Meanwhile, Auralis and Lon continued their rigorous training under Commander Herly's watchful eye. The days were grueling, filled with intense physical and mental exercises designed to push their limits. Despite the heavy strain, Auralis remained driven, eager to test his abilities and rise through the ranks.
Lon, on the other hand, kept his usual lighthearted demeanor, though there was a noticeable shift in his attitude since he'd started training. He was more focused, more determined. The constant challenge was wearing on him, but he found solace in the camaraderie with Auralis, who had become not only a training partner but a true friend.
One evening, after a particularly exhausting session, the two of them found a quiet spot near the barracks to catch their breath.
"I never thought I'd say it, but... I'm starting to enjoy this," Lon said, wiping sweat from his brow. "I mean, I've been pushed to my limits before, but never like this."
Auralis smirked, leaning against a nearby post. "Yeah, well, you've got to be strong if you want to survive. That's what this whole thing is about, right? Strength. You've got it in spades, but your mind... well, that's still something you need to work on."
Lon grinned, clearly unfazed. "Hey, I'm still figuring things out. At least I'm not as much of a... what was it? Moron?"
Auralis laughed, but it was short-lived. His expression grew serious. "You've got more potential than you realize, Lon. More than most people even know. But there's something you're not seeing. The battlefield isn't just about strength. It's about control. Knowing when to use that strength. That's what I'm learning too. Power without control… it's just chaos."
Lon raised an eyebrow, unsure of what Auralis was getting at. "Control, huh? Guess I'm still working on that part."
"Don't worry," Auralis replied with a rare, genuine smile. "You'll get there."
Meanwhile, Commander Herly watched from a distance, her eyes narrowing as she observed the two young men. There was something about Auralis that intrigued her—his sheer talent and ambition, yes, but also something darker lurking beneath the surface. And then there was Lon, whose raw strength seemed to have a natural, untapped potential. Together, they made an interesting pair.
"I see you two have become quite the team," Herly said, approaching them. "But remember, there's more to war than just physical prowess. You'll need more than brawn to survive."
Auralis stood up straighter, his gaze hardening. "I know, Commander. I'm learning that. Slowly."
Herly nodded, acknowledging his determination. "Good. Just don't forget the most important lesson of all: the enemy is always one step ahead."
Auralis and Lon exchanged glances, their determination deepening. The path they were on was becoming more complex by the day, but one thing was clear: They were ready for whatever lay ahead.
As Auralis and Lon continued their training, something unusual began to happen. The energy that Auralis was using seemed to be more intense, more overflowing than usual. Commander Herly, who had been quietly watching their progress, noticed this anomaly and approached him after a particularly demanding session.
"Auralis," she said, her voice calm but sharp, "I've been sensing something from you lately. It's not Kai—you've got Kalmana, don't you?"
Auralis blinked in surprise. "Kalmana? I… I don't know. What is that?"
Herly studied him closely. "You've been using a strange energy that's far beyond the usual. Kalmana is a mystical energy used by mages—rare among commoners, even rarer for those without formal training. It's almost overflowing from you, and you're not even tapping into it consciously. It's rare to see such an excess in someone like you."
Auralis furrowed his brow, feeling the unfamiliar power swirling within him. He had always known he was special—his affinity for every element was proof enough of that—but this was something entirely new. It felt different from Kai, more mystical, more intangible.
Lon, overhearing the conversation, was intrigued. "Wait, so Auralis has magic energy that's totally different from Kai? And you're saying it's rare?"
Herly nodded. "Very rare. Most people are born with an affinity for either Kai or Kalmana, but to have both… that's almost unheard of. Kalmana is not just a tool for combat—it's a force that can be harnessed for many purposes: healing, enhancing spells, creating barriers, even controlling the elements in ways Kai cannot."
Auralis looked at her, confused but curious. "So, what does this mean for me? Should I be doing something with it?"
Herly paused for a moment, her gaze hardening with concern. "It means you're more powerful than you realize. But it also means you need to control it—before it controls you. Overflowing Kalmana can be dangerous if not managed. It can distort reality, manipulate time, or even drain your life force if it runs unchecked."
Auralis felt the weight of her words. He had always prided himself on his strength, but this new energy was something entirely outside of his understanding. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like a blessing and a curse wrapped into one.
"You must learn to control it," Herly continued, her voice steady but grave. "If you don't, it could become a threat to both you and those around you."
Auralis nodded silently, realizing the true scope of the power within him. The road ahead would not just be about physical training or mastering Kai—it would be about understanding and harnessing the strange new force inside him. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he knew one thing for certain: he would have to master it if he wanted to survive what was coming.
As Auralis continued to impress with his rapid progress, Commander Herly couldn't shake the growing suspicion in the back of her mind. His brilliance, his raw talent in both Kai and Kalmana, and his ability to pick up techniques faster than anyone she had ever seen—all of it felt too perfect. Almost too perfect.
She couldn't ignore it any longer: Could Auralis be a spy?
Herly had seen enough in her years of service to know that genius could often be a mask. She had witnessed brilliant minds rise from unexpected places, sometimes with hidden agendas. The fact that Auralis seemed to excel in everything he did, without even seeming to try, made her wonder. His power, especially the Kalmana that flowed so freely from him, was far beyond what any normal person could muster, and his affinity for Kai was unsettlingly natural. She had already known of his noble heritage, but there was something about the sheer scope of his abilities that made her question if he was really just a talented young man… or if there was something more.
The way he moved, the way he spoke, and even the way he interacted with his friends—it all seemed almost too perfect, too calculated.
Herly kept her thoughts to herself, not wanting to show any doubt in front of Auralis or Lon. They were still too new to the realities of war, too naive in some ways. But the thought lingered in her mind: Was Auralis working for another planet? Another country? It would explain why someone like him could possess such a rare combination of talents.
She would keep an eye on him, perhaps even test his loyalty without him realizing it. It wouldn't be easy—Auralis was too smart and resourceful—but she knew that if he truly was hiding something, it would eventually come to light. And if he wasn't… then he would need to be even stronger than she imagined to face what lay ahead.
Herly's thoughts began to swirl with a new possibility. Could Auralis be a person of rare heritage? His extraordinary talent, combined with the overflowing Kalmana, didn't seem like the work of any common bloodline. There were legends of ancient families and individuals born with incredible potential—those who could harness Kalmana in ways that no one else could. Auralis could be the product of such a bloodline, a descendant of long-forgotten powers.
Herly had heard rumors of families that had mysteriously vanished, their abilities fading into obscurity over the generations. But if Auralis was truly one of them—someone with ancient, hidden power—it could explain everything. His mastery of Kai and his natural affinity for elements, alongside the rare Kalmana, pointed to a person not just born with talent but with a history steeped in something far more extraordinary than she had originally thought.
But what was this heritage? How long had it been hidden, and why had it only now surfaced? She couldn't help but wonder if there was more to Auralis than anyone could imagine.
Herly watched Auralis with a keen eye, observing his every move, his every word. She knew what he wanted—he wanted to grow, to rise through the ranks, to push himself beyond what anyone expected of him. His ambition was clear, and though she still harbored doubts about his true intentions, she couldn't deny his potential.
After much deliberation, she decided to give him a chance. If he truly wanted to prove himself, then she would offer him an opportunity that few soldiers ever received: a test of both his strength and his loyalty.
"Auralis," she said one day, her voice calm but carrying an edge of authority, "I've been watching you. You've impressed me so far, but I know you want more. You want to climb the ranks, to make something of yourself."
Auralis looked up, his expression a mix of curiosity and determination. "I want to be more than just a foot soldier," he admitted. "I want to lead, to fight on the front lines. I want to prove that I'm worthy of more than just a place in the shadows."
Herly's eyes narrowed slightly, but there was a faint smile on her lips. "Very well. I'll give you that chance. But know this: you'll have to earn it. Your skills will be tested in ways you've never experienced before. And the risks will be higher than anything you've faced."
She saw the fire ignite in Auralis's eyes. "I'm ready," he said without hesitation.
Herly nodded. "Good. Prove to me that you're not just another noble trying to escape his family's shadow. Prove to me that you can rise on your own merits."
It was a challenge, but it was also an opportunity. Auralis had wanted to grow, and now, Herly was offering him the chance to do so—if he could rise to the occasion.
To prove himself worthy of rising in the ranks, Herly gave Auralis a challenging task: "Your mission is to find the ancient text of a lost civilization," she said, her tone serious. "There are rumors of a hidden dungeon deep within the mountains—an area lost to time. The dungeon is said to contain relics and knowledge that have been forgotten by most, and within it, you'll find the text you seek."
She paused, letting the weight of the mission settle in. "However, the dungeon is no easy feat to conquer. It is filled with traps, ancient guardians, and forgotten magic. Many have entered, but few have returned. If you are truly ready to rise in rank, you must succeed where others have failed. Bring back the text, conquer the dungeon, and prove to me that you have what it takes."
Auralis nodded, his eyes burning with determination. This task wasn't just about proving his abilities—it was about securing his place and showing that he could handle the challenges ahead.
"I will do it," he said firmly, his voice unwavering.
Herly studied him for a moment, then added, "This will test more than just your strength and skill. It will test your resolve and your mind. If you fail, you risk more than just your rank—there are dangers beyond what you can imagine."
With that, Auralis set off on his mission, knowing that this task would be the turning point in his journey. It was not just about finding the hidden text—it was about proving himself worthy of the destiny he had set for himself.
As Auralis journeyed toward the hidden dungeon, his thoughts focused on the task at hand—finding the ancient text and proving his worth. But his path was not without interruptions. Along a rocky outcrop, he spotted a man sitting calmly on a stone, staring into the distance. The man's posture was relaxed, almost serene, yet there was something about his presence that felt out of place.
"I am the bravest in Sara!" the man suddenly declared, his voice loud and full of confidence.
Auralis, his mind fixed on the task, didn't bother to pay him any attention. But before he could move past, the man sprang to life, his eyes blazing with madness. Without warning, he thrust a spear of lightning toward Auralis. The crackling energy surged through the air, forcing Auralis to jump back just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike.
The man was faster than he appeared.
"You dare ignore me?" the man shouted, his voice tinged with fury. "Prepare to face the flames of my courage!"
Auralis barely had time to react before the man charged forward with a fearsome punch, his fist cloaked in fire. The intensity of the flames was enough to scorch the air around them, and the strange chant the man uttered only added to the confusion. "Blaxze ok pgo puvkc!" he yelled, the words almost nonsensical, but they seemed to trigger an unseen power.
The fire around the man's fist exploded outward in a wave, threatening to engulf Auralis. But he was prepared. With a flick of his wrist, he used his "Maxizie Fly Step," dodging to the side in a blur of motion. He had learned to move at incredible speeds, and this technique allowed him to evade the strike with ease.
Still, the man wasn't finished. He advanced, relentless and unyielding, despite his attack missing. Without missing a beat, Auralis spun and launched a powerful kick directly into the man's face. It should have knocked him down, but the man absorbed the impact as if he were made of stone. His expression remained unchanged, almost as if the hit had no effect.
Auralis's eyes narrowed in frustration. This man was stronger than he had expected, and the bizarre chant and fiery attacks were unlike anything he had seen before.
To end this quickly, Auralis decided to use his Kalmana magic. Drawing on the immense energy within him, he conjured a massive ball of flame, channeling it into a form he had come to call Guu—the Giant Fire of Guu. The fire surged, forming into an enormous inferno that swirled with crackling energy, threatening to engulf everything in its path.
"Let's see how you handle this," Auralis muttered under his breath, unleashing the devastating fireball.
The man didn't flinch, but instead, his eyes lit up with a manic gleam. "This is what I've been waiting for!" he bellowed.
Auralis's fireball surged forward, but he was ready for whatever this strange adversary might do next.
Auralis remained calm, his expression cold and calculating as the man charged forward, his madness only growing with each passing second. With ruthless precision, Auralis launched a swift kick that sent the man flying toward the massive fireball he had summoned. The force of the kick propelled him through the air, and the man, in his reckless determination, reached out to grab the fireball, hoping to control it.
But Auralis knew that this was a dangerous moment. The man was unpredictable, and if allowed to touch the fireball, the situation could turn disastrous. With no other option, Auralis activated his secret lineage power—Will break This technique, which he had trained in secret, tapped into the deepest recesses of his inherited mind control abilities. It was a power passed down through his family line, one that allowed him to manipulate the thoughts and emotions of others with brutal efficiency. Auralis focused intently, sending a surge of mental pressure into the man's mind.
For a moment, nothing happened. But then, the change was immediate. The man's fiery determination seemed to evaporate, replaced by a sudden sense of profound depression. His shoulders slumped, his eyes lost their manic gleam, and his entire body seemed to deflate. It was as if the very will to fight had been drained from him.
The man fell to the ground, utterly defeated, his mind unable to comprehend what had just happened. He lay there, a broken shell of his former self, devoid of any desire to continue.
Auralis stepped forward, his mind still focused. He approached the unconscious man and used his Kalmana to read his mind, delving into the fragments of the man's memories.
The images that flooded his mind revealed startling truths. The man was not just some random warrior or crazed fighter—he was once a general, a leader in his prime, with powers and abilities that had earned him great respect. But now, he was nothing more than a shadow of his former self. His strength had waned by a staggering factor—he was now only a fraction of his prime, perhaps even 100,000 times weaker.
From what Auralis could gather, the man had once been a force to be reckoned with, but time and age had reduced him to little more than a drunk, a broken man whose strength was now merely a remnant of what it once was. The fire and madness Auralis had witnessed were the last flickers of a once-glorious power that had long since faded.
With a silent sigh, Auralis turned away, leaving the man to lie there, unconscious but unharmed. There was no need to finish him off—his will to fight had already been shattered.
As he continued his journey toward the dungeon, Auralis couldn't help but reflect on the encounter. The man's story served as a harsh reminder: even the strongest could fall, and nothing, not even strength, was forever. It only further fueled Auralis's desire for power—he had no intention of letting time weaken him. He would rise, he would control, and he would ensure that his legacy would not be one of weakness.