Ch 22 : Body Harmonization class

The sun hung high in the sky as Auron made his way to his last class of the day—Body Harmonization—held at the combat training grounds. He walked alone, his friends having already finished their classes. As he waited for the instructor to arrive, Auron couldn't help but reflect on what Miss Eleanor had taught earlier in the Arcane Arts class.

"I wonder if I can integrate the Heavenly Rune into a spell," Auron pondered. "It's said that all things are made from these runes, right?"

Closing his eyes, Auron focused on meditating upon the Fire Heavenly Rune. As his understanding of a tiny fragment of the rune deepened, he tried to integrate it into a basic fire spell—Fireball Toss. He visualized the ball's shape and carefully placed the heavenly rune at its core. But the moment he tried to cast it, the spell collapsed.

"Strange," he thought, perplexed. "Maybe the rune isn't compatible. I'll need to investigate this further in the library later."

Just then, a muscular, short man approached the group of students at the training grounds. His powerful frame radiated an aura of experience and command.

"You guys are Class 1-A, right?" the man asked. "Sorry I'm late. It's my first time teaching new students. Usually, I'm in charge of your seniors—except for this year," he said with a grin.

"My name's Baldwin. I'm a senior instructor here. I led the top hunter team in the Gloom Wood Valley region for over 40 years before I started teaching at this academy," Baldwin introduced himself, his voice firm and gruff.

"Today, we'll start by talking about how Augmenters cultivate and use their spells to enhance their bodies or weapons. Afterward, we'll dive into combat training. I'll teach you how to properly wield a weapon."

The students listened intently as Baldwin continued. "As you may have heard, Augmenters don't cast flashy spells like Conjurers. We refine our bodies using ambient mana, making them stronger and more resistant to damage—especially elemental damage. But we don't do it just because we want to. It's a prerequisite for us to cast our body-enhancement spells. Without that refinement, we wouldn't be able to handle the strain of augmenting ourselves."

He gestured toward his arm, flexing slightly. "Our primary focus is on spells that enhance physical attributes—strength, speed, reflexes—but we can also channel mana into our weapons. That allows us to sharpen blades, increase the force of an impact, or even imbue them with elemental power."

With a swift motion, Baldwin unsheathed his sword. His mana surged into the blade, and in an instant, it was wreathed in flames. The heat from the fire radiated outwards, but Baldwin held the sword steady, unfazed.

"See? Elemental infusion," he said, waving the sword before the class. "We can coat our bodies or weapons in elemental energy. It's one of our strengths, but unlike Conjurers, we can't just throw fireballs or bolts of lightning. We don't do ranged spells. If we try, it takes a lot more mana since it's not natural for us to cast that way."

He paused, letting the flames die out from his sword. "But that doesn't mean we don't have some ranged spell. We've got spells like Aura Expansion or Enhanced Strikes, which are really just bursts of mana from the body. Not true ranged spells like what Conjurers do, but still effective in a pinch."

Baldwin turned his attention to the students. "Now, what's important to understand is that while we don't have the range of Conjurers, we've got other advantages. For one, our spell-casting time is much shorter. Since we use internal mana circulation, the process is more efficient. We don't have to focus on shaping complex spells. We just channel mana from our mana core and immediately enhance or infuse mana into our bodies or weapons."

He sheathed his sword and flexed his hands, showing the ease with which he channeled mana. "Some Augmenters with high affinities can even passively activate skills. Take fire, for instance. An Augmenter with high fire affinity might ignite their fists or weapons instinctively during battle. There's no conscious thought, no active spell-casting, just raw power flowing through them."

Baldwin's intense gaze scanned the group of students. "That's the essence of an Augmenter. We don't wait around, channeling spells from a distance. We get in close. We hit hard. And we hit fast."

He stepped back, hands on his hips. "Alright. That's the basic rundown. Any questions?"

The class remained silent for a moment, processing everything. Then, one by one, a few hands started to rise, curiosity flickering in their eyes.

Baldwin patiently answered all the students' questions, taking the time to explain every detail.

"Instructor Baldwin, what's better in combat? Bare hands or weapons?" Auron asked curiously.

Baldwin smirked. "It depends on the user. The strength of a weapon or a fist lies in the person wielding it," he answered simply.

Satisfied with the answer, the class fell silent. Baldwin looked around and clapped his hands to regain their attention.

"Alright, since most of you don't have combat manuals yet, today we'll be focusing on fist art training. I'll also be handing out the body refinement manual later. For now, pay attention and follow my movements. Practice these diligently, as they form the foundation of all combat arts," Baldwin said, his tone serious.

He demonstrated a series of basic strikes: jabs, hooks, uppercuts, hammer fists, overhands, elbow strikes, and backfists. The students followed along, repeating the movements over and over until it became second nature. Baldwin's sharp eyes observed every mistake, correcting form as they went.

By the end of the session, Baldwin distributed a book to each student, Vital Core Body Refinement Manual."This will be your foundation. Study it well and refine your body. When you're ready, head to the Trading Hall to buy combat arts manuals. Focus on mastering the basics first," he instructed before dismissing the class.

Feeling the fatigue and hunger set in, Auron headed straight for the cafeteria. After eating a hearty meal, he pulled out the Vital Core Body Refinement Manual and began reading. Despite being a basic manual, it covered all the essential aspects of body refinement, focusing on strengthening muscles, bones, and vital energies. It was a solid choice for beginners, especially commoners like himself, who didn't have the wealth to afford more advanced manuals.

With some time left before his next class, Auron decided to head back to his room. A quick bath to wash off the sweat would help him feel refreshed. After all, a clear mind was just as important as a strong body in the path of cultivation.