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Chapter 17




【17】16
The next morning.
After finishing breakfast in the dormitory cafeteria, Leo immediately headed to the Tower of Beginnings, the building for first-year classes.
Today’s first major class was a Knight Studies class.
As it was a temporary class, many students from other departments also participated, not just those from the Knight Studies department.
Due to the large number of participants, the class was divided into sections.
In the section Leo entered, Chelsea and Karl were present.
Karl actively used the temporary class to get to know the Knight Studies students.
Chelsea, aspiring to be a combat mage, planned to take Knight Studies as a minor.
The students gathered in the training ground and waited.
Soon, Professor Ein appeared.
“I won’t introduce myself again since I’ve already done so. This is my assistant professor, Claria Ribace.”
Claria gave a slight bow.
Only graduates of Lumeren who are selected by the professor can become assistant professors.
They assist the professor in teaching and can also take over classes in emergencies.
Naturally, as Lumeren graduates, they are elite with proven skills.
Professor Ein looked around at the students.
‘Leo Flaub, Selia Gerdinger, Duran Moira.’
Professor Ein wore a satisfied expression.
With two class representatives and top students attending the class, it was only natural for him to be pleased.
“Students from the Magic Studies and Summoner Studies departments, please raise your hands.”
More than half of the students raised their hands.
Nodding, Professor Ein pointed to Claria.
“Go to the assistant professor. She will lecture on how to apply mana and spirit energy in martial arts.”
After separating the knight students, Ein began to speak.
“Today is the first class, so I will talk about Aura, the most fundamental aspect of Knight Studies.”
The students’ eyes lit up at Ein’s words.
“Among the three powers derived from mana—Aura, magic power, and spirit energy—Aura is the most difficult to handle. Does anyone know why?”
The first question left the first-year students at a loss for words.
The characteristics of Aura?
Hardly anyone paid attention to such things.
Typically, knights were more concerned with how to better sense mana and manifest stronger Aura.
Of course, not all students were clueless.
Selia raised her hand.
“I’m Selia Gerdinger.”
“Selia, please answer.”
“Aura loses the characteristics of mana during the conversion process.”
“Correct.”
Magic power is a force that amplifies mana, and spirit energy is a force that resonates the user’s will with mana.
Thus, they retain the natural characteristics of mana.
However, Aura is a force created by absorbing and processing mana to suit the body.
In this process, it loses its natural fluidity and becomes rigid.
This makes it more difficult to handle.
“Then, can anyone explain how we use the Aura accumulated in our bodies?”
This time, even Selia was taken aback.
How to use it?
‘How do you explain the way you use it?’
‘You just... use it when you exert yourself, right?’
They simply used it as they were taught, following the flow of Aura cultivation techniques intuitively.
There was no way to describe the form of its usage.
Of course, Ein didn’t expect an answer.
What he was discussing was the basic theory of Aura Studies, a subject that didn’t exist in Lumeren until last year.
It was content that Ein planned to introduce to Lumeren this year, which was only taught at the Azonia Academy of Heroes.
Thus, it was natural that the first-year students wouldn’t know.
When Ein was about to explain, someone raised their hand.
Ein wore a satisfied expression at the student’s courage.
Professors generally don’t dislike students who confidently present their answers, even if they are wrong.
“I’m Leo Flaub.”
“Go ahead, Leo.”
“We use the power of Aura by burning mana.”
Ein looked surprised.
“Correct. Do you also know what is most important when burning Aura?”
“Stamina.”
“Remarkable, Leo. Have you studied Aura Studies before?”
“No.”
“Then how did you know this?”
“It’s the most basic essence of Aura.”
People sometimes overlook the essence of the power they use.
Of course, not knowing the essence or principles doesn’t hinder the use of Aura.
However, knowing the characteristics of the power you use makes a significant difference.
Especially with Aura, which is more influenced by the user’s will compared to magic power and spirit energy, there’s nothing better than understanding its essence to draw out mental strength.
“Excellent. I’ll give Selia 5 bonus points and Leo 10 bonus points.”
The other students looked at them with envy.
“Just as Leo said, we use the power generated by burning mana.”
Ein spoke seriously.
“Starting this year, I plan to incorporate Aura Studies into my classes to teach you, the first-year students.”
“Professor! What is Aura Studies?”
“It’s the study of Aura. It’s one of the core subjects at Azonia Academy.”
The first-year students’ eyes lit up at the mention of a new field of study.
“Since today is the first class, we will learn about the application of Aura. Today’s lecture will be on Aura Step.”
Aura Step is a technique that focuses Aura in the legs to maximize jumping power.
‘Aura Step, huh.’
Leo’s eyes lit up.
It was a concept that didn’t exist in the era when Kyle lived.
“Aura Step can be learned by anyone who possesses Aura. However, the effectiveness varies greatly depending on proficiency.”
Ein lifted his foot.
A silver Aura shimmered at his toes, and he stood in mid-air.
The students gasped in amazement.
Ein walked lightly in the air and said,
“I will now explain the principles of Aura Step.”
Ein’s lecture on Aura Step began.
‘The principle of using Aura isn’t much different.’
When Aura strengthens the body, it naturally increases physical strength.
Aura Step can be seen as focusing this body strengthening on the legs.
While Ein was guiding the students, a messenger entered the training ground.
“Professor Ein, Professor Bethes is looking for you and Assistant Professor Claria.”
“Professor Bethes? I understand.”
Nodding, Ein told the students,
“The assistant professor and I will be away for a moment. Practice Aura Step.”
With that, Professor Ein left.
“Leo, do you want me to teach you Aura Step?”
Selia approached with a mischievous smile.
Leo asked with a flat expression,
“Are you going to make me call you ‘miss’?”
“Would I be that cheap?”
Selia crossed her arms and smiled.
“I have an earlier birthday than you, so call me ‘sister’ once, and I’ll help you.”
“I won’t learn from you; you’re dirty and cheap.”
“What? As a class representative, you can’t even use Aura Step? Pathetic.”
Someone interrupted their conversation.
Turning around, they saw Duran Moira, the top student from the Central Exam, standing there.
Duran looked at Leo and clicked his tongue.
“To think someone like you is the class representative. I can’t understand Lumeren’s standards.”
“Are you unhappy that I’m the class representative?”
As Leo stepped forward, Duran curled his lips.
“I’m not unhappy. I just find it lamentable that someone who can’t use Aura Step is the class representative.”
Duran looked at the other students with annoyance.
“It’s not just you. There are more than a few who can’t use Aura Step. I’m worried about the dignity of the entire class.”
Some students got angry at his words.
But they didn’t easily confront him.
After all, he was the top student.
Among the nearly 500 first-year students, he was undoubtedly one of the top ten.
To Duran’s words, Leo replied,
“Why don’t you focus more on your dignity if you aim to be a hero?”
“Dignity? Are you talking about a hero’s dignity to someone from a hero’s lineage?”
The knight principality of Moira, where Duran belonged, was founded by Dior Moira, a knight hero known as the Golden Sword, 50 years ago.
Duran, who had pursued the path of a hero since childhood, was proud of his strong qualities as a hero.
“What does a hero’s lineage have to do with it?”
“It matters. A hero is someone chosen.”
“I disagree. I think a hero is someone who doesn’t give up.”
“To hear such a dreamy talk from a class representative is pathetic.”
“Are you relying too much on your lineage?”
“To me, lineage is just an additional factor. I believe in something else.”
“What is it?”
“Skill, Leo Flaub.”
Whoosh!
Duran closed the distance to Leo in the blink of an eye.
The other students were amazed by his incredible speed.
It was a speed that most students couldn’t even attempt.
However, Leo smiled.
“You’re not that fast.”
“I guess I need to show you what class is.”
Duran grinned viciously.
“If you’re that confident, why don’t we have a race to see who’s faster?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Duran Moira. It’s absurd to have a race with someone who hasn’t even learned Aura Step.”
Selia frowned and interjected, and Duran said with a satisfied smile,
“Selia Gerdinger, I had a question for you.”
“What is it?”
“Why did Leo Flaub become the class representative?”
“How should I know?”
“Isn’t it because the top students from the West were inadequate, so this guy stood out?”
Chelsea, who had been among the minor students, stepped forward, curious about the situation.
“Did you just call my brother inadequate?”
“I’m just stating the facts. Chelsea Levalin. I had high hopes for the two great hero families of the Lodren Empire, but to think they would give the class representative position to someone like him. I’m honestly disappointed.”
Selia smiled coldly.
“You must be pretty upset about not becoming the class representative. Have you considered that it’s because you were inadequate?”
“If I had been in the same position, this guy wouldn’t have become the class representative.”
Duran said confidently with a haughty expression.
“This guy only became the class representative because of luck.”
“Let’s go, Leo. We don’t need to listen to such nonsense.”
“Agreed.”
Chelsea, who could be considered an arch-rival to Selia, agreed and pulled down the skin under her left eye, sticking out her tongue at Duran.
“Being protected by girls.”
The students from the Central region, who supported Duran, jeered.
Leo smiled.
“I accept the challenge.”
“Leo!”
Selia scolded.
“He’s gone this far; it would be rude to ignore him. Besides,”
Leo grinned, showing his teeth.
“I need to show this guy what class is.”
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