The carriage rattled along the rocky road, its wooden wheels bumping with a rhythm that mirrored the steady clop-clop of the horses' hooves. The wind whipped across the fields, bending the grass low as if bowing to the approaching sunset. I, Aizo, perched in the back corner, absorbed in a book I'd bought from a street vendor in Seika.
"The beginner's guide to aura and mana." It was a bit basic, but hey, knowledge is power, and I wasn't taking any chances.
The power system of this world was already etched into my memory, but you never know when your brain might decide to play a trick on you. You know, those inconvenient little lapses that make you question your sanity. Always best to double-check, right?
Mana and aura, the lifeblood of this realm, were intertwined yet distinct. Mana existed everywhere, swirling in the clouds, pulsing through the earth. It was the essence of this world, the very breath of life. Aura, on the other hand, was more selective. It appeared in those fortunate souls born with a primordial vessel that resonated with it, granting them extraordinary abilities. The rest of us, those without a natural affinity for aura, were bound to mana. Though we could convert, its also hard to do so.
Mages, the masters of mana, could manipulate it with astonishing skill, weaving spells for attack, defense, and even invention. Some preferred the thrill of the offensive, becoming warriors who could unleash fiery blasts and lightning strikes. Others favored support, using their mana to bolster allies, weaken foes, and even manipulate the battlefield itself. But it was a balancing act, requiring immense control and a hefty mana reserve.
Summoners, on the other hand, were a different breed. They needed a B-grade aptitude, a higher level of talent, to call upon spiritual beings, their minds tethered to the ethereal realm. The summoner's power came at a cost, however. Their mana reserves drained rapidly, making it a demanding and risky path.
And then there were aura users, individuals who focused on enhancing their physical bodies, pushing their limits beyond what nature intended. Knights, armed with blades and imbued with aura, stood as bulwarks against the forces of darkness. Assassins, masters of stealth and deception, used their aura to augment their agility and lethality.
Finally, there were the Echoists. They were the elite, the chosen few blessed with A-grade aptitudes. They could wield the power of aura, not just to enhance their own bodies, but to mimic the abilities of others. They could channel the force of a knight's blade, the subtle manipulation of a mage, or even the arcane summoning powers of a summoner. It was a breathtaking power, but it demanded an equally breathtaking reserve of aura and a risk of memory corruption.
I snapped the book closed, my brow furrowed. My aptitude was C-grade. That was my reality, a bitter pill I had to swallow. To truly experience the thrills of this world, to truly feel alive, I needed to get stronger. Much stronger. I need to find a way to break the chains holding me down.
My gaze drifted towards Lisa, sitting opposite me. The wind tousled her dark hair, framing a face that was far too beautiful for this world. Her nose was straight, her lips full and inviting, and her body, well, I wouldn't mind putting it through some vigorous tests. But she looked about seventeen, maybe eighteen, and I'm nearly forty. Romance isn't really for me, I'd like to walk the path I liked alone, and true freedom is loneliness. It might sound like I'm coping, but really it's just the way I am.
She blushed, her gaze darting away, when she realized I was staring. Heh, how cute. She's like a dog pretending not to notice the juicy bone you just placed in front of it.
I wondered about her situation. Why was she with this group? The Holy Sacral Empire, that haven of faith and power, wouldn't send one of their own to a backwater town like Seika. That would be a humiliation they couldn't stomach.
Two came to my mind. Maybe she truly liked this group, these ragtag misfits. Or, more likely, she'd been blackmailed by Mord and Sasha after revealing her abilities. They'd exploited her innocence, using her as their personal healer.
The latter seemed more plausible. The Holy Sacral Empire was a ruthless machine, suppressing dissent and enforcing its doctrines with a chilling efficiency. They wouldn't hesitate to exploit a vulnerable soul like Lisa. Mord might be planning to sell her to them, knowing her divine abilities were a valuable commodity.
Which brought us to the divine ability, a power granted by their god, Arman, who'd sacrificed himself to the First Demon King to save humanity and delay the opening of the Tower of the Third Realm.
Sounded familiar, didn't it? I'd written that part myself. Ah, the glorious days when my imagination ran wild, and the world I created was an endless canvas for my twisted thoughts. Lisa was being exploited, forced to heal these monsters. Should I save her? She was a healer, after all, and she might become an important figure to the Holy Sacral Empire. And hey, a healer would come in handy for a thrill-seeker like me.
"Are you from the Holy Sacral Empire?" I asked, a hint of amusement lacing my voice.
Lisa flinched, her eyes wide with alarm. "N-no," she stammered.
Her divine ability must have just been discovered recently, then.
Mord and Sasha, who were driving the carriage, exchanged uneasy glances. My words had pierced their facade, revealing the tension beneath their forced camaraderie.
I had to save Lisa. But how? Sasha was Mord's loyal lackey. I couldn't rely on her for a buff. I had to devise a plan, a daring scheme that would allow me to protect her, maybe even exploit the situation to my advantage.
The sun sank below the horizon, leaving the grassy plains bathed in moonlight. The journey to the capital would take at least three days from Seika. The forest, looming only a few miles away, held unknown dangers, so we decided to camp in the open. The moon would provide enough visibility to spot any threats.
We set up camp, built a fire, and devoured a beef stew I'd managed to acquire. Mord and Sasha announced their intention to gather more firewood, then disappeared into the darkness.
Those two are in heat I guess. Always in a hurry. They were gone for less than thirty minutes. Honestly, even a dog could manage to stay aroused for longer than that.
Lisa and I were left alone, the crackle of the fire our only companions. The silence was strangely intimate, and then Lisa, her voice trembling, uttered a single sentence: "They're planning to kill you..."
I knew it. But it was one of the reasons I'd accepted their invitation.
"I know," I replied, my voice calm, a playful glint in my eyes.
"Why?" Lisa asked, her eyes wide with concern.
"No reason," I said, my grin widening. "Let's just say I enjoy the thrill."
Lisa sighed, shaking her head. "You're a weird guy."
"If chasing my happiness is weird, then so be it," I retorted, my grin widening even further.
"Heh..." she chuckled softly, unable to deny the strange allure of my madness.
"You're being exploited," I said, my tone turning serious. "You know that, don't you?"
Lisa's eyes widened in shock. Then she quickly averted her gaze, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Why do you say that?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Because I just know," I said, my voice laced with a hint of intrigue.
The silence stretched between us, punctuated only by the crackling fire. Then, I asked a question that made her heart flutter. "Do you need saving?"
Her eyes widened again, her gaze fixed on me, a mixture of fear and hope swirling within them. "I-" she began, but her reply was cut short by the arrival of Mord and Sasha. They were back, flushed and breathless, clearly having had a very good time.
Sasha arrived first, her eyes darting nervously between Lisa and me. Mord, struggling to fasten his trousers, trailed behind her, his face flushed. They had been gone for less than thirty minutes. Those two, so young, barely eighteen, but their libido seems stronger than any couple I've ever met.
We decided to sleep early, turning in for the night. I smiled at Lisa as she packed up her things. She blushed, looking away, a faint tremor running through her body.
Was that attraction I saw? I guess I'm not so bad looking. I haven't actually seen my reflection, but I'm certain my body isn't as strong as I'd like it to be.
It doesn't really matter, though. If fate has given me a handsome face, I'll use it to my advantage.
I laid down, my mind buzzing with anticipation. Tomorrow, new challenges await. I couldn't be more excited.