Arko's mind raced as he lay on the bare bed in the dimly lit room, his thoughts consumed by the revelations of the tavern. The fall of the Mavarian kingdom and the rise of the Gushu orc tribe sent shivers down his spine.
With the new day dawning, Arko's determination solidified. He needed to harness the aura he had absorbed, and the conversations at the tavern had made one thing clear – he lacked the vital skill of aura manipulation and abortion. The aura users were divided into different tiers, but without the ability to manipulate his aura he couldn't even be considered a basic stage aura user.
He rose from the bed, his body still aching from his previous experiments with aura manipulation. But he knew that he couldn't afford to waste time. He dressed quickly and made his way downstairs. The tavern's atmosphere was as heavy as the previous night, the customers exchanging hushed conversations that spoke of danger and unrest.
Arko approached the bartender, the skinny blond man who had appraised his monster meat the day before. He cleared his throat, and inquired : " Do you know where one can learn aura manipulation ?".
The bartender glanced up from his book, his expression unchanging. "You want to learn aura ? A vagrant kid like you will never get such a chance. You think after finding some monster meat you're hot shit ? and anyways only a small percentage off the population is gifted enough to be able too fell aura, let alone use it."
"I'm one of those people" replied Arko.
"Then go enroll in the army" answered the bartender bluntly. "unless you are a rich merchant or aristocrat willing to spend thousands on an aura technique."
"The army huh" thought Arko, "But which army." His old hometown was at the edge of the Mavarian kingdom, but he didn't feel any loyalty or patriotism for it since the village was so far up in the mountains that the kingdom didn't maintain any authority there.
And anyways, by now the Mavarian kingdom had probably been utterly destroyed.
Sighing, the blond man said : "Go to Haitan-dma its the closest city from here, with the orc army being so close im going to be closing down to go somewhere safer as well"
"Do they have an army garrison ? And are they even recruiting ?"
"Yes, and don't worry, with the orc invasion going on I'm sure they are aren't being picky about enlisting people."
"Right, how do I get there ?
"Just follow the path, its the only one. Its a bout four days away on foot". He gestured towards the door. "Now be on your way, stop troubling me".
Arko nodded in gratitude, the weight of his decision settling on his shoulders. He turned to leave the tavern, his steps resolute. There was only a single path in front of the tavern, the same one he had followed the day before. returning to the path, the direction he should go was clear.
The first day was a test of endurance, his muscles protesting as he pushed forward. The sky was beautiful, a mix of light blue and azure, with barely a cloud to be seen. Looking up from time to time, he couldn't help but appreciate its beauty.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Arko found shelter beneath a canopy of trees. He built a small fire and settled down, his eyes fixed on the dancing flames. The forest around him was alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures. Before going to sleep Arko made sure to continue familiarizing himself with aura.
The second day brought a sense of familiarity as he continued his journey. The road stretched on, seemingly endless, yet Arko's determination remained unshaken. He thought of the aura energy coursing through him, a reminder of the power he sought to harness. The day was a blur of walking, resting, and pressing forward, his mind consumed by the city that loomed ahead.
By the third day, his body had grown accustomed to the rhythm of the journey. He crossed vast plains, the wind whipping through his hair as he walked.
As he set up camp that evening, Arko gazed at the stars above, their twinkling light a source of solace. He had left the tavern behind, the grim atmosphere replaced by the vastness of the night sky. The challenges that awaited him in the city were unknown, but he couldn't wait to get there.
On the fourth day, the city's spires finally came into view, rising on the horizon like a beacon of hope. Arko's heart quickened as he took in the sight. The city was clearly well fortified, tall stone walls surrounded it with round towers chaining them together. In the center of it all A great gate with hefty wooden doors stood imposingly.
Walking up to the gate Arko could see many guards standing on the walls and two more on either side of the gate. Just as he reached the gate, A stern faced guard reached out with his halberd, blocking the entrance. "State your intentions for entering Haitan-dma city !"
"I wish to enlist in the army," Arko stated, his voice unwavering.
The soldier eyed him up and down, his gaze assessing. "Name and origin?"
"Arko, from a small village north of the Mavarian kingdom."
"Enter." He removed his halberd and waved him away. "the barracks are in the southern district."
The city was a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the forest and the tavern. The main street was bustling peasants and middle class alike, a food market was taking place. But even within the bustling city, there was an undercurrent of tension, the market stalls quite bare.
Walking around, Arko found the army recruitment center easily, its entrance guarded by stern-faced soldiers. He approached one of them, his resolve unyielding.
"I wish to enlist in the army," He stated, his voice unwavering.
The soldier simply waved him into the hall. "first door on your left".
Entering the room, Arko looked around, it was quite small. A single desk stood in the middle, a bald middle aged man sat behind it reading through some yellowing papers.
Looking up, the bald man directly inquired, "Name and age please"
"Arko, Nineteen."
The man nodded, jotting down the information. "Reason for enlisting?"
"I want to learn aura manipulation"
The baldie raised an eyebrow, his skepticism evident. "You do realize that aura manipulation is not child's play? It's grueling training, life-threatening battles, and endless discipline."
"I understand," Arko replied, firmly. "I'm willing to endure whatever it takes."
The mans lips curled into a faint smile. "Very well, welcome to the Tadashitian army. You'll start as a recruit and undergo basic training."
Arko's heart swelled with a mixture of determination and trepidation. He had taken his first step toward becoming an aura user, toward wielding the power that could change the course of his fate.