"Hey, Markus." Johan spoke as he entered the training grounds.

"Johan, glad to see you've made it. How was your magic training?" Markus had, like most of those who lived in the town, become much more invested in Johans magic training since he had gained a mana heart.

"It went well, just started learning elemental magic. Water specifically, as I'm sure you'll be happy to hear about. Man, Anne is getting really good with that sword and shield combo." Johan changed the subject as he looked at his sister doing some technique work on her own.

"Cool. It'd be nice to have excess water. Anyhow, yeah, Anne is rather talented with survival based things, or maybe that's just how hard she works. I wouldn't be shocked if she managed to form her own aura one day." Markus decided to brag a bit about Anne's success as well. "She is also doing well in Finches classes too, I expect that she'll be a great hunter one day, and maybe an even better warrior."

"Hm. I keep forgetting that Finch is also teaching her. I wish I had a bit more time to learn from the man myself, but between this and magic training time is a bit scarce. Ah, That's right, you said something about aura. What is that?" Johan looked at the man with a somewhat quizzical expression.

"Oh? I thought that Nath would have said something by now, but then again, it might not have come up yet I suppose." Markus sighed, then called Anne over as well.

"What's up?" Anne asked as she approached the two of them.

"I was getting ready to explain aura to Johan, and I figured I may as well include you, since you have the talent to potentially awaken it." The two teenagers nodded at Markus before he continued, "Alright. So... Aura... It's similar to magic in a way, as in they both come from mana. Aura is a bit different from magic however in the way that it is able to be gained through immense effort, rather than a lucky coincidence. However, it cannot be controlled the same at all.

Aura is gained through understanding of ones body, and having a really strong body. The reason for this is, the more you understand your body, the better control you have of it. From what I learned of it when I was younger, I got that it is theorized that certain muscles when strengthened to the extreme are able to trap mana in it's raw state and overtime your body adapts to the mana inside it and eventually once it spreads far enough, you can actually control it through intent, allowing you to use it to reinforce the body, or your weapons and tools." Markus explained.

"So, essentially, you get strong and understand your body so you can tell when there is mana inside of it, then you let mana run around in your body until it has established a mesh in your body, then you become able to use it in rudimentary ways?" Johan asked trying to clarify it for his sisters sake.

"Huh, yeah, actually, that about sums it up!" Markus laughed a bit, "This is why we leave complex stuff to mages, you understand it more than us fighter types."

"Yeah, I guess. I will say, it seems strange that no mage has ever studied this. I should ask Nath when he comes back." Johan spoke to himself a bit.

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"What do you mean when he gets back?" Markus looked at Johan a bit confused.

"He had to go do something, he didn't really clarify it though, he just grabbed his staff and jacket and left to go somewhere. He's a strong person so he should be fine. why?" Johan asked.

"Nath is using his staff? He never does that outside of when he needs to shield the village. Must be a mage nearby. Likely a strong one too." Markus glanced at the two students in front of him, "Classes are cancelled for today, you two should go home and stay there, try not to go far from home while Nath is out. If people become aware of Naths absence they might do some messed up stuff." He explained to the two siblings.

"Ah, that's the worry? Alright, that's fine. Let's go Anne." Johan turned to leave, and Anne followed him.

"Is it really that bad?" Anne asked after they had made it to the street.

"Could be. Depends a bit on the people around us. Not all of the people in town are innocent, heck I bet most of them have killed a person before, given what we've been told of this country so far." Johan sighed. "Well, being under house arrest will give me time to practice water manipulation I guess."

"Yeah. I just don't really know what I'm supposed to do in the meantime though." Anne sighed.

"You could study Finches teachings, maybe teach me a thing or two? It helps to teach someone about stuff to understand it better. I could tell you some stuff about magic as well. If aura is actually so similar to magic, you could try to awaken magic using it. I'd also be very interested in seeing how it would work." Johan paused for a second. "You think Markus can use aura? It'd make sense, right?"

"You know, that's true, it does seem a bit odd that Markus would say something about it if he couldn't use it himself..." Anne said. "And I think it'd probably be good to trade some notes a bit. We could get separated while traveling, so it'd be good for you to have a general idea of some survival tricks, and even if I never get the ability to use magic, it'd be good to learn to identify a mages elements and things before engaging if I need to."

"Oh, never even thought that far ahead regarding specifics. I just figured it'd be good to know some things for future use, not really how to use them." Johan laughed a bit. "Maybe Markus was wrong, fighter types are smart, he might have just been knocked in the head too much."

"Haha. Yeah, that checks a bit, Markus does seem a bit dull at times, but keep in mind, he is also really strong, and also understands more kinetically than visually or through comprehension." Anne jabbed Johans side with her elbow, seemingly upset that he would insult their teacher.

"Ouch, and that is true, everyone has their own way of learning I guess." Johan sighed once more. "Anyways, let's just go home for now."

"Alright." Anne smiled, following Johan.

-

Later that night, after spending most of the afternoon struggling to manipulate water, and listen to Anne talk about how to go about hiding ones tracks in the wilderness. Johan lay in his spot on the floor, he was thinking about what might represent him.

He hadn't really thought a huge amount about it, but he really needed to think more about it as he would sooner reach the point of making his first construct. What really made Johan Farmer? Was it his inquisitive mind? No, perhaps it was his luck? Nah that wasn't it either...

His eyes landed on the silhouette of his sister, sleeping a few feet away from him. That was it, that's what really made up Johan Farmer. He fought to protect his family. A bit corny, but he could feel it deep inside of his body, that was what he felt his purpose was. He was to be a shield for his family, and all those he cared for.

Then Johan thought once more of his sister, and then to her shield. He smiled in the dark room. He felt that such a construct would definitely have his intent known to the mana space around him. So with his thoughts finally calmed with the chosen construct, he finally drifted into a rather peaceful sleep.