Chp15: The Flame of Resolve
Commander Arthur, a veteran with silvered hair and eyes that seemed to hold decades of sorrow and triumph, approached Grey with measured steps. His voice, deep and resonant, broke the silence. "Grey, before we begin, answer me this: Can you protect the people of this country? Can you stand as their shield when darkness comes?"
For a moment, Grey hesitated. The question cut deeper than any physical blow. He felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders—a burden that he was not sure he was ready to bear. His eyes flickered with uncertainty as he struggled to find his voice.
Silence stretched between them until Arthur's tone hardened. "That is not how a hero should speak," he chided, stepping closer. "Hesitation in the face of protecting innocent lives is unacceptable. A true hero acts without doubt. You must not waver when the people need you most."
The words stung, and Grey's heart pounded in his chest. Finally, with a trembling voice, he managed to say, "I want to be like you, Master. I want to become strong enough to protect them."
A bitter laugh escaped Arthur. "You want to be like me?" he repeated slowly, shaking his head. "Do not mistake my path for an ideal. I was no hero in the way you imagine. I was a soldier—a man always on the front line, even when I should have been there for my own family. I sacrificed time with my child, Alisa, on more than one occasion. I missed her birthdays, her milestones. I was always out on patrol, even in the quiet moments when a father should be by his daughter's side."
Arthur's eyes darkened as painful memories surfaced. "There was a time when Alisa was just eight years old. On what should have been a joyful picnic, our village was attacked by assassins from a neighboring land. I urged the guards to let the farmers and children escape, but I was too late. I caught up with the attackers and managed to kill them, but it was not enough. My wife… she perished that day, and from that moment, Alisa never looked upon me as a father. I was too selfish, too consumed by my duty, that I failed to protect my own family." He paused; his voice thick with regret. "She will turn seventeen soon, and I fear I have missed her chance at a happy childhood. I learned the hard way that being strong is not just about wielding a sword; it's about being whole enough to protect those you love."
Grey listened, his face masked in a stoic expression even as his heart ached with empathy and sorrow. The lesson was a harsh one—one that revealed the true cost of power. "I… I understand," Grey murmured, though his voice wavered with the weight of Arthur's confession.
Arthur's tone softened slightly. "Listen well. Today, I will teach you the basics of aura swordsmanship. The first fundamental is to manifest the core within your body. This core is the essence of your ki—your inner energy. You must learn to concentrate and combine it, to meditate and focus inward. Only then can you channel your aura, turning it into a weapon and a shield."
With deliberate care, Arthur guided Grey to a quiet corner of the training ground. "Close your eyes, Grey. Clear your mind. Picture the energy within you, like a small flame waiting to burst into light. Let that flame grow until it fills your entire being. That is your aura."
Grey followed his instructions. He closed his eyes and took a deep, steady breath. Slowly, he felt a faint warmth at the center of his chest—a subtle pulse that grew stronger with each meditation. Hours passed, and Arthur stood silently by his side, occasionally offering a quiet word of encouragement.
Finally, with a concentrated effort, Grey felt his core ignite. A surge of energy coursed through his body, and he opened his eyes to see a faint glow emanating from within him. He swung his practice sword, and for a brief moment, the blade shimmered with a pale aura. It lasted only a few seconds before the energy waned, and Grey collapsed, exhausted but triumphant.
Arthur placed a firm hand on Grey's shoulder. "This is only the beginning. Aura swordsmanship is a path that takes years of struggle. With the gods' blessings and relentless training, you may learn to sustain your aura longer, but for now, you must accept that mastery is a journey."
A time skip passed—a month of grueling training. In that time, Grey's control over his aura improved, though he still could only maintain it for about three minutes at a time. His progress was slow, and each session left him drained, yet his determination never faltered.
Meanwhile, the others too made strides in their chosen disciplines. Anthony and Aria advanced in spirit swordsmanship. Anthony discovered that while his initial focus on high spirit earth was less effective in swordplay, he adapted by incorporating the medium spirit of wind, which granted him a quicker, more agile fighting style. Aria, ever graceful, learned to summon multiple spirits at once, their combined power enhancing her blade with an ethereal glow that resonated with the ancient energies of Guardia.
Amy, not to be outdone, forged a contract with a medium fire spirit. The flames danced at her fingertips, and though the power was raw, she could feel it bolstering her resolve and transforming her strikes into bursts of fiery energy.
Jackson, however, lagged behind. Despite his efforts in magic training, his progress was minimal. He managed only to produce a meager fireball—a spell far too weak to defeat even a goblin, and a stark reminder of the gulf between his ambition and his current abilities. The shadow of his earlier failures still haunted him, a dark whisper that urged him to embrace shortcuts to power.
As the month of training drew to a close, the heroes gathered once more in the castle courtyard to share their progress. Their faces, though etched with exhaustion, shone with a hard-won determination. Commander Arthur stood before them once again, his gaze resting on each trainee with a mixture of pride and stern expectation.
"Your efforts over the past month have not gone unnoticed," he said, his voice resonating with both authority and encouragement. "Yet, remember mastery is not achieved overnight. Grey, your aura has grown stronger, but you still have much to learn. Anthony, Amy, and Aria—your skills with the spirit-infused sword have improved, and that is commendable. Jackson… your journey is far from complete. Do not despair but know that your current magic is insufficient for the battles to come."
Jackson lowered his head, the weight of his shortcomings evident. In the silent spaces that followed, he stared at the ground, his inner thoughts a tumult of anger and resolve. Despite his disappointment, a flicker of determination shone in his eyes—a resolve to one day bridge the gap between his potential and his current abilities.
As the training session ended, Commander Arthur addressed the group one final time. "Tomorrow, you will face a new challenge under the banner of the Heavenly Knights. Prepare yourselves, for the next test will push you beyond what you have known so far. Remember, strength is forged in fire and tempered by sacrifice."