Rebirth of the Ruined Noble

Aura.

When knights reach the level of 3-star, they learn to manipulate the mana in their hearts to amplify their weapons or bodies, utilizing the power of magic. The concept of acquiring this ability may be simple, but mastering it is a monumental challenge. It demands precise control over mana circulation and manipulation, making it an arduous feat even for the most skilled knights.

Although three stars serve as the base level qualification to learn aura, there are some individuals who struggle to grasp this skill, even when they have surpassed the 3-star knight level. Unfortunately, I was one of those individuals in my past life. Despite reaching the 4-star level due to my physical abilities, my messed-up body and mana veins hindered me from properly circulating and manipulating mana, rendering me incapable of wielding aura.

In the bustling cafeteria of the prestigious Freljord Academy, where the aroma of freshly baked pastries wafted through the air, I pondered my predicament.

"Hm…delicious…"

The cream puff in my hand beckoned, tempting me with its deliciousness, but its exorbitant price of 50 gilds soured the taste on my tongue. The academy officials seemed to have a knack for emptying students' pockets.

'Damn these money grubbing jerks'

Cursing their money-grubbing ways under my breath, I refocused on the issue at hand. "Who am I supposed to ask to teach me that?" I wondered aloud, as if expecting the surrounding students to provide an answer.

As I scanned the cafeteria, filled with lively conversations and clattering dishes, I considered my options. The professors seemed like the logical choice, as many of them possessed the ability to wield aura. Even the mage-type professors, who dedicated their spare time to honing their skills, were likely proficient in aura manipulation. After all, the Freljord Academy was renowned for its geniuses, both among the student body and the faculty.

But as I pondered my connections, I realized that my acquaintance among the professors was limited to only one—Professor Joshua. Seeking his help would likely yield little result. He was a knowledgeable professor, but his teaching methods were structured and would demand months of "basic" training before delving into the intricacies of aura manipulation.

'I need to learn it in 12 days.'

But Professor Joshua would undoubtedly advise me to focus on training the fundamentals and delay teaching me the process of learning aura until I had completed a few months of "basic" training. Unfortunately, time was a luxury I couldn't afford.

Contemplating further, I turned my attention to my fellow classmates. Among the freshmen, only a select few had already acquired the skill of aura manipulation. They were a rare breed, individuals who had dedicated themselves to rigorous training and honed their abilities beyond the norm. I could count them on one hand.

Drawing from the knowledge of my previous life, I could only think of four individuals who might have already mastered aura: Zephyr, Babel Von Agnus, Evan D Sheldon, and Princess Aurora. Julia, absorbed in her magic studies, and Luna Primrose, my teammate who preferred to keep her hands clean, were not suitable options. That left me with these four potential mentors.

Babel von Agnus, with his disdain for low-ranking nobles like myself, was immediately dismissed as an option. Seeking his assistance would be out of the question, subjecting myself to his arrogance and belittlement.

Princess Aurora, on the other hand, presented a dilemma. While training with her might bring me closer to her, it wouldn't be the most comfortable arrangement. I needed to learn aura before the upcoming ranking battles, and relying on her for help would likely distract me with her captivating beauty rather than focusing on the intricacies of swordsmanship.

Thus, I narrowed down my options to Evan and Babel. Given the circumstances, Evan became the obvious choice. I refused to put up with Zephyr's behavior.

As if the heavens were answering my plea, Evan entered the cafeteria, his hands holding a plate piled high with succulent meat. The aroma tantalized my senses, momentarily distracting me from my anxiety. With a friendly smile, he took a seat beside me, unaware of the favor I was about to ask of him.

"Oh! Eren, you're here," Evan exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "How are you? Have you already started attending classes? Shouldn't you have taken more time to rest?"

His barrage of questions caught me off guard, and I struggled to keep up. "Ah... I'm okay. The academy healers have already restored me to peak condition," I replied, suppressing the urge to request that he slow down with his inquiries.

The healers of the Freljord Academy were renowned for their proficiency, efficiently restoring students to their peak condition in no time. Not even a scar from my previous injuries remained, a testament to their exceptional skills.

"Anyway, Evan, I wanted to ask you a favor," I finally spoke up, seizing the opportunity.

"A favor?" Evan's curiosity was piqued, his gaze fixed on me.

"Yes," I affirmed, determination shining in my eyes. "I would be grateful if you could help me learn 'Aura.'"

"Huh?" Evan tilted his head in confusion, struggling to comprehend my request. "What do you mean, help you learn Aura?" he questioned, his brow furrowing.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, realizing that explaining my situation to someone like Evan might not be easy. But I owed it to myself to try. "You see, there's a ranking battle in 12 days," I began, my voice steady.

"Ah, I learned about it from the projection this morning," Evan interjected, a flicker of understanding crossing his face.

"Yes, exactly," I continued, relieved that he grasped the context. "In order to compete, I have to reach the top 100 in ranking. I've already reached a pseudo 3-star level," I explained, peering at Evan with pleading eyes.

"Oh! Congratulations! I didn't know that you had made such progress," Evan exclaimed, surprised by my advancement. However, confusion clouded his face once more upon hearing my next words.

"But I don't know how to train to attain 'Aura.' So, could you please assist me?"

Silence enveloped Evan as he processed my words, his expression a mix of confusion and surprise. "Eren, I don't understand... Aren't you supposed to attain 'Aura' as soon as you reach 3-star?" he replied, his words laden with genuine confusion.

It was in that moment that I realized Evan belonged to the category of geniuses, individuals who effortlessly comprehended concepts that baffled others.

"Damn these geniuses," I inwardly cursed, regretting my decision to seek his help.

Despite my frustration, I couldn't fault Evan for his innate understanding of aura manipulation. It was a testament to his exceptional talent, he wasn't called as 'monstrous devourer' without any reason in past life.

His talent lied in learning things, to more precise, he could master any skill or technique that he had witnessed or experienced.

But that didn't alleviate my predicament.

The jealousy inside me which made me despise the geniuses was not something that I could get rid of. However, I managed to suppress my anger.

"Well, it's not as simple as it seems," I replied, my voice tinged with a touch of resignation. "For some individuals, like me, grasping the intricacies of aura manipulation doesn't come naturally, even at the 3-star level."

Evan's confusion deepened as he tried to make sense of my words. Seeing by his expression, he was feeling very shocked by the fact that there exist someone like me or perhaps the people like me who didn't now how to use aura even after advancing to 3-star.

"So, you're saying that you've reached the 3-star level, but you still can't wield aura?" he asked, his brows furrowing.

Although it was embarrassing to accept the fact when he was asking like that I still nodded, a sense of vulnerability creeping into my expression. "Yes, that's exactly it."

Understanding flickered in Evan's eyes, replaced by a newfound determination to help me….perhaps? His eyes that were glowing with innocence made it hard for me to even hate him.

"I see. In that case, I'll do my best to help you," he declared, his tone resolute.

".....Thank you", I thanked him nevertheless as an unknown sense of forbidding filled my mind.

The future is uncertain and I don't know how this is going to proceed but for now, I have attained a teacher to teach me Aura.

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Daily chapter release~