Thrown off balance I meet the ground another time, cursing at myself I scramble to get up. My tutor, Lugh Fomor, is a literal god in the flesh if his name is anything to go by. He apparently wants to make sure that I believe the god part too because so far the entire first day has had one purpose, to kick my mortal ass in every single way possible.

The stern man doesn’t offer any praise but is be quick to point out flaws, as he continues to beat on me. A low throbbing pain cycles through my limbs as I stand again for the umpteenth time, each of the hits feels warm in comparison to the deadened cold of my limbs. I may not exactly respect the man, but I grudgingly admit that he is a professional, needling my defenses and managing to break them, without breaking me in the process.

Doubled over heaving, I raise a hand to halt the onslaught while I try to catch my breath, that doesn't happen. What I do catch is a hook to the gut and another trip to the floor.

Raising his own hand Lugh inspects it letting out a low whistle.

“Well Boy I’m impressed, you can certainly take a beating.”

Teeth clenched my fist slams against the ground as get up again. “Thank you for noticing sir, my sister thinks so too.”, frustration slipping out with every word.

Lugh lets out a hearty laugh at my pitiful attempt at banter. “I saw replays of your sister's debut Boy. If you're a natural at taking punishment then she is a genius at giving it.”

“Was she that good?”, the mentioning of Mia piquing my interest, I forget my frustration, “Would it be possible to see those replays?”

Cupping a hand to his chin Lugh pauses in thought, “Maybe I’ll go over them later in your training, but it won’t help you much. As far as I can see you two won’t be compatible fighting.”

“And why’s that?” Seeing a chance here to catch my breath and satisfy my curiosity, way too good to pass up!

“Your sister has a good amount of mana and overflows with a steady aura for her age. You, on the other hand, have nothing to show.”

“Lady Raven told me the same thing before, but wouldn’t go further into detail, what does that mean for me, not having mana or aura ?”

“Those are really questions for your Master boy, I’m focusing on teaching you the basics first before we go into any of that.” Lugh shakes his head at my question.

“Could I at least get an intro? All I've been told is that mana is the energy of the universe, that isn’t very much to go on…”

Lugh shrugs his shoulders, “If it will sate your curiosity boy, then I’ll give you a quick explanation so listen well.”

“ We don't really know what mana is, it's all a matter for debate. It fills our universe and most of us use it as the base to cultivate our power. Beyond that, it’s physical properties and uses change depending on the will of the user. It’s hard to study something with so many changing variables Boy, back in my youth I studied how it might change, but never came up with any real breakthrough.”

The last detail caught me off guard, “You did research on mana ?”

“Boy, your honor-bound mentor is none other than Lugh Fomor, Warrior, Scholar, Poet, Musician, and Craftsman.” His accusing glare locks onto me, sending a shiver up my spine.

“I’ll forgive your slight this once due to ignorance, but next time I’ll change the lesson to a full overview of my Imperial Titles to better educate you.”

Blistering heat pours over my body for a split second as he finishes his threat, did I just imagine that? Or did he just get so pissed I could feel it from here... Either way a quick reminder to my future self, never question his past again.

“I didn’t mean any offense I swear, I really am interested in how all of this works that’s all. I’ve always dreamed about being able to use magic.” I scurry to make an apology before he uses my face as a doormat.

Settling down Lugh sighs, “Magic is just the basics Boy, forging mana into a predetermined spell pattern is useful for starters, but increases in difficulty the bigger an effect you are trying to pull off. In battle, most don’t have time for a lengthy ritual, and the pay off isn’t worth in my opinion. You could use that time spent learning magic to cultivate your soul instead.”

Happy he's indulging me I ask my next questions. “What does ‘cultivating your soul’ mean then, and where does aura fit into this !?”, My excitement growing with each word.

His large hand pats my shoulder, “Easy boy, one thing at a time. I can tell your eager but your soul is unique remember, I’m not going to give you any ideas that might mess up your progress. Let’s just say it’s how we humans were taught to gain power by his highness The Jade Emperor, it's our ancestry and pride.”

I from how he teaches now I get the feeling that Lugh really is a gentle guy when he isn’t in training mode.

Lugh ruffles my hair with a small laugh. “Aura though is a far more simple thing to explain. It’s the life energy of the body attuned with your soul, focused to enhance your body in its most basic form. As with any discipline you can do far more with Aura, but that’s all you need to know for now about it.”

Accepting his words most things line up with the common idea of aura back on Earth. Gaia, did you do that on purpose, to prepare us for this new world? But new information aside, this doesn’t change that I don’t have any aura or mana within me, so what do I have to work with?

“Sir Lugh, can I not use magic or anything like that?”

“Honestly, I don’t know Boy, your situation is strange, even for a unique soul. Most awaken to their abilities and the energies of the soul with some level of instinctual awareness, like how a spider knows to spin a web. I appreciate your enthusiasm though and I'll put in a word to Lady Raven to focus on your fundamentals over her experiments. “I would really appreciate if you could do that for me, Sir."

"To get back on topic, you don’t have any energy that we can sense and I’m pretty sure you're not hiding any abilities on purpose."

"No sorry, nothing to hide here. If I had anything up my sleeve, I would have used it to avoid getting beaten up.”

With raging laughter, he pats my shoulder again, “As any warrior should boy. On that subject, I do have an idea about where we might start to understand what you can do. When I mentioned that your body is good at taking a beating before I was serious Boy.”

“What does that mean exactly?’ Bewilderment covering my face. Please tell me he doesn’t think that my only power is being a masochist…

Sensing my anticipation he grows serious. “ What I mean Boy is that you've been taking hits that should have broken a powerless body for some time now. The last couple of times I even infused a tiny bit of aura into my blows, and here you are still standing.”

Looking down at my limbs I can barely feel them past the throbbing, but it’s true that I’m still going. “I thought that you were pulling your punches not to hurt me. Is my body really that strange?"

“Sorry Boy but I don't go easy in my training. Me or Miss Muse can already heal you up if you break a few bones, I've just been ramping up slowly to test your body, and I'm sure now that you're resistant to aura.”

“Now that you know why I've been going slow, I want to really test out what your body can take. That is if you agree to Boy.” Lugh says cracking his knuckles.

A shiver runs down my Spine. Just what the fuck have I signed myself up for? "Do you really think that this will help me understand what I've been given by Gaia?" "Of course Boy, the best breakthroughs are born out of stressful situations !" I find myself backing away from the enthusiastic man on instinct. Realizing I'm about to chicken out I take a deep breath to steady myself before I can panic. I promised that I would put actions into my words, no more going back on them Jaxon! This is a path forward towards understanding my situation, I need to take it!

“Okay, then what do I need to do,” I say, voice shaking despite my inner pep talk.

“Good good, it takes courage to put yourself on the line boy. Come over and stand by me for now. Miss Muse, could you activate the nearest barrier formation to us ?”

Tarain lets out a squeak when her name is called, flicking the screen in front of her away she brings up another typing away at it quickly. Around me and Lugh a bright blue wall springs up around us in a large square, separating us from the courtyard with a makeshift room.

“W-what's this f-for?” I stammer out.

“Calm down Boy, this barrier is for everyone’s safety. I don’t know what will happen when I really test you. It's better to be safe now than sorry later right. Given what your sister is capable of I'm eager to see if you live up to her. Miss Muse make sure to record this for Lady Raven’s research. I look to Tarain whose lost for words, worry plain to see in her eyes. Hating that look on her beautiful face I try to give a sheepish smile to reassure her, but she only shows more worry when I try. Okay, then time for plan B.

“Tarain!” I call out, snapping her back to reality. “I’m counting on you to put me back together if anything happens. You said that once someone enters Gaia Memorial they are always healed right? Well, I’m trusting that promise now Tarain, don’t let me down!”

Her eyes widen for a moment in shock, but that’s soon replaced with resolve as she nods back to me. I’m glad to see she has the courage to face this because it’s my turn now. I slap my face to psyche myself up as I face down Lugh, who moved to the other end of the barrier during my rousing speech doing light stretches.

He gives me a cocky grin in return. “Okay boy, I know you're afraid, that’s natural, but don’t let it consume you, use it to grow stronger and to learn,” Lugh says as he finishes up his stretching.

I let his words sink in. Part of me knows that he’s right, but another part of me is screaming to call this off, the part of me I hate the most.

I’m still quivering in fear as Lugh gets himself into position, He gives me one last look to make sure I’m ready. I tense my muscles and give him the okay...

The world then erupts into fury.

Tucking in my hands on reflex I narrowly block a jab to my chest. The fist retreats faster than I can, and the next second two hands are between my arms wrenching my guard apart. Fire from his grip feels like it’s ripping across my arms. Screaming in anguish, I can’t even start to fight against his strength, and my arms are thrown open.

Pain bursts through my chest a moment later followed by a torrent of roiling heat that grills my insides. I’m sent flying, skittering across the ground my back hits the barrier with a crack, bringing me to a stop in an instant. I lay there, upright against the wall gasping, no breath coming into my aching lungs.

My test is over just like that.

Mouth opening and closing like a dying fish, my eyes bulge with each passing second that my body screams for air. I convulse as the burning spreads to my limbs, falling the ground my body is splayed out spasming. Eyes roll to the back of my head, catching blurry glimpses of Lugh and Tarain rushing towards me. My arms rake against the ground, failing to push me upright, I try to show them I’m okay, that I can keep going.

A deep chill creeps out of the back of my mind along with my frenzied thoughts, smothering the flames as it flows into my body. The corners of my vision dim while I continue to strain against the fire melting into my bones. I urge the chilling energy to settle into my chest and outward, pushing at the cage of my collapsed ribs where the fire still rages. I continue to plead with it to work faster, to consume the flames as my consciousness fades. My last thought is how pleasant it feels to be engulfed in the frigid, but strangely comforting embrace. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lugh Fomor’s Point of View.

I pushed him too far, my regret comes late, just as my knee caves in his chest. While I only put a tiny amount of aura into my blow, it’s only small by my standards. The aura carves a bloody path through his chest and body, and fear grips the pit of my stomach. The boy is sent flying against the barrier, sending a spiderweb of cracks up the construct.

His sister would have been able to block that simple attack with a little effort. For a fledgling, she shows massive potential. So when Lady Raven asked me to teach Mia Ward's brother, I was overjoyed with the possibility to mentor someone with the equal potential to her. I hoped that against all odds that he would prove me right.

The boy is not his sister though, that’s clear now. Because of my own excitement, I got caught up in my expectations and put the boy at to much risk. This is my own shame to bear, so I need to take responsibility now to heal and train him properly, regardless of his talent.

Tarain Muse shrieks when the boy slams into the barrier the little confidence he gave her shatters. When she sees him begin convulsing and bleeding out on the floor she breaks down sobbing. I arrive first by the boy’s side, his arms flailing uselessly against the ground while he mutters incoherent gibberish. Rolling him onto his the back I take in the damage I caused him. Bones and viscera lay pulped inside his collapsed chest that struggles pumping blood out, his heart looks to be intact at least. Tarain cries out again at the sight annoying me. The maid is a competent healer, but far too soft for her own good.

Focusing my will I disperse the aura rampaging in his body, most of it leaves him but several pools of aura still remain, resisting me. Puzzled I turn my senses to the inside of his body only to stare in shock.

The noises of splintering resound in the air as I jump back from the boy's body warily. Bulging and squirming unnaturally, the boy's chest is the source of the noise. Tarain backs away from the barrier in hysterics as the boy’s chest lets out a piercing hiss, followed by an explosion.

Multiple smoky tendrils that for lack of a better term were feasting on my aura just moments ago, eject themselves from his chest cavity. Skittering frantically to find purchase on the ground they take shaky steps as the boy’s body lifts itself up, his torso hanging limply from the various appendages.

Glassed over eyes peer at me, a dull choking noise comes from his mouth and nose in unison as it crouches down to pounce. I ready myself for a fight, putting the absurdity of what’s in front of me aside I still need to heal the boy and bring him out safely. It's a shame the creature doesn’t agree with me and launches itself at my body tendrils slashing.

Crashing against my aura shroud rasping tendrils clasp around my body looking for holes in my defenses. The tips bore into my hardened aura with a clatter. In the mess, a glint in the tendril catches my eye and I grab hold of it eliciting a screech from the trapped creature.

It struggles helplessly, unfurling the tendrils that were wrapped around my shroud and digging them into the ground as it tries to free itself. Inspecting the tip of the tendril I have in my hand I catch a better view of what I saw before and let go of it in disgust.

Plunging to the ground with an unnatural gait it quickly straightens up ready for round two. Gnarled sharpened rib bones tip each tendril, the clattering that I have been hearing all this time hits me, and the thought sickens me. The abhorrent creature itself paces around me lashing out with an occasional swipe to test my shroud.

I fire off with a volley of punches at about the same speed and power of when I was testing the Boys stance before, not wanting to hurt him further. Weaving out of my way unnervingly it dodges each of the blows trading it’s own against my aura.

Somewhere in the brawl, I find myself smiling at this twisted creature. To think that the boy really was hiding something this big. Turns out my instincts were right after all, not that it eases my guilt from putting the boy in danger. Looking at it, this awakening? I guess I would call it, is far from stable with the boy unconscious. What could he do if he was fully in control?

Unsatisfied with the pace and wanting to see a little more, I take it up a notch to what I used just before the boy awakened.

"Bear with me just a little longer boy, and once again I'm sorry for my selfishness."

Launching into a low kick, the creature lifts up the tendril I aimed at right before it hits, before assaulting me from behind with the others. I humor the beast by spinning in place and delivering a small aura blade with the chop of my hand. To my surprise, the tendrils squirm and bundle together into a flanged claw ripping through and dispersing my aura blade.

Backstepping the blow it ricochets off the floor into the barrier sending more cracks up its walls. Impressed with that show of force I decide I’ve had my fill of testing the creature. It’s repulsive to see the boy continue to hang there unconscious, and I have a duty towards him for making this mistake.

Tapping into my aura, I form a simple hand shaped construct and shoot it at the boy's body. The creature strangely seems to notice the barrier moments before it materializes and tries to jump out of the way. I move my hand down, changing the angle and infusing the barrier with more power. It then crashes down onto the boy's body, leaving the tendrils squirming helplessly in the air when I lift him up.

Walking up to the boy I form a proper aura blade and slice off a tendril, the cut portion dissipates into that strange gas and the boy lets out a groan of pain. The other tendrils try and lash out at me, but with a quick chop, I remove several more before they retreat into the boy’s chest with a hissing squeal.

Taking a breath to calm down I examine the boy’s wounds. It’s noticeably better than when all of this started. Flesh is melded together with bone in a patchwork of scar tissue keeping his body together.

“Crude but effective” I muse to myself.

Recalling the proper arrangement of a standard humanoid chest, I call upon my mana stores and chant a lengthy healing spell in my head, slowly knitting and regrowing the boy's flesh to how it should be. The body resists my mana naturally as it did my aura, and I use considerably more than would take to heal most people. The scarred over areas resist me even more, the grey gas burning away as I replace his warped flesh with healthy tissue. Finally done healing him after fifteen minutes or more, the boy’s breathing returns to a slow rhythmic pace. Just to make sure I turn my senses inward again, seeing that the boy’s body has returned to its usual albeit strange state.

Nestling the boy in my shroud to protect him, I punch the room’s barrier, shattering the blue construct into pieces. I’m sure that Lady Raven will have me pay the expense for that barrier generation rune, but I don't care at this point. I find Tarain curled up, whimpering in the corner of the courtyard. Reaching down to tap her on the shoulder I scare her enough that she flails her arms, shooting lightning helplessly against my shroud. Tired with her antics I bellow my order to go and deliver the footage and news to Lady Raven. The timid maid scurries away soon after, Lady Raven is pampering Tarain, she lacks discipline, even if they were childhood friends a maid is still a maid.

Gently as possible, I lay the boy down onto the ground. Looking back at the courtyard several gnarled ribs litter the ground where I cut the tendrils. I would say he has been through more than enough for his first day of training.

Regardless of what I put him through, I can’t help but grin to myself. I have absolutely no clue if that was the boy’s version of an awakening. I don’t even know what those grotesque tendrils and grey gas were, I've never felt something like it before. The one thing that I do know is that if he can do this much at his age, then with proper cultivation and instruction, he could be a force to be reckoned with. Looking down at the boy I can't help ruffling his hair, he's a good kid at heart, though a little timid. The prospect of a disciple with such a strange soul gets my blood boiling again. I love my job as Captain of the Guard, but lately, I've been yearning for something new. This feeling reminds me of the excitement I felt when I was training little Scáthach. That brings back good memories, I really need to catch up with her soon, maybe she can help me with this troublesome one. I can't help but smile at the future.

"It’s true that you aren't your sister boy, but you'll find your own path, I'm sure of it."