Ch 57 : Change of plan

After having a delightful lunch with his mother, Auron returned to his room for another cultivation session, focusing this time on the "Order" fire heavenly rune.

"Since I made such progress with the 'Omniscient' fire heavenly rune, I hope it'll be the same with the 'Order' heavenly rune," Auron murmured to himself as he connected his mind to the Celestial Codex.

In the depths of his consciousness, the Celestial Codex transported his soul to the presence of the "Order" fire heavenly rune. The rune radiated a majestic, almost divine aura, like a commanding emperor overseeing his realm with absolute authority.

"Such an imposing presence," thought Auron, awed by its sheer gravity. "Order, in essence, is about ruling with unwavering might, keeping everything under its control."

The rune's influence exuded power, a constant reminder of its nature—strict, disciplined, and immutable. Auron immersed himself in its mysteries, losing track of time as he meditated deeply.

Knock, knock!

Auron was pulled from his meditation by the sound of knocking on his door.

"Auron, your friends are here. They want to meet you," his mother, Sarah, called from outside.

"Alright, Mother," he replied, blinking as his senses returned to the physical world.

"What a productive cultivation session," Auron thought. "I was so absorbed that I didn't even notice it's already evening."

He glanced out the window, watching the fading sunlight and stretching his limbs before heading to the living room.

In the living room, he found his friends, Thyra and Alice, happily playing with his baby sister, Evelyn. Her cheerful chuckles filled the room as the two girls entertained her.

"Good evening, you two," Auron greeted with a smile. "To what do I owe this sudden visit?"

Startled, Alice jumped slightly. "Oh, Auron! Don't sneak up on us like that!"

"Yeah, I almost cast a spell just now," Thyra added, the remnants of a hazy arrow of energy still flickering in the air.

Auron laughed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to surprise you both. You just seemed so engrossed with Evelyn."

As Auron gently cradled his baby sister, Alice and Thyra exchanged glances, both looking slightly out of their depth when it came to handling babies. However, seeing Auron's ease and care, they were visibly impressed.

"How did you learn to handle a baby like that?" Alice asked, eyes wide with curiosity. "Did your mother teach you?"

"Sort of," Auron replied with a soft chuckle, continuing to play with Evelyn. "It just takes a bit of practice and patience. I'm sure you two could master it easily."

After a few moments, Auron turned to them and grinned. "So, what brings you two here out of the blue? Is it my mother's famous beef stew, by any chance?"

Thyra and Alice exchanged mischievous smiles.

"That's also true, but not the main reason," said Thyra, but she stopped just before revealing it, her eyes teasing Auron.

Annoyed, Auron raised an eyebrow. "So, what's the main reason?"

"We already got permission for the hunting trip!" Alice burst out, jumping up and down with excitement.

"Are you two serious?" Auron asked, though his voice softened as he glanced down at Evelyn, gently caressing her cheek. "I was thinking of canceling the plan after finding out I have a little sister."

Seeing Auron's affection for Evelyn, Thyra and Alice hesitated for a moment, but they were determined to convince him.

"The hunt will only take place at night," Thyra began, her tone soft but persuasive. "And my father said we'll only be going three times a week. Just at night."

Auron remained silent, his mind weighing his options carefully. On the one hand, he felt protective of Evelyn and had a newfound sense of responsibility. On the other hand, this hunting trip was an important opportunity for him to grow stronger. After a few moments of reflection, he sighed and made his decision.

"Alright, you two win. I'll ask my mother about it," Auron finally said, standing up with a resigned smile.

In the kitchen, Auron found his mother slicing vegetables for dinner. He approached her slowly, knowing this conversation would worry her.

"Um, Mother," he began, his voice hesitant. "Can I go on some hunting trips with Thyra and Alice?"

Sarah paused, the knife in her hand hovering over the cutting board. She turned to face Auron, her expressions with a mix of concern and contemplation as she looked directly into his eyes.

"Are you sure about this, Auron? It could be dangerous," Sarah said softly. Her voice was filled with concern, but there was an understanding there as well. She couldn't deny her son's path toward becoming a great magus, no matter how much she wanted to protect him.

"I really want to go, Mother. Plus, Uncle Ray will be with us," Auron replied, his voice steady and his eyes showing a determined glint.

Sarah closed her eyes for a moment, silently debating with her protective instincts. After a long sigh, she relented.

"Alright, I allow it. But make sure you follow Uncle Ray's orders. Don't put yourself or anyone else in danger," she said, her tone heavy with caution, especially on those last words.

"I promise," Auron said, a grateful smile spreading across his face as he hugged her tightly.

He left the kitchen with a light heart, though he wore a serious expression as he returned to the living room.

Thyra noticed his heavy look and immediately grew concerned. "Auron, what's wrong? Did your mother not give you permission to go on the hunting trip?"

Auron kept the somber expression for a moment longer before breaking into a wide grin. "So, when's the trip?"

Alice and Thyra let out exasperated cries, realizing Auron had been teasing them the whole time. They both threw playful glares his way.

"Auron, you jerk!" Alice scolded, puffing out her cheeks.

"Don't mess with us like that!" Thyra added, though she couldn't help but smile at his antics.

Auron chuckled, enjoying their reactions. "Alright, alright, I'm in. Let's make this hunting trip count."

"Let's meet at the upstream near Gloom Wood Forest tomorrow evening. Don't be late, okay?" said Thyra with a grin.

With that, Thyra and Alice left Auron's house, the evening quickly darkening into night.

"There goes my plan," Auron thought, letting out a sigh. "Thankfully, my comprehension has improved so much that these time-consuming activities won't set me back."

"I should focus on the second layer of the Void Nexus Combat Art rather than meditate on the Veiled Obsidian Heavenly Rune. I've already grasped most of the rune's essence. Right now, the fastest way to increase my strength is through the combat art," he reasoned to himself.

After his decision, Auron went to take a refreshing bath, looking forward to dinner that evening.