shadow of a swaying tree before they began to tail after the ignorant elementary schooler. 

In the midst of the shadowy figure's tail after the child was another shadowy figure. 

This new shadowy figure however wore a crown on his silver white head while a black cloak decorated in white stars was draped over the figure's shoulders. 

One hand was controlling a magic circle while the other held an old, thick book. His face was blurred with magic so no one could see his face.

Since Ivan's house was located fairly deep in the mountains, it took him roughly 30 minutes to reach his house by foot. The school did invite him to live in their dorms but was rejected by the child. 

His reason for rejecting the school's offer wasn't because he was embarrassed or shy, but merely because he was scared he would forget the location of his house in the future. 

Even though Ivan was an orphan now, it didn't mean he was an orphan when he was little. 

The house he lived in currently was left to him by his deceased parents back when he was merely 4 years old. 

His parents were both high ranking wizards when they were still alive and had died in battle when they were deployed to assassinate the captain of an enemy kingdom. 

After his parents died, the Ishgarian military sent the young boy a letter of apology with 2 medals of honor and a small bag of gold. 

Holding the letter of apology in his small hands, tears silently streamed down his cheeks as Ivan felt sadness for the first time. 

Despite having crippled mana veins and was unable to use even the most basic of magic spells, Ivan's parents loved him dearly. 

It was also at this time that Headmaster Na received news of his parents' deaths and volunteered to become the guardian of the young boy. 

In return, Ivan treated the headmaster with respect and gratitude.

Upon closing the door behind him and taking off his shoes, Ivan tossed his leather bag on the couch before he proceeded to sit cross legged in the center of his living room. 

In the next moment, his hands started to dance in the air as he made various hand signs while chanting, "With my body as the link between heaven and earth, create for me! Iron Sword!" 

At the end of his chant, silence pervaded the room for a split second before a flash of bright light appeared before the young boy. 

Following that, countless amounts of light particles converged before the young boy in the shape of a two handed sword. But just as the light sword was about to take on a solid form, the light sword started fading rapidly.

"With my body as the link between heaven and earth, create for me! Iron Sword!"

"With my body as the link between heaven and earth! Create for me! Iron Sword!"

"With my body as the link between heaven and earth! Create for me! IRON SWORD!!!"

Regardless of how Ivan chanted, the light of the sword continued to fade away before the remaining light particles finally dispersed back into nothingness. 

Despite seeing how he failed yet again, Ivan remained positive as he started a new series of hand signs while chanting, "With my body as the link between heaven and earth, heed my call and create for me! Iron Sword!" 

If silence pervaded his house earlier, then a loud bang occurred as soon as he finished his new chant. 

The same scene where countless light particles appeared before converging into a sword of light again but this time, the sword of light seemed more solid than before.

 Upon noticing this small but important change in the sword of light, Ivan's indifferent expression brightened up considerably as he now understood the basic principles of his sword creation art. 

Alas, the current sword of light had not taken an actual physical form and dispersed moments later.

 Of course, after seeing some improvements in his recent trials, Ivan was feeling highly motivated to continue his research in sword creation. 

After repeating a few more trials with his newly elongated chant, Ivan proceeded to write down this newfound knowledge into his diary.