“This is pointless,” Victor grumbled as they trekked through the countryside. Aria had been dispatched to handle a Mage Corps member active in a remote part of Easenna. According to the major, the Mage Corps was transporting weapons into the region and wanted a small group to handle it. Of her platoon, Aria, Victor, and Alexia were the only ones available for this operation. “How does that major expect us to locate a single Mage Corps member in the middle of nowhere?”

  “We have his general location, so it’s not impossible,” Aria said, checking the map she was given.

  “I think Victor’s just grumpy. He has to walk around for once.” Alexia teased. “I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s a nice day out!”

  “You say that like you aren’t making me carry YOUR rifle,” he snapped.

  Alexia stuck her tongue out playfully, a sister mocking her older brother. “You did lose to me in cards. You're strong anyway, so you can handle a little extra weight~” She smiled cheerfully as she passed him briskly, joining Aria. “Lieutenant, you could probably have him carry your sword too. You are our boss, technically.”

  Aria looked at her, confused. “I can’t order people to do something like that… Plus, I’d rather keep my sword on me.” Alexia shrugged, her violet eyes glancing between their commanding officer and Victor. She could tell the latter was still distrustful of Aria leading them, while most of the other soldiers had warmed up to their younger lieutenant.

  “Hey Lieutenant, why did you join the army anyway?” she asked casually. “I mean, you’d have had to enroll at the military academy since you were young, right?”

  Aria seemed surprised by Alexia’s question, having never been asked that by anyone until now. I joined for my family's sake, mostly… Aria thought numbly to herself as she tried to come up with a better answer. She had also joined initially to ease her brother’s and father’s burden with the war. Despite that, she loved Easenna and wished to defend it from Albion. Having now experienced firsthand the horrors of war and the destruction it brought. Aria felt it wasn't purely for her family anymore. “I did it to defend Easenna.”

  Alexia let out a low whistle. “I suppose Corvo would say that…” She knew Aria’s family had always been considered chivalrous and loyal to their nation. It was clear Aria would be no different. Honestly, between her and Lucien, it’s surprising how different they turned out… Lucien made an effort to interact with the rest of the cavalry in his own way. Aria, by contrast, was always distant, though she seemed to be opening up more lately.

  “Why did you join?” Aria asked. She was genuinely curious about Alexia. Her playful personality always stood out, especially for someone who had willingly joined the military. Most soldiers, in Aria’s experience, were more solemn and reserved at best while a bulk were depressing and even cynical. The black-haired girl looked at Aria for a moment, her expression mirroring Aria’s earlier. Then, after a pause, Alexia laughed at the question. “Hmm, that’s kind of complicated!”

  “Maybe keep your complications to yourself...” Victor mumbled, earning a glare from Alexia.

  “Go be negative somewhere else, we’re bonding!” she said with a smile, finally choosing her words. “I didn’t join for a noble reason like you.” Alexia raised her arms behind her head as she glanced up at the dense foliage around them.

  “I never knew my folks. They just dumped me in an alley as a baby. I was taken in by a local orphanage in Selenia.” Alexia's thoughts turned to her upbringing. From playing with the other kids, getting into trouble when the matrons weren’t looking, sneaking out whenever she could. A faint smile crossed her face as her childhood came to her mind.

  Her smile faded just as quickly.

  “Not really unique for most, but I lived a good life for a while. I thought it was normal for an orphanage like that to have certain amenities and fresh food all the time. Then I got older, and the curtain was pulled back. Our orphanage was always better funded than most in the city. It became a bit obvious why…” Alexia let out a bitter laugh, feeling a little embarrassed at how na?ve she’d been as a kid.

  “The orphanage would, how do you say, sell its kids to generous donators. Really evil place, in retrospect.” A dark silence settled over them as Alexia hummed, debating what else she could say. “When it became more… you know, apparent that I was a girl, I had to make a choice. Stay in a horrible place that sold off its kids to adults like chattel, or run away and try to survive on my own. In the end, I decided that between selling myself to the army or being forced to sell my body in a place like that, being shot at and dealing with mages was a lot nicer than the alternative.”

  I don’t think a fourteen-year-old is the right audience for this… Aria thought to herself, unsure of what to say. The weight of Alexia’s tale silenced both her and Victor. Despite his usual cynicism and gruff demeanor, Victor had slight sympathetic look as he glanced at his comrade.

  Alexia gave Aria a half-smile, aware that this was a heavy topic for someone so young and now the walk felt awkward. “Anyway, I’m happier now! I have friends, a warm place to sleep, and the ability to decide my life. Plus, once the war is over, I’ll have enough money to live freely. I’ve been enlisted since I was around your age, so I’ve saved up a good amount.” Alexia flashed a cheerful smile; more cheerful than Aria had expected. Given the darkness of her tale, Aria found herself with a newfound respect for Alexia. To endure so much and still find happiness was inspiring to her.

  "Let’s just walk in silence... I don’t need to hear you two sharing sob stories all day,” Victor grumbled. Both women fell silent, not wanting to continue talking after Alexia’s tale. The only sound that filled the air was the rhythm of their footsteps through the forest. Soon, they reached their destination. Below the hill, several crates lined the train tracks. Surveying the area, Aria noted a contingent of around twelve to fifteen Albion soldiers guarding the shipment. They didn’t seem too formidable; most of the soldiers were armed with guns, and Aria couldn’t sense any aura being used by them, so the odds of them being able to use magic seemed low.

  Victor tossed Alexia her sniper rifle, and she quickly mounted it on the hillside. Looking down the scope, she loaded a red chroma bullet into the chamber before cocking the gun back. She aimed at a crate near a group of soldiers. With a steady breath, she squeezed the trigger.

  BOOM

  A large explosion shook the surrounding hillside, sending the Albion troops into a panic. Landing on the main stretch of dirt road, Aria drew her sword, preparing to engage the enemy soldiers. “Easennians!” one of them shouted, raising his gun toward Aria and Victor. Without hesitation, Aria rushed at them as they unleashed a volley of bullets.

  Five in front of me... This should be enough. Weaving through the arcs of gunfire, Aria swiftly closed the gap, slicing through the barrels of their guns. As one soldier attempted to draw his sidearm, Aria’s eyes glowed briefly as she used her aura to enhance her speed. With a clean strike, she severed his neck, her movements fluid and effortless.

  Meanwhile, Victor was like a human battering ram. An orange aura surged around his fists as he effortlessly deflected bullets with his protection and smashed through their line. Each punch cracked bones, and some soldiers were killed on impact. “You Albans picked the wrong region to invade,” he smirked, watching as one soldier aimed a rifle at his head. Walking calmly toward him, Victor bent the barrel back, causing the soldier to tremble with fear.

  “You’re all dead! Our commander won’t let our sacrifices go in vain!” The soldier shouted, but before he could react, Victor slammed his fist into the man’s face, staining the dirt road with blood splatter.

  Some of the soldiers had already surrendered, the sound of dropping guns filling the air. The ones who hadn’t resisted began raising their hands in defeat. Aria peered inside one of the untouched boxes and found shipments of chroma-laced bullets and several guns.

  “So the reports were true...” she murmured. Sighing, Aria realized they’d have to file a report and let the higher-ups in the brigade handle the prisoners. Why would their commander abandon such important shipments? Aria thought to herself. The skirmish felt too easy.

  “That was easy.” Victor sighed, flicking some blood off his gloves. “Honestly, sending us out here for a couple of soldiers feels like a waste of my talents.”

  “We did interrupt their shipment.” Alexia walked over to one of the exploded crates, eyeing the now useless guns. Aria’s eyes narrowed as she sensed something. A dangerous feeling in the air. One she had come to recognize all too well during her time in the war. Bloodlust? Aria's eyes widened just before a loud crash filled the area. A cloud of dust and debris exploded onto the road, enveloping the Easennian soldiers.

  “Interesting. You managed to intercept me after all.” a voice rang out, the tone laced with an odd sense of admiration. As the dust cleared, Alexia’s violet eyes went wide, the man’s fist was just a meter away from her face. Aria’s sword flared with cyan aura as she winced, her blade clashing with a purple-aura overtop his fist. The two struggled for position, their magic locking in a fierce contest of strength. Kicking off from him, Aria readied her sword. Standing before her was an Albion Mage Corp member, dressed in a brown shirt, suspenders, and a form-fitting red suit with dark brown slacks. His silver bangs framed his face, reaching down to his chin. Meanwhile the rest of his brown hair was neatly trimmed in the back. He regarded the Easennian soldiers with mild curiosity.

  “How interesting,” he smirked. “I didn’t expect Easennia to find out so soon. Although, it seems you’ve already decided to spill my men’s blood.”

  “Your ‘men’ were smuggling weapons into our land. If they didn’t want to risk their lives, they shouldn’t have come here.” Aria replied coldly. The man scoffed before raising his fists into a fighting stance. “We wouldn’t need to do that if you people hadn’t caused the Eldritch’s return.”

  Victor scoffed in return, spitting on the ground. “Please. Like our nation would ever do something like that.” The Mage Corp member smirked as a purple aura filled his fists once more. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve got orders to deliver this cargo, and unfortunately, if I fail my boss, I’m dead anyway. Sorry, kids, but this is a grown-up fight.”

  “I’m twenty-one…” Victor replied flatly.

  Before the Mage Corp member could respond, Aria lunged to slice his head off. However, the moment she struck, he reinforced himself with aura and slammed a punch into her. Reacting just in time, Aria braced herself with aura, but it didn’t matter. His punch shattered her defense with ease, sending her staggering back. Blood spurted from her mouth as she gasped for air, a trail of purple lightning lingering where his fist had struck.

  What kind of power?!

  “Someone this young is fighting for your land?” The man raised an eyebrow. Slightly impressed, Aria had managed to withstand a blow that would critically injure most men. His eyes shifted to see Aria had coated herself with both her aura and reduced his damage with the note she placed at the very beginning. The Note disappeared from his person as a result.

  “Aria!” Alexia shouted, trying to load the rifle, but the man had already closed the distance. He tossed Aria aside like garbage, raising his fist. Despite lacking any visible magic, Alexia could sense this punch would kill if it landed. Stepping back, she swung the rifle at him, but his fist effortlessly tore through the weapon. In an instant, he grabbed her by the throat. Broken metal and bullets rained onto the dirt road as his hand tightened around her neck.

  “Oh? You don’t have magic, yet you try to fight against a mage? Easennians truly are na?ve.” Victor charged at the man, but a powerful punch sent him sliding back. The man’s grip on Alexia’s throat tightened. “What could someone like you do against a mage? You don’t even have your gun–”

  In an instant, Alexia slashed upward, her hidden blade on her wrist catching the Mage Corp member across the face. Crying out in pain from the sneak attack, the man attempted to crush Alexia’s skull with a vicious strike. But Victor was faster. He rushed over, slamming an aura-enhanced punch into the man’s rib cage, sending him staggering back. With the Mage Corp member separated from Alexia, she coughed on the ground, struggling to catch her breath. Alexia glanced over and saw Aria slowly rising to her feet. Her eyes locked onto the mage as he and Victor exchanged devastating blows.

  His punches aren’t just aura… They’re connected to his ability too. I can feel it. Aria’s mind raced as she grabbed her sword, preparing to assist Victor. But as she rushed toward the mage, he smirked and unleashed a powerful punch, slamming it into her. At the same moment, with his other arm he elbowed Victor across the jaw making him spit blood.

  As his fist was about to strike, Aria reacted quickly. Using her Composition ability, she formed a circular barrier around her palm, blocking the blow. “Aura construction?” The mage analyzed, his eyes narrowing as he calculated his next move while being flanked. “How cute, but it doesn’t matter…” Smirking, he lunged at Aria, who tried to dash back. Predicting her movement, he twisted to follow. But just as he closed the gap, Victor rushed in, slamming an aura-enhanced punch into the mage’s side interrupting their skirmish.

  “Stay out of this! I won’t have you getting in the way!” Victor snapped. Getting in the way? Aria thought, her annoyance growing. She couldn’t understand why Victor’s disdain for her role as their leader had to surface in a life-or-death situation like this.

  “You lot seem to be having some trouble coordinating.” The Mage Corp member taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. “Maybe bashing one of your heads in will give you the inspiration you need.” With that, he landed a devastating blow that shattered the air around them. Victor stumbled back, blood trailing from his mouth, but he only smirked.

  “Hey, Alban bastard. Thanks for that." Victor said darkly.

  The Mage Corp member raised an eyebrow, confused. Before he could react, Victor’s fist glowed with a similar aura to the mage’s. With a force that pierced through the mage’s defensive aura, Victor’s punch landed, sending the man flying back, blood splattering from the impact. Victor’s eyes glowed a fierce red, his aura flaring in response. A thick red aura covered Victor like a cloak.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Victors Spell Art; Burnout was unique. For every hit he took while active, he could absorb the damage dealt and temporarily increase a single attack by the strength of the damage. While strong, the limit of the ability was entirely on Victor's use of aura and his body.

  “I’m going to be upfront with you, leader,” Victor said, his voice dripping with disdain. “I don’t like you. I could accept almost anyone else leading us, but you? You only got this role because the military favors your family. ”He stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. “You don’t understand our history. You don’t know what it’s been like to fight, to bleed for Easenna. If a little girl like you is in charge, then there’s no way in hell I’m going to follow.”

  “We don’t have time for this,” Aria snapped, cutting off Victor’s words. Without hesitation, her eyes glowed as she lunged at the Mage Corp member, her blade aimed for his throat. To her shock, he outpaced her in a critical moment, his movements almost anticipating hers. His ability… it’s based on timing his aura with his strikes? Aria’s mind raced as she saw the telltale purple aura surging toward her. In a flash of insight, she recalled the same tactic from their first skirmish. Drawing on that, she subtly activated the Note she placed on him to disrupt his aura, weakening the his strike just enough to gain an edge. This is enough. I just need one opening, and I end this before they get hurt.

  “Aura construction and the ability to alter an enemies ability… You have a pretty neat power,” the Mage Corp member taunted. "Unfortunately, without strength behind it, you won’t cut me down.” With a swift motion, he shattered Aria’s barrier she coated her body with. His fist crashing into her arms and sending her hurtling into the ground with explosive force. A deep crater formed as a cloud of dust engulfed the area, then slowly cleared.

  Alexia and Victor watched from opposite sides of the battlefield unable to move. Their eyes wide with shock as Aria laid in a crater motionless. Her eyes vacant and glassy, blood pooling from her mouth and head. The Mage Corp member smirked in triumph, his gaze triumphant as he looked down at the fallen lieutenant. “You also have a pretty interesting ability.” The Mage Corp member remarked, analyzing Victor with a critical eye. He could tell that Victor’s Spell Art was similar to his own, enhancing strength and aiming for a decisive hit. “Shame you’re wasting it on Easenna.”

  Dodging Victor’s jabs, the Mage Corp member countered with a gut-wrenching blow that landed squarely. However, this time Victor managed to block with his aura. “You say that like you won’t be dying today,” Victor replied coldly, his eyes burning red once more. With a determined motion, Victor slammed a final blow into the Mage Corp member’s head. To his shock, the Mage Corp member blocked the strike with his palm, an orange aura flickering around his hand. As their fists collided, red sparks shot out, and Victor’s arm recoiled violently against his will.

  “What?!” The force behind the block was like the recoil of a high-powered rifle, shattering any advantage Victor had gained. The Mage Corp member grinned, rushing forward with a swift, confident motion. “The moment we met, I used aura to block it. We call it a parry.”

  The aura surrounding him should have been weak enough for Victor's attack to break through, however, Parrying is a rare phenomenon that disrupts the flow of aura entirely. When one aura interacts with another, there is a fraction of time, about 1/100ths of a second where the newly activated aura is at its peak. Just as barriers are strongest at a certain point before either weakening or requiring more aura to maintain, all aura follows a set path. The longer it is active, the more aura it consumes. Additionally, the time it takes for a barrier to form starts weak and gradually grows in potency. The moment the Mage Corp member, Edwin, activated his aura to form a barrier around the palm of his hand, he induced a phenomenon few mages can achieve. This disruption of aura is considered one of the highest forms of magic. Most Spells that interfere with another mage's aura are bound by strict conditions or a dangerously high cost. If timed correctly it can overpower the opposing aura on a fundamental level, breaking its path in favor of the one parrying. This is the essence of a Parry. From the moment his fist collides with an opponent, if he activates his Spell Art in sync with the moment of contact, he can land devastating blows, bypassing even the strongest defenses. Edwin's talent for parrying stems from his own Spell Art requiring the same timing on his attacks. Nicolas Corvo is said to have a similar level of technical ability for parrying.

  “Don’t beat yourself up too much. While you are strong, a prodigy like myself can’t lose to someone like you. My abilities are far beyond someone like yourself.” Edwin pulled his fist back, eyes glowing as he prepared to end Victor’s life. Victor, helpless to avoid the strike, had no choice but to accept this fate.

  “You killed him?” Colonel Regis took a drag of his cigar, exhaling slowly as he surveyed the grisly scene. Inside the apartment, a man in a bloodied tank top lay face down in a growing pool of crimson. Though not a police officer, Regis had been called in due to the severity of the situation. An eight-year-old Victor sat curled in a chair, arms wrapped around his knees.

  “He was going to kill her…” Victor murmured. Across the room, medics worked urgently to stabilize his older sister. Victor glanced down at his hand. Dried blood clung to his skin beneath a strip of gauze, now stained red despite the medics' efforts. Regis sighed and crouched down, meeting Victor’s eyes.

  “How could a kid like you kill him?” he asked, voice low and measured. “That man was military police, trained, seasoned even. You expect me to believe you took him down?” He cast a glance toward the body. The victim’s face was caved in, unrecognizable. Like the aftermath of a car crash than any kind of fistfight. Victor nodded slowly.

  “I… I had to save her,” he said quietly. “I don’t know how. When he was about to kill my sister, I just… tried to stop him. Even when he hit me—when he had that knife—I felt… hot. I punched him and…” His voice cracked. He looked at his sister across the room, eyes wide, searching her face for some kind of anchor, some reassurance.

  Regis let out a long, heavy sigh. Kid’s maybe eight years old… and already has one hell of an ability.

  His gaze flicked back to the mangled corpse. That man hadn’t been a pushover. He was apart of Easennia’s military police. Trained, disciplined, and even capable of using aura. Yet the boy had killed him in a single punch. To think he’s already awakened a Spell Art and one that potent…

  The thought sent a chill down Regis’s spine. He shook his head, trying to banish the instinct that crept in. As much as the military would drool over a child with that kind of power, the idea of shaping him into a weapon felt revolting to Regis. His intrusive thoughts were no different then some of the nobles in their nation. He’s just a kid. A kid who’d killed his sister’s boyfriend… in self-defense.

  “What’s your name, kiddo?” Regis asked, placing his cloak over the child while maintaining a kind smile.

  “Victor. Victor Argent,” he replied, wrapping himself in the cloak to shield against the cold draft in the room.

  Regis smiled warmly. “There are monsters in this world, Victor. But people with your gift are able to fight them. The monster you beat today just happened to look human.” Victor listened, giving the colonel his undivided attention. “Grow up strong. You have a loving sister, and she cares a lot about you. Make sure you use your fists to protect others, alright?”

  Victor looked at the man before offering a toothy grin. “Got it!” Regis laughed, watching the boy run back to his sister. I suppose I should stick around for a bit... They're both still kids after all. Regis thought to himself, smiling as he observed the siblings from a distance. Victors sister drying to dab the blood off his face as he fought her grip. Not like I wanted to become a general anyway...

  Blinking, Victor realized the attack had somehow missed its target. Suddenly, Aria landed in front of him, absorbing the strike with the sole of her boot. Twisting mid-air, she delivered an aura-enhanced kick, sending the mage sliding back. Dust filled the air as he winced from the blow, blood staining the front of her face. She looked over at Victor, still staring in disbelief.

  “Why...?” he asked, his voice filled with shock.

  “I don’t care if you or the rest of our platoon ever approve of me. I don’t fight for fame or glory.” Aria unsheathed her sword, her eyes fixed on the mage they were fighting. “I’m not here because my family wants me to be, nor did I ask to become your leader. I’m fighting because I have a home I wish to defend and people I wish to return to... Despite that Easenna is still my home, so I will use everything I have to protect it and its people.” Aria readied her blade, preparing to strike once again. A slight smile forming on her face. "Hate me, scorn me, but I intend to fight you and everyone here. How can I defend Easenna if I pick and chose the people I wish to protect?"

  Even after everything... She’s willing to risk her life for me purely because of her beliefs? Victor couldn’t decide if Aria was suicidal or simply inhumanly chivalrous. Despite that, he had a new respect for her. Despite everything, his disobedience, mocking, and using methods she despised, Aria was still fighting and even risked her life for him. Victor let out a soft laugh as he picked himself up. Somehow, despite being the adult, Aria was acting more mature then he had been all this time.

  “Speaking like that when you barely reach my chest.” Aria glared at him, her frustration obvious. She hated when the other soldiers talked down to her because of her age. Victor let out a small laugh once more as he cracked his knuckles. “Alright. Just this once, I’ll let you be the boss of me.” Aria nodded, aware they had a temporary understanding. Meanwhile, Edwin wiped some blood off his chin. A smirk spread across his face as he looked at the Easennian soldiers.

  “How cute. I thought I’d be bored out of my mind coming to the middle of nowhere.”

  The two rushed at him. Aria narrowed her eyes on his fists. She had tried using her note to disrupt his aura, but his Spell Art seemed to bypass it effortlessly. After her kick, she placed a second Note on him, this time increasing the damage he would take when activated. As he aimed a punch at her, Victor blocked it with his forearms crossed in an X shape. Using [Burnout] defensively, Victor then turned the initial it into an offensive attack. Aria sliced open the mage’s stomach but was kneed in the stomach herself by him. Upon his opening, Victor punched Edwin in the chest before raising his fist once more to go for the kill. Edwin, meanwhile, used his aura to manipulate his muscles and seal his wound. The two men's fists collided, sending a shockwave through the air.

  “Afraid you lost?” Edwin smirked. His hand broke through Victor’s aura, bend his fingers as he won the exchange. A trail of purple lightning lingered as Victor clenched his teeth through the pain. Aria, attempting to save her comrade, rushed forward to strike. Edwin seeing this smirked. That’s fine. I’ll parry her slash and kill her first. Raising his hand to block her strike, he coughed blood. A splintering pain filled his back, and he glanced behind him for a moment.

  Off to the side, Alexia fired a small pistol from the Alban shipment. The barrel smoking as her gunshot disrupted Edwin’s focus. Clutching his fist, Edwin aimed to use his Spell Art to break Aria’s sword and land a hit on her. To his shock, Aria feinted the slash! Instead she ducked under his punch as her crest began to glow. Using [Composition] to construct a second blade, Aria made an X with her two swords along his elbow. Like a scissor she cross the blades, slicing off his arm clean off with merciless precision.

  “Fuck!” he roared. As Aria went to slice him, he applied aura to his forearm. Red sparks erupted as her blade recoiled. Aria’s eyes widened at the parry as the enemy soldier readied his remaining arm. He tried to step back but found himself trapped by a wall of solid aura. He aimed a purple aura-charged punch at Aria, intending to end her.

  Picking himself up, Victor clenched his fist. Blood dripped as his eyes burned with a red light. Slamming his fist down, the ground shook as Victor smashed through Aria’s wall, cracking the earth in a spiderweb of fractures. Edwin lay on the ground, unmoving. Blood from his head pooled in the broken earth as all three Easennians panted from the hard-fought battle. “Hah… I didn’t think my ability would come through this time.” Victor said, letting out a sigh of relief as he took a cigarette from the dead man’s breast pocket.

  That’s mostly because I used my Note… Aria thought to herself. She had used the damage-increasing effect of her Spell Art to allow Victor to deal the most damage possible. While she usually used her notes to enhance her own attacks, she could also use them to boost others’.

  “Want one?” Victor offered, sparking a match off the ground somehow. Aria blinked for a moment at the unexpected offer. Alexia soon rejoined them as the adrenaline of battle wore off on the squad. “I don’t think you should be offering a fourteen-year-old to smoke…”

  “Cheers!” The Easennians celebrated their massive victory back at camp. The Major had personally sent a letter of recognition to the cavalry for their success. The stolen weapons were repurposed for the rest of the army, while the surrendered Albans were processed. A large bonfire blazed as the troops celebrated their victory.

  Aria winced as Mary wrapped a bandage around her head. “You could make it looser,” Aria grumbled, only to cough as Mary tightened it again. “It wouldn’t hurt if you stopped being stupid and getting hurt,” Mary pointed out. Aria sighed, aware she had underestimated the Mage Corp member. However, she did learn a neat trick from the fight. As Mary went to dab disinfectant, the medical swab recoiled out of her hand, leaving the medic bewildered. “W-what was that?”

  Aria smiled knowingly. “Apparently, if you time activating aura in a specific way, you can create a recoil. I think that mage called it Parry.” Mary looked shocked. Even though she could only use a small amount of aura, she had never heard of such a technique when learning medicine. Aria hummed thoughtfully, considering the new technique. “I’d been trying to do it all day, but it seems incredibly difficult. I think that man used it frequently because his ability required precise timing in activating his aura, so he likely developed the timing. Kind of like muscle memory.”

  “In other words, you think you can replicate it over time?” Mary asked, noticing that Aria was thinking of her own ability and the practicality behind it. Aria could manipulate aura and had a deeper understanding of its mechanics than most. “It’s probably better to use Composition or barriers. Not all hits have the same timing, so trying to use it could be risky… Still, it might be nice to keep it in mind, especially since someone keeps telling me to be safe.” Mary rolled her eyes at Aria’s mocking concern, although she knew there were no hard feelings.

  “Hey, L.T.” Marco walked over with a warm smile as he approached the duo. “Private Leone, how may I help you?” Aria asked, eyeing the soldier curiously. The other soldiers were eating and commemorating their success around the fire, some dancing around it.

  “I wanted to know if you’d be interested in a dance m-ma'am.” He asked, slightly bashful. Aria blinked for a moment. Her expression confused at the otherwise foreign gesture. He wants to dance with me? Aria was more shocked by the sudden gesture, having never been put on the spot like this before. “I… don’t think that would be appropriate considering I’m your superior." Aria stated bluntly, completely shattering his hopes.

  Marco stood frozen for a moment before eventually laughing it off. “Ah, I get it. Still figured I’d ask!” Mary playfully kicked Aria in the shin before looping her arm around Marco’s. “Well, I for one am not your superior, so I’d be delighted to dance with you, Marco.” She smiled as the bespectacled boy looked even more surprised. Mary stuck her tongue out, silently teasing Aria for being so rigid. Mary began dragging Marco toward the fire where the other couples were gathered.

  Watching the soldiers she led laugh and enjoy one another’s company made Aria feel both happy and slightly left out. She was acutely aware of her obligations as a sword for her nation and the role she now had as their leader. She watched Alexia teasing Victor over their mission. Elaine waved her hands as a group of soldiers asked her to dance. Lucien stood aloof, a calm smile on his face as he observed their comrades from afar, seemingly in a similar mood to hers. Aria watched as Marco and Mary swayed to the beat of the folk songs. Despite the darkness of their lives in the war, Mary looked so happy and vibrant. Aria, though happy for her newfound connections, couldn’t help but feel a slight melancholy.

  These are the people of our nation, the ones I wish to protect. Yet despite the victory I wondered what it would be like I wonder how different my life would be if I was able to form bonds naturally. To have connections not born out of duty or obligation. Even Mary, my best friend and someone I can't imagine living without; she only met me because of my name. Maybe somewhere deep down I wish I could just be Aria instead of a Corvo...

  Victor Argent

  Spell Art: Burnout

  This ability converts kinetic energy into aura. Every hit the user receives gradually charges him up. This allows for a release of energy equal or greater depending on the users own aura in combination with the absorbed damage. The conversion of energy to aura is 1:1.

  Edwin

  Mage Rank: B+

  Spell Art: Critical Striker

  When the ability is timed to an activation of 1/100ths of a second between both the Spell Art and an aura enhanced attack, the user is able to land an attack that ignores aura like a parry while Critical Striker deals damage of 3x the normal amount of aura applied. This attack is lethal to non magic users.

  Chapter Preview:

  After the loss of a close comrade, Aria struggles to maintain her role as a leader. With the war raging on she soon faces the brutal reality of war and the conflicting ideals she's carried all her life...

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  Chapter 26: Aria's Past Part 6