A week had passed, and the day had come for me to begin my sword training. This time, my instructor was none other than my eldest brother—Cadeon.
I already knew how skilled he was with a sword, but even so, I had been told he couldn't convert his mana into aura. Yet, the very first thing he showed me when he took up his blade… was aura.
I was so shocked that, for a moment, I thought everything I had learned so far had been a lie.
"You can use aura?" I asked.
"I never said I couldn't," he replied. "I said I can't convert my mana into aura."
"They're different things?"
"Yes, Andre. Direct aura and converted aura are not the same. Direct aura has limits. A strong sword can have its power doubled by aura, sure. It can take a mediocre blade and elevate it to high-tier. But converting mana into aura... that's something near impossible. I still don't understand how Father believes you'll be able to do it.
You do understand, don't you? That mana is an infinite force?"
"Yes. The steward even told me my mana was of the highest quality. He said since I saw no limits within my white subconscious, my mana pool could sustain ordinary magic for weeks."
"White?" His eyes widened. "Then it truly is top-tier. Not even Father's mana is white."
"What color is his, then?"
"His… is a black so deep, not even light can escape it. It's the lowest grade of mana, but his pool is so vast he can still shield the entire Verblade bloodline with it. According to calculations, even if he used the highest-level magic spells non-stop, he could keep fighting for years.
That's why they call him the 'Lord of Massacre.' Every battle he's joined has ended in absolute victory—but because of the ancient contract, he's always had to give away more land than he conquered."
I was scared. Could a human really be that powerful? I looked at my brother and asked:
"Is he really human?"
"No. Though our father's father was a Verblade, it's said his mother was a goddess. He's a demi-god."
So, my suspicions were correct. But if he was a demi-god, why did the contract still bind him?
"If he's a demi-god, why obey the contract?"
"Because it was witnessed by the Primordials of Itah and the God of Fate himself."
"Primordials?"
"Yes. Every empire on this continent has at least one ancient being slumbering within its lands. According to legend, these beings existed even before the continent of Itah itself."
"Do we know what they are?"
"Yes. The ancient being tied to House Verblade… is the Shadow."
I froze. The same shadow that spoke to me in my subconscious? The one that warned me? Could it really be the Verblade family's ancient guardian?
"A… shadow? What do you mean by that? Shadows are everywhere."
"It's no ordinary shadow. According to legend, it is older than all other Primordials. It's said to have existed since before the creation of the worlds themselves.
Some say our founder saw the Shadow before he betrayed his companions—but that story's truth is uncertain.
They say it appears as a humanoid figure, so dark that it can be seen even within firelight. But again, it's all myth. No one has truly seen it."
I was stunned. My brother then turned to me with a serious expression.
"That's enough talking. If Father finds out I told you any of this, we're both as good as dead."
We returned to our training.
"So, where were we?" he asked.
"Discussing the difference between direct aura and mana-forged aura."
"Right. I already told you mana is limitless.
Think of it this way: what do you think happens if you convert all the mana in your subconscious into aura?"
"Well… probably mental collapse, since the subconscious represents your mana, right?"
"Good guess—but wrong. Aura created from mana doesn't weaken the mind. It reinforces it. Over time, it multiplies itself, strengthening you further.
Eventually, even with a trash sword, you'd be able to split the world in two."
I was stunned. Both were aura, yet one created from mana could become something else entirely? Who could've imagined the difference was so vast?
"Then… can I try converting my mana into aura?"
"Absolutely not. You're not yet skilled in mana, aura, or the sword. Most likely, it'll backfire and burn your mana core—you'd be unable to use mana for years."
"…Seriously? Then let's just keep training."