Reincarnated As The Dark Knight

Merlin combed through the underground base in a fit of anger "Goddamit lad. You really trashed this place, didn't you?"

He used magic to rearrange all the books back into their shelves and on top of the tables. His face showed that he was very much pissed off, something about Victor hiding something somewhere and he could not find it in the underground base, but Artur was taking the brunt of his anger because there was no Victor to complain to.

Artur did not care, all he wanted was the anatomy book and he thought of asking Merlin who seemed to know everything about this place, but this old man was not in the mood for a friendly talk. Actually, he lost fear of him when he learned that Merlin worked under his father of which he had no idea why.

Merlin saw that Artur kept some books aside, not allowing them to be arranged back in their shelves and he became angrier than he already was. Artur noticed.

"Tell me something lad" Merlin said.

"Yes Merlin?"

"It's 'sir' to you" Merlin snapped.

"Are you going to ask me your question or not?"

"You were born rude, weren't you?"

"Maybe I was"

"Now tell me, what does it seem like I've been doing for the past several minutes?"

Artur raised his head and looked around finally noticing that the base was neater than when he had first entered, the dust? Totally gone.

"You've been rearranging the whole place while complaining about something you could not seem to find"

"You little brat. If you knew that I was rearranging the books, then why are you still keeping them?!"

"You can take care of the others; I need these ones. By the way, would you happen to know where a book on anatomy is? I really need one right one"

"Anatomy? What does a little kid like you want to do with anatomy?"

"Isn't it clear? I want to understand how the body works with mana"

"And then do what?"

"Do I have to spell everything out?"

"You can't seem to avoid being rude, can you? You're just like your father"

"Ya' think?" Artur paused "So are you going to tell me where it is or not"

"Science, third shelf, top row, number six"

Artur raised his head looking at the top shelf, his small body, then Merlin.

"What are you looking at me for? Go get your book"

"Come on. Surely you are not that evil"

"I don't understand what you mean"

"The shelf does not have a ladder"

"Then go make one"

"I just met you and I already hate you"

"So do I lad, so do I"

"Could you help me get the book from up there?"

"What? I couldn't here you well over the sound of, what was it again? Oh yes, my pride"

Artur swallowed in a lungful of air, trying to suppress his anger and trying to stop the outburst that was lingering in his mouth from escaping. He exhaled and inhaled again then exhaled before repeating:

"Could you help me get the book from up there?" Artur said.

Merlin still stared at him, raising his eyebrows.

"Please" Artur added when he knew that Merlin was not going move without hearing it. An old man playing battle of pride with a twelve-year-old, how shameless. Merlin grinned when Artur finally said it.

"Of course, little Artur" He walked to the first shelf which Artur was standing in front of and on the second to last row he pulled out a book and handed to him "Here you go Artur"

'This man! I'm going to kill him the first chance I get'

Artur took the book from him and went to the first part of the base where the weapons were to study. He could not stand Merlin.

***

Learning the human anatomy was interesting for Artur. It was similar to what he already knew but the body structure in this world still had a difference. It was truly interesting.

The heart is located in the middle of the chest and below it is the diaphragm but there is a bit of a space between these two structures which is not occupied by the mediastinum. Occupying this space is a small ball-like structure call the Nexus. This Nexus is recognized as both a physical and a spiritual organ which no being can live without for one reason: It supplies every bit of energy that the body uses including that which the heart depends on for beating. The Nexus is the only organ which is simultaneously connected to all body organs. It houses the unique energy called Mana.

From the Nexus stems many branch-like structures that form a network for transporting Mana around the body. They are called Mana Conduits which are even smaller than capillaries.

Artur stopped there and switched to the other book The Beginner's Guide To Magic, remembering he saw something about Mana. He got the info he was looking for immediately: The term, Mana. He had a vague understanding about this energy, but it was better to read than just assume.

Mana was a unique form of energy that was believed to be gotten from the bridge between the soul and the body. It is also the energy that allows the body to function. Aside from living once any being can tap into their Mana and command it, they can perform extraordinary feats which are referred to as Magic.

'So, I've got like magic and stuff? Something awesome finally happened to me since I got here' Artur said and clapped once. 'Now I need to know how to tap into my mana by will. To do that I need the help of someone who is familiar with it, a boss in the expertise, I need the help of someone who can command it with just a thought, I need the help of...'

His eyes turned to the left and there he saw Merlin standing and looking at him like a teacher waiting for an answer. He already knew but Artur feigned ignorance.

"What do you want?" Artur snapped.

"Me? Don't mind me. I'm just an old man who was passing by"

Artur narrowed his eyes as Merlin left and called him back. "Say Merlin. what do you know about magic?"

Merlin raised his eyebrows and gave Artur a weird look. Artur thought his question over and asked again "What do you know about being able to activate Mana?"

"Go read a book lad, I've got bigger problems than that"

Merlin went to the third section filled with the artifacts and various objects hoping to shake the kid off, but Artur followed him.

'Shameless old man'

"What do you want? I said I'm busy"

"You never answered my question"

"I'm busy right now so move along lad"

"So if I help you finish whatever you are doing quickly will you listen to me?"

Merlin's eyes lingered on his face for a while with silence dominating the space. He sighed and took a crystal ball from the shelf to his left. "Hold this for me"

Artur took the ball from Merlin and looked at it. It was kind of transparent, with a purple glow. He wondered what Merlin wanted to do with it. Merlin went through the shelves but found no sign of what he had been searching since he first appeared. 

The ball was a bit heavy and after carrying it for a while Artur felt like Merlin had just given it to him to punish him. The heaviness was steadily growing as his arms weakened under it weight. He was behind Merlin the whole time, making sure not to say anything so he would not disturb him. The one time he spoke, he asked Merlin to at least tell him what it looked like just in case he had seen in somewhere, but Merlin's reply was: "I can find it myself so just hold that for me"

"You know this is heavy, right?"

"Deal with it, lad" Merlin replied harshly.

'Artur thought putting it down but Merlin's voice stopped him. "Oh, and you can't put it down or it will explode. I'd survive but I'm not so sure about you"

Hearing these words, Artur held on to the ball firmly. Even if Merlin was lying, he did not know and he was not planning on risking death. He was with Merlin for at least half an hour, carrying that ball while following from behind but Merlin paid no attention to him. Just when his hands were about to give out Merlin took the ball from him and looked at it like he was reading from a book.

Artur fell on his butt, every muscle in his hands sore. After catching his breath his he looked at Merlin again, the old man was still concentrated on the ball. Artur who was curious about what he was doing could not help but ask.

"What are you doing?"

Merlin seemed to have a look of surprise and disturbance on his face. "This ball measures your affinity with mana. I gave to you for so long but yet..."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Merlin cleared his throat "Artur Loxley, Mana affinity:0"

"Wait, what does that mean?" Artur looked worried; he did not like the words and tone that Merlin used.

"It means your Nexus is devoid of Mana"