20 A Lesson in Aura [1]

There were two moons in the night sky, shining down moonlight to the world below them. One shone a warm white glow, while the other shone a menacing red light.

Two moons... I never once saw them back in the village. I learned that it happens every 4 months in one of Weiss' classes. The second moon is only half the size of the first moon, but its color is a shade of red

According to an old myth, the second moon symbolizes the promise of the Demon God. Whatever that is, nobody knows. It's from a very old myth that no one alive today knows what that promise is. However, because it's associated with the Demon God, the Night of Two Moons is considered a bad omen. Something similar to Friday the 13th in my past world. All in all, it's just another stupid superstition.

I only started seeing the second moon when I left. The crystal that 'thing' took back then. What was it? Is that the reason why no one could see the second moon in the village?

I put these thoughts at the back of my head. I have something I need to try right now.

I entered my room and sat on top of the bed. I took out the notebook Rachel gave me this afternoon. I flipped it open to its first page. I started reading it.

It was quite detailed. The breathing pattern is a lot more complicated than the one I'm used to.

The illustrations even showed each muscle and how to distribute Aura to them. What the hell...

Is Weiss a doctor or a butler? This is way too detailed.

I put down the notebook on the shelf beside the bed. I wouldn't be able to memorize the entire thing overnight.

I sat in a meditative position and started the breathing technique.

Short breath, hold, short breath again, hold, deep breath, exhale halfway through the mouth, pause, empty lungs through nose.

Long breath for 2 seconds, exhale while alternating through the nose and mouth.

Many different breathing patterns were mixed and mashed. It was hard to keep up as I had to focus on remembering what to do each time. I was never great at memorization.

I was able to finish 1 breathing cycle after multiple tries, and already I could feel the difference.

The amount of Aura energy I started to accumulate was a lot more than the breathing technique I've been using before.

This just made me realize that the Aura breathing technique I've been using before was really trash.

I smiled brightly and continued to practice the breathing technique until midnight. After that, I fell asleep.

***

"Hold the kettle gently."

I'm already holding it as gently as I can you old fart...

"Not gentle enough. Do you want another smack to the head?"

I instinctively tensed from his warning.

"Your muscles became stiff. Put down the kettle and do 40 pushups."

I sighed.

I put down the kettle on the table and immediately did pushups.

As discreetly as possible, I started distributing the Aura energy to my arms. I wanted to cheat.

But sadly... I couldn't. I still can't use Aura discreetly. Thin white energy wrapped my arms and Weiss immediately saw it.

"Retract your Aura. Do 30 burpees after you finish the pushups. Never become dependent on Aura. Increasing the strength of the body itself is more important."

I just made things harder for myself. Seriously?? Burpees? Those are fucking exhausting to do!

I grit my teeth and swallowed complaints.

I repeatedly said to myself in my head that this is good. More training equals more strength.

After that short self-encouragement, I did the first pushup.

As I performed the pushups, I asked Weiss something that has been bugging my mind for the past week, "What was that back then?"

"What do you mean?"

"That night... you just snapped your fingers and those intruders instantly got decapitated."

"Ah that. I haven't taught you much about Aura, haven't I? Finish the pushups and burpees and I'll start a lesson."

"What about tea making?"

"That can wait. Gaining strength and knowledge to protect and serve Lady Rosaline is far more important."

This old man really has unwavering loyalty, to the point that it gets annoying whenever he tells me that it's a great honor to serve the Montampes ducal house.

I soon finished the pushups and burpees. I was exhausted with sweat dripping down my face. Weiss told me to sit down on a chair. I sat down and Weiss started the lesson.

"First, what do you think Aura is?"

What is Aura... I never thought of figuring out what exactly Aura is. I've simply been taking it for granted. I'll just tell Weiss what I know.

"It's energy that boosts physical capabilities. Right?"

"True, but not entirely," Weiss started using Aura. A deep red crimson-colored energy covered his body. It reminded me of Cole's green Aura, except Weiss' Aura feels deeper and thicker. The pressure his Aura exuded made me gulp.

Come to think of it, this is the first time I saw Weiss' Aura. I've never seen this crimson energy cover his body before, even when the intruders snuck in the manor.

Weiss started his lecture and I listened carefully.

"Aura is a variant of life energy, more accurately, a by-product. Everything in this world that has been blessed by the Breath of the Goddess of Life, has life energy. Aura is something created when that very life energy is stimulated. The resulting Aura energy is then absorbed and stored by the soul."

"So, the breathing techniques are used to stimulate life energy?"

"Exactly."

Is that why those doing yoga are always healthy and fit? Because the breathing techniques stimulate life energy?

I'm guessing Aura is something unique to this world then. I've never seen nor heard about someone doing yoga and gaining superhuman capabilities.

Weiss continued his lecture.

"The quality of the breathing technique defines how much Aura is generated. Extensive knowledge about the body allows you to distribute the Aura more efficiently, which gives you better control and stronger abilities."