Soul of Blades - Chapter 22: An Aura of War (Patreon)

Authors note: longer chapter than usual, almost 4k words!

Lyra, the group's leader, loved recounting stories of the battles and bloody conflicts she'd taken part in before and during her time with her team. Her animated gestures and passionate words would bring past or ancient wars to life. It was through her tales that Alex learned about the grandeur of his new world. She often spoke of the city Elderhallen, and its 'Violet Spires' reaching for the sky like a hand of giants under the sun. She recalled its grand halls, filled with scholars engrossed in magical tomes and relics. Of how its streets buzzed with goods from every corner of Pyra.

And most of all, she remembered her glory.

"The battle of Violet Pages, in Elderhallen. I was there, you know.” She reminisced to Alex, aiming to fill his ‘gaps in memory’. “The deep halls have always been said to hold heavily guarded tomes. Sacred things that grant great magic to whoever reads them- or take their souls should they be unable to bear the strain of the tomes’ blessing.” She seemed to visibly shudder at the thought before continuing. “A tyrant of greed, his men, and his God sought to sack the city and claim every tome and pound of gold within.” Lyra continued, her voice steady yet growing animated by the second. "It triggered a war. The largest I’ve ever experienced. A vast battlefield stretching across the horizon. Many forces met under a crimson sky. Thousands died to protect the enchanted parchments.”

That sounds like the crusades… men dying for profit, disguised as a religious crusade. Considering her words, Alex felt sick at the thought of thousands dying over something as meaningless as gold. Gold that would most likely only truly fill their leaders' pockets. In his opinion, his life was worth much more than some pretty metal rocks, no matter how they packaged it. “That sounds…” he began to speak his mind, but Lyra interrupted him.

“It was glorious.” She said, looking upwards as if glimpsing some distant memory of slaughter, dimples forming as a genuine smile painted her features.

Alex would’ve found her beautiful in that moment if it wasn’t for her clear psychopathy. Okay… so she’s totally nuts. But maybe that’s just normal for this world, like the Middle Ages. He mused. “Hundreds dead? Good, less mouths to feed!” Or something like that. He was starting to get an idea of the kind of world he’d found himself in, but he had to know for certain. “Do wars of that scale happen often then?” He asked curiously.

Lyra seemed to sulk, “In these lands, rarely. We’ve spent over a decade in peace, with only small skirmishes occurring here and there. The neighbouring lands are lucky to be locked in war with the endless enemy. But us, not so much. In these lands there are no real wars to speak of. The royals would not allow it, and they were too powerful to disobey.“ A look of rebellious frustration flashed across her features for the barest of moments, which she quickly schooled.

”The Endless Enemy?” Alex enquired, capitalising each word with his face a mask of curiosity. That sounds like a point of concern, he thought.

Lyra waved a hand in response as if completely disinterested in the topic. “A foe that attempts to conquer foreign lands, but not ours. Nothing for you to worry about. We have no threats of such magnitude. In these lands, the great wars ended with the spires' victory.” Her mood seemed to darken, before brightening up again. “But with this ‘system’ granting every man, woman, and babe a path to quick power, there will likely be many tyrants, many new foes, and many great wars to come!” She giggled and drew her sword, practicing a set form that seemed both alien and impressive to Alex.

So according to her. It's been mostly peaceful but the system’s wrecked it, setting everyone back to zero mana and zero power. He studied her practice swings, thinking her quite talented before returning to his thoughts. Now it's like the gold rush, she says. Except it’s the whole world rushing instead of just one country's state. Sounds like there’s bound to be some people racing to gain levels and become the new royals, instead of racing to gain gold and wealth like the rush back on earth. It painted a picture of a world of opportunity, violence, and inevitability.

So political instability with a touch of anarchy. Nice, just what I needed. Alex thought derisively.

Confusing his stern look for quiet anticipation, Lyra commented. “I’ve seen how you cherish your blade and still practice your swings despite losing everything.” She pointed towards the sword still in his grip and met his gaze in a misguided attempt at comforting him. “The war, perhaps you would’ve loved it.”

“Picture it,” she started, her hand whipping out and then pulling back swiftly before she spoke, as if mimicking arcane gestures, or hurling fireballs. “In the Great War, the Mages came first, they always did. From a distance, mind you. The opening volley.” Lyra reminisced excitedly. “You see, wars of aura, magic, and such are different from skirmishes with blades, and mages are generally considered the bane of the weak. It was the same in the tutorial realm, Mages kill tens of men from a distance. They’re like overpowered bowmen, drawing on their storm within, always unleashing their fury in war.”

Her eyes turned grim. “And back then magic roared through the battlefield." She said, with some skill from her ‘Stone Warden’ class causing the ground beneath them to tremble.

She slapped her hand on the ground, sending a small shudder of rippling earth through the gathered group. "Beasts, monstrous, colossal, joined the fray. Their impact shook the very earth we stood on. A presence that, even now, still scars the land."

“Then, once the beasts and mages had hammered the enemy's forces and caused enough disarray, the knights charged next, and we were a wall," she said. "Unyielding, undaunted." The campfire flickered in her eyes, casting shadows across her fierce countenance.

Her hands clashed together.

A resounding clap.

"Steel met steel. It was a concert of chaos."

Next, she swept her arms apart, painting invisible arcs in the air. The group watched, then- their attention rapt.

Her fist clenched, a raw power exuding from her simple action. “Enemy knights, steadfast, drove into our lines in retaliation, breaking our formations. A lone enemy knight- a master- broke through and scattered my men."

Her voice lowered.

She reached towards the fire, a sword hilt gripped tight in her hand.

"With a blade in hand, I charged."

Her hand mimicked a firm grip. "Opposite me stood the warrior, his stature imposing, a relic of our lost era. An Aura knight, like I was."

She paused at Alex’s confused expression as if suddenly remembering his amnesia. “Oh. Of course you don’t know what that is. You see, Aura was strength, drawn from the world's mana and made our own. It refers to two things; the first is the ability to absorb the mana of the world into your being, through meditation or more advanced techniques- absorbing and infusing your entire being with mana. The second and most important thing ‘Aura’ refers to is the ability to use your body's muscles, bones, and essence to consume your mana to momentarily gain strength. Through the body consuming mana to empower yourself you could gain the strength of tens, hundreds, or even thousands of men- depending on your mastery over technique, or the school of Aura followed.” She gestured in a wide sweep, addressing all of them. “Kier has touched on its similarities to the system, and I agree. Aura is like an advanced version of the system's stats, Alex. Except it’s limitless in its application and freely adjustable once mastered. Unfettered and unbound strength at a moment's notice. It’s truly superior. It could allow a single man to win wars, and my opponent, the knight, was renowned for having used Aura to do so before.”

“He was skilled, with more strength than I.”

She raised her arm slowly, demonstrating. "As our blades met, and sparks flew. Mana coursed through me, consumed by each muscle, seeping into my bones and vanishing, turning into my strength.” She continued, her voice steady. "My swings grew faster, stronger, my movements a blur, as the world's mana strengthened me with each breath.”

A pause, a moment. "As did his. His talent was unmatched, a master of aura, commanding the strength of legions of men in his small frame. He moved fast, and so did I. The world seemed to stand still as we fought, all else failing to match our movements. Arrows moved slowly like oxen before us, and fire fell with the speed of feathers. It was as if we fought while frozen in time, and the few that could match us were spread too far across the battlefield to intervene.”

“Tell him how it ends already!” Finn rudely interrupted, startling Alex as he suddenly appeared at his side as if sprouting from his shadow. I think that’s exactly what he did, Alex thought as he stared at the way his shadow fluctuated strangely before it settled to match his movements. He had felt a chill a moment before Finn appeared, as if someone had walked over his grave- that was probably the sensation of Finn travelling through his shadow, he realised.

Finn interjected once more and although Alex couldn’t see his face, he could practically hear the man grinning. “For the rest of us, the system is pretty great. I never learned magic a day in my life but now I’m practically a wizard! Heh.” As if to demonstrate, Finn vanished into the ground in a whirl of shadows, only to reappear in the flickering shade of a tree by their supplies before rummaging through them, pulling out a flask. His permanent grin stretched as he continued, “Let’s hear it then, tell him the ending.” He gestured to Alex, before handing him a flask filled with water. “I’m sure he’s curious, and it’s not like we haven’t heard this one a million times already.”

Lyra rolled her eyes at his provocation and swung her arm, a rapid, horizontal slice through the air. "Sure. In the end my blade met his shoulder, as it always did. It cut through his aura and I won. The strength of a thousand men, defeated." She said sternly and somewhat deflated as Finn grinned in schadenfreude with the satisfaction of ruining the story of his teammate's favourite battle.

“But you said he was stronger than you, better with Aura. How did you win?” Alex asked, leaning backwards. It wasn’t adding up. Without some kind of edge she should not have survived, let alone won a battle against someone that outclassed her.

Lyra smirked, but the motion did not reach her eyes. “The system has taken away our ability to channel Aura, as it has taken all else. You see, Aura has- had many applications. While others were fast with aura, so fast you would not see their blade, and most were simply strong, so strong you couldn’t fend their blows, my aura was always the sharpest. The best. It could sever anything and none could survive, it would cut through any blade or shield when channelled to its limits. It turned his strength against him as he threw himself against my blade. My aura could cut through it all.” She sighed as she sat down before the fire, digging her hands into the ground. “I miss it,” she murmured, so low Alex barely heard the words.

Aura… Alex considered everything she had just told him. A method to consume mana, allowing it to seep into your muscles and cells and be consumed to temporarily strengthen you far beyond your capabilities. That sounds a lot like ‘Mana Burn’ Alex’s eyes widened in surprise at the thought. Did the system give me a nerfed version of Aura? He considered the possibility. She said she could use it as much as she wished, and could even use the mana in the air as a resource. But I can only use Mana Burn for 30 seconds, and it takes all of my mana with a two hour cooldown, and only makes me twice as strong… damn. At least I have something to work towards, maybe I can improve the skill somehow, and break past the system's impulses. Perhaps if he had true and unfettered access to Aura as Lyra described it, he would have a chance at standing against the power of the imperials he saw in his Dao vision.

That would explain why they nerfed it. His eyes widened further, his jaw dropping in shock. Then nobody could hope to compete with them, at least not without a crazy amount of levels, way more than you could hope to achieve in a lifetime. And that’s assuming they haven’t capped level growth, hell, that’s what I would do.

The reality of multiple worlds situations was beginning to gain deeper clarity. But the revelation gave Alex some hope, and a new goal; he had to develop his skills and his class. He had to master them and gain Aura before the imperials arrived.

Feeling renewed and reinvigorated, Alex caught the forlorn droop of Lyra's shoulders, her eyes reflecting a deep sense of loss. Compelled to lift her spirits, he leaned closer, his voice tinged with optimism. "I'm sure there's a skill for it somewhere in the system. An 'Aura' skill that does everything you say and more, it's not gone forever." Lyra's eyes, upon hearing this, held a faint trace of hope.

She sat back, her tale finished, her energy expended. Around her, her group sat. Finn yawned and lay on his back while Ayla held some game over the campfire. Kier was some distance away in deep concentration as he tried to alter the functions of his skills. They soon began to set up camp for the night, with Fin directing Alex, showing him how they functioned as a group and set up tents, not that Alex needed instruction. But it turned out he did because he couldn’t concentrate- he was still enthralled by the concept of Aura, his breath held in the wake of her tale.

He would need to get her to teach him more about it, maybe he could use any lesson she could give on Aura to improve his ‘Mana Burn’, the skill seemed almost identical to it- if much weaker and only half of the equation. But if he learned more about what he suspected to be its origins, maybe someday he could make it whole.

***

Dawn broke the next morning, casting a warm light over the camp as they packed up. Alex trudged along with the group, squinting at the sun rising opposite to where he expected the town to be. "Are we not going back to town?" he inquired, a hint of confusion in his voice.

“Not yet. We’ve heard reports of a creature causing disappearances,” Lyra explained, her eyes scanning the surroundings. “Mostly criminals, but It usually doesn't take long for these things to start targeting hunters or civilians in the region. A beast of some kind, probably a forest bear. It shouldn’t be too difficult to deal with- The tutorial realm was unclear about the system’s effect on native wildlife, just that they have levels like us now, but no classes. And that they'll get stronger over time the longer they live. Some beasts were said to level quicker than others, let's hope whatever’s responsible for the disappearances isn't one of them.”

With a flex of his will, Alex accessed his Inventory skill.

The first time the skill had activated had been a surprise, it emerged before he’d even begun to utter the words. He supposed that’s why it was placed in the ‘Passives’ section of his status; the skill was always active. Alex had spent some time exploring the skills sensations and grown used to it, to a degree. With his latest activation, his consciousness drifted and connected with what felt like a tiny spatial realm, no bigger than a small room, or porta-potty: those small potable toilets he’d often see in public festivals on television. the space was small and cramped, and if he was physically standing inside it, he doubted he’d even be able to turn around. But it was taller than he was, by a head, and then some, and it could fit plenty of weapons, items, or even armour if there was any to be gained. It was a useful skill, invaluable even. He often explored the phantom sensation of its cramped space, the invisible boundaries of this pocket dimension pressing in around his senses. Aside from the sword he’d placed in there earlier, It was empty. But he didn't plan on it being empty for much longer.

Alex placed his last remaining healing potion in the pocket space and pulled his bronze sword from his inventory with a nudge of intent, the blade landing in his open palm. Gotta get better at that, he thought. He’d already spent some time in the forest practising changing weapons on a whim, trading his sword for sticks and other items mid-swing. He was getting better at it, but the skill he really wanted to develop was pulling his sword from the pocket space and slashing in an instant; marrying the magical skill with Battojutsu’s fundamental quick draw. If he mastered it, it would be the perfect surprise attack, capable of ending battles before they’d even begun. Back on earth, such a move was designed to defeat opponents potentially stronger, faster, or even more experienced than you- removing all the variables an extended battle could bring to ensure your victory as soon as possible.

It was deception, plain and simple.

But all true fighters knew that deception was the essence of combat. Alex had learned that from a very young age. Using feints, positioning, pretending to be injured or falsely stepping in one direction only to move in another, targeting areas to trick your opponents into lowering their guard, and even looking at an opponent's stomach before slashing at their face. Misdirection, creating vulnerabilities and controlling the distance. All of it was deception, and all of it was combat.

He didn’t always deceive while fighting, though. Back on earth, sometimes he just had fun and helped people to grow and improve their skills, or if the bout called for it, destroyed them without needing to exert himself. But when he truly needed to win, or when he found himself swept up in the focused states of combat; he used every tool in his arsenal.

Like when he faced the wolves in the dungeons jungle, and on the mountain in that chaotic race.

Only the inexperienced, or those who watched too many Hollywood movies thought of battles of life and death as some chivalrous endeavor. Fighting could be fun, sure. It could even be noble, depending on the cause or reason. But in a battle of life and death there was always only one winner. Nobility and mercy were something only afforded to the strong- Alex could often leave opponents intact and improved because he was occasionally much more skilled than them- back on Earth. But here in Pyra, he couldn’t afford to take that risk. Any battle would have to be faced without mercy. He would strike swiftly and unexpectedly, and capitalize on the advantage to overwhelm and overcome them without leaving them room to breathe. A tsunami of advantage.

Slash.

He swung his empty hand at speed as if drawing from an imaginary sheath, and a sword appeared grasped in his fingers in a blink of motion. His poise and motions felt right, this time. He was almost there. The move reminded him of an old quote his grandfather had tried to ‘teach’ him over a decade ago. “All warfare is based on deception.” He’d said. “When we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; and when far away, we must make them believe we are near.”

Alex had always known this, that combat was rooted in deception- a game of chess played at high speeds. But it turns out so had the person who originally spoke the words; Sun Tzu, who according to his grandfather was an ancient Chinese military strategist known for his insights into warfare and strategy. Great minds eh? Who knew? He chuckled to himself as he placed his sword back into his inventory.

Slash. He swung again, displaced air popping faintly as his blade materialised at inhuman speeds.

Lyra looked towards him at the sudden appearance of his sword, before immediately accepting its appearance, looking away and pressing forward. She was more used to magic- true magic- than Alex had ever been, and although the sight of a dimensional space was rare to her, it wasn't unheard of.

Alex stored and withdrew his sword a few more times, practicing as they walked. He kept his eyes peeled and strained his senses, ready for whatever they might encounter. He found the idea of facing a creature from this world was both intriguing and exhilarating.

Finn crouched, his eyes scanning the environment. He moved with a stealth that spoke of his keen awareness, his presence almost imperceptible among the trees.

"We're not alone," Finn whispered, his voice low.

Lyra nodded, her eyes focused. "Fan out, but stay within sight."

They moved with quiet coordination, each step measured. Alex felt his heart rate pick up, a sense of anticipation building.

The signs of the creature’s presence became more obvious. Branches were broken and the air carried a unique scent.

"We're close," Ayla voiced quietly. "Be ready."

Alex's hand tightened on his sword, a natural response to the impending danger.

Alex returned the nod, his focus narrowing on the task at hand.

Silence enveloped them as they approached the source of the disturbance. The forest around them was a mix of shadow and light, the tranquillity belying the danger that lurked.

A deep, resonant rumbling growl vibrated through the trees. The sound was raw, filled with primal power.

It repeated again, in consistent intervals.

Lyra raised her hand, signalling them to halt. The group stopped, their formation tight and ready.

As they edged closer, the underbrush gave way to a clearing. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating patterns on the forest floor.

“So that explains why most of the predators have fled the area.” Keir exhaled and glanced at Alex, a subtle nod acknowledging his presence. "It's a Griffon, they can be unpredictable at the best of times. Stay sharp."

Alex followed his gaze towards the massive creature resting at the base of a large Redwood tree.

In the clearing, the griffon rested, its vast form sprawled across the ground. Each rumbling breath it took stirred the dust and small leaves around it. Its feathers, a mix of gold and brown, gave it an almost regal appearance. But Alex didn't miss how metallic edges as sharp as blades lined the corners of its wings and flashed as the sunlight played off its feathers, revealing faint scars, broken barbs, and several broken feathers otherwise hidden beneath the shadows of its wings.

The area around the griffon was a jumble of bones and remnants of various creatures, large and small. There were traces of a battle; torn and crushed trees lay scattered, and the earth was scarred and gouged in sections as if the beast had battled something equally ferocious. Tangled among the surrounding bones were pieces of armour: a rusted helm, a shield split in two, the metal dulled and bent. Finn, with a cautious step, directed his gaze to a particularly large set of remains, partially concealed by a crater in the clearing. "Bear," he mouthed silently to Alex. Stepping closer, Alex noted the sheer size of the bones and flesh, piecing together their former shape – unmistakably a bear, but unlike any bear he'd ever seen before, now reduced to mere fragments after facing the griffon.

The group paused at the clearing's edge, every member poised for action. Watching, waiting for signs of aggression from the creature.

The griffon, oblivious to their approach, rolled to its side in deep slumber, its back exposed to the group as it basked in the light of the sun.

In that instant, the tension broke, and they stepped into the clearing.