Breaking Through

Deeper into the forest, Joshua climbs up a tree, mounting his feet on to its branches. Digging his fingertips into their dark-wood bark, the wood gives way. “Where the hell is the blue flora at? I've climbing trees for a good half hour.” Gritting his teeth, he lifts his leg, but his left foot misses its mark as he tumbles to the ground. “Urgh.” exhaustedly he lets out a sigh. “I hate this so much!” Draxis snickers from within.

“I mean it's your plan, you could have just taken your squad and ran away.” Joshua rolls his eyes in annoyance. Standing back to his feet he continues to look around.

A bit later, he’s finally successful. Looking down into his bag he smiles. “Thats everything. Hell, I even found those numbing mushrooms.” Giggling like a school girl, he closes it, remounting it to his side.

“Now I just need animal bones.”

“That’s a strange requirement.”

“Don’t ask me, I didn’t come up with these holy rituals. That would have been the mystics from the Serox. I’m just hoping they’ll have the same effect utilizing aura instead of aether.”

Shaking his head, he continues his way across the forest. Sensing around with his aura, it takes him a while, but he finds a couple boar in the distance. “Guess they'll have to do.” Smirking, he nicks his fingertip, drawing a sound deafening rune onto his palm. Creeping up close, he eyes the beasts. “1, 2, 3, 4. That should be plenty.”

He readies to race towards them as an arrow launches from on high pinning one to the ground.

Panicked, he takes a dagger from his side. Eyes burning red, he whips his arm back. Swinging forward with momentum he releases his grip as it pierces another's skull, nailing it between the eyes as the rest of them scatter.

Looking up, a familiar dark elf jumps down holding up a note. “It didn't take long to contact me now, did it? So, what’s this about Andric?” taking a step forward her gaze darkens.

Taking a step forward Joshua attempts to walk over to a pile of rocks to sit down, but Layrn blocks his path. “You don’t want to take another step unless you want to be in that wolf’s direct territory. It’s taken me some time, but I’ve mapped it out.”

recognizing the warning, the two of them head back the way Joshua came continuing their conversation. Eventually they’re led to a large spring with a thick canopy overhead. Taking a seat, the foliage stifles the sun’s rays.

“So, Andric is directly under the influence of the arch-demon Astaroth?” Joshua nods his head.

Pulling out the journal he recorded his findings in; he passes it over to her. Taking the book, she flips through it, as every page piques her curiosity more. “When did you discover this information, Joshua?”

“Yesterday night, me and Wilhelm infiltrated his lower office. We found a former cadet's body, a ritual chamber, as well as his personal study.” Closing her eyes, she turns to him dead serious.

“How are you alive? If he has the assistance of an arch-demon, you should be dead.” Nodding in agreement he chuckles.

“That would be the case if not for this.” Pulling out his left hand from its glove he displays a fading scar. “I used blood magic to make us invisible, its painful but it works.”

“That cannot be healthy kid, having to draw blood any time you need a power amp.” Shaking her head, she draws her blade placing her hand on its pommel as it starts to glow. “Blaze” she calls out as a coating of flame spreads across its metal. Swinging it down, the fire arcs, scorching the earth beneath. A manic smile spreads across her face as she quickly dispels the fire.

“This is how sigil magic is supposed to be used, kid. You're supposed to channel the mana around your body and expel it through words of power. It took me years to be able to do just this. It doesn't help with our entire territory is so mana barren.” Sheathing her blade, Layrns skin glistens from the heat she was emanating.

Joshua hesitantly backs up as she furrows her brow. “I didn’t have the time to learn it. When you’re thrown to the wolves you do what you must.”

“You're only 13 brat.” she pops her knuckles.

Running his left hand through his hair he sighs. “

“Joshua, that doesn’t explain how you can use sigil magic when you HAVE AURA. Your body should have destroyed itself by now. Mana and aura can't coexist inside of one's body. Didn't your father teach you that.”

Joshua pinches his brow in mild annoyance. "He did, but he doesn't know I can use blood magic, and besides like i said before it doesn't use mana at all. Can you not tell with your elven eyes.” Layrn's gaze turns sharp. "Watch your next words very carefully brat." Hissing under her breath, her fists clench.

Joshua shudders, but stands his ground. “As you also know, mana is naturally spread throughout most of our world both within living beings and nature itself. Most of the people with mana are either members of the Zephyr clan or are High Elves due to higher chance of having mana heart. Outside of them it's still possible just extremely rare. Whereas only those with the blood of our founder can use Aura, severing the capability of using mana.”

Layrn waves her hand in annoyance, tapping her feet. “Enough history lessons, I already know all of that! Get to the point.”

Running his hands through his hair he groans. “In layman’s terms runes bypass the need for mana. From what you’ve seen, said price is one’s life force. The stronger the rune is, the more taxing it is on the body.”

“Firstly, why the hell would anyone think that was a good idea and how much of this do you actually know?” Layrn raises her voice in frustration.

“Well, frankly speaking it’s only supposed to be a last resort. I just haven’t had much of a choice. As for how much I know, my teacher wouldn’t teach me too much due to my constitution.” Joshua shifts his body around slightly worn out.

Layrn takes a good long look at the boy. “Good, being that you still have a lot of room to grow.” Closing her eyes, she inhales before exhaling with a sigh. “If you don’t mind then, tell me who in the world taught you this shit when you are blessed with aura?”

“I already said that I can’t say due to making a blood oath, “Joshua grabs his shirt collar pulling it down, exposing his collarbone. A blood drop tattoo rests just below. It glows a faint red before dimming. Red circuit lines painfully scatter across his body.

“KID, when did that appear?” Draxis screams.

“It appeared after turning myself invisible. I guess that it came back after I started using more intermediate runes.” Joshua tunes him out, returning his focus to Layrn.

“Very well then, so what’s your plan to deal with Andric?” Joshua pulls out the map from his bag, laying it down on a tree stump. He starts to explain.

“Underneath Blackwood is an underground base. Down there, Andric set up demonic sigils, feeding life essence from both cadets and beasts alike. He wants to establish Astaroth’s domain. The only way to counter it is by using totems. That's why I've been collecting natural resources. Once I make them, we just have to wait for his plan to go off.” She nods her head. “Then, reversing the mapping underground on the surface; we can cancel it out.”

“How do you even know this?” Her eyebrows raise.

“I met a mystic of Serox underground. He told me what to do.” Accepting this answer she lowers her guard, placing her hands on her hips.

“What if it fails, what are you four going to do?”Seriously, she gazes into his eyes. “Either we fight and win or we die trying. I refuse to leave my fate in someone else’s hands. Not again.”

Layrn lifts her right hand to her hand curiously.

“Aside from that, I don’t know if anyone here can even take Andric in a fight directly and win. He’s being amped by Astaroth. That’s why we’re going to try and counter his ritual.”

Clicking her tongue she rolls her eyes. “I have to agree with you kid, I don’t think I’m quite strong enough to fight him myself either. But hell, I’m gonna try. No one makes a mockery of my pride.” Snarling, her eyes turn black and white. Looking back at Joshua she closes her eyes, pressing on her temple with both her hands.

“I’ll try to stay near Shiraia for the time being, someone has to protect the other cadets. I doubt Gytha cares about hers and I honestly don’t know if Weil can function without alcohol.”

Standing back up, Joshua stretches his back out. Draxis pipes up from within. “If your plan doesn’t work, why not try breaking Andric’s ritual room instead?”

Joshua remembers the ritual chamber covered in green candles. “Good idea Draxis, but I’ll just have to get through Serox only knows how many demonic beasts to even have a chance to get back down there.” Joshua chuckles in sarcasm.

“Geez kid, that’s harsh. Just trying to help you brainstorm. Last time I saw this ritual Durand killed the guy using it.” Joshua twitches.

Freezing in place, Layrn goes her own way ignoring her student once again talking to him like a lunatic. "And they say I'm crazy..."

Joshua’s voice rings out, “YOU’VE SEEN THIS BEFORE? Why didn’t you tell me?” The nearby birds, startled by the sudden noise, fly off as leaves gently float to the ground.

“I thought I did?” Draxis growls in annoyance as Joshua takes time to calm himself down before heading back to the top of Shiraia.

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A few hours later Joshua makes it back to the front gate of their camp at the summit of Shiraia. His feet drag up the hill, sweat dripping from his brow as he closes his eyes in exhaustion. “Home sweet home… I really want my bed back.” Thinking of his nice soft bed back at their estate, he distractedly opens the gate. Stepping through, an arrow zooms right by his head nailing one of their training dummies as it explodes into a pile of straw.

A look of pure shock spreads across his face. “Did I almost just die?” in a panic, he backs up raising his hands.

Caught by surprise, Susanna walks up to him as she crosses her arms. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“Not particularly, Nice shot though, you’ve gotten a lot better from the last time I’ve seen your shooting.” His attempt at a compliment falls flat as her expression narrows.

“Flattery won’t get you anywhere captain.” Looking at her expression, he droops his and bows in apology.

“I’m sorry Susanna.”

“For what.” Susanna retorts. “Is she really going to make me say it out loud? Ugh.”

“Looks like it, kid, good luck.” Draxis snickers while Joshua racks his brain. “What did I do wrong exactly…Oh yeah.”

“I’m sorry for being a jerk?” Joshua nervously shrugs.

One of Susanna’s eyes begins twitching as she takes a deep breath. “Close enough…” She sighs before briskly getting back to training.

Making his way past her and towards his quarters he hears her mumble something quietly. “Why……like……. dense…….UGHH.” She stomps her feet down. Carrying on with his original plan, he sits down in his dark and cool chamber, stripping down to just his pants.

Calmly getting into a meditative stance, the cold air evaporates the sweat across his body. Taking a deep breath, a dark red glow ripples outwards bouncing off the cavern walls.

“Now to hopefully finish unlocking this third node, as long as I’m not disturbed again.” The aura within his body starts cycling through his lower extremities as they’re guided upwards passing through the first, then through to the second.

—---------------------------------

For the next few hours, both Joshua and Draxis finish re-stabilizing the third node and its connective streams as it begins swirling and lighting up as it sends out a mild shock wave throughout his room.

Vilhelm, who just got back to camp himself, rushes to Joshua’s quarters wondering what the hell happened as he felt the shift in aura. Entering in, he looks around, seeing his captain’s things flung about as his eyes glow a dark red even though they’re shut.

Eying his little brother, he gets a tad bit jealous. His physique was more toned now, alongside his hair which grew out over his ears. Calling out to him, Joshua slowly opens his eyes and turns his head. “Joshua, did you just have another breakthrough?”

“Yep, now we’re even. Three cores a piece.” Joshua smirks standing up, as he walks over to him. Vilhelm looks over his body curiously before having a realization.

“That’s why you grew so fast, you’ve been having breakthroughs with your aura. That’s how you grew so much back at home. Which one was it this time?”

Nodding his head, he stretches his body out lifting his arms over his head. Vilhelm takes a step back. Covering his nose. “You need a shower man, you stink.” Vilhelm waves his free hand in front of his face.

“My bad Vil. I don’t remember this happening last time.” Chuckling aloud, Joshua grabs his knocked over bag.

“I’ve got to tell Wil about this; we’ve got to do something.” Vilhelm mutters to himself as he runs off and over to his brother. However Joshua turns around calling out to him.

“Remember what I told you, activating more of your aura isn’t the solution. Your body has to be able to handle the power. You have the potential, just make use of it.” Making his way past their tent sites and out of the camp, Joshua doesn’t catch Susanna eyeing him up and down while blushing profusely.

After reaching the grove, he takes his pants off, removing his belt as he dives into the water, its warm temperature soothes his aching muscles. Resurfacing, he spreads his arms out, floating atop its surface, properly relaxing for once.

Draxis, feeling the need to comment, opens his ‘mouth’. “I didn’t think that your body would change again kid. I mean because of that curse in your body and not having a proper way of dispelling it, there’s no telling how your body would react.”

“Well, it was always kind of odd how all of my brothers grew big and tall, yet I stayed a shrimp for years. Father had no explanation either, since he was sure I inherited his physique. Nothing ever came of it though, it took my entire life to reach the level I was at with Roxanne. I think I was at least 6 feet tall.”

Wanting to probe his mind Draxis interrupts. “So then why were you scrawny if you could grow that much with her?”

“Unlike my brothers I wasn’t able to produce results. As such, despite protests from my father they only gave me the bare minimum. I’m sure that if I had had proper nutrition as a teen I would have grown faster. All of us had so much potential.” Joshua looks down remembering how most of siblings perished.

“The only two who tried to take advantage of it were Wallace and Dialos. But the two of them never got along, it didn’t help that father wouldn’t teach either one of them his personal swordsmanship: Dragon’s Aerie, he always said neither of them were worthy of it.”

Positioning himself back upright Draxis’s interjects. “’Dragon’s Aerie’ Now that sounds like something Durand would have made. Kid, on the off chance that was a technique passed down, it’s in your best interest to learn it. Although that reminds me, his descendants utilized different fighting forms that used those kind of cheesy names. Do they still exist?”

“Yeah, the branched bloodlines have their own special family techniques. I never got a chance to witness them though. Only the heads, heirs, and overseers know them. Also easier said than done, father is known for being stubborn as a mule. If he makes up his mind about something, it’s almost impossible to change it.”

“Then you just have to prove yourself worthy, Kid. After all, you have the greatest teacher possible.” Draxis lets out a confident laugh, his voice bellowing. "Sure... Ego much."

Running the warm water through his hair and across his face, he wrings it out as it rests against his neck. The water flows down as the sunset shines upon his frame. Eventually an hour passes as Joshua dries himself off. Getting redressed, he climbs back up the mountain.