Morning at the dining table in Hifung's house.
Hifung: Dad, you're working today, when will you be back?
Hifung's Dad: Probably in the afternoon, why?
Hifung: Can you train me in swordsmanship this afternoon?
Hifung's Dad: Sure.
Hifung: Yes! (Happy).
After finishing his meal, he went to his room to take his Setsuki sword, then immediately left for Refolt academy.
Hifung: I'm leaving now.
Arriving at Refolt academy, he met Ray.
Hifung: Good morning, Ray.
Ray: Hm? Oh, good morning Hifung.
Hifung: What are you doing here?
Ray: Nothing really.
Hifung: Oh, what class are you in?
Ray: 1C, you?
Hifung: Ha, you're a new student too? But you didn't take the test yesterday.
Ray: I took the morning test, so it finished at noon.
Hifung: Oh.
Hifung: Aren't we going into class?
Ray: The first lesson is just swordsmanship, I already know it, so I'm waiting for the next lesson.
Hifung: Swordsmanship? Okay, I'll go in first then.
Ray: Okay.
Hifung entered his class and sat down. After a while, the teacher came in.
Elric: Okay kids, my name is Elric, I teach swordsmanship.
Elric: Using a sword isn't just about slashing; we can also strengthen our swords with aura.
Elric: Although it's difficult, the easiest way to train the aura in a weapon is by frequently fighting using that weapon.
Hifung (Thinking): "I often use Setsuki, it should be easier to train its aura."
Elric: Our goal today is to release the aura inside your weapons.
They were then taken to the field for sword practice.
Elric: Okay, choose your sparring partners and start training.
Hifung: Please cooperate.
Hifung and the other students began sparring.
Hifung quickly struck blow after blow, forcing his opponent to slowly retreat.
Then his opponent deflected Hifung's slash and jumped forward to attack from above.
Hifung saw it and blocked it.
However, his opponent cheated by using his eye power to weaken Hifung. Hifung was shocked.
Hifung jumped backward but was chased by his opponent, who immediately pointed his sword at Hifung's neck, causing Hifung to lose.
The sword lesson ended, all students rested, and Hifung approached Elric in the hallway.
Hifung: Sir.
Elric: Yes?
Hifung: During sparri...
Hifung felt that using eye power in sword matches was acceptable, so he felt a bit upset for losing.
Hifung: Sir, please train me so I can use aura in my sword.
Elric: Are you serious about training?
Hifung: Yes, sir.
Elric: Alright, meet me in the teacher's room after school.
Hifung: Okay, sir. (Happy)
Elric smiled and walked away.
Then Hifung went to look for Ray.
Ray was sitting on a bench in the garden when Hifung approached.
Ray: What's up?
Hifung: I want to ask, do you have eye power?
Ray: Eye power?
Hifung: Yes.
Ray: Eye power is a sacred ability that requires killing someone to strengthen it.
Hifung was shocked to hear that, realizing his opponent earlier had killed someone.
Ray: I have eye power.
Hifung: Eh?
Ray: My mother died giving birth to me, so technically I killed her, which gave me eye power.
Hifung: Oh (relieved).
Ray: You only came here to ask that?
Hifung: Um, can you also use aura in weapons?
Ray: Yes.
Hifung: How? (Curious)
Ray: Technically, aura is the same as determination, so if you want to strengthen your aura, you need a strong determination.
Hifung: Determination, huh? (Smiles)
Hifung: Okay, thanks Ray.
Ray: Oh yeah, you're welcome.
Hifung left happily.
The next lesson was magic.
Hifung saw Ray also entering the class.
Hifung: You're taking magic class?
Ray: I prefer magic over swordsmanship.
Hifung: Oh.
The teacher came in.
It turned out the magic teacher was the one who fought Hifung during the sword test yesterday.
Teacher: Good afternoon kids.
Hifung was a bit surprised.
Hifung (Thinking): "Turns out he's the magic teacher."
Vlyn: My name is Vlyn.
Vlyn: I want to explain to all of you what magic is, what chi is, and how it works.
Vlyn: Basically, chi is a kind of energy inside your body; the bigger your chi, the stronger your magic's destructive power. But chi can also be depleted if you keep using magic continuously. Everyone has different chi capacity and destructive power.
Vlyn: And that can be trained by frequently using magic, so your destructive power and chi capacity can improve.
Hifung raised his hand to ask.
Vlyn: Yes, please ask.
Hifung: Can magic be infused with aura to make it stronger?
Vlyn: Yes, magic can be infused with aura to strengthen its destructive power.
Hifung sat down.
Vlyn: As an example.
Vlyn took a thick board and placed it.
Vlyn: This is the destructive power of magic without aura.
Vlyn created a fireball in her hand and threw it at the board.
The board left a fairly large damaged mark in the middle.
Then Vlyn replaced the board with a new one.
Vlyn: And this is the destructive power of magic with aura.
Vlyn made a fireball the same size as before, infused it with a reddish-purple aura, and threw it at the board.
The board exploded and shattered into pieces.
All the students were amazed.
Vlyn: That's what happens when magic is infused with aura.
The lesson continued, and finally finished, and the students went home. Hifung approached the teacher's room.
He approached Elric.
Hifung: Sir.
Elric: Oh hi, ready to train?
Hifung: Yes, sir.
They went to the field for sword training.
Elric: Strengthen your determination to create aura.
Hifung: Okay.
Hifung advanced quickly and started attacking.
It turned out Ray hadn't gone home yet and was watching the fight between Hifung and Elric from afar.
All of Hifung's attacks were blocked by Elric.
Then Elric dodged Hifung's slash by jumping and walking on air using wind magic.
Then landed behind Hifung and slashed him.
Hifung reflexively ducked to avoid Elric's slash.
They kept fighting while Ray watched.
Finally, Hifung blocked Elric's slash and stepped back a little.
Hifung prepared to release aura, trying to gather his determination.
Ray kept watching.
Elric smiled.
Suddenly Hifung's Setsuki sword emitted a reddish-golden aura.
Elric prepared his sword, and finally Hifung dashed quickly toward Elric.
Slash after slash was launched, but all were blocked by Elric.
Suddenly Elric's sword cracked slightly, making him panic, and he immediately emitted aura in his sword.
Attack after attack was blocked by Elric, until finally Hifung jumped back a bit, looking exhausted.
Elric: Enough.
Hifung: Eh? (Confused)
Elric: That's enough for today.
Hifung withdrew the aura from his sword.
Hifung: Thank you, sir, for today.
Hifung smiled and left.
Hifung walked away from the academy.
Elric (Thinking): "His aura is reddish-golden?"