Several days had passed since Adrian successfully unlocked his mana circuit, and everything around him felt sharper, more alive. His senses had expanded in ways he couldn't have imagined before. The once invisible currents of mana flowing through the air were now tangible to him, swirling like unseen rivers. With this newfound perception came a deeper understanding of those around him. He could sense their strength, their power, even their potential—each person a flickering presence in the world of mana, like stars in an endless sky.
Today was different, though. Adrian and his fellow recruits stood in formation, their posture rigid, breaths even, and eyes fixed on the platform before them. The courtyard was quiet but filled with a palpable energy of anticipation. The two figures before them commanded respect. Reynold Baldwin, the grizzled Master-at-Arms, stood tall, his fiery red beard like a battle flag, while beside him was Arthur Borga, a man of calm intelligence whose steel-rimmed glasses gave him a look of calculated precision.
Arthur stepped forward first, his eyes scanning the line of recruits with a sharp, appraising gaze. Silence fell over the courtyard as his voice broke the tension. "Congratulations," he began, his tone measured but commanding. "Each of you has taken the first step toward mastering your potential by opening your mana circuits. But understand this—this is only the beginning."
Adrian straightened at Arthur's words, his pulse quickening. This was the moment they had all been waiting for. He had longed to know what came next, what awaited them on this path to becoming a true warrior.
Arthur's eyes locked onto each recruit as he continued, "You've opened your mana circuits, but what you need now is control. You must learn to harness and focus your power into something usable. In this unit, we call it Aura."
The mention of Aura sent a ripple of curiosity through the recruits, but no one spoke. Adrian felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle. Aura. He had heard the word tossed around in passing but never truly understood its significance. Now, standing here, it became clear this was the key to unlocking even greater power.
"Aura is a concentrated form of mana," Arthur explained, pacing slowly as he spoke. "It surrounds you at all times, and as Aura Knights, you will learn to channel it. Whether in combat or defense, Aura is the tool that separates a novice from a master."
Adrian's focus sharpened, his full attention on Arthur. This was the power he needed, the kind of strength that could help him achieve everything he had set out to do. His goals—the reasons for enduring the pain and pushing through his limits—were clearer than ever.
Arthur continued, "The Aura system is broken into tiers, from Tier 1 to Tier 5. Each tier has five stages, meaning twenty-five levels of mastery. Most of you are at Tier 1, Stage 1—the absolute beginning. It is a long, difficult road ahead."
The enormity of it all weighed on Adrian. Twenty-five levels of mastery? He swallowed hard, but the challenge only made his determination burn brighter. He had no illusions about how difficult it would be, but he had already faced adversity, and each victory had made him stronger.
Arthur paused, letting his words sink in before adding, "For the mages among you, the system is slightly different. Mages are ranked by circles, from the 1st to the 5th, with each circle divided into stages as well. But regardless of whether you're a knight or a mage, mastery requires one thing above all else: discipline."
He stepped back, allowing Reynold Baldwin to take over. The Master-at-Arms wasted no time as he stepped forward. His presence alone was enough to command silence, but his sharp gaze swept over the recruits with the intensity of a hawk sizing up its prey.
"Now that you understand the system," Reynold growled, "it's time to get practical. Power without control is useless. It doesn't matter how much strength you have if you can't focus it. Today, you'll begin learning how to channel your Aura."
Reynold gave the command, and the recruits, following his instructions, closed their eyes and extended their arms in front of them. Their palms were open, ready to receive and circulate the mana within their bodies. Adrian could feel the energy building around him, a subtle tingling sensation that began to stir deep within his core. He focused on the flow, on pulling the energy from the air and into his mana circuit.
Beside Adrian, a recruit with jet-black hair and glasses struggled visibly. His brow furrowed in concentration, teeth gritted as he pushed himself to harness the elusive energy. Adrian sympathized with him—it wasn't easy, this first step into something so new. But for Adrian, it felt… different. Natural. He could feel his mana circuit coming alive again, the energy flowing through him more easily than he had expected.
"I'm almost there," Adrian muttered to himself, trying to keep his focus steady. The sensation of mana coursing through his veins grew stronger, spreading from his core and through his limbs. His muscles tightened, his breathing deepened, and suddenly, a faint bluish glow surrounded his body—his Aura.
Adrian's eyes snapped open in surprise, the faint light of his Aura flickering around him like a soft flame. He had done it. He had tapped into the raw energy within him.
The recruit next to him, still struggling, looked over in astonishment. But soon, his own body was enveloped in a faint, grayish glow as he, too, managed to summon his Aura. His face lit up with triumph. "Yes! I did it!"
Two hours passed as the recruits continued their training, and by the end, most had succeeded in summoning their Aura. Not everyone had mastered it yet, but the progress was undeniable. Even those who struggled vowed to return the next day, stronger and more determined.
Later, in the training room designated for Aura Knights, Adrian found himself alone, a one-handed sword in his grip. The blade gleamed faintly under the low light, and Adrian closed his eyes, focusing on channeling his Aura into the weapon. The familiar tingling sensation returned, and soon the sword began to hum with energy, a faint glow emanating from its steel.
He swung the sword at a sturdy training dummy, the blade biting into the wood and leaving a deep gash. Adrian inspected the damage, frowning slightly. It's not enough, he thought. The power was there, but it wasn't as refined as he wanted it to be. He needed more. More strength, more control.
"Impressive," a voice called out.
Adrian turned to see the recruit with jet-black hair and glasses—Lucas—walking toward him. Lucas eyed the damage Adrian had inflicted with admiration in his gaze.
"That's some serious strength," Lucas said, smiling. "I've been trying to do the same, but I can't get nearly as deep a cut."
Adrian shrugged modestly. "It's a start, but it's far from what I need. I've still got a long way to go."
Lucas chuckled, clearly impressed. "I forgot to introduce myself earlier. I'm Lucas." He extended his hand.
Adrian took it, giving a firm shake. "Adrian Falter."
Lucas's eyes widened in recognition. "Wait… Adrian Falter? You're the one who faced off against Terrance Durk, right?"
At the mention of Terrance's name, Adrian's expression hardened. He nodded. "Yeah. That was me."
Lucas leaned in, his voice lowering slightly. "I heard about that. You've got guts, standing up to someone like him."
Adrian waved it off. "I did what I had to do."
Lucas's eyes suddenly focused on Adrian's abdomen, a curious expression crossing his face. "Your mana core… it's not where most people have it, is it?"
Adrian gave a slight nod, unfazed. "No. It's in my abdomen. It's rare, but I don't know what it means yet."
Lucas grinned, clearly intrigued. "That's incredible! Rare or not, I'm excited to see what you can do with it. Want to spar? I could use the practice."
Adrian considered him for a moment, then nodded. "Sure. Let's see what you've got."
Lucas beamed, and without wasting time, Adrian retrieved two wooden swords from the rack, handing one to Lucas. The air between them crackled with anticipation as they squared off, each taking their stance.
"Here I come!" Lucas shouted, charging forward.
Adrian narrowed his eyes, bracing for impact. This was only the beginning.