Aristo chuckled at Luciana's proclamation.
"You kept saying that: Turning myself into the brightest Little Sun of Terraluna." told the Doomed Prince. "But, frankly, I can't imagine my pathetic self being like that."
"Well then, let me show you how much potential you possess, Your Highness!"
Without asking for Aristo's permission, Luciana took hold of the prince's warm hand.
"What's with the sudden interest with my palm, Miss Witch?" asked Aristo with a soft smile.
"How long have you been wielding the sword, my prince?" asked Luciana back as she examined the tall dark-haired man's hand.
Aristo raised his brows in suspicion.
"Since ten years ago. Back when I was twelve and first stepped into a battlefield. Why do you ask?"
"And since then, you've never managed to become an Aura User?"
Aristo was immediately silenced, completely taken aback by Luciana's words.
Aura Users were those who could utilize and manifest mana in their swordsmanship. They would often envelop themselves in mana to enhance their physique and wrap their blade with the magical force to strengthen the weapon. That combination of improvement would turn them into fierce fighters who could rival a hundred men on their own.
There was a level above Aura User which was called Aura Master. But that is a topic for another time but do know that there were people in the entire Lacrima Continent who held such title and all of them can be counted with just your own fingers and toes.
Even so, Aura Users were more common, far more even, than Aura Masters. And it was known that the Little Suns of Terraluna were Aura Users, at the very least. Spare for one who had not reach that level.
"In order to become an Aura User, one needs to be properly guided by another Aura User." Lance spoke up on the behalf of his master. "Unfortunately, Her Majesty the Empress forbade the prince and his late mother to hire himself a proper sword instructor, let alone an Aura User. As such, His Highness was never taught the way of the sword nor the way to become an Aura User."
Lance gave a pitiful look at Aristo.
"The best he could get was me, through appointing myself as His Highness's guardian knight." said Lance. "And even though I know the way of the sword and managed to teach him the little things that I know, I'm not an Aura User. So we could never get His Highness to reach that level."
Luciana simply nodded to the guardian's explanation. From the look on her calm face, she already knew this fact.
The silver-haired witch then let go of Aristo's hand and looked him directly in the eyes.
"That was not fair of Her Majesty to stunt your development, Your Highness." said Luciana with a smile. "And as someone who supports you, I can't let this matter be."
Aristo smiled again and leaned his head closer to Luciana.
"Careful, Miss Witch… Trouble will come to you if you speak ill of the Moon of the Empire."
Luciana leaned in as well and made their lips almost met each other's. Unfazed by the proximity, both of them.
"If it's for your sake, my prince, I'd welcome all the trouble there is in the world."
Aristo quickly pulled his head back. Luciana's 'passionate' words had definitely impacted him emotionally to some degree, enough for his cheeks to redden slightly. Slightly.
"W-what is your point in asking me these things, Miss Witch?" asked Aristo while trying to recompose himself. "Do you simply wish me to say loudly that I'm not an Aura User like my siblings?"
"On the contrary, Your Highness." said Luciana with a confident smile. "I'm intending to make that statement false from here on."
"False? What could you possibly mean by that?"
"What else could I possibly mean? We're going to turn yourself into an Aura User, my prince. Right at this moment!"
Aristo and Lance widened their eyes in bewilderment and stared them at Luciana.
"Turning myself into an Aura User right now? How is that possible?"
"You got enough talent to do it in such a short amount of time, Your Highness. Especially since you're a Doulosaima." said Luciana. "There's a reason why the First Princess managed to become an Aura User at the age of four. Had you were brought up the same way as her, you would become as strong as her by now if not more."
"I do believe His Highness possess such immense talent after observing him all this time by his side." added Lance. He turned to Luciana. "But how are you going to turn him into an Aura User? Do you perhaps have a spell for that?"
"No need for a spell." replied Luciana shaking her head. "His Highness only need guidance. Proper guidance to utilize the mana inside him and become an Aura User."
"And you can guide me, Miss Witch?" asked Aristo.
"Why, of course, my prince! For that is my duty! I am your guide!" stated Luciana confidently. "And in this case, I am suitable to guide you to become an Aura User for Aura Users are masters in mana control. And don't you forget that mages aren't too shabby in doing that as well."
Luciana used a playful tone on her last sentence. Of course mages were also masters in mana control. How else would they use their spells?
The silver-haired woman then approached Aristo closer and placed her palm on the prince's lower abdomen. She made sure every inch of the surface of her smooth palm embraced Aristo's strong and hard stomach.
This act, of course, made the thin blush on Aristo's cheeks to turn redder. The blushing prince wondered what in Lacrima moved Luciana to commit such bold performance.
One thing for sure, Luciana was not nearly embarrassed by her hand placement as the prince was. In fact, she was looking as composed as ever, focused even. Her gaze was fixed on the prince's lower torso, like a lioness eyeing her prey.