There were so many weapons neatly displayed, rows upon rows of swords, bows, daggers, spears, and others I couldn’t even name. Each seemed to hum with silent stories, waiting to be wielded.

One particular sword caught my eye, a long, single-edged blade that was strikingly thin, almost elegant in its design. Unlike traditional long swords, this one looked like it prioritized speed and precision. It was the first time I’d seen a weapon like this.

Just beside it stood a spear, as tall as any I’d ever seen—but it shone with a bright silver gleam, and at the top, three blades jutted out, forming right angles from each other. It looked uniquely crafted, almost ceremonial. Yet, something about it made my skin prickle. I could feel its presence, the aura it gave off was intense—strong, almost alive.

As I stared, wide-eyed, Dad stepped beside me with a knowing look.

"You felt it, didn’t you?" he asked, his voice calm but firm. “That spear… it’s not like the others.”

I nodded slowly. "Yeah… it’s like it’s looking back at me."

Dad chuckled lightly. “That’s because it’s made from a special ore. We call it Aura Ore or you can say Aura Crystal or Aura Stone. It carries its own natural aura, and when it's mixed with mana stones, the result is a weapon that resonates with both energy sources. Only high-rank aura users can wield it properly and be allowed to.”

I blinked in surprise. “Aura ore? Where’s it found?”

“In dungeons,” he replied, casually. “Dungeons are dangerous. Adventurers go there to mine Aura Ores as their Quests. That weapon there’s no ordinary tool, it’s almost a living thing.”

I stared at it a little longer before moving on. As much as I wanted to touch it, I knew I wasn’t ready.

Dad ended up buying me a simple dagger, nothing flashy, just a clean, sharp, steel blade with a leather-bound grip. But I smiled, holding it carefully in my hand. It was my first weapon in this world, and that alone made it special.

Then Dad picked out a sword for himself—solid, and balanced. You could tell he had experience just by the way he tested its weight with one hand. Swinging to check the balance distribution of Sword.

After that, we moved through the market, picking up food, travel supplies, and essentials for our upcoming journey.

‘The capital is located at the very center of the country,’ I thought, gazing at a nearby map on display. ‘And we live on the western border. I wonder how many days it’ll take to reach it.’

Once we’d bought everything, we began the walk back home, the sun beginning its descent.

......

The next morning, I stood in my room, tightening the straps on my pack and adjusting my clothes one last time. I took a deep breath and headed downstairs, my footsteps light but quick.

‘Thub… thub…’

A carriage rolled to a stop just outside the house.

Peeking through the window, I saw two men step out.

The first had long, violet noir-colored hair that cascaded to his shoulders, a sleek longsword strapped to his back. He exuded a calm but sharp presence, like someone used to slicing through both tension and enemies alike.

The second man had jet-black hair and matching black eyes, with a physique that seemed balanced and powerful. Not overly bulky, but compact with a sturdy frame and dense muscle. A fighter’s build—one forged through endurance and relentless training.

‘Cool… but not cooler than Dad,’ I smirked internally.

Two women followed. One had stunning emerald green eyes framed by long dark lashes, her skin pale but glowing with life. Her blue hair, cascading like a gentle river, complemented her eyes beautifully. She stood at nearly the same height as Mom, but with a colder air to her presence.

The other woman was like sunlight. She had rich chocolate-brown eyes and long, tulip-yellow hair that shimmered as golden rays danced through it. She smiled easily and warmly, a total contrast to the ice beside her.

Then the violet-haired man stepped forward. “Velcor Avan,” he introduced himself with a nod. “Longswordsman. Former party member of your parents. Currently a B-class adventurer.”

The black-haired man followed with a solid tone. “Aaron Kane, magic swordsman. Former comrade of your Mom and Dad. A-class adventurer.”

The green-eyed woman finally spoke, her expression blank as stone. “Oliva Sasar. I am a wind element conjurer. Former party member. A-class adventurer.”

Before I could respond, the golden-haired woman laughed lightly. “Oh, come on, Olive! Don’t be so stiff!”

Then she turned to me, her voice playful. “Heya! I’m Julie Kana. Dagger specialist, mid-level aura user, and also A-class, just like my grumpy friend over there. Nice to meet you, cutie.”

I nodded politely, trying not to be overwhelmed. “My name is Rayon Karter. I’ve awakened both aura and mana.”

All of them froze at once.

“You what?” Aaron asked, blinking.

“Say that again,” Velcor said sharply, his brows rising.

I repeated, calmly, “I’ve awakened aura. And I’ve formed my mana core.”

Oliva’s eyes finally broke their stoic pattern. “That’s impossible… A child your age forming a mana core and awakening aura? That’s unheard of.”

I gave a cheeky smile. “You do have other expressions, huh?”

They all laughed at that, even Oliva, though it was barely visible. Dad grinned at her. “I’ll explain in the carriage,” he said, patting her on the shoulder.

Soon after, we loaded our supplies and climbed into the carriage. The wheels creaked, and with a gentle jerk, our journey toward the capital began.

The group was lively, Mom and Dad caught up with their old friends, laughing over shared memories, poking fun at each other, and tossing around inside jokes. I listened for a while but soon felt a little left out.

Then, Oliva turned toward me, her expression soft for the first time. “Now,” she said, “tell me how you did it. What you’ve done isn’t something even translucent-core mages can accomplish. Do you realize how rare it is, no it’s impossible?”

I nodded and explained everything, just as I had to Dad. My training, the meditation, the burst of mana—and the strange feeling that helped me connect with both sources at once.

They listened silently.

When I finished, all of them looked stunned.

‘Yeah… it is a big deal,’ I thought, glancing out the window. ‘Guess I didn’t realize just how big.’

By noon, we stopped beside a clear stream, the sound of water rushing gently through stones offering a peaceful backdrop. The group set up camp beneath a large tree, and Aaron went off to collect wood.

As the sun started to dip, the fire crackled, and dinner was served. Laughter echoed under the open sky.

I leaned back against the tree and closed my eyes for a moment, then a memory surfaced, vivid as if it had happened yesterday.

Memory from my past life.

I was with Rohald, my best friend. We were camping under the stars after a long journey. The night was quiet until shadows moved, assassins, masked and swift.

Rohald stood before them, calm as ever. “Stay seated,” he told me. “Just watch and enjoy.”

He dashed forward, ki flaring around his both legs. In a blur, he appeared behind one of the enemies. One slash. One down.

He repeated it, three times, three bodies hit the ground.

I sighed and called out, “Try something new! I’m getting bored! you know.”

He dropped his dagger with a grin, cracked his knuckles, and charged in barehanded. What followed was a display of pure martial art, his fists powered by ki, his every move precise.

Then, one assassin snuck behind me, grabbing my neck.

Rohald turned, laughing.

“If you even flinch, I’ll kill him!” the assassin threatened.

Rohald just laughed harder. “You have no idea who you’re holding.”

The assassin looked at me with a face filled with fear, and I smiled.

Infusing ki into my palm, I pierced straight into his heart.

“Oops,” I said, pulling my hand back. “I gave him a quick death by mistake.”

Rohald walked over and shrugged. “No worries. We still have one left. For interrogation and entertainment.”

We both burst out laughing.

Back in the present, I opened my eyes, the sound of campfire laughter still in the air.

This world… was different.

But some things, like bonds, battles, and memories under the stars, never changed.