When Aster woke up the first thing he did was to turn on the Lantern in the room, one powered by a fire crystal similar to the one he had bought back at Initium and opened his curtains. Only then did he realize the sun had once again not risen yet.
'As usual... I'm not tired thought. Is it a side effect of the training I've been doing? I feel like I've been sleeping less and less.'
Aster felt tempted in going outside and explore, but he instead just stayed the next few hours doing Aura training using his Sword.
When the time was more reasonable he dressed accordingly and then exited the room and started to move to the area where the instructors would lecture. This time he remembered to store the daggers away in his room.
It was still early but you could already see a couple of older swordsmen walking by the halls. He decided to get some information regarding the morning classes since he was still relatively oblivious in how they would work.
What he learned from a helpful man walking around was that most subjects would actually have three classes of students. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. And you could choose which ones to take at will.
Knowing that Aster decided to start in the Beginner classes, he was sure he knew the basics, but he guessed it wouldn't hurt.
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During the morning as expected the class was around a sort of dojo like room where the Instructor would explain and show the stances and moves. There was also enough room for the students to practice what the Instructor was showing as well as a couple wooden training dummies and swords placed across the room.
The Instructor was young no more than 25. And in the class were mostly Younger students between 14 and 16. in fact Aster was one of the older ones in the class.
'This is... boooooooooooooooring.'
The class was as basic as one can be. In fact, you could apply it to every type of blade not just swords. The instructor was currently explaining how you should swing, in how you need to put your momentum on the swing as well as swing with your waist not just arm.
'I read all this when I was... younger years old. I know all this. Even if you don't if you swing your sword around a couple of times I'm pretty sure you would figure it out. Yes, I know thrusts have more piercing power but are easier to dodge and parry thanks for stating the obvious!!!'
After lunch Aster was very seriously considering what to do.
'Ok, Beginner or Intermediate?'
'I'm no Elementalist but I know how Auras and Essence works to some extant. I don't want to stay 3 hours listening on how to surround my sword with aura or something like that...'
'Ok Aster breath, it can be that bad.'
...
"Today we will be teaching you how to surround your weapon in Aura."
'Oh come on!!!'
The class was smaller than the one Aster had attended in the morning. probably because the only ones in his specific one were all Elementalists with the exception of a few.
"But first. What is Aura and what is Essence?"
He then proceeded to explain.
In short Essence is what everyone uses to empower their bodies and bend the Elements. Every living being would passively absorb Essence from their environment. Elemental Essence like wind is a specific type of Essence that unless someone awakens to it cannot be used freely.
Aura in the other hand is still essence but the essence someone controls. When someone increases the flow of Essence trough their body they are increasing their aura so to speak. Aura is like a unique style of painting each one owns while the Essence is the paint itself.
"So in simple terms, you will try to flow essence trough your swords or in other words envelop your weapons in aura. You will be using the wooden swords in the room, since they are easier to start with compared to other weapons you might have."
At that comment a student raised his hand.
"Why easier? Can't we just use regular swords?"
Aster already knew why regular swords were not ideal, but he was also interested about why this wooden swords were special.
"Every material is different. Assuming you usually flow 100 units of essence trough your body most weapons like regular swords would only allow you to flow about 30 units at max. And that is if you were excellent at it." Explained the Instructor.
"If it's that bad why not just use your fists instead of a sword?" The student asked again.
"Most Elementalist's weapons are built using some sort of Essence conductive material to allow Essence to flow without having such a high resistance. A proper Elementalist weapon would be able to flow 70 units while these swords which are made from a tree that is a natural Essence sponge of sorts can flow about 85 units."
"Are you saying these wooden swords are better than actual Elementalist's weapons?"
"The answer is no, so don't bother try to steal one for yourself. Even if they can conduct Essence better they still need to handle the impact of the strike to some extent. Doesn't matter how well you can cover your sword in aura. Some portion of the impact will come trough. When that happens I think most of you will want a metal sword that doesn't break as easily rather than a wooden one that breaks after a serious strike."
Aster nodded Internally as he already knew all this. This was also the reason why he didn't want anyone, especially Elementalists, to see his Sword unless he had no choice.
"Out of curiosity what is the highest flow of essence a weapon can have?"
"I'm no expert but theoretically 99. Practically however that is impossible you would need the best possible materials and a flawless forging process. Heck even the weapons Higher Elementalists use aren't usually above 90 in that regard. Anything proper above 90 should cost more than this whole village combined just as an example."
Because he was sure his Sword had no resistance whatsoever in its Essence flow. Meaning if his aura had 100 units of essence he could flow 100 units trough the sword.
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"It's finally over..." Aster was so relieved he couldn't keep the words in.
The rest of the class was the students trying to surround the swords with aura while the Instructor explained more "useful information" about essence and auras.
Aster of course already knew how to surround an object in his own aura, and unfortunately for him, the class only taught the very basic in that regard so all he could do for the rest of the class, was to try to figure out how to improve the efficiency of the process by himself.
The only thing noteworthy was that Aster himself managed to bring the morale of the whole class down when he, a none Elementalist did flawlessly what other Elementalists were attempting to do with no luck. Even the instructor himself was taken aback a little.
"At least next up are the sparring matches. Those should at least be interesting."
When Aster followed the student who were going to train he was surprised. The area where the sparring matches were done was in a different building entirely. You could see people leaving and going in none-stop and everywhere you looked you could see people with wooden swords either fighting between them or doing exercises in pairs or in group. The building itself was filled with all sorts of equipment. Arenas for students to fight, training dummies, wooden swords of different sizes and shapes to the side and more.
Different from the classes the sparring matches were basely free time the students had in the afternoon. They would spare and try to put in practice what they had learned for a few hours and then leave. Not only that they would usually come when they felt like it so the number of student would usually vary.
When he entered the first thing Aster did was to walk to a resting student and try to figure out how the building worked.
"Yo!"
"?"
Apparently there were no divisions like the classes had. Students would just fight whoever they felt like fighting either being equal strength, weaker or stronger. As long as both parties agreed to it there weren't any restrictions.
"Just one last thing. Non-elementalists are recommended to stay on the east area while elementalists stay on the west."
Aster already expected something like that to happen.
"So they can't fight each other?"
"No, they can. And you can move wherever you please the hole building is basically uniform in terms of layout and equipment it's just that non-elementalists usually prefer to train with non-elementalists and vice-versa."
'Makes sense, no point in training with someone who is too weak or to strong. None would improve in that case.'
'Also if there is no rule to stop that means I can still fight anyone I want.'
"Great, thanks for the help."
"No problem."
Aster then moved to the east side of the building and started to observe the students.
'Not bad. Even if they are not elementalist they can still learn proper swordplay. Most of them are average... still better than me tough. But a few of them would definitely give the commander a run for his money.'
He then turned around and took a look at the west side.
'Ignoring the obvious power difference. They are still more skilled than the non-elementalists. The strongest ones fighting however... are in a completely different level.'
He took a look at two fighting man probably in their early 30s. They were trading blows in a small circular arena and although they weren't releasing that much aura, you could still clearly acknowledge the swiftness and grace of each and every move these two were exchanging.
'I'm not seeing myself fighting like that anytime soon.'
He then started to think to himself.
"Well who do I fight?"
'No point in fighting non-elementalists I think. If I were to fight seriously then I would just dodge their attacks and punch them in the face.'
He looked towards two random students as he tought so.
I take it back. No dodging I could just punch them before they could even attack. I could take it easy but then I wouldn't be training but rather study their moves which I can do from the side so no point.'
"Elementalists it is."