Upon returning to the room, Sargon sat Pharis down and began to teach her how to use astra.
"Listen Pharis, I am not going to be teaching you magic or mana usage. I will be teaching you how to use astra. It is the same energy I use. A substantial reason I took you as my squire is that I noticed your great potential for this energy. You understand Pharis?"
Pharis nodded, "I do Master."
He continued, "Good, I will help you feel astra by passing my astra through you. Then I will guide you in collecting astra for yourself. Give me your hands."
Sargon started to flow astra through his hands into her hands and spread it through her body. He let her bathe in the energy. Pharis focused on feeling the energy and did so in a few minutes. Sargon began to retract the energy he gave her in huge bursts and then adding it back. This helped her learn how to gather astra herself. She began gathering small amounts of astra herself after 30 minutes of aid. Sargon was pleased, "Good Pharis, now keep gathering astra until you exhaust your mental energy. Take breaks when that happens to rest your mind and then begin again when it has recovered. Once you gather enough astra to nourish your being, you feel your consciousness trying to recede into you. Let it happen naturally, you will be brought into your astral plane. Once there, start forming stars on the horizon with astra. I doubt you will gather enough astra today, but these are the steps you need to know for now. I will be heading back to the forest to conduct my own training, I will be back when the sun sets."
Pharis smiled, "Okay Master, I will continue to practice until you come back. Have fun!"
Sargon smirked before exiting the room, then the inn. He left the city and made haste deeper into the forest. Despite his innate racial ability to instinctively use astra, he couldn't forego training with his astra. There is no substitute for earnest training and hard work. It has been what made him strong and skilled since he could remember. He found a suitable area, ' Here, I can test using astra with my techniques and skills.' He began to infuse astra with his sword strikes, body movement, every part of his body. His sword became more powerful and could release ranged slashes and thrusts made from astra. He could feel his vital organs become stronger, skin tougher, body faster, stronger, his very being became empowered. His armor and shield felt impenetrable. When his astra was channeled through his body, he felt an odd feeling that it was missing something. He searched his being for an answer to that sensation and found it.
His connection to his astral body became hyperactive with all the energy flowing to and from it. It wanted the connection to become closer and stronger. That was the feeling that something was missing. He could feel his incompleteness by infusing his being with astra. He inferred from this feeling that fighting while infused could make the connection stronger with all the energy that would flow in a fight. He got a little excited that he could get stronger by fighting and just by gathering astra. Now, a battle wouldn't only give him honor and glory, but further power as well. He got more excited realizing that this applied to his squire as well, 'Helping her growth is easier now in a way.' Sargon now began to discover different uses for astra besides combat now.
He already had his astral eyes and sense. His efforts led to a form of telepathy he still had to test with Pharis to be sure it worked. He played around with infusing sticks with astra, throwing them, and trying to track their location. He successfully left a track on the sticks he could pinpoint by searching for the signature of his astra. He thought to himself that he would be able to track Pharis without an infused item the more familiar he became with her astral signature. For now, he made a stone ring to give to Pharis so he won't lose track of her. There was still some time before sunset, but he decided to start heading back.
On his way back, he got a ping on his astral sense. One ping quickly turned into many. He used his astral eyes to assess what he detected. He saw 16, two, and a half-meter tall pale green humanoids with pig-like features on their head. They wore primitive clothing and wielded barbaric stone weapons. They had surrounded a group of 4 humans, and 2 elves, 1 dwarf. They were outnumbered a little over 2 to 1. He knew most races used mana and magic to fight, so he didn't think they would need help dealing with those creatures. He thought this because the creatures barely exuded any energy. They were nothing more than simple brutes in his eyes. He was surprised when the group failed to inflict enough damage on the creatures. They had only left a few cuts, slight burns, and shallow penetrations on the creatures. Moreover, they seemed tired after they attacked for about 2 minutes.
Sargon was astounded by their incompetence. He recognized they were adventurers from what he observed from the adventurers guild. He couldn't believe how weak they were being this deep in the forest. He pinged many presences that got stronger the deeper he went in, but never fought since he no information on the inhabitants of the forest. He could analyze that the creatures were certainly much stronger than goblins or bandits. They were still simpletons though with only some increased toughness and strength from what he could observe. He saw the group racking up injuries, 'Oh bother, perhaps I should assist them in their battle?'
Sargon got closer to the group and noticed they were all quite young as well. He walked towards the group fully equipped and asked, "Do you require aid in your fight young ones!?" The group and creatures turned to the incoming knight. An orc on his left started towards him. He lifted his shield and backhanded the orc with it, sending it tumbling into a tree. A second orc with a wooden club roared while approaching him with an overhead swing. He pommel struck the club, shattering it into wooden shards. He then backhanded the orc with his right hand. The orc was sent into a nearby as well. The orcs took a step or two back after his nonchalant display of power.
The group gave an astonished reply, "Noble Knight, we would greatly appreciate your help getting us out of this mess. We cannot them ourselves without suffering heavy casualties. Even then, we may still be completely defeated." The answer came from the dwarf that carried a heavy shield and a one-handed two-sided war axe. Sargon took him as the leader. He responded in an unexcited tone, "Very well, I will slay these simple creatures for you. You all should be more mindful of your strength and surroundings in the future. No sense in dying young in avoidable situations."
Sargon turned to all the orcs. He put away his shield and sword. He decided to use them to get the rust off of his bare-hand martial skills. He said one thing before he started, "You ugly walking meatbags are sure unlucky." He took his fighting stance and begun to lay into them. At first, he started with a pure boxing style to fight. Then practiced some takedowns. Afterward was practicing his elbow, knee, and kick attacks. He found out he wasn't rusty at all. His martial skills in this area were fast and lethal. No creature lasted more than 3 seconds. He went through them like water and hit him like a catapult. By the time he was done, the corpses looked like they were hit by a meat tenderizer beyond being busted open some of them. He was satisfied with the practice.
He turned back to the group, "I have taken care of your ugly bastard problem. I suggest you all return to Kesh as fast as possible. Staying in the forest in your injured states only invites peril."
The group heeded Sargon and began their return in due haste. As they left, he decided to resume his return as well. He passed the group he saved in a couple of seconds and returned to Kesh in great, but relaxed haste. He made his way back to the inn, eager for dinner and checking Pharis's prgress.