The open clearing was quiet except for the soft hum of insects and the occasional flutter of wings.
Sunlight filtered through the wide adow scattering across the grassy ground where three figures stood, their focus drawn entirely to the young man in front of them.
Gringo’s sharp eyes, already brimming with anticipation, narrowed as he leaned forward. His tone carried both amusent and hunger for knowledge.
"Since you do not have a Divine Fra for to search, how about telling what you do, young man?"
He asked, voice laced with curiosity. His eyes glead like molten copper, reflecting Auren as though the boy were so rare, unclassified creature that had walked straight out of myth.
Auren swallowed, feeling both cornered and challenged under the Gringo’s piercing gaze. The air around him felt heavier than usual, as if waiting for his response.
"Well, for a start..." he murmured.
He lifted his hand hesitantly, and with a soft crackle, fla blossod above his palm. The fire wavered but held, its warmth brushing against his skin.
Fwoosh~
Gringo’s lips twitched into a grin.
"Basic fireball. I see you have leanings on the magic side," he remarked, already tugging a slim pen and folded parchnt from his storage ring. He began scribbling notes without even blinking, his hand moving almost as fast as his eyes.
Auren took a step back, then raised his other hand.
Sheessh~
This ti water gathered and ford into a shimring sphere that rippled gently, droplets falling and darkening the grass below.
Gringo’s eyebrows shot up.
"Okay, dual elental and dual casting. Not bad at all." He leaned sideways to glance at Bonbon, who was behind Auren. "You brought an interesting one today."
Bonbon, chasing a butterfly and snapping at it like a playful pup, barely looked back.
"Oh, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. That kid’s a lot more than that." His tone was careless, but the smirk tugging at his mouth gave him away.
Gringo’s curiosity deepened. "Really?"
He turned back to Auren, his eyes gleaming.
"Alright kid, what else? Show anything you’ve got. You better be worth my hardwork."
Auren hesitated but quickly cald himself down. Still, he took a deep breath and steadied himself.
"O-okay. Well, for my observation ability, I have this..."
His crimson eyes suddenly shifted, the red bleeding away into a brilliant gold. Vertical slits carved into his irises, sharp and feral, like those of a predator.
[TIGER FOCUS]
The air changed instantly. Austaire stiffened, her breath catching in her chest.
Gringo, who was usually unfazed by almost anything, felt a shiver creep down his spine. Auren’s presence no longer resembled that of a re boy- it was as though a beast crouched before them, ready to pounce.
Gringo cleared his throat.
"Hmm. Interesting observation skills. Tiger Focus, right? What does it do?"
Auren’s voice was steady, carrying a confidence his earlier hesitation lacked.
"Sharper focus, clarity over obstructions, and faster reaction speed."
"Isn’t that the sa as the rest of the observation skills?" Gringo frowned, tapping his chin with his pen.
Auren’s gaze sharpened further.
"Except this one can see through mana flows in a person’s body."
His golden eyes locked on Gringo.
"For example, right now I can see that your mana is unstable in your right shoulder- likely caused by a joint dislocation."
Gringo froze, blinking in surprise. For a brief mont, silence stretched between them, broken only by the buzzing insects.
"Impressive," he finally admitted, his voice quieter.
"I did got into an accident two days ago and injured my shoulder. How did you learn that skill anyway? Was it from a book?"
"I made it myself. You know, experinting with mana on my body," Auren replied, pride flashing in his tone. Gringo nodded in approval.
’This young man has guts and talent. I like that.’
"But I can only hold it for a couple of seconds though," he added, lowering his gaze. "My body’s not in the best condition right now."
Gringo scribbled furiously, his parchnt filling with quick strokes of ink. He nodded without looking up. "I can see that. What else?"
"I have so knowledge of runic inscriptions, blacksmithing, herbalism, and other useful applications. So... I made this."
He reached into his storage ring and, with a shimr of light, drew forth a magnificent weapon- a rapier nearly two ters long.
Its blade shimred with a golden hue, faint runic inscriptions glowing across the edges. The hilt was elegant, gilded with protective curves, and its handle was wrapped with dark Nightstalker leather.
The clearing seed to hush as the weapon reflected the sun’s light.
Gringo leaned in, his eyes practically sparkling.
"Beautiful piece... this isn’t far from the qualities forged in the capital’s inner courts. In fact, this looks about two grades higher than the ones wielded by royal knights."
"Thank you. I made it myself," Auren said calmly, but deep inside, his heart filled with boast.
Gringo’s jaw slackened.
"You did?!" He straightened, studying the young man with a mixture of shock and intrigue. "So not only can you cast dual elents, but you’ve also mastered blacksmithing? With what you’re capable of despite your age, it’s hard to believe your words."
Bonbon snorted, tail wagging behind him. "Oh, that’s just the beginning. Go on, show him."
One by one, Auren revealed more of his creations: his magic infused adventurer’s jacket, MJ boots, a mana-powered revolver and a three ter bazooka, a mana-infused gauntlet, an anti-magic cape, and lastly, a black mask that pulsed faintly with enchantnt.
The mask, when worn, granted him Clear Sight and altered his voice into sothing unrecognizable.
Each ti, Gringo’s fascination only grew deeper.
"Alright, let see those in action." he requested.
Before long, Auren sparred with Austaire, blades clashing and bodies moving with swift precision, the adow was filled with the sharp clang of steel.
Their breaths ca ragged, sweat running down their brows.
Finally, bruised and winded, Auren uncorked vials of his handmade potions, drinking one and handing one to Austaire.
Gringo could hardly take his eyes off him. His notes were a frenzy now, scribbled with exclamation marks and underlines.
"So this is the true power of being Fraless," he muttered. "You lack instant class skills, but in exchange, you can carve your own path. The possibilities are endless if you have the will and courage."
He shook his head, astonished. "You are a jack of all trades, huh... What about your bloodline? I thought you were a descendant of that rowdy Aurelus. Don’t you have his golden aura?"
Auren glanced at Austaire. She gave the faintest nod, her eyes unreadable.
"Guess I have no choice," Auren thought.
He inhaled, then released his mana through his pores.
SWOOOM~
A golden aura burst forth, flooding the clearing like a tidal wave of golden light. The ground trembled faintly beneath them.
Austaire’s body tensed, her pulse racing, while Gringo stumbled back, his breath caught in his throat.
’What a powerful aura... just how pure is his phoenix blood?’ Gringo’s thoughts raced, his body quivering despite himself.
Austaire clenched her fists, feeling heat bloom across her chest. Ovan’s voice stirred in her mind. ’His blood purity is higher than ours, Princess.’
She bit her lip. ’I know that. I just hope he sticks to his promise. Whether it’s him or who takes the throne, what matters is ending the corruption of the current ruler.’
Gringo, recovering from the shock, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small red vial. He gulped it down, his expression twisting in discomfort.
"That’s enough. I got everything I need to know. Now for so preparations..."
Auren’s eyes narrowed. Healing elixir? Does Fra Editing drain life force?
The scholar followed with two blue mana potions, drinking them both in one swift motion. He held up a strange bracer, its surface gleaming with three colors, and began channeling his mana while his eyes were closed.
[Fra Imprint]
Light swirled around his hands. His veins bulged, his face pale as if every drop of strength was being pulled from him. Austaire bit her lip, watching as the ritual stretched far longer than hers had.
Minutes crawled by until finally, the mysterious glow settled into the bracer.
Gringo stumbled, looking suddenly frail- his body shriveled, hair grayed, his fra bent with age.
"A-are you okay?!" Auren and Austaire rushed to him, alard.
But Gringo raised a trembling hand, silencing them.
"It’s temporary. The elixir and Blue Moon Potion will restore him soon enough," Bonbon explained with a mouthful of insect, crunching noisily.
True to his words, Gringo’s youth slowly returned, wrinkles fading and strength crawling back into his limbs and showed the bracer to Auren.
Auren scanned the bracer, its surface glowing faintly.
TING~
*
Na: Common Bracer
Type: Accessory
Effect: 2 Fire resistance
Description: Just an ordinary bracer, nothing else.
*
Auren frowned. ’He hid the true details... Probably for protection.’
Still, he admired the striking three-colored design.
"Here. It’s done," Gringo said, handing it over. His gaze lingered, sharp and thoughtful.
"Since you wield multiple skills across different paths, I made an extra effort."
Austaire tilted her head, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "What’s the difference from mine?"
"This one allows him to hold not just one, but three alternate divine fras."
He gestured. "Wear it and activate them."
Auren slipped the bracer onto his wrist. The instant his mana touched it, his figure shimred.
For a mont, three distinct silhouettes overlapped- a Herbalist, a Knight, and a Magician.
Austaire gasped softly, though the vision lasted only seconds.
Auren, on the other hand, grinned wickedly, his mind already realizing just how terrifying this new path could be.
"Prepare for trouble," he mumbled to himself, his deep red eyes glinting with excitent, "and make it triple..."
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