"For now, take a week to reacquaint yourself with forming your aura," Kostas advised, his eyes focused on John's contemplative gaze. "Your physiology has completely changed after forming your core, and the resulting body restructuring may pose some challenges in using your aura. Once your aura stabilizes, attempt to channel your divine energy. We'll assess your progress from there."
John nodded in understanding. The urgency of the upcoming war propelled him forward. "I'll concentrate on restoring my aura to its previous state before the regression. From there, we'll chart our course. But with only three months remaining, I must move swiftly."
Exiting his conscious space, John dedicated the next four hours to refining his aura control. He poured his mana onto the wooden falchion, seeking stability and precision.
"The output is fluctuating too much," John grumbled in frustration, tossing the sword onto the bed. He collapsed, his body drenched in sweat. Doubt plagued his mind as he questioned his approach. "What am I missing? The army taught us to train like this before, but my physical state is no longer that of a typical human. The process of forming an aura must differ for me."
Realization struck him as he recalled Kostas' parting words in the conscious space. "Damn it! I neglected to account for my altered physique. The old methods won't suffice," John muttered, his face buried in his hands. Exhaustion overcame him, and he succumbed to sleep, the weariness consuming his body.
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The next morning, John joined Dante and the others for their usual training session, but his troubled expression did not go unnoticed by Dante. After the training concluded, Dante approached John and sat down beside him, wiping away the sweat from his brow. Concern laced his words as he asked, "What's been bothering you, kid? You seemed lost throughout the entire training. Is something troubling you?"
John took a long swig from his flask, quenching his thirst before responding. "It's nothing. I'm just having trouble forming my aura. The output is too unstable," he admitted, his frustration evident.
Dante's anger flared as he retorted, "Aura? You can't form an aura until you reach the yellow core stage. And there's no way I'll believe that you've become a yellow core warrior in just four months."
A puzzled expression crossed John's face as he clarified, "Who said anything about reaching the yellow core stage?"
Dante's surprise was palpable as he paused, his gaze fixed on John. "Well, the fact that you're attempting to form your aura implies that you've achieved the yellow core stage, or you've done something utterly insane during your core formation... Tell me, don't tell me?" Dante trailed off, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.
"Yep, I'm not following the standard progression. In fact, my entire system is different. That's why, even though I'm nowhere near as strong as a yellow core warrior, I can still form my aura. It's just that... I've been trying to follow the same method we use to teach soldiers who are trying to form their auras, but it's not working for me," John explained, a mix of enthusiasm and disappointment in his voice.
Dante's expression shifted, torn between recognizing John's talent and wondering if he was rushing things. "I won't ask how or why you decided to deviate from the norm. As your master and uncle, it's not my place to question that. However, if your approach is indeed different, you should take some time to reflect on what has changed within you," Dante advised, rising to his feet. "Take a break, John. I'll ask Oberon to excuse you from classes for a week. Use this time to gather your thoughts and assess the progress of your reforms in the town." With those words, Dante left the room.
Stunned by the conversation, John remained seated on the bench, contemplating Dante's words. "My reforms, huh?" he muttered to himself.
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During his time in the North, John had proposed numerous reforms to Dante, which the latter eventually implemented after receiving a detailed explanation from John. Some of these reforms were familiar to John, such as the improvements in education and the military, while others required assistance from Oberon, who provided hypothetical examples.
As a result of these reforms, the lives of ordinary Valorians had undergone a remarkable transformation. However, not all of Dante's vassals were pleased with the changes, leading to an influx of citizens from their territories into Valoria. Additionally, with the aid of dwarven technology that boosted food production, the territories under Dante's control experienced a population boom.
As John made his way through the bustling streets of the city, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. "Now this is what a city should feel like," he remarked to himself.
By now, most of the city's inhabitants had become acquainted with John. He often accompanied Dante on his tours throughout the city, allowing him to interact with the people on a regular basis.
As he walked along, men and women would offer him a respectful bow, as Dante had abolished the tradition of kneeling before nobles and officials, considering it a waste of time for everyone involved.
Calisa, the capital city, housed three major academy complexes within its boundaries. The military academy, led by Sir Beaumont, prepared students for combat, strategy, and military sciences. The academy of sciences, headed by Elara Deepshaper, acted as a center for intellectual pursuits, covering fields such as physics, magical studies, and philosophy. These academies catered to commoners, serving as equivalents to the prestigious Imperial Academy for nobles.
Furthermore, there was a primary school in Calisa where all children and adults were required to attend. Here, they learned the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Upon completing class 9, students would then choose whether to enroll in the military academy or the academy of sciences, depending on their interests and aspirations.