Aura Lesson

"Alright, Raiyo," Jin begins. "We'll now begin your training in Nen. To truly survive, to stand among them- the hunters- you need Nen. Before we begin, you need to understand exactly what that means. 

Raiyo blinks, rubbing his tired eyes. "Nen, Aura, nen... you've been hyping this up so much. It sounds really confusing. So what is it? Superpowers? Magic? Some secret club handshake?"

Jin exhales through his nose, already prepared for Raiyo's sarcasm. "Nen is the power that defines everything. It's the manifestation of Aura, the life energy that surrounds and flows within us."

Raiyo tilts his head. "So, it's like... a sleeping energy?"

Jin rolls his eyes. "If you wanna think of it that way, sure. It's sleeping inside you waiting to be woken up. But once you awaken it, it never goes back to sleep. "

"Every living thing has Aura, but without control, it leaks out, unnoticed and useless. Nen allows a person to harness that energy, to wield it, strengthen it, and push past the natural limits of the body."

"So it's like training your muscles, but instead of biceps, I'm flexing my soul?" Raiyo asks

Jin chuckles. "A crude way to put it, but not entirely wrong."

Leaning forward, Jin draws a line in the dirt between them. "Aura is divided into four main principles: Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu. Each one is a stepping stone to mastering your Aura. Before we even think about your personal ability, we need to start from the beginning."

Jin brings out a whiteboard, and Raiyo looks in confusion, not knowing where that even came from.

He taps the first section. "Ren. This is where it all begins. It's where power comes in. It's the expansion of your aura, increasing its intensity, your physical strength, and your overall presence. This is what separates the weak from the strong." 

Raiyo nods.

Jin smacks the back of his head lightly. "Quit whining. This is the foundation of everything."

He moves to the next part of the drawing. "Ten. Ten is the act of keeping your aura from escaping your body. It forms a protective shroud around you, reinforcing your body and keeping you youthful for longer."

Raiyo yawns, slouching with his blanket wrapped around him. "So if I master Ten, I get to stay young forever? Sounds like a scam."

Jin's finger traces the third section. "Zetsu. The opposite of Ten. Instead of keeping aura around you, you shut off your flow completely. This hides your presence and allows your body to recover. But," Jin's gaze darkens, "it also leaves you vulnerable. If someone attacks you in Zetsu, you'll take full force of it. No defenses. No resistance."

Raiyo raises an eyebrow. "Like playing dead, but being dead if it goes wrong. Noted."

"Finally, Hatsu." Jin's voice gains an edge of excitement. "Hatsu is your individual expression of Nen. It's what makes every Nen user unique. This is where abilities like manipulation, emission, and conjuration come into play. This is where your true potential lies."

Raiyo rubs his chin. "So, when do I get to blow something up?"

Jin sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is why I don't teach kids."

Raiyo grins, but Jin quickly turns serious again. "There's a traditional way to learn Nen. It takes years of practice. First, you meditate to grasp your aura. Then you refine it through training, pushing your limits day by day until you can wield it properly."

Raiyo's eyelids are already drooping. "Sounds slow. What's the fastest way?"

Jin smirks, standing up. "Good question."

A rush of energy floods the space between them. Jin's aura ignites, a brilliant blue force swirling around his body. The pressure is overwhelming—like being caught in the gravitational pull of a collapsing planet. Raiyo's sleepy posture stiffens instantly.

"What—?!"

Jin reaches out and suddenly grabs Raiyo by the wrist. A shockwave pulses through Raiyo's body, a searing sensation spreading from his core to every limb. His breath hitches. His veins feel like they're burning, and his muscles tense as something awakens inside of him.

As Jin guides Raiyo through the process, he expects the usual struggle. He's trained many before—kids, teenagers, even adults—some with talent, some without.

Aura isn't something that comes easily. It requires patience, precision, and above all, an unbreakable will. Even the most gifted students take time to grasp the fundamentals.

But then—something happens.

Jin's sharp eyes catch it first. A shift in the air. A pulse. He feels it before he even fully registers what's happening.

His instincts scream at him that this is not normal. Aura usually trickles out at first, an unsteady drip before it becomes a stream. But Raiyo's Aura?

It's like a dam bursting.

A radiant golden light erupts from Raiyo's body, flooding the training space with a warm, overpowering presence. The sheer density of it makes Jin's breath hitch.

It isn't just strong—it's endless. A torrent of energy, pure and raw, flows from the boy as if his very existence is carved from Nen itself.

Jin's eyes widen, his heartbeat quickening. His mind races through possibilities. How? How is this possible? Nen pools aren't infinite. Every living being has a limit—a cap to how much Aura they can use before exhaustion.

Even the most powerful Hunters must train relentlessly to expand their reserves over years. Yet here stands Raiyo, exuding a ceaseless, unwavering flow of Aura, as if he's never known what limits are.

Jin feels pure elation rush through him, a grin spreading across his face, unrestrained and wild. This is it. This is what he had hoped for—what he suspected deep down but dared not believe.

"I was right."

Jin clenches his fists, excitement surging through him. He had always known Raiyo was different. The boy had a presence, a weight to him that made the world feel slower when he moved.

He had an unnatural ease, an untouched potential. But this? This is beyond Jin's expectations. This is beyond anything he has ever seen.

And yet—it's terrifying.

Because of power like this? It doesn't just exist without reason.

Jin suppresses the dark thought that creeps into his mind. Why does Raiyo have this much Aura? Was it a blessing? A mutation? Or something far more dangerous?

He shakes the thought away. Now isn't the time for questions. Now is the time to push Raiyo further.

Jin adjusts his stance, steadying himself. With a sharp inhale, he places his hands near Raiyo, not to suppress his Aura but to guide it. Normally, training a student in Aura control is like sculpting clay—carefully molding, cutting away excess, and refining the flow. But with Raiyo?

It's like trying to tame a wildfire.

Jin doesn't hold back. He drags out Raiyo's Aura even more, using his own mastery to shape it. Instead of resisting, Raiyo's body responds effortlessly. The golden Aura flares, thickening, expanding, and pulsing outward like a living entity.

Jin watches in awe. There's no hesitation. No signs of strain. Most students would be gasping, barely able to hold their Nen together at this point. But Raiyo?

He stands there—calm, steady, glowing.

Jin steps back, eyes locked on the boy. Even now, the golden Aura continues to radiate around Raiyo, shimmering like a second skin.

"Unbelievable."

For the first time in years, Jin feels something stir deep within him—an emotion he hasn't felt since his own early days of being a Hunter.

Excitement. True, unfiltered excitement.

He lets out a breathless chuckle, his grin widening. He chose right. He chose right.

Then, he pushes Raiyo further.

"Don't stop," Jin commands, voice firm but exhilarated. "Push harder."

Raiyo, eyes wide. He can feel it—waves of golden energy pouring out from within him, crackling against his skin.

The world around him feels different, clearer. He can sense the movement of air, the warmth of the sun, and the shift in Jin's own Aura as he observes.

Raiyo stares at his own hands, golden wisps of energy curling around his fingers. He's completely speechless.

Raiyo hesitates. "Push? How—"

"Expand it," Jin interrupts. "Grow it. Make it stronger."

A determined glint flickers in Raiyo's eyes. He clenches his fists and focuses. The golden Aura surges. Sweat forms on his forehead, and his breathing grows heavy, but he pushes.

And then—

A ripple in reality.

The golden aura condenses, pulling inward. The air hums with energy.

Something forms.

A shape—large, powerful, and solid—emerges from the golden light. It's alive.

A massive lion-like creature materializes before him, its fur a deep midnight blue, its piercing golden eyes a mirror of Raiyo's own.

But it's slightly off—its limbs too thick, its proportions uneven, as if unfinished.

Raiyo stares. His own creature.

His breathing is ragged, his body exhausted, but his mind is racing. This... mine?

The beast locks eyes with him. There's no fear, no hesitation. Only recognition. It knows him.

Jin watches silently; he falters for the first time as he watches the impossible unfold. This shouldn't be happening.