Chapter 101: Sharpening the Blade

The night air was crisp as Alden stepped onto the academy's private training grounds. The facility was mostly empty at this hour—most students were either resting or finishing their studies. But for him, tonight was not a night for rest.

His earlier loss to Alicia weighed on his mind.

He had known she was strong. He had known her aura control was superior. And yet, feeling that firsthand had been a ruthless reminder.

He wasn't at the level he needed to be.

His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword as he took his stance. If he wanted to survive in this world, he couldn't allow himself to remain weak.

"Again."

Alden exhaled, focusing his aura. A thin, barely visible layer of energy coated his blade. He adjusted his posture and swung—sharp, precise, controlled.

The blade carved through the air, leaving faint silver trails of residual aura behind. Again. He stepped forward, shifting his weight as he followed up with another series of strikes. Again.

Each motion was deliberate. Each cut, faster than the last. His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored them. He had trained his body long enough to know the difference between pain and true limits.

He wasn't close to reaching those limits yet.

A Familiar Presence

A low, amused hum came from the side.

"I had a feeling you'd be here."

Alden didn't stop. He finished his next sequence of attacks before exhaling slowly, lowering his sword.

Turning, he found Selene Astraea watching him from the shadows of a nearby tree, arms crossed, a playful smirk on her lips.

Selene Astraea. Second-year. Spirit Sorcerer. And unofficially… the person who now wanted to know what his deal was.

She stepped closer, the moonlight illuminating her features—light pink hair cascading past her shoulders, striking red eyes that glowed faintly, as if reflecting some unseen fire.

"You train like someone fighting against an invisible enemy," she mused. "Care to share who?"

Alden wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "Myself."

Selene tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "Cryptic. I like it."

He sheathed his sword, turning fully to face her. "What do you want, Selene?"

She feigned a dramatic sigh. "Straight to the point, huh? No room for casual conversation?"

Alden gave her a flat look.

She laughed. "Fine, fine. I was actually just passing by when I sensed your aura flaring. I got curious. Most people don't train this late."

He said nothing.

She studied him for a moment before continuing. "So? You lost a fight, didn't you?"

His jaw tensed. He didn't confirm it, but he didn't deny it either.

Selene smiled knowingly. "I thought so. You have that look."

Alden raised an eyebrow. "What look?"

"The look of someone who refuses to accept that they're not at the top."

He scoffed. "You're reading too much into it."

"Am I?" She stepped closer, looking him up and down. "No, I don't think so. You strike me as the obsessive type."

He didn't respond.

Selene's smirk widened. "You should be grateful, though. Most people never get the chance to fight someone above their level. But you? You got a free lesson."

"I don't believe in 'free' lessons."

She chuckled. "Then let me teach you something, and you can pay me back later."

Alden narrowed his eyes. "Teach me what?"

Selene extended a hand, and in an instant, shimmering spiritual energy coiled around her fingers like wisps of fire. It pulsed, raw yet controlled, forming intricate patterns in the air.

"Aura is important, yes. But spiritual energy?" She let it swirl around her palm before clenching her fist, causing the energy to vanish. "It's what separates warriors from legends."

Alden crossed his arms. "And you're offering to teach me?"

Selene grinned. "Let's just say I'm interested in people who stand out. And you? You're… interesting."

He didn't trust her.

She was powerful, yes. But she was also unpredictable. She wasn't offering this for free. She wanted something from him—he just didn't know what yet.

But at the same time…

If she had something to teach, he wouldn't refuse.

He needed every advantage he could get.

"Fine," he said at last. "Show me."

Selene's eyes sparkled. "Good choice."

Alden stood in the quiet training hall, his gaze fixed on Selene Astraea. The faint glow of spiritual energy danced around her fingertips—ethereal, weightless, yet undeniably powerful.

Unlike aura, which was tangible and forceful, spiritual energy had a different nature. It was fluid, adaptable, and required an entirely different approach to harness.

Selene studied him, then sighed. "You're too rigid."

Alden raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

She gestured at his stance. "Aura is straightforward—it explodes outward. You gather it, condense it, and release it like a blade. But spiritual energy? It doesn't follow the same rules. You can't force it. You have to feel it."

She extended her hand, and Alden watched as a soft, glowing mist coiled around her palm—not forming a solid structure, but shifting like ripples across a pond.

"Spiritual energy is the essence of the soul," she explained. "Unlike aura, which strengthens the body and enhances physical prowess, spiritual energy refines perception, control, and interaction with the world. Those with strong spiritual energy can wield power with precision, rather than brute force."

Alden crossed his arms. "Sounds like mana."

Selene shook her head. "Mana is external—it exists in nature, the air, and in the world around us. Spiritual energy is internal. It comes from within. Your soul, your emotions, your will. It exists in everyone, but few ever awaken it."

Alden considered her words. "And how does one awaken it?"

Selene smirked. "Now that's the real question."

She stepped forward, placing a hand over her own heart.

"Spiritual energy isn't something you draw upon like mana or aura. It's something you unlock. Some people are born with it naturally active, but most need a trigger—an emotional or mental shift, a realization of self."

She lifted her palm again, and the swirling energy moved in response to her breathing, matching the rhythm of her heartbeat.

"It starts with awareness. You have to sense it first. Then, you refine it, like polishing a blade. The more you understand yourself, the stronger your control over it becomes."

Alden exhaled, focusing inward.

Awareness.

He searched for something beyond aura, beyond mana—something deeper.

A flicker of sensation stirred at the edges of his consciousness, but just as quickly as he noticed it, it faded.

Selene observed him and chuckled. "You're trying too hard."

Alden shot her a glare. "Then how do you expect me to do it?"

She smirked. "You don't try. You let it happen."

He frowned. That was vague. But Selene wasn't going to give him an easy answer.

Instead, she raised a hand. "Let me show you."

Before he could react, a pulse of spiritual energy flowed from her fingertips, brushing against his aura like a breeze against a stone.

And in that instant—Alden felt it.

A thread of something unseen, woven within him. Subtle, quiet, yet undeniably present.

His breath hitched.

Selene stepped back. "There. Now you know it's there."

Alden clenched his fists, his mind racing. "So that's what it feels like…"

Selene grinned. "That's the first step. Now, all you have to do… is master it."