Book 1 Chapter 17

The next morning.

After finishing breakfast at the dormitory cafeteria, Leo headed straight for the Hall of Beginnings, the first-year classroom building.

The first major class of the day was Knight Studies.

As expected of a provisional class, many students from other departments attended, not just those from Knight Studies.

Since there were many people, the class was divided into sections.

Chelsea and Karl were in the section Leo joined.

Karl was actively using the provisional class to get acquainted with the Knight Studies students.

Chelsea said she intended to take Knight Studies as a minor, as she aspired to be a Battle Mage.

The students gathered and waited in the training hall.

Soon, Professor Ain appeared.

"I've already introduced myself, so I won't do it again. This is my assistant professor, Clarissa Rivache."

Clarissa gave a slight bow.

Assistant professors could only be selected graduates of Lumern chosen by a professor.

They would assist the professor in class and, if necessary, teach in their place.

Naturally, as a graduate of Lumern, she was an elite whose skills were guaranteed.

Professor Ain surveyed the students.

'Leo Flove, Celia Zerdringer, Duran Moira.'

Professor Ain showed a look of satisfaction.

It was only natural to be satisfied when both the student representative and the top scorer were attending the class.

"Students from the Magic Department and the Summoner Department, please raise your hands."

More than half the students raised their hands.

Professor Ain nodded and gestured to Clarissa.

"You go to the assistant professor. She will teach you how to apply mana and spiritual energy to martial arts."

Ain gathered the knight students separately and began to speak.

"Today is the first class. So, I will talk about Aura, the most basic aspect of Knight Studies."

At Ain's words, the students' eyes sparkled.

"Of the three powers derived from mana: Aura, Mana, and Spiritual Energy, Aura has the most difficult characteristic to handle. Does anyone know why?"

From the first question, the first-year students were stumped.

The characteristics of Aura?

Few people were interested in such things.

Usually, knights pondered how to sense mana well and manifest more powerful Aura.

Of course, not all students were ignorant.

Celia raised her hand.

"This is Celia Zerdringer."

"Yes, Celia. Please answer."

"It's because Aura loses the characteristics of mana during the conversion process."

"Correct."

Mana is a power created by amplifying mana, and spiritual energy is the power of resonating the user's will with mana.

As such, they do not lose the characteristics of natural mana.

However, Aura is a power created by absorbing mana and processing it to suit the body.

In that process, it loses its natural fluidity and becomes solidified.

That's why it becomes difficult to handle.

"Then, can anyone explain in what form we use the Aura accumulated in our bodies?"

This time, even Celia was flustered.

In what form do we use it?

'How do I explain the form of use?'

'You just… use it when you push hard, right?'

They just used it instinctively, following what they learned and the flow of Aura cultivation techniques.

There was no way to explain the form of use.

Of course, Ain wasn't asking because he expected an answer.

What Ain was talking about was the basic theory of Aura Studies, a subject that didn't exist at Lumern until last year.

This was content taught only at the Beastman Hero Academy, Azonia, and Ain was trying to introduce it to Lumern this year.

So, it was natural for the first-year students not to know.

As Ain was about to explain, someone raised their hand.

Professor Ain smiled with satisfaction at the student who bravely stepped forward.

No professor dislikes a student who presents confidently, even if they are wrong.

"This is Leo Flove."

"Yes. Please answer."

"We use the power of Aura in a form that burns mana."

Ain's expression turned surprised.

"Correct. Then, do you also know what is most important when burning Aura?"

"Stamina."

"Amazing, Leo. Have you studied Aura Studies before?"

"No."

"Then how did you know this?"

"Because it's the most fundamental essence of Aura."

People sometimes neglect the fundamental nature of the power they use.

Of course, there is no problem using Aura without knowing the essence or principles.

However, there is a significant difference between knowing and not knowing the characteristics of the power one uses.

Especially Aura, compared to mana and spiritual energy, is a power greatly influenced by the user's will, and nothing is better than imagination for drawing out the power of the mind.

"Excellent. I will give Celia a 5-point bonus and Leo a 10-point bonus."

The envious gazes of their peers turned towards the two.

"As Leo said, we use the power generated when burning mana."

Professor Ain said seriously.

"Starting this year, I plan to integrate Aura Studies into my lessons to teach you first-years."

"Professor! What is Aura Studies?"

"It is the study of Aura. It is a mandatory subject at Azonia Academy."

The first-year students' eyes sparkled at the mention of a subject they had never heard of.

"Then, since it's the first class today, we will learn how to utilize Aura. Today's lecture will be on Aura Step."

Aura Step is a technique that concentrates the power of Aura in the legs to maximize jumping power.

'Aura Step.'

Leo's eyes sparkled.

It was a concept that didn't exist in Karl's time.

"Anyone who possesses Aura can learn Aura Step. However, the effectiveness varies greatly with proficiency."

Professor Ain lifted his foot.

A silvery Aura flickered at the tip of his foot, and then he stood in mid-air.

The students gasped in admiration.

Professor Ain walked lightly in the air and said,

"From now on, I will tell you about the principles of Aura Step."

Professor Ain's Aura Step lecture began.

'The principles of Aura operation are not significantly different.'

When the body is strengthened with Aura, leg strength naturally increases.

Aura Step can be seen as concentrating that body strengthening in the legs.

While Ain was instructing the students, someone who appeared to be a messenger entered the training hall.

"Professor Ain. Professor Betes is looking for Professor Ain and Assistant Professor Clarissa."

"Professor Betes? Understood."

Professor Ain nodded and said to the students,

"The assistant professor and I will be away for a while, so please practice Aura Step."

With those words, Professor Ain left.

"Leo, shall I teach you Aura Step?"

Celia approached with a sly smile.

Leo asked with a bored expression,

"Are you going to tell me to call you 'Miss'?"

"Surely you wouldn't be so petty?"

Celia crossed her arms and smiled.

"I'm older than you, so if you call me 'Noona' once, I'll help you."

"I refuse to learn from you, it's disgusting and unfair."

"What? Even as the student representative, you don't know how to use Aura Step? How pathetic."

Just then, someone interrupted their conversation.

Turning their heads, they saw Duran Moira, the top scorer of the Central Exam.

Duran looked at Leo and clicked his tongue.

"I can't understand Lumern's standards if someone like you is the grade representative."

"Are you unhappy that I'm the grade representative?"

As Leo stepped forward and asked, Duran curled the corners of his mouth.

"It's not that I'm unhappy. I just lament the fact that someone who can't even use Aura Step is the grade representative."

Duran said irritably to the other students.

"It's not just you. There are more than a few who don't know how to use Aura Step. I'm worried it will tarnish the dignity of the entire grade."

At those words, some students bristled.

But they couldn't easily attack.

No matter who said what, he was the grade's top scorer.

He was undoubtedly one of the top ten among nearly 500 first-year students.

Leo said to Duran's words,

"If you aim to be a hero, shouldn't you maintain a bit more dignity?"

"Dignity? Are you, of heroic blood, lecturing me on heroic dignity?"

Duran's knightly principality, Moira, was founded 50 years ago by the knight hero Dior Moira, known as the Golden Sword.

Duran, who had pursued the path of a hero since childhood, was confident that he possessed the qualities of a hero more than anyone else.

"What does heroic blood have to do with anything?"

"It matters. A hero means being chosen."

"You have a different way of thinking. I believe a hero is someone who never gives up."

"To think that someone who is the student representative would talk about such a dreamlike story, how pathetic."

"Aren't you just acting arrogant based solely on your bloodline?"

"Bloodline is just a bonus for me. I believe in something else."

"What is that?"

"Skill, Leo Flove."

*Woosh-!*

In the blink of an eye, Duran closed the distance to Leo.

The other students were amazed by his incredible speed.

It was a speed that ordinary students could not even dream of.

However, Leo chuckled.

"It's not that fast."

"It seems I need to show you what a gap is."

Duran smiled menacingly.

"If you're so confident, shall we race to see who's faster?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Duran Moira. Do you think it makes sense to have a race with someone who hasn't even learned Aura Step?"

Celia intervened with a frown.

"Celia Zerdringer. I had something I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Why did Leo Flove become the grade representative?"

"How would I know that?"

"Isn't it because the Western top scorers are pathetic, making this guy stand out?"

Chelsea, who was among the minor students who had gathered out of curiosity, stepped forward.

"Are you saying my brother is pathetic right now?"

"I'm just stating the facts. Chelsea Lewallyn. I had high expectations for you, coming from one of the two great hero families of the Rodren Empire, but to lose the grade representative position to such a guy is frankly disappointing."

Celia gave a cold smile.

"Are you that upset about not becoming the student representative? Have you ever considered that the reason you didn't become the student representative is simply because you are pathetic?"

"If I were in the same position, this guy wouldn't have become the grade representative."

Duran said with a confident tone and a arrogant expression.

"The reason this guy became the grade representative is purely due to good luck."

"Let's go, Leo. There's no need to listen to such nonsense."

"Right."

Chelsea agreed with Celia, her rival, and pulled the skin under her left eye with her finger, sticking out her tongue.

"To be protected by women."

The students from Duran's faction in the Central region jeered.

Leo chuckled.

"I accept that challenge."

"Leo!"

Celia admonished him.

"He's said all that, it's hard to just ignore him. And,"

Leo grinned, baring his teeth.

"I need to show guys like this what a gap is."

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