Chapter 9: Raising One’s Strength

Ben stood at the woodcutter’s shack once again, wielding the axe with the three colored linings. The sound of chopping was constant from the giant man who was there. Creating a crisp and sharp rhythm that if one was imaginative enough they could hear a rhythm. Yet, the rhythm was broken once Ben started to chop himself, albeit better than the abysmal wood chopping from yesterday.

His swings were lighter and more controlled, as the wood broke under the axe head with one to two stroke. Ben grabbed another and chopped up another log. His grin was apparent as he continued to chop another, sweat was on his neck. As he realizes the vast improvement of having this axe, there was less frustration, it was easier to guide the axe and most of all the pain that would numb the hands were not as apparent. The afternoon sun rose above him as he continued chopping since morning.

The giant man on the side finally stopped and looked at Ben. Ben noticed a gaze and looked at the man as he lowered his axe down onto the ground, leaning it onto the used wood stump.

The man opened his mouth, “...Seems like you have improved… since yesterday.”

His tone was neither haughty nor deep. His eyes simply looked at Ben.

The man spoke once more.

“However, your way of handling the axe is wrong… I would like to give you some pointers.”

Surpised that the giant man decided to offer some tutelage, Ben accepted his help without hesitation, simply with some astonishment.

Ben: “Sure.”

The man gazed at Ben and lifted his hands towards his axe.

Man: “Although you are using your strength, however you’re not using your aura.”

Ben: “Aura?”

Man: “As I thought… since yesterday, you’ve been using your strength… I thought it was simply body training however… you came back once more. The blisters on your hands should’ve formed this morning and your body should be aching with pain. Yet you still came back with determination.

Ben: “What’s wrong with using strength?”

Man: “It’s easier to build your strength if your aura is strengthened first.”

Ben: “... what do you mean?”

Man: “Consider the aura as a ditch… the more you dig into it the more you can fill it. It’s an extension of strength that allows us humans to fight against the monsters of this world…. our strength alone is not enough. The martial artists and the other fighting classes all have auras to fight against monsters, by improving your aura, you also improve the strength of your body."

Ben: “... how do I use this aura?”

Man: “first… be aware of it. The aura is formed by your will and the air around you. The elements of the world are a part of your aura. The more you familiarize yourself with it the stronger you are. Although those experiences are formed from fighting and other forms of understanding.”

Ben closed his eyes, he felt the wind… the sun, the dirt below his feet, and the sweat flowing from his back. Those feelings slowly changed and produced a form.

The man watching Ben, slowly widened his eyes. Ben’s aura slowly formed onto his right hand. Ben opened his eyes to look at his hand. A weakly lit aura formed around his hands, Ben saw the magical orbs simply swirled in his right hand, free and unbounded. Ben released his hands and the elements slowly disappeared once again, dispersed within the air.

Ben:“I see…thanks for the advice… My name is Ben, pleased to meet you.”

Grant: “Grant… and no problem. I can see that you have yet to change your clothes from yesterday. Hold on..” (Grant)

Grant walked into the shack and grabbed a small bag and tossed it at Ben.

Grant: “Keep it and replace those clothes with those when you have the chance. First impressions are everything.” Grant chuckled.

Ben caught the bag and thanked Grant. He grabbed the logs on the side and slowly dragged it back, with his aura this time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grant simply looked at Ben walking off in the distance. He went back into his shack and on the wall was marked with multiple red x marks within the forest. He looked at the wall, a large broadsword with a black crystal in the center of the handle. Hung from there alongside with a polished leather armor. His hands were placed onto the leather armor, closing his eyes to remember the past days that he had seen within this town.

Grant: “Once again…… much too early…”

************* After a week has passed***********************

Abbs: “Seems like you’ve improved greatly since last week Ben. Compared to last week’s slob this time you seem more energetic”

Ben:“Well… I just learned about the idea of aura and strength…although I feel like I’m still missing a major part of it.”

Abbs pondered a little and looked at Ben with a “are you serious look”

Abbs: “It’s common sense little kid… “

Ben:“Well… I didn’t know!” Ben became moderately flustered.

(Can’t even tell him, I’m from another world.)

Abbs:“Can’t help it since you were from the slums. Anyways I’m glad you managed to switch out of those ridiculous clothes you had when you came here. That lumberjack must’ve liked you alot for your determination, seeing how he gave out one of his extras… or that he was disgusted at your clothes… who knows.” Abbs continued to ramble on about Grant’s character as a strange lumberjack.

(I suppose I shouldn’t keep any secrets with Abbs. He seems to be terrible with secrets.)

*******************

A knight opened the door to the guild, the adventurers looked at the knight with stern eyes. Mutters suddenly broke out, “.... it can’t be…” , “it’s too early”. The knight simply walked past the adventurers and headed into another room.

Ben watched the process and looked back at Abbs. His face was serious, his slacker-like grin was gone. He faced Ben and simply said these words.

Abbs: “Ben, stay here for the day. Then leave the next day, it won’t be safe in the town soon. You should buy some essential stuff to leave… and do it by today… before the announcement. Here’s some money.”

Abbs reached into his pockets and handed four silver coins to Ben.

Abbs: “It’s not much, but you should be able to make it to the next town. It’s located just south of here, just follow the carriages and you’ll get there within three day’s walk.”

Ben:“Wait… what’s happening Abbs?”

Abbs:“The forest is alive once more… the monsters will attack this village once again…”

Ben:“What monsters? I didn’t see any when I was coming here.”

Abbs:“You came from the capital didn’t you? The monsters there are reduced greatly due to the patrol. However, although this is within the Kingdom of Lanner’s territory the knights can’t be everywhere at once. The monsters are said to form from miasmic matter… These past few years the creation of these monsters has sped up. The knights on patrol are getting more flustered by the constant appearance…. this is the village’s 5th attack… each attack is getting worse… we may not make it this time.”

Ben stayed silent… he had no power, he wasn’t the strongest and he has no combat experience, understanding the goodwill of Abbs. He said farewell to Abbs, Ben went to the town and started buying supplies to leave.

*************************

Sunset arrived as Ben placed all the supplies on the rustic wooden table in his room. He looked out of the window and heard the bells chiming, knights with the bells hollered out onto the populace. “Recruiting fighters! All fighters to the adventurer's guild!” The villagers in the town were shocked and panicked with their groceries. Childrens were quickly dragged back inside of their homes. Some people went out with their weapons, some argued with their loved ones promising to return. The once busy evening filled with smiles were now filled with anxious eyes and panic.

Ben stayed silent as he calmly looked outside the window… his face showed nothing but worry. He placed his hands on the window and felt the cold glass.

(a world where monsters are the fear of humanity. Isolated from the safety of the government and left to fend for themselves. The world, too vast to ensure everyone’s survival…)

A knock was from the door. Ben opened the door only to see someone he has grown familiar to. The little girl was there holding the platter of food. Ben received it and saw the dried out tear stains of the little girl beside her red eyes. Her face frowning, she knew what was going to happen or something terrible had happen during these events.

(She must’ve been through this situation…)

The girl silently left after Ben grabbed the platter of food. Placing down the platter of food. He slowly peeked out of his room and saw the girl who went downstairs. With tears slowly falling out once more, she slowly walked up towards her mother waiting at the bottom of the floor. The mother held the little girl tightly close to her heart as the girl buried her face with hands gripping tightly onto the mother's apron. Seeing this scene the men in the dining room slowly ate their food, some left it alone, others left the door.

Ben closed the door and sat on his bed. He looked at the pocket knife in his hand. The ability to change and the ability to improve his strength… The axe he handled was easier to wield, his knife allowed him to use aura easier than the average person based on what he saw with the other villagers. Without this knife he’ll probably be no more than a normal person that would be stuck at the lowest rank.