Watching the colors flow around my body and wrap me in an almost celestial light felt like something straight out of an anime from back home. Turning around felt effortless. No longer facing the tree, now toward the clearing, I took a step.
* WOOSH *
Before I could properly process it, I had gone through what seemed to be the equivalent of over 20 steps in one. My body was more than just light—it was completely effortless to perform any movement at all. My body nearly moved independently of my intended actions, as if I wasn't at all used to its new power.
" Haruo! What's going on? "
My excitement just couldn't be contained.
" When you experience an Aura awakening, your body pours out all of its soul energy in one violent burst. If the awakening is done incorrectly, you'll suffer. If it's done correctly, you'll feel lighter. But... "
Haruo must've stopped as he watched me begin to scale a tree. At first, I had been climbing with my hands, hooking my fingers into the crevices of the tree and grabbing onto the branches as they appeared in my hand's way. Eventually, I started pressing my feet against it, beginning to kick myself up the tree and flipping, catching one of the branches, and fully hoisting myself on top of it, perching.
" You seem to have awakened to an especially strong reserve of energy deep inside yourself. It's like you've gone into an overdrive. "
" Well! I've never felt more alive! "
Standing fully, I looked out over the trees. I had gone incredibly high, towering over most trees. I looked down at the ground, it must've been at the minimum 50 down.
" H-hey Haruo...You know I can feel your thoughts, right? "
" Then you know you can't stop me! "
And I jumped.
My body had been so light but that meant nothing to gravity. I plummeted. However, as I came down, I passed by a branch. As though my body knew exactly what to do, the aura around my body shifted and wrapped around my hand and arm, supporting me as I grabbed the branch.
I swung around it and released at just the right moment for me to fly forward, now heading toward another tree branch. The aura in my hand shifted to my feet, bracing them as I landed on another branch and jumped right off from it.
Previously I was 50 meters up in the air. And now, I was about 20 or so, jumping from tree to tree. Each time I kicked off from a branch, it snapped and flew backward from my strength and momentum. Having run so deep into the forest, I eventually found myself at the other end, stopping on a branch and latching onto the tree so that even if it shook and threatened to break, I'd stay up.
* PANT PANT PANT *
" Are you done, Juri? If you keep it up, you'll run out of Aura. I haven't even told you how to control it yet! "
" Don't worry about it. I've already gotten the hang of it. "
It was simple really. Feeling the flow of the aura around me as I traveled across the forest helped me get a grip on it. There was an energy that came from deep inside the core of my being and it coated my body when I needed it to. And to spare myself the exhaustion, all I had to do was reign it back in and pull it right back into its container.
Almost immediately after thinking of it that way, the multi-colored aura that surrounded my body faded.
" You... do understand it. "
" Yeah. I figured it out while I was jumping. But look, Haruo—check out this view! "
Stretching out for as far as the eye could see where mountain ranges stacked behind each other. Hills and valleys formed something absolutely beautiful. And the river that traveled up from behind Onnohart and up into the mountains seemed to glimmer with specks of life and material beauty.
Glistening, the world seemed to stop just for a moment all for my eyes to take it all in.
" Stunning. It's beautiful. "
" I guess so, Juri. "
. . .
It wasn't too long before I had gotten down and begun returning to Onnohart.
" If you show off your ability to use and move your Aura, you'll be good to go. There's more to learn but, you won't need it for Killer Bears. "
" I don't know... "
" Without Aura, despite dying, the original Juri was able to kill one. With your extreme boost in capabilities, a Killer Bear would honestly be too easy for you alone. "
Thinking about it, he was right. Working together with other adventurers and being able to use such a bolstering Aura? I'd be fine surely.
The sun had wrapped around the sky and was now on the other side of the world, allowing the moon to come out and say hello. The adventurers would have a full party soon and I had to register. So, once I had gotten to Onnohart, I asked a local where the nearest Guild had been.
I was quite surprised to learn the Guild had been stationed outside of Onnohart due to its facilities being far too large to host inside the town that was already packed full. It served as the Guild for both the capital Asteria and the only other village in the Human Territory, Onnohart.
" Makes sense. "
Haruo commented upon hearing that.
" Shouldn't you already know where it is? "
" We Celestials only care about the macro details. Small stuff like locations of buildings is petty knowledge that can change within one singular year. Pointless to learn. "
Uh-huh...
Shifting my weight, I turned on my heel, the sheathed sword along my back bouncing as I began to run out of the village. If I wanted to make it before the party filled up I would have needed to get there fast. They said it was roughly a five-hour walk away but I didn't have that kind of time.
A full day had already passed so this was the best and only time I had before the remaining slots filled in the morning.
" I guess I'm going to have to use Aura. "
" If you think you can handle sprinting that is. "
" I guess we'll see, huh?! "
A laugh left my mouth as I opened the container that sealed the power inside me. Almost as suddenly as before it came. The golden glow started before fading into a myriad of colors. A heavy wind picked up as I stepped down harder on the ground. Beneath me cracks formed from the force I put into my legs.
Before I had simply been jumping from tree to tree, using as minimal power as possible as I got used to the extreme amounts of newfound strength.
But now? I'll go full tilt.
A smile spread across my face while I darted off. My energy had been depleting fast, running at a full sprint was much harder than simply jumping. However, I thought of an idea. Focusing, I wrapped my Aura around my legs, encasing them fully. Then I focused the remainder of the aura that hadn't been spread to them into my chest. If my body parts became strengthened when wrapped in aura...
" Organ-Strengthening?! Juri what're you doing?! "
Was I doing something wrong? Well, Haruo's words soon started to fade either way. The smile on my face faded, settling into a blank expression. I couldn't see it, but I sure could feel my facial muscles shaping that way. Everything around me started to turn into nothing but a blackscape.
Run. Run. Run.
My brain focused on only running, only advancing to the Guild. Maybe it was the influence of the Aura surrounding my lungs...Or maybe I had just gotten too deep into thought.
However, before I knew it,
" Juri! You're here! Turn off your Aura, now!! "
* COLLAPSE *
Falling, my lungs began to cave in. In front of the Adventurer Guild's entrance, my body started to fold, my insides feeling as though they were going to pop.
" W-What the hell...When...When did I get here...? "
" You cleared a five-hour distance in just two! Calm down and catch your breath, Juri. "
Everything hurt for a moment. While dry-heaving and coughing, a hand came down onto my back. As it rubbed my back, I felt a wave of relief and pressure lift off me. With one of my eyes shut tight and my other wavering, I looked up to see the person touching my back.
" It'll be alright, man. Breathe. In and out, y'know? "
Feeling my organs finally get a chance to rest, I couldn't help but feel really relieved.
" T-Thank you...Haah...I almost died! "
Leaning my head back, I lost balance and fell onto my butt, coughing a bit and laughing.
" I ran from Onnohart—not a good idea! "
" You ran all that way here? No wonder you're all out of breath. Drink this! "
The man helped me stand while also handing me a bottle of water. Once I had fully stood, I noticed he was extremely tall—easily over seven feet or 220 centimeters.
" You're huge! "
" Haha, yeah! I'm from the Giant Clan. Name's Ricky! But you should call me 'RJ'! "
" RJ, huh? Alright! I'm Juri Zo, it's great to meet you! "
" Likewise, Juri! Anyway—what're you here for since you ran all this way? "
" I want to become an Adventurer as soon as possible! I've got to join in on a Killer Bear extermination party for Onnohart! "
Ricky, or RJ, looked stunned for a moment. As if he couldn't believe someone would run from their village JUST to participate in an extermination party.
" A lot of gusto, huh? "
" You could say that! But I just have a score to settle with 'em! Besides, I plan to become the strongest either way! "
Turning away from RJ, I looked up at the guild building I had stopped at. It was grand and large. RJ's appearance matched well with it. An armored attire that had leather bits under it, protecting parts that had to be covered in leather rather than plated armor due to joint movement.
Though, surprisingly enough, he seemed to be wearing light gear. Maybe it was because he was of the "Giant Clan" and didn't require heavy armor.
The Guild Hall was large, about as big as what I would imagine a town hall itself to be. Around its side had been multiple fields presumably for training as I could see multiple dummies around. Most people who stood in the fields were doing their physical training though, primarily running laps or pumping out calisthenics.
" Amazing... "
" Yeah, it's big. You should head on in—the receptionists work twenty-four-seven around the clock! They're quite efficient. "
" Good to know! Thank you! "
Taking another sip of the bottle handed to me, I attempted to give it back. However, he shook his head and with a smile told me to keep it just in case. I nodded to him, slightly bowing as I walked up the stairs and into the Hall.
" You've got a knack for meeting useful people, Juri. "
" Are you including yourself in that, Haruo? "
Haruo remained silent after my inquiry.
Upon entering the Guild, immediately my senses were loaded up with all sorts of things. I could feel the hardwood flooring underneath my boots, I could see the many Adventurers and Guild workers moving about in one cohesive flow. Then I could even smell the aroma of the meals and drinks that swept through the place.
Some of the food looked so good I could damn near taste it.
And all at once, I could hear the sounds of men and women hustling about, jovial, busy, or otherwise. I felt as though I had been dropped into a fantasy world experiencing this.
* AHEM *
Someone had stepped up to me, clearing their throat gently.
" Hello, young man. Are you here for something? A job request? Or maybe... "
I was indeed a young man and I had been carrying a sword along my back. Maybe that tipped the older man wearing a rather snazzy butler-esque outfit off to what I had actually been there for.
" I want to become an Adventurer! "
He looked at me a bit surprised. I was no short guy, maybe around 172 centimeters or so. But his disposition after I had spoken up about my goal seemed to change. He almost towered over me.
" Are you sure you want to go down this path? It's covered in blood. "
Maybe it was some sort of intimidation tactic. However, this path had been the only way to reunite with my friends. There was no way in hell he'd turn me away from it.
Though, sometimes I wish he did.
" Absolutely! I wouldn't come here if I didn't think I could hack it. "
" Then surely you must be aware of the rules. You may only become an Adventurer if you can use Aura. Or...if you're unaware of what that is, you can challenge one of our fine Adventurers and score three points of contact against them. "
I hadn't at all been confident in my ability to fight...So...
" Juri, be careful. If you use your aura excessively, you could hurt yourself. You went pretty hard earlier. "
* BREATHE *
Slowly, the rainbow glimmer left my body. At first, it was a steady flow, however, soon, it became too much for me to control. The container that held my Aura had come rushing open, pouring out. Aura enveloped my body and consumed my figure.
" What the hell!? "
" That kid—he's glowing like crazy! "
" His Aura is so strong it's visible?! And so many colors!! "
Almost instantly, I was gassed. My Aura dissipated and my body collapsed again, falling to one knee.
Multiple Guild workers rushed to me, all dressed similarly to the man who had approached me. Crouching down, a few rubbed my back while the others tried to see if I had been verbally responsive.
" Still too early for you to be using Aura again. You did use Organ-Strengthening. "
" Organ-Strengthening... "
" What was that?! "
Suddenly, the first man crouched down to my level, looking me straight in the eyes.
" What did you say? "
I had accidentally spoken out loud. It seems I did something rather silly when using my Aura on my lungs.
" I used my Aura...to strengthen my lungs. I had to run from Onnohart to here...So...It seemed smart to strengthen them. "
The Adventurer's Guild went silent.
" W-what...? "
"Did I do something wrong?" That was all I could think.
CHAPTER 14 END