บท 19: Aura

"What in the name of the ancestors is going on here?"

Kern's gruff voice cut through the excited chatter of the crowd.

Chief Lys stepped up, totally calm "Hey, it's not that bad."

Kern glared at the person who caused this mess. "Chief, I know I'm supposed to train them, but this is too much. How am I gonna train the whole tribe?"

Arin watched, feeling the tension. She sensed the other newbies around her getting nervous, not sure what this plot twist meant for their training.

Lys thought for a second. "Okay, here's the plan. We'll split them into three groups for training. We can't feed this many people at once anyway. Group 1 will be the eleven who trained with Kern before."

"You heard the Chief! Group 1, line up here. The rest of you, we'll sort you out and make a schedule," Kern said, his voice rising above the chatter.

The crowd started to break up. Arin found herself in Group 1 with Kai, Lena, and the other young warriors who'd been prepping for this moment. Kern led them to a quiet spot in the village, with leaves rustling and a stream bubbling in the distance.

Kern looked at each of them. "Congrats on your awakening. You've stepped into a whole new world. And I've got the honor and the responsibility of guiding you through it."

"Let's start your first lesson. Close your eyes and focus on the energy inside you..." he said, clapping his hands together, the sound echoing through the clearing.

Arin closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of wildflowers and damp earth. At first, she felt nothing, just the breeze on her skin. But as she focused, a warmth bloomed in her chest, spreading through her body like honey.

"Good. Now, imagine that energy expanding, surrounding you like a second skin. See it in your mind, a vibrant, pulsing aura that reflects your inner strength," Kern said, his voice soothing.

Arin focused, visualizing the energy growing and expanding. To her amazement, a faint glow appeared around her. She opened her eyes, gasping softly at the sight of her own aura.

"What you're seeing," Kern said, his voice clear, "isn't just a glow. Look closer. Focus on the air around you."

Arin squinted, concentrating on the space between her and the other trainees. At first, she saw nothing but air. Then, slowly, tiny specks of light appeared, like dust in a sunbeam.

"These particles are the physical manifestation of aura. They're everywhere, in everything. The air, the ground, even in living beings. What you're seeing is the raw, untapped potential of the world around us," Kern continued.

He walked among them, his voice more serious. "Now comes the hard part. Harnessing this energy takes focus, willpower, and a deep connection to your inner self. You have to learn to draw these particles to you, to absorb them and make them part of your own aura."

He held out his hand, demonstrating. The particles in the air seemed to gravitate towards him, swirling around his fingers before being absorbed into his skin.

"Imagine them as extensions of yourself, waiting to be called home," Kern instructed. "Will them to come to you."

Arin stared at the specks around her. Almost immediately, she felt a strange resonance in her chest, as if something deep inside was responding to the energy. The particles around her hand began to stir. They swirled faster, drawn to her like moths to a flame.

Within moments, a swirling vortex of glowing specks had been absorbed by her, way more than her peers. The particles kept flowing to her in a steady stream.

Kern paused when he reached Arin, his eyebrows rising as he studied the display.

Kern's voice cut through the morning air, getting everyone's attention. "Now that you've learned to see and manipulate aura, it's time to level up your other senses. True mastery of aura isn't just about what you can see – it's about feeling the energy that surrounds us all."

"Close your eyes," Kern instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Aura sensing is about expanding your awareness. You have to learn to feel the energy flowing around you, to tell different auras apart without relying on sight."

Arin closed her eyes again. The darkness seemed to pulse with afterimages of the glowing aura particles. She took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind.

"Extend your awareness," Kern continued, "Imagine your consciousness as a bubble, expanding out from your body. Feel the air on your skin, the ground beneath your feet."

"As your bubble of awareness grows, pay attention to the subtle changes in the energy around you," Kern instructed. "Each person, each living thing, has its own unique aura. Learn to recognize these signatures."

At first, there was nothing but darkness and the sound of her own breathing. Then, gradually, she began to perceive something new. It was like a faint pressure against her skin, more like the sensation of standing near a fire and feeling its warmth without touching the flames.

Arin focused on the sensation, trying to tell the different pressures apart. Right in front of her, she sensed a strong, steady presence – Kern, she realized. His aura felt solid and unyielding, like a stone wall weathered by time but still standing strong.

To her left, she sensed a different energy – vibrant and restless, constantly shifting like a flame in the wind.

On her right, a gentler presence made itself known. This aura felt cool and soothing, like a calm pool of water.

Her awareness expanded further. Arin began to sense the auras of the trees around them. Unlike the dynamic energies of her fellow trainees, the trees' auras were slow and patient, pulsing with a rhythm as old as the forest itself.

"Remember," Kern continued, "aura sensing isn't just about identifying who's around you. In battle, it can give you crucial intel about your opponents – their strength, their emotional state, even their next move if you're skilled enough."

"Let's make this more interesting," Kern announced. "I'm going to move around the group. Without opening your eyes, I want you to point to where I am based solely on sensing my aura."

Arin heard the rustle of leaves as Kern began to move. She focused on his aura, that solid, unyielding presence she'd identified earlier. For a moment, she lost track of it amidst the other energies surrounding her.

An intricate dance of energy followed. Kern moved swiftly and silently around the group, his aura flickering in and out of Arin's perception. As the exercise continued, Arin found herself settling into a rhythm. The world of physical sensations faded into the background as she immersed herself in the ebb and flow of aura around her. She began to anticipate Kern's movements, sensing the subtle shifts in his energy before he changed position.

"Nice," Kern said finally, coming to a stop. "You can open your eyes now."

Opening her eyes, Arin was surprised to see the sun had risen a lot during their exercise.

Kern stood before them, a rare smile of approval on his weathered face. "You've all done well for your first try at aura sensing. This skill will take time to master, but it's essential for any Aura Warrior worth their salt."

He continued his explanation as they practiced. "As you get better, you'll learn to infuse it with your own intentions and emotions. This is how we shape aura into different forms and uses."

Kern demonstrated by infusing his legs with glowing energy, then leaping an impossible distance across the training ground. The group watched in awe as he sailed through the air, landing gracefully on the other side.

"Your aura isn't separate from your physical form," Kern explained. "When harnessed correctly, it can push your body beyond its natural limits." Turning to Arin, "You're up first. Remember, focus on channeling your aura into your legs evenly."

Arin stepped forward, acutely aware of all eyes on her. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the energy within her. The moonfire crystal fragment pulsed, sending waves of warmth through her body. She directed the flow downward, feeling her legs tingle with power.

Taking a deep breath, Arin bent her knees and pushed off the ground. The world blurred around her as she soared upward, higher and faster than she'd anticipated. Too high, too high! Shit, I overdid it, she realized, quickly assessing the situation. For a moment, she felt weightless, suspended in the air like a bird. Then gravity reasserted itself, and she plummeted back to earth. Oh god, this is going to hurt.

Desperately, she reached for the energy within her, trying to channel it into a protective field. But her concentration was shattered, her control tenuous at best. The ground rushed up to meet her, a looming expanse of unforgiving dirt and grass.

At the last second, she managed to channel aura into her legs again, cushioning her landing and turning what would have been a bone-shattering impact into a slightly less disastrous tumble. She stumbled slightly but remained upright, breathing heavily. For a moment, she stood there stunned, her vision swimming and her ears ringing. Ow, she thought dazedly, that... could have gone better.

"Whoa! You were flying!" Kai exclaimed, eyes wide.

Lena nodded, looking both impressed and concerned. "You okay, Arin? That landing looked rough."

Arin took a moment to steady herself before responding. "I'm fine. Just... used a bit more energy than I intended."

"We're going to combine what you've learned about aura manipulation with your new sensing skills," Kern said, nodding thoughtfully.

He walked over to a large, fallen log at the edge of the clearing. Placing his hand on the rough bark, his tattoo began to glow with a silver light. With a grunt of effort, he lifted the massive log, his aura flaring around him in a visible display of power.

The trainees watched, wide-eyed, as Kern carried the log to the center of the clearing and drove it deep into the ground.

"This," Kern said, patting the log, "is your goal. If you can evade me in the forest and make it back here to touch this log, you pass the challenge."

He surveyed the group, his gaze intense. "You have one minute to spread out. When you hear my signal, the hunt begins."

Kern's expression grew stern as he added, "Remember, there are aura markers set up throughout the forest. Do not go past them unless you want to encounter real aura beasts. This is a test of skill, unless you have a death wish."

"Go!"