The amount of mana in the Core was low, and its density was lacking. But it resonated with his will, pulsating in a strange rhythm. Mana flooded his body and senses, coursing through him.
Careful.
Rylan concentrated fully on perceiving the mana within him, as well as the mana in his surroundings, and directing it toward his Mana Core like a flood. He attempted to give his mana "flow" and "rhythm," as if the Core were an Aura Heart. At first, he simply failed. His mana couldn't keep up with his commands, and he couldn't manipulate it as he wished. Yet, he kept trying, unimpeded. His mentality didn't allow him to be discouraged after such minor failures.
Gradually, Rylan felt a change. His mana started moving as he wanted it to, even if only slightly. This fueled his motivation to keep at it. Within him, a small whirlpool was formed, with the Core at its center. He followed the path of his blood vessels as he circulated the mana throughout his body.
As the night deepened, he felt unprecedented advancement. It was the first time in his life that he had actually tried to do anything worthwhile. The unfamiliar feeling of success loomed on the horizon.
***
Aelfric Flameheart sweated as he carefully poured the contents of the small sack in his hands on the table. The bedroom was dark, with a few candles as the only source of light. However, that didn't bother him in the least.
Surrounded by shadows, he organized the yellowish powder in lines, a grin on his face. Yet, his expression still looked sad. He smiled as he finished. Then, with practiced ease, he closed one of his nostrils with a finger and placed the other against the powder, snorting it into his system.
"Ah…"
His eyes grew unfocused as he looked at the ceiling. He reveled in the sensation, treasuring every heartbeat that sent more of the drug coursing through his body. For a few precious moments, he was alone in his own world. Then, he heard a knock on the door. His expression collapsed into a heavy frown. Aelfric closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Mana moved within him, burning away part of the drug's effects and high. Once he felt like he was capable of having a conversation, he spoke in a soft voice, but one that carried a bit of authority.
"Come in."
The door opened. A man dressed in black, simple clothes walked in. He was of average height and build, and donned a slimy smile. A scar adorned the right side of his face, which assisted him in creating a striking impression. It was a familiar face. Aelfric's expression softened. He spoke.
"…Robert. I thought I made it clear that I did not want to be interrupted."
Rubbing his hands, Robert bowed repeatedly.
"Yes, of course, my lord. I have only come because I have some news that I believe you will like to hear. Forgive me for my intrusion. I deserve a thousand deaths for this crime."
Aelfric waved his hand dismissively, making the man stop his bowing. Robert kept his smile as Aelfric signaled him to keep talking.
"And? What is it?"
A complex light danced in the depths of Robert's eyes.
"Young master Rylan has been caught by the Family Head. However, I have been notified that after a conversation in the Family Head's study, the young master walked away without a hitch. To my knowledge, no sanctions were imposed upon the young master."
Aelfric blinked. Gradually, anxiety built up within him. Rylan had been caught? How? What exactly did their father discover? As a number of questions made their way into his mind, his anxiety surged. He felt lost. If the one who guided him had been caught, what should he do now? At the same time, he understood the significance of what Robert was saying. The fact that his older brother had been caught wasn't too surprising per se; it had happened before, and would likely continue to happen in the future. What mattered was that after a simple conversation, Rylan hadn't faced the consequences of his actions, again. As his thoughts reached this point, Aelfric let out a slight smile.
"I understand. Thank you for telling me, Robert. You may go."
The man bowed deeply, but didn't move.
"There's just another thing you might want to know, my lord. The young master has apparently vowed to join the soldiers in their training and spoken to the family's head chef."
Aelfric nodded, his expression carrying traces of confusion. Robert took another deep bow before walking out of the room. Alone, Aelfric stood up and started pacing in the room. He felt both anxious and hopeful. Maybe his older brother, his partner in crime, had managed to find another chink in their parents' armor. With some luck, it was possible that he had managed to walk away with a bit of money, which they could then spend on life's pleasures. Aelfric felt proud of his brother in spite of his anxiety for always managing to come out on top, no matter the situation. The whole training and speaking to the head chef were likely done just for show, as a way to prove himself to their parents. He spoke to himself, biting his nails.
"…We should lay low for a while."
At the very least, there was now a nervousness within him that wouldn't go away. It was always possible that Rylan had sold both of them out, and he didn't know how likely that was. He wanted to believe that his brother wouldn't do it, but the truth was that there was no way to know when it came to Rylan.
With shaking steps and hurried breathing, Aelfric sat back down.
Calm down. Everything will be fine.
At the very least, they would probably be able to continue doing what they were doing. Together, as always. Maybe he should also join in on the soldier's training; that way, the two brothers would be able to determine what to do. He should just follow Rylan's advice. A light smile crossed his expression, but traces of sadness couldn't be hidden. They were extinguished by snorting in more of the yellowish powder. Aelfric looked back at the ceiling, enjoying the feeling. In his hazy mind, he thought to himself.
He and his favorite sibling would be able to keep living life to its fullest, as they always had. It was the only way to run away from the pain. Everything would be fine after a while.
***
The night was broken up by dawn. The rays of sunlight dyed the world and the skies, pushing away the darkness.
Rylan opened his eyes, taking a deep breath.
I suppose this counts as a success.
He focused on his Mana Core. It pulsated within him, sending mana throughout his body. It was unlike any Core he knew about, having been changed by the principles behind the creation of an Aura Heart. Of course, he didn't know much. His knowledge was limited to his life experience and what he had read about in the library, and those had been mere introductory texts.
It is unlikely that I'm the first to come up with a way to use mana to strengthen my body.
Either way, he didn't know anyone who had done the same, including the family's guards. On that alone, he was unique. A small amount of pride bubbled within his heart. Rylan smiled.
"Alright, time to go."
Judging by the sun's position, it should be almost time for the soldiers' training to begin. He hadn't slept a wink, but with his meditation, he still felt refreshed. Jumping out of bed, he opened his wardrobe. A realization hit him as he ran his eyes past its contents.
"…Damn it."
He didn't have any clothes fit for training. It was understandable, since he had never spent even a day of his life exercising, but from his current standpoint, this needed to change. He would train his body every day from now on; the least he could do was to get proper clothing. Making a mental note of this, Rylan simply threw on what seemed to be the best he had and left his room.
As always, a single woman awaited him outside. She bowed.
"Good morning, my lord."
It was well-hidden, but Rylan managed to detect the surprise in her voice and mannerisms.
I guess she never expected me to actually wake up before five in the morning.
He nodded at her.
"Good morning, Sarah. Shall we go?"
"…Yes."
She turned around and started walking, leading him to his destination. As he followed her, Rylan took note of the changes in his body. His steps were steadier, and his sense of balance was much better. It also felt like his strength and speed had been improved, but the only way to know for sure would be at the training. Roland had been perfectly aware of everything about his body and its capabilities, but Rylan couldn't replicate such a thing yet, even with his past life's memories. He would have to get to know his body over time.
This is only the result of a single night of improvement.
How different would he be three months down the line, after eating well, training properly, and working on simulating an Aura Heart? As his thoughts reached this point, his brow slightly furrowed.
I still can't tell if Aura exists in this life.
Aura was different from mana. Unlike mana, it didn't exist universally. It was born in living creatures after an untold amount of self-improvement and training. As a general rule, Aura required harsh training before it could be perceived and used. The same was true regarding expanding one's Aura reserves and growing more skilled with its usage. On the other hand, mana was gathered from the atmosphere into one's Mana Core and organized in Circles. Rylan didn't know much about the whole process, but it seemed to be easier than developing an Aura Heart.
This might be why magic is so widespread in this world.
Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed as he left the building's wing and reached the training grounds outside. He blinked. In front of him, around fifty men dressed in armor stood. Sarah turned around.
"We've arrived, my lord."