Ch 12 : 5 years old

As the years passed, Auron had just turned five. Reflecting on the past few years felt like living in a dream. He had diligently cultivated the Celestial Aura Cultivation Technique, though winter always presented a challenge. With his parents constantly at home during the cold months, he found it difficult to find the personal time he needed to attempt breakthroughs, which slowed his progress. Despite this, Auron had reached the 8 layer of the Celestial Aura Stage.

Alongside his cultivation, he had also advanced his combat arts. Both the Void Shatter and Ripple Palm techniques had been trained to the Initiate realm, signifying that he had fully grasped the fundamental forms and principles behind them. Mastering the Ripple Palm took longer than expected, as it was difficult to perfectly time the strike on a moving target. However, his control over the technique had grown so precise that when he practiced it on tree branches, he could pulverize the inner layers without leaving a single mark on the outer bark.

In addition, his Void Shatter had reached a formidable level, allowing him to execute the technique from a distance of ten meters. The force it unleashed was devastating, making it a dangerous weapon if it ever struck an opponent directly. Auron's progress, though hindered at times, was impressive for his age, and he was slowly becoming a powerful force in his own right.

Although reaching the Initiate realm was challenging, Auron's increasing mastery of the Celestial Aura Cultivation Technique significantly enhanced his comprehension. This technique was remarkable in its ability to expand his understanding. Last year, he began to explore the world of magic, albeit cautiously. He avoided extensive experimentation with elements like fire and lightning due to their potential for creating uncontrollable situations or leaving evidence.

Through his exploration, Auron discovered that his highest affinities were with fire, light, and darkness. While this combination seemed unusual, he believed it held the potential for something extraordinary, especially considering that light and darkness are said to rival the power of space and time. He eagerly anticipated the opportunity to further assess his affinities and comprehension when he eventually entered the magus school, where he hoped to unlock even greater potential in his magical abilities

At five years old, Auron was notably tall for his age, standing at about 1.2 meters, while most children his age averaged around 1 to 1.1 meters. His jet-black hair and healthy white skin complemented his striking blue mystical eyes, giving him a particularly attractive appearance.

On this day, Auron gathered at the nearby stream with his friends Thorne and Thyra. Thorne, who had grown a bit bulkier and shorter, appeared stout due to his frequent outdoor activities. His skin was tanned, reflecting his time spent in the sun, and his shoulder-length hair added to his robust, energetic demeanor. In contrast, Thyra was shy and reserved, often speaking little even during play. She was shorter and slender, with a charming ponytail and a subtle tan that accentuated her delicate features. Despite their differences, the three friends enjoyed their time together by the stream, each bringing their unique qualities to their shared moments of fun.

"Auron, what should we play today? Should we head to the water again? It's a bit hotter than usual, so playing in the water would help us cool off," suggested Thorne.

"I'd love to, but don't you remember that your mom will scold you just like last time? And I'll end up getting scolded by my mother too," Auron replied.

Although Thorne and Thyra were older than Auron, they often looked to him for guidance because of his greater maturity. Despite his youthful appearance, Auron's past-life memories gave him a depth beyond his years. While he showed a certain naivety around older people, he was consistently more perceptive and responsible with his peers.

"I've brought some bows and string-attached arrows. How about we try fishing today? Our mothers will definitely be proud if we bring home some fish," Auron suggested.

He had asked his father to make these for them, and with Uncle Ray's assistance, it was quickly done. Although the string-attached arrows were an unusual request, it was a simple modification, and they didn't mind accommodating it. They saw it as a positive sign of the children's growing interests and believed it would help them develop valuable skills for the future.

Uncle Ray had already introduced them to the basics of archery. As a skilled hunter with remarkable marksmanship, his teachings were invaluable. Thorne and Thyra had achieved basic mastery through consistent practice at home, but Auron's rapid progress was impressive and attributed to his past life experiences. In his previous life, he had often turned to archery as a way to relieve stress, making it a natural choice for him in this medieval-like world.

With his mystical eyes and past experience, archery became a perfect fit for Auron. For close combat, he chose to focus on melee techniques. The Void Nexus combat art was his chosen path, and he knew that mastering its full range of techniques would likely take a lifetime. His dedication to developing his skills in both archery and melee combat underscored his commitment to becoming a formidable warrior.

The cold clear river contains a plethora of lives in it. Many creatures benefit greatly from them. Fishes could be seen swimming around in the river.

" Come here ! This is a great spot to hunt the fish," called Auron while stand on a big stone on the river.

On top of the stone, nocked the arrow and drew the bow. Holding his breath, he took an aim on one of the fishes below. It is a quite a big fish called Lumina Bass. It has a sweet white flesh. This is one of the sought after fish in the marketplace.

"What a lucky day," Auron said with a smile. His mystical eyes had detected something special about this particular fish, making it the perfect target for his attention.

With a swift motion, the arrow flew through the air and struck the fish. Auron quickly pulled the string, retrieving the fish from the river. He was eager to examine it further back at home.

Although Thorne, Thyra, and Auron had caught a substantial number of fish, they decided to give most of them away to others, as it would have been too cumbersome to carry them all home.

At home, Auron's parents praised him for catching such a good fish on his first fishing trip. He then assisted his mother with gutting and scaling the fish. Discreetly, he hid the special item inside one of the Lumina Bass.

While Sarah prepared fish soup in the kitchen, Auron took the opportunity to check on the hidden item while he was in the bath.

" Hmm...a ring...