" Yesterday, we talked about the fundamentals of aura—how it enhances your body based on your fighting style. Today, we'll move into the next stage: Aura Enhancement. This is where things get more personal."
She raised her palm, and a soft violet light pulsed across her skin. The aura shimmered like flowing silk, focused entirely on her hand.
"Aura Enhancement is not about having more aura—it's about using what you have efficiently. You will learn to concentrate it, shape it, and guide it with precision. Some will coat their fists in it to strike harder, others may create a thin barrier to deflect attacks. There's no single path—only what suits you."
She gestured, and soft concentric circles lit up around each student—training sigils embedded in the floor.
"Stand inside your mark. These sigils will react to your aura. The more control you exert, the brighter they'll glow. But don't just try to push energy into them. Listen to your body, and let your aura respond."
The students obeyed, stepping into the circles. Aria's voice remained calm but authoritative.
"First, close your eyes. Inhale slowly. Feel the aura inside you. Then, try to push it to your dominant hand. That's your first exercise—localized enhancement."
Most students began to focus, some more visibly confident than others. Vikram, of course, immediately flared his aura, his circle glowing brightly within seconds. He shot a smug glance toward Rudra.
Rudra, meanwhile, stood still, hands clenched and brows furrowed in concentration. He could feel the aura in his chest—like a dormant fire—but no matter how much he tried to guide it to his hand, it stayed still, stubborn.
Aria paced past him, casting a subtle glance. She didn't speak, but a faint nod encouraged him to keep trying.
"You won't get it on the first day," she spoke to the class, though Rudra knew the words were meant for him. "The process is not brute force. It's self-awareness. Learn to trust the flow, not control it."
As the session continued, students began forming shimmering outlines over their hands, arms, or shoulders. Some even experimented with minor techniques—projecting force or forming a momentary barrier.
Aria stopped beside Anika, who had faint orange flickers running across her fingers. "Your flame affinity is beginning to respond," Aria noted softly. "Don't rush it. Let the aura settle before you command it."
Anika smiled slightly, nodding in understanding.
The session lasted another thirty minutes. By the end, most students were drenched in sweat—not from physical effort, but sheer mental exhaustion. Only a few managed decent control.
Rudra… barely felt any glow under his feet.
As the sigils deactivated, Aria addressed them once more. "Aura control will define how far you can go in the path of cultivation. Some of you will struggle. That is fine. This is not a race. It is a journey inward."
Then she turned her gaze briefly toward Rudra.
"Those who begin with nothing often rise the highest—because they have to understand every step."
The bell rang, signaling the end of the class. Students began to file out. Aria, however, called out one last instruction.
"Tomorrow, we will begin aura-resonance drills. Be well-rested. You'll need both patience and grit."
For the next week, classes rolled on with a steady rhythm—morning aura theory with Instructor Aria, body awareness and reflex with Instructor Surya, and the occasional surprise lectures from Kael on battlefield etiquette. The students were slowly growing into the shell of future warriors, learning to feel their aura, push their limits, and embrace the new life that came with awakening.
But now, it was Saturday—the day of their very first one-on-one combat assignment.
The tension in the air was thick as all first-year students gathered inside a circular combat hall.
Standing at the center were Instructor Arvind, Aria, Kael, and Surya—a powerful lineup of mentors watching students entering hall with thoughtful expressions. Instructor Arvind stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back, radiating authority.
"Silence. Everyone, quiet down," he commanded, voice like steel slicing through the murmurs. The crowd hushed instantly.
"None of you want to wear those iron bracelets again, right?" he added with a sharp look. That got a few nervous chuckles and a ripple of nods—everyone had only gotten rid of them yesterday. The heavy metal cuffs had become a symbol of exhausting drills and sore limbs.
Except for one.
Rudra, standing off to one side, still had the iron bracelets locked around his wrists.
A few students gave him confused or pitying glances, but he didn't flinch. It was Instructor Surya's instruction—keep the weight on. "If you want to match those with aura-enhanced muscles, you'll need to put your body through more effort," Surya had said. Rudra had simply nodded. If this was the only way to bridge the gap, he'd bear the weight.
Instructor Arvind continued. "As you all know, this will be your first combat test using your innate aura skills. Today, you will fight wearing the Combat Belt."
He gestured to a row of assistants handing out sleek black belts lined with glowing sensors.
"This belt is designed with modern tech and calibrated to your stats for below level 10. It absorbs lethal force and monitors your health during battle. When it evaluates that your vitality drops below the threshold—approximately 60% damage—it will automatically end the match by turning red. That's a loss. If both fighters are still standing after ten minutes without it turning red, the duel is considered a draw."
The students whispered nervously among themselves, strapping the belts on. Arvind, the senior-most instructor for first-year students, raised a hand again for silence.
"Matches will be random. Your performance will directly affect your standing for the next set of training squads. So… try not to humiliate yourselves."
A sly grin tugged at Instructor Kael's lips as he leaned toward Aria and whispered, "Let's see who shines and who panics."
Aria simply crossed her arms, eyes scanning the students, lingering briefly on Rudra.
Surya stood at the back, arms folded, observing silently like a hawk. His eyes didn't show concern—only focus.
The students' names began appearing on the central display board, flashing pairings as the crowd murmured with rising tension.
"Vikram vs. Varsha"
"Ranjeet vs. Jasleen"
"Anika vs. Sohan"
"Rudra vs. Meera"
"Rahul vs. Tanmay"
"Kritika vs. Ishan"
"Sneha vs. Devraj"
Eyes turned to the main stage as the first fighters stepped forward. Vikram, confident and broad-shouldered, strode up with his gleaming double-edged Khanda, the edges of which were already crackling with faint arcs of lightning. His element: Lightning. And he had already reached Aura Level 2, a fact he made sure everyone knew.
His opponent, Varsha, was lithe and quiet, holding a sleek blue-colored bow. Her element was Water, and she stood at Aura Level 1. She adjusted her stance at the far edge of the platform, clearly intending to maintain distance.
The signal horn blared.
Vikram dashed forward, lightning swirling around his blade, closing the gap with shocking speed. Varsha barely had time to release a single arrow before he was in melee range.
She raised her bow defensively, using it like a staff to block his downward strike. Sparks flew as lightning clashed against aura-hardened wood. The audience gasped as Varsha was flung back several feet, skidding across the floor.
She rolled, fired two more arrows, then tried to reposition—but Vikram was already there, grin wide, blade raised again.
The match was one-sided. Despite her efforts to keep him at bay, Varsha was forced to block with her bow repeatedly until her Combat Belt glowed red.
"Winner—Vikram," Arvind announced.
The hall erupted with mixed reactions—cheers from some, frowns from others.