Locus was still looking at the hole in the tree. It was about the size of his head, and he could look right through it.
"H- How did you do that just now?"
"With my Aura."
"But there was no sound?"
"The sound you were probably expecting is the slivering of the wood, which happens pretty slowly if you compare it to what I just did.
I basically removed the wood from the hole in an instant, so there was no time for a sound.
It's a little bit like pulling the tablecloth so fast that the place setting stays on the table."
"But how did you do that?"
"Your Aura is a force field. If you increase its density, you can inflict a lot of damage. The only thing you have to do now is to concentrate it in front of your fist."
Locus still didn't understand what Genken had done.
But Genken had already expected as much.
"Even if it sounds confusing in the beginning, enough training can make it second nature."
Locus looked back and forth from Genken to the hole and back.
"You're saying that I could do this?"
Genken nodded.
"That's what I've been trying to tell you this whole time."
"And you didn't just teleport the wood away?"
"Remember my condition. I can't easily choose how much of the tree I want to teleport."
Locus thought about whether he should believe Genken's words and actions.
"And what would I need to do to master Aura like you?"
Genken smiled.
"You think this is what mastered Aura looks like? I'll introduce you to a world beyond your imagination."
Locus rolled his eyes.
"So what do I have to do?"
"Well, before working on your Aura mastery, we first need to enable you to perceive and see Aura."
"And how were you planning on doing that?"
"The reason why you don't feel Aura is that you are used to it. You grew up with Aura and don't even realize you have it. The only thing you can feel is a disturbance in your Aura, since you aren't used to that."
Genken pointed at Locus' katana.
"Did it feel a little bit weird when you first held that katana?"
"Yes, but that's only because it's enchanted."
Genken shook his head.
"Theoretically, you're right, but you mean the wrong thing.
That katana of yours has an intense Aura. It's an example of a possible disturbance in your own Aura."
Locus looked at the left side of his hip, where he was carrying the sword. While it was sheathed, it looked just like any other katana.
Genken continued.
"But that's not quite gonna cut it. To trigger your awareness of your own Aura, we need to really shake it and make you feel it. And for that to work, we'll need another strong Aura."
He stood up.
"As I mentioned before, I can't just use really strong Aura. But I already mentioned that its strength is determined by one's power, or rather potential power. This can, of course, be enhanced.
Would you mind lending me your katana?"
Locus drew it and handed it to Genken.
"Alright, let's see now..."
Genken stepped in striking range of Locus, closed his eyes, and prepared to take a swing.
Locus wasn't sure what to make of this.
In the face of possible danger, he automatically thought about the possibility of all of this just having been an act.
After all, he didn't know Genken that well and just asked him to be his teacher because he had, more or less, saved Locus' life.
Maybe all of it had been an act to lure Locus out into the woods, kill and rob him, and then leave without anyone else missing him.
Suddenly, Locus was struck by fear as he looked at the man who stood right before his eyes and was ready to take a swing.
The atmosphere was tense, and death was just a matter of moving the blade a few inches.
But the first thing that was cut by Genken, who was incredibly focused, was said fierce atmosphere
"You can trust me."
He spoke with a very calm voice. Locus thought that this was probably what a murderer would say in such a moment.
But the voice was so calming that Locus thought about it for what felt like a long time to him. In the midst of these thoughts, Genken suddenly let the blade shoot down towards Locus' head.
Locus subconsciously realized that there was nothing he could do, so he just closed his eyes and waited.
But nothing happened.
When Locus opened his eyes, Genken was handing him his katana.
"Alright, that's it."
Locus took the katana and sheathed it while still being in shock.
"I thought that something was supposed to happen?"
"It did happen. Your consciousness just needs some time to realize it. Give it a second. Oh, and come with me."
Genken led Locus to a bush.
"Why did we go here?"
Instead of answering, Genken just looked Locus in the eyes.
"Any second now..."
"What are you talking abou-"
Without any prior warning from his body, Locus suddenly threw up.
Before being able to catch a break, Locus' feet suddenly gave in, and he fainted.
The last thing he felt were Genken's arms that caught him. Then, Locus lost consciousness.