Ignite the Sun

"You must be very careful when choosing an oath to engrave on the sword – wrong wording might become very detrimental, as might unrealistic goals." Tharion stated. "With all that said, I suggest you make a few easy to uphold, very broad vows. That will allow you to receive the sword's power is as many situations as possible."

"You mean something like 'I shall defeat all evil'?"

"Yes, but that might be a little too general. 'I shall strive to defeat all evil' would be much better – it will work as long as you actively work against something you perceive as evil, and won't break unless you'll do nothing in the face of evil."

Cassian frowned.

"Perceive as evil? Does it mean that if I was insane and regarded regular people as evil the sword would grant me the power while I attack the innocent?"

"Of course, morality is a societal concept after all – things aren't inherently good or bad, we're the one who decided those things based on our personal views."

Cassian had a different opinion, but he wasn't going to argue with the literal personification of human civilization and achievements.

"You can come up with a few once we're done with the aura training." Tharion sheathed his sword. "For now come closer, I will attempt to emulate aura flow within your body – this won't make you stronger in any way, but you will have a reference for how aura is supposed to feel, perhaps that will help you discover how to do it yourself."

"I thought it's not possible to use aura inside the body of another person."

"It isn't for most people, but I can bend the rules a little bit – a useful side effect of my former divinity."

Tharion put two fingers of his armoured arm on Cassian's forehead and instructed him to close the eyes.

"You need to focus on the new sensation. I can tell you are already close to grasping the fundamentals so pay close attention."

Cassian nodded and felt something strange inside his body – it was like someone poured a liquid into him and then stirred it, creating whirlpools in a few key places.

Those epicenters of power were: his heart, his head, his hands and his stomach.

Since Tharion was the one actually controlling the aura he didn't feel any connection to the power filling him, but what he did feel were the pathways through which that power traveled.

It was like a second cardiovascular system, but a one where he had to pump the blood – or aura – by himself instead of having an organ responsible for it.

The flow continued for a few more moments, but then it slowly dissipated leaving him in a strange state, almost like someone pumped all the air out of him.

"Unfortunately we'll have to stop here for now, any more exposure to another's aura might damage your body."

Cassian was rather thoughtful after this experience.

"Does it really take so much effort to just circulate aura? How do people even maintain it during a fight?"

"It only takes effort at first, once you master aura it's no more difficult than breathing." Tharion explained. "Now try to recreate the flow with the power you cultivated so far – I'll come to check up on you in two hour."

Before Cassian could ask any questions the Guardian disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.

Left in this situation he couldn't do much else than sit and try to circulate aura.

***

"Why did you call for me Sy?"

Tharion was leaning against a wall in Sylara's office, now without a helmet. His golden eyes were narrowed at his fellow Guardian, while his obsidian black hair was in disarray.

"It's nice to see you too." Sylara smiled at him. "How have you been?"

"You know I don't like small talk – tell me why I'm here, I was in the middle of something before you called."

"You dislike a surprising amount of human customs for someone who's supposed to embody their civilization." She chuckled. "But I called you precisely because of what you were doing – to be clear I don't disapprove, but I thought you said you won't help them?"

"I did."

Sylara raised an eyebrow.

"...and?"

"I changed my mind – I still think they need to struggle in order to truly grow stronger, but they won't be able to do that if they're dead." Tharion crossed his arms. "Something else?"

"The bracelet."

"I thought it was a good idea." He claimed, but looked away.

"It was, and you didn't have to lie about it." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure master would have approved of your choice."

"Thanks, bit I'm not so sure about that." He gave her a half-smile. "She rarely approved of my actions"

"She was just worried about you, no one before you renounced a divine throne and she didn't know what consequences it might bring – in her last years she always spoke of you with admiration and love."

Tharion didn't respond, but his eyes became a little less cold and distant.

He turned to leave but Sylara stopped him.

"One more thing – don't say things like that again, she wants to explain everything to them herself."

"I doubt they understood the significance of what I said, but alright. I won't mention it."

Sylara sighed as he disappeared from her office.

"I'll need to warn her he might accidentally reveal everything."

***

Cassian made some progress – the slivers of aura he was able to produce on his own obediently entered the pathways he memorised and followed the correct flow.

Unfortunately, the amount he cultivated was too small to create a closed circuit and properly circulate it.

But not all hope was lost yet – this new method allowed him to cultivate significantly faster than before. If he meditated for the entire night without sleep, he might be able to cultivate enough to circulate aura for at least a few seconds.

"Don't even think about it." Tharion's voice came from behind. "Something like that will make you tired before battle and could potentially kill you – you may cultivate until sundown, it might be enough to deliver a single strike."

Cassian simply nodded and returned to meditative state – he was going to take what he could.