Most traditional clans and factions guided their disciples to first begin sensing magic power between the ages of five and ten.
The Ragnar Clan, however, was a complete exception to the norm.
Their chosen age was fifteen.
Fearing their disciples' immense talents might overwhelm them, the clan members deliberately delayed their magic power training and instead focused on honing their physical bodies to the absolute limit.
The rigorous training forged a foundation capable of supporting the eventual blossoming of their abilities.
The opening of one's Aura Hall was called the «Awakening Ceremony». This grand ritual elevated a novice swordsman to the status of trainee swordsman.
It was a mandatory event for all fifteen-year-old direct and collateral descendants of the Ragnar Clan, as well as the children of the bannermen clans.
Being five months away from the Awakening Ceremony, Theo was expressly forbidden from opening his Aura Hall. It was the Ragnar Clan's 'time-honored tradition', after all.
The punishment for breaking that tradition?
Death.
Immediate execution.
Originally, someone would shatter that tradition five years in the future.
Nuwitz, the Martial Monster…
He was a reclusive scholar who conducted research in a remote mountain village, and he was Theo's master.
***
The Ragnar Clan proudly proclaimed themselves descendants of the Primordial Dragon, yet their breathing technique, magic power manipulation method, and even aura composition all differed from the dragons'…
Nuwitz's sudden proclamation had thrown the clan into chaos. It was a simple argument, really…
"You claim to be dragon descendants? Then why do you wield magic power like humans, not dragons? I bet it's all bullcrap!"
Theo vividly remembered it. The clan's typically arrogant old fogies raged like cornered boars. Unable to refute Nuwitz's words, they'd bitterly swallowed their fury.
After that, the Ragnar Clan councilors, elders, and 13 Bannermen gathered their heads together, creating a secret art allowing them to breathe 'like a dragon', use magic power 'like a dragon', and create aura 'like a dragon'.
The end result was the «Dragon Heart».
Traditionally, the Aura Hall was installed in the lower-right abdomen, below the belly button—a location Theo called the «Dantian».
The Dragon Heart, however, was placed opposite the dantian, on the left side of the chest, directly over the heart.
Their reasoning? A dragon used its heart as the core of its magic circuits to conserve energy.
The problem? Unlike dragons, which were born with the innate ability to manipulate magic power freely, Ragnar Clan swordsmen were, at the end of the day, only human.
When attempting to install the Aura Hall in their heart, many died or were crippled, unable to control the surging magic power.
Deemed a failure, the Dragon Heart was discarded; the council declared it impossible to stabilize magic power within a human's constantly beating heart.
However…
'Master managed to salvage it.'
Nuwitz acquired a buried Dragon Heart, refined it, and successfully implanted it into Theo. He then dubbed it the «Aura Heart»—a second magic organ, resonating with the Aura Hall in the dantian.
"Dragons are dragons, and humans are humans. Those morons… Of course trying to force it to fit would lead to failure."
His master's laughter still echoed in Theo's ears.
Heh he he he…
"The Aura Heart I made back then is here again?"
[As an additional reward based on your evaluation, you have discovered the magic power of your past life.]
[Your past life's full magic power has been bound to the newly created Aura Heart.]
Theo was stunned. Reincarnation and regression were already bizarre enough. Suddenly, on top of regaining his youth, his previous life's Aura Heart was restored as well?
'This is incredible!'
He wasn't going to refuse a sudden gift from the heavens.
The concept of an Aura Heart did not exist yet in that era. Meaning… he could cultivate his aura without getting caught by the watchful eyes of his clan.
'This will be my hidden trump card.'
The magic power he'd accumulated in his past life was not insubstantial—equivalent to the power of an average 5-Star knight, it was enough for him to be called an 'expert'.
Furthermore, once he opened his dantian's Aura Hall, he would be able to operate both magic organs simultaneously, amplifying his abilities through resonance.
The resulting power would be devastating.
'It'll be like having two engines.'
Moreover, he possessed the Ragnar Clan's blessed martial constitution. Their bodies grew sturdier with training without wearing out, thus, he didn't need to worry about his body being unable to handle the surge in power.
"It's finally time to begin my training in earnest."
He was eager to see how much stronger he could become before the Awakening Ceremony.
* * *
"Young Master Theo, did you spill something on your clothes?"
"Why? Is there a problem?"
"Oh, no. The clothes you usually wear smelled sour and looked worn out… b-but I didn't mean to imply you smell strange or anything—!"
"It's okay. I understand. I spilled on them while making something in the kitchen last night. Sorry."
"N-no! No need to apologize! That's not why I mentioned it…!"
Theo scratched his head as he left the room.
'I was so engrossed in refining my magic circuits that I ended up circulating magic power all night… I should prepare some throwaway clothes next time.'
The Aura Heart, infused as it was with his past life's magic power, was incredibly potent.
Constantly circulating magic power to construct magic circuits exhausted his stamina, but his magic power remained abundant, which was how he was able to refine his magic circuits all night and successfully establish the first line.
In the process, he expelled a large amount of impurities from his ki pressure points and venules, ruining his clothes.
He decided to be more mindful of his attire when circulating his magic power.
'I don't know if it's because of the Aura Heart or the sheer amount of magic power I started with, but it's far more efficient than it was in my past life. This is fantastic.'
Theo hummed, heading toward Training Ground #4.
He had refined his magic circuits and awakened his aura, so what was next?
Swordsmanship training, of course.
'The additional reward made things easier, but what is this thing, really?' As he walked, Theo pondered the message still displayed in his vision.
It being a good gift didn't erase his suspicion. If anything, it heightened it. There was no such thing as goodwill without a catch, after all.
'It definitely feels like it'll request something later.'
He had already received the next message.
[Que■■ received.]
[Tutorial Que■■ #2
Train your Aura Hall.
· Difficulty: E
· Reward: ■■■'s neck■■
· Penalty: ■■]
Train his Aura Hall? Did that mean it wanted him to train his magic power, or did it mean he was supposed to strengthen the body containing the aura?
'Not to mention all the garbled letters. It's like it's deliberate.'
The [Reward] and [Penalty] sections were another concern.
'It's clearly ominous…'
Were the rewards as valuable as the additional rewards he'd already received? What about the penalties for failure? How dangerous were they?
Theo was lost in thought, unable to come to a conclusion.
That was when…
"Oh, hello, Young Master! I hope you have a good day," a maid rushed up, bowed, and vanished before he could respond.
Theo was taken aback.
'…The maids seem to be avoiding my gaze today. Their cheeks are flushed, too. Did something happen?'
***
"Yaaaaaawn."
Evelyn let out a yawn and stretched, scratching her stumpy left shoulder.
Boredom was a constant companion of hers. Perhaps it was because she had once been a high-rank swordsman, accustomed to a life of action, but managing Training Ground #4 was mind-numbingly dull.
'If I didn't have him to watch, I'd be in a real pickle.'
He was the highlight of her monotonous days—a new source of entertainment. She watched the quietest and most inconspicuous of the clan head's many children, Theo Ragnar.
His name might not have been well-known amongst the councilors or active swordsmen, but he was pretty famous among the maids and butlers. Well, 'very popular' was the better way to describe it.
Unlike every other arrogant and selfish Ragnar descendant, he was genuinely kind.
Evelyn, too, had taken a liking to him. Not to mention that he was entertaining to watch.
That day, however, Theo's routine was different.
He started with his usual pre-dawn run. A month prior, he could barely manage one lap. That'd changed to him being able to run several with ease, which impressed her.
'Huh? The weapon storage?'
After his run, he headed toward the storage attached to the training ground, which housed various weapons meant for novice and trainee swordsmen, instead of returning to his quarters.
Theo spent quite some time meticulously examining each practice weapon. Whenever he picked one up, he gave it a few swings, tried holding it with one hand and two hands, and even took a stance with it.
If a weapon didn't suit him, he put it back in its place and moved on to the next, scrutinizing it just as thoroughly.
At first, Evelyn thought he was simply looking for a suitable weapon, but even after he found a weapon that looked pretty compatible, he shook his head and put it down.
'What is he doing? I can't figure it out.'
After five hours, even Evelyn's curiosity was at an all-time high.
While he was rummaging, Theo's eyes widened, and he lifted something high into the air.
Evelyn gasped. "A Zweihander?"
In his hands, Theo held a massive greatsword, nearly two meters long and weighing at least several dozen kilograms.
Theo's face, reflected in the worn metal, was beaming. From the way he looked at the sword, it seemed like he'd found a hidden treasure.
***
"Young Master Theo?"
"What's that in your hand…?"
Every swordsman and servant training in Training Ground #4 gasped as Theo walked by.
"Oh, don't mind me. You can continue what you were doing." He brushed them off.
Still, the sight of such a youthful boy dragging a two-meter greatsword was too shocking.
"He's going to use that? He hasn't even undergone the Awakening Ceremony!"
"He actually picked it up…?"
"Is it just me, or does he make it look light?!"
"Was Young Master Theo always this strong?"
The onlookers whispered to each other, expressing their shock…
Whoosh, whoosh—
Theo swung the Zweihander around, gauging its weight and balance.
'This is it,' he thought.
He could swing the monstrous greatsword one-handed without much difficulty—proof of the changes his body had undergone thanks to his consistent running and the completion of his Aura Heart.
His master had once said, "Now that you have a strong dragon heart, you should wield a sword worthy of it."
The Zweihander was perfect. Large, heavy, and imposing, it was ideal for pushing his body to its limits and accelerating his growth.
'I want to become strong,' a powerful voice resonated within his heart.
That was when Theo came to a realization. He had been pretending not to notice, but that feeling, that desire, that impulse… it had been there in his heart all along, yearning to be acknowledged.
Finally confronting the feeling, it surged forth, consuming him.
His worries over the messages had long vanished.
'I guess I am a Ragnar, after all,' he thought, resolving himself. 'Let's do this.'
"Fuu…!" Theo inhaled deeply, slowly lifting the Zweihander. He emptied his mind, focusing solely on the sword.
A serene calmness washed over him.
Thump, thump, thump, thump—!
His heart pounded louder than ever before.
Blood and magic power surged from his Aura Heart, coursing through his veins, empowering him.
And then…
Boom!
Theo took his first step.