Chapter 3

As I dressed in the leather armour and a new cloak I had bought from a tailor, with my sword at my hip and the spear in its holster on my back, and the gauntlets in my earring, I made my way towards the gate that I had myself entered about a fortnight ago. There I found the merchant caravan ready to leave.

"Ah, there you are. We were about to leave without you," the pot bellied merchant said with a laugh. I just snorted. As if he could give up money.

Soon we set off for our journey. It would take us about 3 weeks to get to Farafel, and we would be making 3 stops along the way to restock supplies and sell the merchant's ware. He had hired mercenaries to guard us all along the way, especially from beasts and bandits. I was given a horse to ride. Although it was a bit uncomfortable initially, the muscle memory soon kicked in and soon I was able to get comfortable with it.

"So, what is your name?"

I looked at the burly man on my right. Although he was walking, his height came upto my shoulders while riding the horse. Damn, he was huge. I pondered what to tell him my name was.

"…you may call me Jupiter."

"Hmmm. Is that a code name? Whatever. You look young. Should you be alone?"

" I am orphan."

Technically, I was not lying. My mother died at birth, my father, the emperor, just died, and my elder brother ascended the throne. He then exiled me, because of my affinity to darkness. It was a prejudice I found existed in the world.

"Ah, i see. I'm sorry lass. But you are not alone. Most of us are."

I smiled at the man. Well he seemed nice.

"So what is your name?"

"My name? Hahaha. Thought you would never ask. My name's Holden. Pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine."

"Oh, drop the formalities lass. We are going to be travelling together for three weeks."

As we talked, I found the man to be especially ice. He was apparently an ex-soldier, but then he retired. With his status as a 4 star aura master, he became a pretty influential mercenary, and made his own mercenary company, Red Lions.

"Say, Holden, why are those 3 over there looking at your company with such pathetic stares?"

Immediately his eyebrows furrowed.

"Ah them. They are mages lass. Prideful fools, yet they have the ability to back it up. Three knights are needed to take down one mage, even if he is a whole realm beneath ours. Stay away from them, their arrogance could rub onto you."

My eyes narrowed as I looked at them. However I soon looked back at Holden.

On our third day of camping in the wild I decided to ask Holden a question that pricked my mind since I heard it. Although I had assimilated with the original Adoneous, there were still gaps in my memory.

"Holden, what is aura?"

Holden's eyes widened at me as I asked him my question. Then his eyes flashed with recognition.

"So thats why you never trained your aura! You never knew its existence!"

Shaking his head, he turned back to me.

"Listen close lass. Aura is mana for knights. Although it is considered inferior to magic, I do not believe it. Anyway, it is the art of making an aura core in your body, then manifesting it. It could be used to strengthen your body or your weapons. Once your core becomes the size of a grain, boom, you become a 1 star aura master. Well, thats about the gist of it."

I hummed as he completed his introduction to aura.

"So? How do you make an aura core?"

"Well that's easy you take an aura manual, follow it and make it. Trust me, they are cheap, only low borns and commoners like us want to be knights. Its our ticket out of poverty you know."

Well, it would be a start.

"Holden, do you have a aura manual. I could buy it from you."

"Hmmm, yes I do, but it is costly. Its the one followed by the Imperial knights. But it would be breaking the law."

Oh damn, it was goldmine.

"Oh don't worry. I won't tell a soul. And don't worry about the money either. Just tell me."

Sighing he looked at me.

"You know what? I like you lass. 15 gold, and its yours."

I could not help but make a pun.

"Thats so very kind of you, but I like girls, I'm afraid."

His eyes furrowed, attempting to understand me. As he realised what I meant, he gave off a booming laughter. It made all the people around us tuen towards us in confusion.

This was the first time a genuine smile formed at my lips. Maybe this world was not all bad.