Ch 28 : Overall Improvement

The group of instructors gathered at the Spell Training Ground grew increasingly anxious, exchanging concerned glances.

"Did anyone find anything?" Sir Baldwin asked, his voice carrying an undercurrent of tension. "I searched the entire Combat Training Ground but found nothing unusual."

"We've scoured the Spell Training Ground too. Just a bunch of students practicing their spells," another instructor responded. "Do you think it could've been one of them?"

"Hmph, those brats are hardly capable of such a feat," grumbled a more senior instructor, disdain etched on his face. "And if it were an intruder, they would've had to bypass all the defensive arrays. Plus, the Bog Serpent in the mist would have raised an alarm."

Sir Baldwin remained quiet, though his thoughts briefly wandered to Auron. He smirked to himself before speaking. "Most of the students are indeed lacking."

Eventually, the instructors concluded that it must have been an expert experiencing a minor breakthrough and, not wanting to cause unnecessary disturbance, agreed to let the matter rest.

Meanwhile, the true culprit, Auron, sat under a tree, completely at ease. He inspected his newfound strength with a growing smile on his face.

"Xiao Yu, conduct a full body inspection," Auron instructed.

Xiao Yu's voice responded promptly:

Celestial Aura Circulation : +40%

Celestial Aura Concentration : +30%

Fire Elemental Resistance : +50%

Fire Elemental Affinity : +60%

Special Rune Effects :

1. Raging Celestial Aura :

- Intensifies the power of Celestial Aura.

2. Destructive Celestial Aura :

- Grants penetrating and corrosion effects.

3. Fire Dominance :

- Allows you to subdue and control any fire.

"That's really powerful," Auron mused aloud, forming a small cluster of flames in his hand. Slowly, he sent it toward the ground, watching the fire consume everything in its path. The ground was scorched black, utterly devoid of life.

"Auron, why did you burn the ground? Look at it, it's completely black now," Thyra's voice suddenly broke through his focus.

Startled, Auron quickly composed himself. "I was just testing a spell," he said nonchalantly, trying to brush it off. "I modified the Fireball Toss spell a bit, and this happened."

"Is that so? Well, let's go have dinner. Cultivating for so long has made me really hungry," Thyra said, seemingly satisfied with his explanation. Alice, Eliot, and Walter were already packing their bags.

They walked together to the cafeteria, enjoying dinner as Auron checked in on their progress from the day's practice.

"How did it go today? Did you achieve anything?" Auron asked, curious to hear about their improvements.

Alice beamed. "It's going great! Your insights were really helpful. I can already cast the spell properly. The intention part is still a little shaky, but with more practice, I'll be able to cast it perfectly."

"Same here!" Thyra chimed in enthusiastically.

Eliot, who had been smiling at first, sighed a little. "I can perceive mana now, but I still struggle to concentrate long enough to condense a mana core. I keep getting distracted."

Walter smiled gratefully. "Thanks to you, Auron, my combat art execution is much smoother. I've gotten rid of those awkward movements, and I can switch between forms more easily now."

Auron nodded, pleased to hear their progress. "I'm glad my advice helped. It would be lonely to travel the world if I'm the only one improving."

Then, with a playful glint in his eye, Auron added, "If you all reach Tier 2 magus before we turn eleven, I might just have a special present for you."

Alice's eyes lit up. "Really? I'll make sure to reach Tier 2 before then!"

The others perked up as well, motivated by Auron's promise. "What kind of present?" Walter asked, his curiosity piqued.

Auron smirked mysteriously. "That's a secret. You'll have to work hard and find out."

As the conversation shifted to excited speculation, Auron's thoughts turned to his future plans. Seeing how much the Primordial Fire heavenly rune had improved his celestial aura, he decided he would create an advanced heavenly rune as a gift for his friends, along with a soul cultivation art to help them visualize and strengthen their progress. However, it was something he would have to carefully craft in the coming days.

For now, he enjoyed the moment, satisfied with the bond growing between them and his ever-increasing power.

After dinner, Auron and his friends returned to their rooms, each attending to their personal tasks. Auron took a long, refreshing bath, scrubbing away the residue of his day's training. His clothes, stained with soot and ash from his earlier fire test, needed a thorough wash. He sighed as he remembered his burned robe—he would have to buy a new one soon. Once clean, he shifted his focus to cultivation.

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Auron began another session of refining his Celestial Aura. Despite his earlier breakthroughs, he noticed that his aura was still too wild and destructive, making control difficult. Xiao Yu chimed in with a suggestion.

"Auron, you should meditate on the **Primordial Fire** heavenly rune. It's the primary cause of your Celestial Aura's volatility. Refining it will help you balance its destructive nature."

Nodding in agreement, Auron focused his mind on the rune etched into his soul. He could feel its primal, unbridled energy coursing through him. Slowly, he began circulating the Celestial Aura around the rune, working to refine his control and smooth out the chaotic power that surged within.

The room was peaceful, almost serene. The soft glow of mana permeated the air, a subtle energy that reflected the focus of its occupants. Auron and Eliot were both engrossed in their respective cultivation sessions. Inspired by Auron's promise of a reward, Eliot pushed himself harder, determined to reach Tier 2 magus before their eleventh birthday. His mana swirled sluggishly, but he gritted his teeth and persisted.

---

Outside the academy, the world continued its natural rhythm. The river near Noble Walnut Town surged, its waters flowing vigorously as though a dragon were swimming beneath the surface. Heavy rain drummed against rooftops, pouring relentlessly over the town.

In a modest home, Sarah watched the downpour through her window, her gaze distant but warm. One hand gently rested on her growing belly as she rubbed it softly.

"How are you doing, little star?" she whispered, a tender smile blooming on her lips. "I hope you're healthy and happy in there. When you come back, I'll have a surprise waiting for you."

Sarah was two months pregnant, and though Auron was away at the academy, her thoughts often wandered back to him. She missed him dearly, and the house felt emptier without him around.

"Darling," Alex's voice broke through her thoughts. He walked up behind her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're thinking about Auron again, aren't you? It's only been a week since he left for the academy, and you're already like this."

"I can't help it," Sarah replied, her voice soft but firm. "He's my son. Of course, I worry about him."

Alex sighed, knowing there was little he could do to ease her mind. He admired her love and devotion to Auron, though sometimes it was overwhelming.

"You don't have to worry so much," Alex continued, trying to soothe her. "Auron's smart and independent. He's not in any danger, just learning at the academy. It's not like he's off fighting a war."

"Still," Sarah huffed, "I'll always worry about him. He's my son."

Alex could only smile helplessly. He knew she wouldn't change her mind, but deep down, he too missed their son. Watching Sarah rub her belly with such love and anticipation, he felt his heart soften. Soon, they'd welcome another child into their lives, and Auron would return home—smarter, stronger, and more grown-up.

But for now, all they could do was wait, and hope.