Before the two clashed Hunter moved closer to Royal sitting on the ground keeping to himself. He asked if he was ok instead Royal came with his own question right back at him.

"There's no way you only did exercises when you came from the~ ice forest. We were told that place is far too dangerous to tread inside so what gives? What makes it more confusing is that everyone claims a frost dragon lives there so it's not possible to live there without seeing it."

Hunter gave a surprised expression with a stare. He said to him that it wasn't regular training but training with energy or Aura. Also mentioning that he hadn't seen any kind of dragon and he's lived there for a long time.

"Does that answer your question?"

"Y-yeah.. I have another one now. What is Aura?"

"I don't mind teaching you since I'll be helping the boys over there. Just promise that you won't use it for evil."

"Alright I promise."

The two raised their pinkies and hooked onto one another shaking on it. Suddenly they heard the sounds of weapons clashing grabbing their attention over to Nick and Cloudy. They watched the rowdy teens go off at one another swinging with their bodies. Cloudy being at an advantage at long distance due to using a spear and Nick trying to get the upper hand charging in close. They showed no mercy to one another almost trying to cleave their body parts away. Hunter began to get worried for their safety not wanting a serious accident to happen and started to step in but decided to stand down for some reason. Royal glanced over at Hunter before looking back muttering to him.

"Interesting isn't it? It really shows that you want to see who's stronger. Well.. you'll see soon enough."

Hunter flicked back to see their strikes becoming more fluent and their stances getting tighter with each cross counter. Cloudy and Nick eventually got a sense that the two were watching and wanted to impress them, mainly Hunter.

"He's watching~. It's time to show them how strong I am!"

Nick said aloud letting Cloudy hear enough.

"You? Strong? We will have to see about that because we know that you're not as great as me nor Royal!"

The two started to hit harder than before messing with the dirt below. Ridged and rugged it became more difficult to properly stand without falling yet they were doing their best to show off. Hunter was put off for a moment not expecting to see their expressions so positive.

"They're smiling? Ha ha! I'm impressed. I can't wait to help you guys grow big and strong!"

Royal moved his attention to Hunter with a blank stare. Hunter shifted back seeing Royal stare at him weirdly.

"W-what is it?"

"Don't say it like that. It's kind of wrong."

Hunter stares down at him looking at him with the thought of "What the hell?".

"Don't say that again please."

Royal gave him a small snicker just barely putting on a smile.

"So he can smile huh?"

Hunter said observing closely.

His attention was snatched just then seeing the battle almost over. The boys seemed exhausted and with one final nod to each other they prepared for one more assault.

Hunter watched happily surprised to see what the new generation can do in full force. Nick and Cloudy readied their stances, the air grew cold due to the forest close by. The atmosphere was tense but not enough significance to change the battle. Nick forewarns Cloudy shouting for him to be ready. Cloudy counters that by telling him to be prepared instead. They both charge at one another treading through the ridged dirt below swinging their weapons with a good amount of speed put into it. Unexpectedly the ground exploded at the collision point causing smoke and debris to paint the area for a short while. Royal quickly noticed that Hunter had left his spot and was where Cloudy and Nick both struck one another. Hunter grabbed the hilt of Nick's ax and the middle of Cloudy's spear reprimanding them both for being so reckless. Without hesitation Hunter announced the winner of the duel to be Nick. Cloudy lowered his head upset but knew he could do better with time on his side.

"Nick! Next time I'll win you hear me?"

"Ha! I won't even give you the chance to get near to my level!"

Hunter having enough of fighting for the day brings them back to the town of merchants just before the sun reached its lowest. He explained that late at night if you get close to the forest they can die of hypothermia even if they're there for ten minutes without proper clothes. The three lead him to where they stay as he tells them to wait outside for a bit. They wonder what he was up too but decided to go around for a while and shop. Fifteen minutes later they returned with some supplies and a few snacks seeing Hunter already waiting for them at the front of their orphanage. They all run to him wondering what he was doing as he became the bearer of good news.

"You no longer need to live here any longer."

Cloudy's eyes lit up from those words.

"W-wait! How?! No one wanted us.. a-and-."

Hunter stopped him explaining that he would take them all in and train them as his students. They couldn't believe the words that was going into their ear drums.

Royal put up the importance of money and how much it would cost just to get a single child.

"It costs a gold coin for a child below the age of ten! Above that it would cost three gold coins?!"

"Of course I know that. I purchased exclusive custody for you all. A total of nine gold coins. You are now like a family to me understand?"

Cloudy and Nick both began to tear up never thinking anyone would want them. Royal stayed almost emotionless as usual. They came in for a group hug not knowing what they would do without him. He smiled patting all of their heads saying that they would need to show him how grateful they were by becoming stronger. By the time they left the town night had risen with the sun hiding away. The stars were in full sight for all too see its magnificence. They all looked up mesmerized saying that they hadn't really seen the stars due to always going to bed by a specific time by the orphanage's rules. The only one who wasn't taking by the stars beauty was Hunter as he looked almost disgusted by the skies. Royal was careful to see that and decided to take notes of certain things that felt off.

Entering the forest was freezing to the point the air they were breathing in actually did more harm than good. They were shivering in their boots until after a minute the cold subsided and things calmed down. They all looked at Hunter who was unamused nor affected by the cold. But it was clear to Royal at least that he did something with aura to make the cold less effective to their bodies. They followed a path that Hunter supposedly made until they reached a log cabin where he lived. He opened the door as it creaked loudly allowing them inside to see their new home. Hunter was the last to enter and moved toward the living room where a fireplace was and set a fire up to keep them warm. The teens stood there tense not knowing if they should go where they please and chose to wait for Hunter's orders. He turned back gesturing them to relax and stay near the fireplace to stay warm explaining that he kept their bodies from freezing but that was it.

"So it was you who kept the cold away."

Royal said confirming his actions.

"Yes. I created a barrier using aura."

"Could you now tell me what aura is and how to use it?"

Nick and Cloudy sat there confused also wanting to know what they were on about. Hunter smiled and decided to start from scratch.

𝕬𝖚𝖗𝖆: 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓻𝓰𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓮𝓼 𝓷𝓸 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓸𝓫𝓳𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓼.

"Aura is something close to tapping into ones potential. It releases their true power and can even change forms and create abilities. Observe.."

Within a few seconds they all saw energy flow around his body. His aura was of the color crimson and explained that everyone had a unique color. Further detailing that once one is familiar with it they can do so much with it. Royal reached for the energy circling him but couldn't feel it or so much as know if it was there unless Hunter allowed it. Hunter raised his hands up high showing them what aura was capable of. Witnessing the energy around his hand begin to take shape and forming a sharp edge around every part of his arm and hand.

"This is known as Sharpening."

𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰: Energy that is concentrated enough to cut and deal additional damage to something or someone.

"Sharpening can make attacks do more physical or mental damage. For example if I were to punch someone without aura it would only hurt somewhat. if I were to sharpen using aura it would most likely kill them if I hit them correctly."

Nick was in awe with a great big smile on his face showing how much he was enjoying listening to his comments.

He continued showing off again with his hand as the energy morphed quicker than before. It became more fortified, harder and durable although there was no more sharp edges poking out of it.

"This is Refining."

𝓡𝓮𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰: Energy that is pushed together to the point it makes somewhat of a forcefield around the area that is refined. Making attacks or weapons more durable or even someone much more likely to defend against strong attacks. Expanding energy can create barriers but may cause more use of energy if done so.

"The final one is the most unique and confusing of them all due to the way it sounds. It's also the hardest to master due to the almost unlimited combinations it has."