The Aura Ascendant: A Knight's Unbroken Path

Their simple caravan had soon left the Tower's vicinity.

There was one ornate carriage for the five apprentices and Instructor Chavez, and a weathered supply wagon for their servants.

Van settled onto the hard wooden bench beside the others as the wheels carved through the muddy road.

The servant that Gian brought was a lean boy named Jax…

He slapped his knee as he started to have some conversations with the other servants. "Well, this is cozy! Five of us squeezed in like salted fish… Bet the young masters' carriage has cushions stuffed with royal pheasant feathers…"

Then, Marcus' servant, Fin, cracked his knuckles. "Complain again and I'll toss you off to walk."

Lena's attendant, named Elias, chuckled. "Peace, Fin. We've two hours of this. Might as well learn each other's names."

Van remained silent, observing while his Ocularis Lens created a brief profile for him. Well, it was a very common thing that his Lens would do when he was still in his previous world.

At this time, Theresa, Harvey's attendant, spat over the wagon's edge.

"Names won't matter when a brambleback skewers us."

Jax laughed at this and replied "Ah, but if we die, I'd rather hear 'Run, Jax!' than 'Hey, you!'"

A snort escaped Elias—almost a laugh.

However, aside from introducing himself, Van just kept watching the tree line outside.

***

After some time, as the group was getting bored, their wagon jerked to a halt barely an hour in. Shouts erupted from the carriage ahead.

"Prairie dogs!" Instructor Chavez's voice carried over the commotion.

"Just one-horned. Servants—form a perimeter!"

Van leaped down and immediately scanned the road.

Two furred creatures the size of ponies blocked the path… They had single-spiraled horns glinting. Ordinary prairie dogs were harmless burrowers, but magic had twisted these into predators.

Jax whistled after seeing the prey... Although they were one-horned Magic Beasts, they weren't as scary as Bramblebacks.

"Plump little devils. Think they taste like chicken?"

Theresa rolled her eyes… "You can lick the spit off their fangs if you're curious." She said in a soft voice.

Chavez then shoved the five servants forward. "Prove your worth. Work together."

At this time, Chavez was already quite aware of the skills of the Apprentice Mages. However, she couldn't really assess the Aura Users unless she saw them in combat. The presence of the magic beasts was perfect.

Van's Oculars Lens was then triggered, as he also found records about them in the books he compiled before.

[ Subject: Mutated Prairie Dog ]

Threat Level: Elevated

Anomaly Detected: Secondary horn nucleation in progress ( 82% complete ) ]

'Ahh… That's a nice find. It's not one-horned for long.' Van mused.

Then, as soon as the Instructor told them to deal with the Magic Beasts, the Prairie Dogs started attacking.

Fin charged first while swinging a club. Although slaves were allowed to hold swords, it seemed that Fin really liked clubs as a weapon instead.

Soon, the nearest prairie dog pounced… However, it suddenly split mid-air, its body somehow divided into three blurry afterimages.

"Illusions!" Van barely yanked Fin back as claws raked where his throat had been.

Theresa frowned... "Since when do one-horned prairie dogs cast mirages?"

Elias also realized this since that skill must only be for two-horned Prairie Dogs… Right now, these creatures should only have four or five skills and they were all passive abilities that increase their strength, speed, damage, or even ability to resist Magic Attacks.

"They must be about to evolve… Their second horn grants minor spellwork. We must—"

The prairie dogs pounced and he had to escape first… One of them might still be doable but two at the same time might break his bones even with his Aura.

At this time, however, Van's world was filled with calculated movements made by his Ocularis Lens…

After a few moments, Van confirmed what he had to do…

He decided not to take the front line and instead, he assisted his fellow servants from the back!

Soon, a needle flew, embedding in a prairie dog's paw. With this movement, it stumbled, buying Jax time to slash its flank.

Then, Theresa's knuckledusters crunched into its ribs. However, even with Aura, the beast's hide flexed like armor. The damage wasn't too severe…

Fin then grappled the second dog. It was hard at first but soon, Van's needle pierced through its eye!

Just like that, Fin got the upper hand. He strangled the Prairie Dog while its fangs dripped venom near his face.

Van then threw one more needle and it finally killed the Prairie Dog!

There was only one left. This time, Elias hurled his vial.

The glass shattered and it released a cloud of drowsy pollen… It was only effective against low-level or weakened Magic Beasts.

"This should be effective…" Elias muttered.

Soon, the remaining Prairie Dog that Theresa was fighting suddenly wobbled… It was about to fall asleep but then, without warning, it let out an ear-splitting shriek as a second horn erupted violently from its skull.

"Ahh—" The collective gasp was cut short as the transformation completed before their eyes.

They actually triggered the Magic Beasts' evolution!

[ Alert: Evolution Complete ]

[ Tier: Two-Horned Magic Beast ]

This was reported by his Ocularis Lens.

The prairie dog's fur darkened... It happened so quickly that they couldn't even stop its process.

Just like that, the battle started once more… This time, its afterimages multiplied from three to nine.

Jax retreated. "Okay, now I want cushions!"

Van ignored the man as he finally decided to take his sword.

Behind them, Chavez and the apprentices watched intently from the safety of their carriage, observing the unfolding battle with academic interest.

***

A while ago, from the safety of their cushioned carriage, the five apprentice mages and Instructor Chavez watched the battle unfold through the windows that amplified sound and stabilized the view for them.

"Look at Fin go!" Marcus slapped the carriage wall as his servant charged first. "That's the spirit! None of that cautious nonsense."

Fin was certainly a decent meat shield. If Fin wore enchanted armor and other gears, a mage could peacefully cast spells from behind him.

Gian, on the other hand, wiped his sweaty brow. "Shouldn't we help them? Those claws look—"

"Quiet," Instructor Chavez commanded… "This is also an evaluation."

Lena twirled one of her braids around a poison-tipped hairpin. "Elias's form is atrocious. He leaves his left side open when he attacks."

Harvey, the smallest of the group, peered over his spellbook. "Theresa at least understands footwork. See how she— oh!" He flinched as Theresa barely dodged a swipe.

Julia, on the other hand, said nothing… She just calmly watched Van's back. She was not worried at all.

Indeed, it didn't take long before her lips curved into a smile.

At this time, Marcus squinted when Van's first needle struck. He wasn't sure at first, as soon as he saw Van taking out a long needle.

"What's your slave doing? Embroidering the beast?" He joked.

Then the prairie dog stumbled. Jax capitalized instantly, and his blade drew first blood.

Lena's eyes lit up as she noticed what happened. "...Did he just?"

Then, another needle flashed. The second prairie dog shrieked as the cold steel found its eye.

Harvey couldn't help but frown as he looked at Van...

"That's no lucky shot. He targeted the orbital nerve cluster."

Even Instructor Chavez leaned forward slightly, her gold-rimmed spectacles glinted…

Julia finally spoke with a smile… "He studies anatomy."

Marcus rounded on her. "Since when do slaves get medical training?"

Before Julia could retort, Chavez raised a hand. "You should not prohibit your slaves or servants from self-studying and learn various things."

This time, Lena gasped as she noticed Van's movements...

"Just now… I can't help but remember my uncle… Those are assassins' techniques. My uncle's Fine Shadowblade Technique throws needles exactly—"

"Enough." Chavez spoke up... "Observe the battle."

It wasn't really important where Van learned such skills. Whether he was also an assassin or not, it doesn't really matter. Although it was not common, a Mage Companion could still be an assassin instead of a meatshield or a warrior.

Soon, as they thought that this battle was about to end, the unthinkable happened.

The prairie dog's spine arched violently as keratin split its skull.

Gian screamed first. "SECOND HORN! IT'S EVOLVING!"

Harvey couldn't help but touch his staff as he saw this. "Two-horned prairie dogs have illusionary decoys that—"

"I know what they do!" Marcus kicked Harvey's book away. "We need to help—"

Chavez's Mana suddenly pressured them, freezing them all in place. "You will remain seated."

She said while her gaze never left the battlefield. "This is still their fight."

The transformation was completed in seconds.

Where one beast had stood, now nine identical copies growl at them…

Julia couldn't help but feel nervous this time. After all, the two-horned Magic Beasts are all on a whole different level.

Magic Beasts that had two horns on them had powerful combat skills, magic abilities, and defenses that could completely ignore weak Aura attacks.

However, something unexpected happened as the Slaves started showing signs of backing off…

"Look!" Harvey pointed.