Chapter 17: Water
Chapter 17: Water
Inside their training chamber, Ren was focused, his mind deep in concentration as he tried to sense his aura.
"To be honest, your speed of awakening aura is faster than I had expected," Kai said, observing Ren with a critical eye.
"I cannot help you too much when it comes to aura manipulation, since I myself use mana."
"So, you're saying I need to figure this out on my own?" Ren asked, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration.
"For Aura, yes. And because you're from a magic family, this will be more difficult for you. But keep in mind, there is a reason Gaia made you my mentee."
"And what is that?" Ren asked, genuinely curious.
"Well, first of all," Kai began, crossing his arms, "your mentor would need substantial resources to help you catch up to other students. Each pellet you ate before cost whatever money a 3rd year would have in their accounts."
Ren nodded at this, the weight of Kai's words settling in.
"Following this," Kai continued, "you would need to feel your Aura's elemental connection."
Ren's expression shifted as he processed Kai's words.
"As you must know, even Aura possesses elemental properties," Kai continued, his tone calm but purposeful.
"It's a common misconception that only Magic users can manipulate the elements. Aura users, too, can harness them—just in different ways."
Kai raised his hand slightly, and as if by command, orbs of elemental energy began to form around him.
A ball of fire blazed brightly, a sphere of water shimmered gently, a gust of wind swirled visibly in the air, and a rotating sphere of earth materialized, hovering gracefully around Kai's finger.
Ren, coming from a family of mages, couldn't help but be awestruck. The level of mana manipulation on display was nothing short of extraordinary.
"However," Kai continued, snapping Ren out of his thoughts, "not every aura carries an elemental property. Usually, only one in a thousand aura users will possess this ability—quite rare, unlike mana, where it's about one in ten. But for you, I expect it's different. Especially considering your background in a mage family."
Kai's gaze sharpened, a hint of expectation in his eyes.
"Your codex, as unique as it is, should still carry some resemblance to its family's lineage. I believe you have an affinity for Aura's elemental powers."
With a slight smirk, Kai flicked his finger, and the elemental orbs danced with his motion.
"And, just so you know," he said, his tone playful yet confident, "I'm the only student in the entire academy who can use all of the elements."
Ren's eyes widened further, his mind still trying to process the overwhelming display of elemental control.
Kai's casual confidence only made the shock settle deeper within him.
"Anyways," Kai said nonchalantly, clearly unbothered by Ren's stunned reaction.
"I'll help you sense your aura element. It shouldn't take too long—maybe a week at most?" He shrugged, his tone light as if it were no big deal.
Ren blinked, slowly coming to terms with the situation.
A week?
That seemed so short for something so important. Yet, Kai's unshakable confidence made Ren feel that, perhaps, it really was possible.
Ren lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, the events of the day swirling in his mind.
Thoughts of Kai, his mentor's overwhelming power, and the mysterious aura he controlled kept him awake.
How was it that someone so talented had remained hidden from the world?
Someone with abilities that was being compared to the Heroic Rank, and yet, his name seemed unknown to the outside world.
How is it that someone like Kai has no reputation in the human domain? Ren wondered, a deep sense of intrigue filling his mind.
He knew that people like Kai didn't just exist without causing ripples. And yet, there he was, a secret in plain sight.
His thoughts shifted then, his heart aching as memories of his mother surfaced.
The feeling of longing washed over him. I miss her so much.
As the weight of the day's thoughts pulled at him, his eyelids grew heavy, and eventually, sleep claimed him.
Ren's eyes fluttered closed, and the dream began again—this time, in a vastly different place.
The scene unfolded in what seemed like a tranquil, idyllic landscape.
The warrior with the long sword, the same figure Ren had seen before, now sat at the edge of a small wooden porch.
He was in a simple rocking chair, his gaze fixed on the sky. Above him, the light of the early evening sun bathed the world in a soft golden glow. Birds flew lazily by, their wings cutting through the cool air as they perched on nearby trees and buildings.
The ground beneath him was dotted with delicate flowers, their petals fluttering with the wind. There was a scent of fresh earth in the air, and the gentle rustle of the trees added a calming rhythm to the otherwise peaceful silence.
The warrior's normally sharp and battle-worn face, usually so full of intensity, softened in the serenity of the moment. He didn't look like the fearsome figure from Ren's past dreams. Here, he was just a man, simply enjoying the beauty around him.
"Sire, the Atlons have surrendered. I have begun consolidating parts of their land. Without a king, their kingdom has fallen," a man dressed in deep blue robes said, bowing slightly as he stood to the side.
But the warrior barely acknowledged him.
His gaze remained fixed, the intensity of his eyes softened by the peaceful surroundings.
His lips curled into a small, almost amused smile as he watched the birds flutter above.
"Is this world not amazing?" the warrior mused aloud, as if lost in the simplicity of nature.
He didn't seem to care for politics or kingdoms—only the tranquility that enveloped him.
The man in the robes was waiting for a response, but it seemed like the warrior was in another world entirely.
After a long moment, a servant appeared at his side, offering a glass of wine.
The glass was clear, its contents shimmering with a soft red hue as sunlight caught the surface. The warrior took it with a gentle hand, his movements deliberate yet relaxed.
The air around him seemed to shimmer, a quiet power radiating from him, but it went unnoticed by the serene scene.
The warrior raised the glass to his lips and took a slow sip. As he did, Ren noticed something strange.
The wine didn't simply stay in the glass; it seemed to hover for a brief moment, suspended in the air as if caught by some invisible force.
The liquid rippled slightly, as though moving on its own accord, swirling gently within the glass.
The warrior paused, his eyes widening slightly as he felt the shift.
His aura had responded—surging outward, radiating from him like an invisible tide.
It enveloped the glass, lifting it just a little higher, causing the wine to float and twist in midair. His hand, still holding the glass, trembled with a subtle shock.
The atmosphere around him thickened, an almost imperceptible pressure building as his power expanded in the peaceful setting.
The warrior looked at the glass, his brow furrowing as the energy from his aura continued to influence the liquid inside.
The wine, which had once simply swirled at the bottom of the glass, now seemed alive, its movement almost sentient as it rippled in response to the warrior's newfound power.
"This..." the warrior murmured, his voice a mix of awe and realization.
His fingers tightened around the glass, but the liquid inside didn't spill.
Instead, it continued to float slightly, gently rising as if cradled by the power emanating from his hand.
His gaze turned inward, sensing the strange change that had occurred within him.
For a moment, the world around him seemed to stand still.
The birds paused mid-flight, the flowers stopped fluttering in the breeze, and even the trees ceased their movement.
The warrior's aura had become tangible—manifesting in a way that had never happened before.
"It seems something else has happened..." he said, his voice tinged with wonder.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he examined the situation, but there was no fear, only curiosity. He had felt this shift before, but it had always been fleeting.
This time, the power lingered, responding to his will.
And then, as quickly as it had come, the dream began to fade, the scene dissolving into a blur of colors as Ren's mind drifted away.
The last thing he felt was the lingering hum of power, a reminder that even in peaceful moments, something within the warrior had shifted, something that Ren himself might one day come to understand.