Master of Aura: The Soundless Rogue

[4] We arrived...finally!

^the capital. Imagine the central section to have more houses and shops.

"Ha~why are you following me?" Kai continued his travel in the morning but now a certain girl is on his tail. "Huh?! It just so happens that I'm also coming this way" Camilla retorted back.

"Where are you even going?" Camilla asked, straightening her crumpled outfit. "I thought you are also going this way then you should know where to go?" Kai rolled his eyes to Camilla's obvious excuse.

"O-of course, I know. I just want to confirm that you are really going there" Camilla stuttered in her sentence, clearly struggling to find more excuses. "And where exactly is 'THERE' " emphasizing the word just to annoy her, facing her to see the girl's cheeks tainted in red.

"So you didn't know where to go...and that you're following me" stated the boy trying to press the truth. Camilla didn't utter a word, just sighing in defeat. "...I am lost, okay" the girl confessed. "I don't know where to go" she added. "Did you live under a rock or something?" The boy accidentally said. For Kai it may just be a joke but for Camilla it's a sad reality. She never really set foot on the outside-away from people, she lived in a cage of her own, to what you call "home".

Kai noticed Camilla had gone quiet. Camilla clenched her fist trying to hold her sadness. Kai felt like he made a mistake, and he most certainly did. "I am going to the capital to take the selection exam" trying to divert the conversation and turning his back on now sullen Camilla.

"...I just wanted to be free" Camilla's voice cracked and on the verge of crying, Kai immediately faced Camilla with the look of panic in his eyes. "Wh-hat! Why are you crying? I d-idn't... m-ean to!" Not knowing what to do, the young assassin shuffled in his place in an attempt to comfort the girl.

Camilla sniffed, holding back her tears. Watching Kai scrambled on his feet, made the sadness in her heart slowly dissipate. " Calm down...geez" Camilla in a better mood smacked Kai's shoulder and smiled. "Just let me tag along" she compromised.

Kai witnessing the girl's genuine smile for the first time made his heart skip a beat. Something he never experienced before, he ignored it and instead settled for a smile. " Well...be my guess, Ms. Camilla" turning his back he continued his walk not a stranger on his tail, but with a new companion.

• • •

"Ughh~ how far is the capital? We have been walking for 5 hours and not even a glimpse of the city!" Camilla complained in her breath which deeply annoyed Kai. They came out of the forest 2 hours ago and are now trekking in the "Vast Plains."

"We're almost there so stop complaining. You decided to follow me, deal with it" [what a pain in the ass] rolling his eyes in his mind. "Whatever..." Camilla muttered to herself.

"Ah yeah! I forgot to ask...how old are you? you looked young" The girl asked with curiosity. Slightly turning his head, Kai simply answered "10".

"..."

"W-a-ait, what?!" Camilla choked on her own saliva in shock. "So you're saying that you're three years younger than me?! And what's a child even doing in the woods?"

"That's funny coming from you, and yes I am three years younger and that makes you a child too. So don't act like you're much older" cocking his head on the side. "Acting cocky aren't we. Now you should be calling me sister from now on" Camilla said, putting her arms on his hips. "Huh?! Why should I? You're more childish than I am" Kai retorted back. "Hey! That's mean,you brat!" Pointing her finger at the boy, Kai just shrugged her off and continued walking. "Hey! Don't ignore me, you punk." following Kai on his path.

After an hour...

"Yes! We're finally here!" catching her breath, Camilla jumped in joy.

The Capital. A city located in the center of the continent. Protected by gigantic white walls, 80% of the population are aura users.

Unlike other kingdoms, the capital is governed by the Master's Association. Rather than having a ruler system, the association is composed of three separate sectors.

The Chairman. The chairman holds the greatest authority and the one that leads the association. However, every decision involving the association will be discussed by the three sectors in a unanimous vote or mutual agreement.

The Advisors. The advisors hold not much lesser authority than that of a chairman. They have their own departments to manage in the association and an essential part of the committee.

The Veterans. They are aura users that achieved mastery in their own field or arts. Though they hold much less authority than the advisors, their opinions matter and are still part of the committee.

There are certain rules and requirements to qualify a spot in one of the sectors. And strict regulations must be met to maintain order in the entirety of the association.

"Whoaaa" Camilla is awed by the towering walls. She feels like an ant standing next to it. They went to the entrance that is much less grand than it's walls, but still a display of power.

There are two guards in the entry-way. Though there are only just a gate-keeper the aura surrounding them displayed an incredible amount of intimidation.

"2 gildas for entry" Kai paid 4 gildas and the guards let them pass. "You owe me 2 gildas" voiced Kai. Camilla stuck her tongue out and walked past him "Bleh...stingy!" Kai just shook his head and quietly followed Camilla. [Ungrateful sister] the boy muttered to himself.

The city is divided into three sections. The central section, the outer chambers, and the inner chamber.

Each sections holds different type of people based on the association ranking system.

There are 4 ranks, an aura user can achieve. Aura practitioner, aura master, aura grandmaster, and aura supreme master.

Most residents that lived in the central section are either Aura practioners or aura masters, this includes their families.

The left and right outer chamber is where aura grandmasters resides in.

And lastly, the inner chamber is where the committee and their families lived.

The association also will grant benefits to those who reached the level of aura grandmaster or above, a golden badge with the association's insignia on it—three circles with a star in the center, will be given to the mana user. These will symbolize your rank and the benefits that includes:

•Living in the outer chamber will be completely free—shelter and food included.

•A person with this badge are also pardoned in most of their crimes with few exceptions from the association rules.

• You can earn the qualification to be a part of the committee.

But achieving this level is not an easy feat. Aside from having at least one field of mastery, you will also need 3 votes from the advisory sector at the minimum. You will also undergo examination in order to test your combat, thinking, and strategy skills.

Having met all the requirements you are formally to be announced as an aura grandmaster.

To the majority this is just a wishful thinking. Though to a person with hardwork, will, and talent will get you far. But with enough guidance and intense training for mastery, you will surely reached the level of grandmaster or even more the supreme master level.

Currently there are 3 known aura users that achieved  supreme master level  one of which is the current association chairman, Nephito Ezrac.