[The Next Day]
Takeshi stood tall before Orfin, about eight meters separating them, both standing at the bank of the lake connected to the Bull River. The lake had lost its beauty and gleam as the sun disappeared behind those dark clouds.
"I wanted to wait for better weather to train you, but time isn't on our side,"
said Orfin, his black cloak fluttering in the fierce wind. Takeshi replied immediately,
"Don't worry about that. Just start."
Orfin closed his eyes and entered a state of deep focus. He drew in a slow breath, completely unfazed by the wind's intensity.
"This?"
A faint aura emanated from Orfin. It wasn't as intense or forceful as the one he had released against the Revarj beasts — instead, it was calm and stable, one might even say… warm.
The flow suddenly stopped. Orfin raised his hand, a smile curving across his face as he slowly approached Takeshi and said,
"Did you feel it?"
Takeshi nodded.
"Yes, but it was weaker than the one you released before."
"I did that on purpose."
Orfin stood beside Takeshi. Both of them gazed at the lake, whose golden reflections had vanished — now gloomy and dark like the rest of the forest.
Takeshi broke the silence.
"Old man, explain the aura to me."
Orfin smiled faintly.
"This lake… even though it contains water, its essence feels dull and lifeless. Because of external conditions, like those dark clouds, its water has darkened. But when those conditions fade, and the sunlight shines upon it, the lake becomes clear and radiant again."
Takeshi stared at him without moving his head. He wanted to interrupt but chose to let Orfin finish.
"We can call the lake the body, and the water within it — the thing that grants it life and stability — that's the aura."
He sighed, then pointed toward the bottom of the lake.
"That's why some people believe the aura is a spiritual energy tied to the body. When a person dies, their aura disappears the moment the heart stops beating."
He turned toward Takeshi.
"You mean…?"
Takeshi didn't finish his question, yet Orfin already understood and answered,
"Yes. Every living being in this world possesses an aura surrounding its body — except for creatures without intellect. In other words, every human has one."
Takeshi said nothing. He sank deep into thought, as though the idea that aura only vanishes with death didn't sit right with him.
"But the aura changes according to the environment one lives in — or rather, it's tied to emotions."
Takeshi's focus sharpened instantly, listening intently.
"That's why we can divide aura into two primary components:
- YEN: it increases with positive emotions like happiness and tranquility.
- KI: the opposite of YEN — it's connected to negative emotions such as pain and sorrow, and it's much harder to develop.
These two components form the aura. By using them, four types of aura can be created. For now, what matters to you is the YEN aura, which utilizes 100% of YEN."
Takeshi rubbed his chin curiously, then asked,
"And why should I learn this specific type of aura?"
Orfin smiled and answered directly,
"Simply put, every person possesses at least a small amount of YEN — though that amount differs from one individual to another depending on their life, emotions, and even their genes."
He turned toward Takeshi and gave him a bright, reassuring smile.
"So, we'll start preparing you to use your aura!"
Moments later, Takeshi stood about ten meters away from Orfin. The old man raised his hand and shouted,
"Close your eyes and take a deep breath!"
Takeshi obeyed. He closed his eyes and fell into a world of pitch-black darkness — the product of his deep concentration. He inhaled so deeply that his lungs felt like they would burst from his chest.
"Now imagine your heart releasing a warm energy — energy that spreads through every inch of your body."
Takeshi did just that. In his mind, he imagined a small golden-yellow dot forming in the midst of the darkness. Suddenly, that dot grew into a sphere, expanding until it reached every part of his body.
Still, it was just imagination — a construct of his mind.
"Now imagine that energy leaving your body."
Every muscle in Takeshi's body tensed as he envisioned it. The golden energy wanted to burst out from him — it felt like thunder tearing through the heavens, followed by a blinding flash of lightning.
In an instant, the energy slipped outside his body, forming a faint, pure white aura — barely visible, releasing a gentle breeze that couldn't even be felt amidst the raging wind.
Orfin's smile widened, his eyes opening wide in astonishment as he sensed the faint aura — one far weaker than his own, yet undeniable.
Barely two seconds passed before Takeshi's strength failed. His aura vanished, and his mouth opened slightly in shock. He fell to his knees, breathing heavily.
"This… this feeling… it's real!!"
Takeshi exhaled deeply, struggling to stand again. His energy was completely drained after that first attempt.
"Still… it's weak, and I couldn't maintain it for long."
Orfin hesitated before replying,
"Y–Yes! You did quite well regardless, and it will grow stronger with time."
Those were Orfin's words, but the thoughts inside him told a different story.
'He managed to release his aura on the very first try! Judging by his reaction, he's never done this before… Takeshi, you… you're gifted! But your talent needs refinement. If you combine that talent with hard work, you'll surpass me in no time!'
***
Meanwhile, elsewhere within the chaotic city of Galeon — specifically at its main gate — a carriage drawn by two horses thundered forward, its wheels roaring louder than the storm itself.
Waiting for it was Graid — the same man who had greeted the gang leader the previous night. As soon as the carriage stopped beside him, he spoke coldly,
"Welcome, Yamikaiji. You arrived fast. I take it you succeeded?"
Yamikaiji leaped from the carriage, his fists clenched tightly, glaring at Graid with burning rage.
"And how would you know that?"
Graid let out a forced laugh, glancing toward the carriage.
"That aura can be felt from miles away."
He crossed his arms and said mockingly,
"I should've gone with you to make sure no one got in your way — or stole the sword from you. You understand what would happen to our gang if that occurred, don't you?"
Yamikaiji's eyes widened, glowing red with fury as his teeth ground together. He raised his right hand and shouted,
"Damn you, bastard!"
Massive green roots burst from the ground, surging toward Graid beneath the cries of Sojo and Fard,
"Boss, stop!!"
The roots froze just a hair's breadth away. At first, both Sojo and Fard thought Yamikaiji had halted his own attack — yet the murderous intent in his eyes said otherwise.
Everyone felt a sudden chill as the air grew colder than ice. The temperature dropped below zero, and Yamikaiji's roots froze solid. He growled through gritted teeth,
"You bastard…"
Half of Graid's face was covered in solid ice — his left eye and jaw completely frozen — yet his faint smile never faded.
"Attempting to attack a fellow gang member without reason… I'll overlook it this time. But if it happens again, your heart will freeze before your body dies."