Today was the third day of training.
With Princess Adelia being the last one, finally everyone could use magic—though of course, there were a few small accidents along the way.
Wearing light training clothes, this time we were inside the royal training hall. We were told that this room was specially designed to be used at certain times for safety purposes.
Today, at last, Keil stood before us to teach us how to use Aura.
Magnus and Anna stood behind Keil, watching us. It seemed the two of them were only here to observe this time.
"Unlike magic, where you feel tired after using it, when you use Aura you will feel physical pain."
Keil looked at us one by one before continuing his explanation.
"The effects of using Aura depend on the user's physical strength. The stronger your body, the more you can endure the pain. And, whether intentionally or not, an Aura user can cause themselves to explode."
We frowned when we heard that, hesitation rising in us about learning Aura. Seeing us like that, Keil laughed and continued explaining.
"Hahaha, there's no need to worry. This room was specially made to prevent that. First of all, you need to directly feel Etherion within your body."
Keil explained that our bodies needed to become familiar with the sensation of Etherion, by drawing out our mana without releasing it into the surroundings.
We focused, following his instructions, and when I released my mana, I felt a breeze sweep across my entire body.
"The sign that you've succeeded in recognizing the essence of Etherion is when you feel something touching the mana you've released."
Hearing that, I reported that I had felt the sensation.
"I can feel it."
"What!? You can already feel it?"
With a shocked look, Keil asked me to confirm it.
"Yes, I can feel it—it's like a breeze brushing against my body. So what should I do now?"
"Draw back the mana you released."
After I followed his instructions, we saw Keil suddenly enveloped in a faint transparent white light. He explained that it was the visual effect of using Aura, then began teaching me how to use it.
First, I wrapped both of my legs with Mana. When I felt Etherion brushing against my Mana, I pulled that Etherion into my legs using the Mana gathered there.
I could also see the same faint transparent glow there, just like Keil had shown earlier.
My legs felt light and incredibly powerful.
**********
Meanwhile, Magnus and Anna were watching Keil teaching the heroes and the princess how to use Aura.
Anna was still amazed by the heroes. Just as Magnus had said, they truly managed to learn magic in only two days.
Tomorrow was Anna's turn to teach the heroes and the princess, and she was already eager to see what they would accomplish under her guidance.
At first, Anna had no desire to teach the heroes, finding it troublesome, but because of the pressure from the church elders, she finally gave in to their demands.
Anna looked at Princess Adelia. She had heard that the princess herself had begged King Cyrus to be allowed to join the heroes' lessons.
Anna wondered, why was she in such a rush to learn magic?
In the end, the princess had hurt herself while using magic. Even though Anna had put on a sulky face, she had still helped her at that time.
And now, the princess was also joining the Aura class.
Anna was truly confused—what exactly was the princess trying to achieve?
Was it recognition?
Anna knew that all of Princess Adelia's siblings were gifted in ways that far outshone her. Could it be that she felt inferior because of that?
If so, Anna could only sigh at the thought.
"So, did you bring it?"
Anna snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Magnus ask beside her.
"Yes, here it is."
After confirming it, with a familiar gesture, Anna pulled something out of her robe. It was the cube used to measure the heroes' powers.
A few days ago, Magnus had told Anna to bring him the Luminis Core with the church's permission.
Magnus said he wanted to use the Luminis Core to study the heroes' powers. Since it was Magnus who asked, and with such a reason, the church willingly lent him the Luminis Core.
"Hoho."
With his characteristic chuckle, Magnus brought out a small empty chest and offered it to Anna.
"Carefully place the Luminis Core into this chest."
Was it really necessary to be that careful?
Though confused by Magnus's fussiness, Anna still placed it inside carefully.
Magnus seemed to notice Anna's thoughts and said,
"Carefulness is essential for research materials."
"!!?!!?"
Realizing her thoughts had been seen through, Anna quickly turned her face away and refocused on Keil's teaching.
After Keil's long explanation, the heroes finally began their first steps in using Aura.
At that moment, something astonishing happened again. Just like when Agatha had succeeded in magic class, this time one of the heroes, Flitz, managed to use Aura on his very first attempt.
Anna turned her attention to him. Her initial impression of Flitz had been strange. From the first time she saw him, she had been curious—not because of his handsome appearance or anything like that, but because she felt something from him. Somehow, Flitz reminded her of someone.
She didn't know why, but she was sure Flitz and "that person (a woman)" shared something in common.
Looking at him again made Anna ponder that thought once more. Beyond that, she was also shocked at what was happening right now, watching Flitz hopping lightly, testing his strength.
After a brief check, Flitz bent his knees and leapt high into the air. Reaching several meters up, he then landed smoothly on the ground.
He released his Aura and began checking his condition.
"Hm... no damage at all. Aura really is amazing."
"".....""
Everyone fell silent at the sight. Though all were surprised by the leap, Anna and the others from this world were especially shocked.
For someone to jump like that on their first attempt—and on top of that, to manifest the visible glow of Aura, which required level 2 mastery—was beyond impossible for a beginner.
Even if he was exceptionally talented in Aura, it was still unreasonable. And judging by his reaction, he didn't seem to suffer any side effects.
"Do you think it has something to do with his power?"
Stroking his beard, Magnus asked Anna beside him.
Anna suddenly remembered the power Flitz possessed. Although the cube hadn't revealed Flitz's power, he had explained it himself. If she recalled correctly, it was something like sensing energy.
"You may be right. Perhaps it's an effect of his ability."
"If that's truly the case, this is a new breakthrough. With their powers combined with this world's miracles, they could become extremely strong. Hm... but skipping mastery levels like that is unusual. Even though Agatha managed to use magic on her first try, she was still only at level 1 mastery... Or perhaps Flitz's case is different from the other heroes? We haven't confirmed his power yet. I must check that cube."
Magnus went on with his speculations. Since Anna didn't understand at all, she ignored him and focused again on the training, while already looking forward to the class she would teach tomorrow.
**********
Aura really was amazing—it greatly enhanced my strength. Even though I was only using normal human power, with Aura I could jump that high.
I turned and saw them staring at me. It seemed I had surprised them.
"Flitz, I don't know how you managed to reach level 2 Aura mastery right away. Maybe it's a hero's trait. But are you alright?"
We had been taught by Magnus about the levels of Aura and magic. They were scales of power—the higher the level, the greater the effect, but also the harder it was to use.
"I'm fine."
Seeing that I was fine, Keil nodded and asked,
"That's good to hear. Flitz, were you perhaps a soldier or something in your world?"
"I..."
"FLITZ-SAN!"
Just as I was about to answer, Haru suddenly cut in, lunging at me, hugging me, and asking excitedly.
"That was amazing! Oooh, these muscles are incredible! Guehehe... ah! Flitz-san, were you perhaps a martial artist before?"
That's it! I'll just use that as my excuse. But Haru, could you not stroke me like that?
After pushing Haru away, I answered Keil's question with the excuse Haru had given me.
"As Haru said, I studied martial arts in my world."
I wasn't lying—I really had studied martial arts before modifying my genes a little.
Although, the main factor behind my physical strength came from genetic modification.
"Martial arts, huh... That might explain why you can endure the side effects of using level 2 Aura."
Keil accepted my answer without suspicion.
Some time later, we finished training. Aside from me, the others ended up exhausted and in pain, which in the end troubled Anna once again.