Master of Aura: The Soundless Rogue

[5] Clueless Trial

^ imagine the envelope that has the association insignia on it.

"I have been meaning to ask this but what is the Master selection?" Camilla inclined her head while holding a cone of ice cream in her right hand. Kai didn't question the girl's lack of knowledge anymore so he just explained it to her.

The association held a Master selection every year. Every year aspiring mana users register to participate in the event. The registered participants will then undergo a series of tests to which they are observed by the veterans or any registered aura grandmaster that can qualify to train a mana user, they have the choice to take a participant/s as their apprentice/s.

The aura grandmaster will then hold the responsibility to nourish and train their apprentice in their way or style. 

"So that's it!" They continue to walk to find a place to rest for the day. Later on, they found a tavern that is also an inn close to the entrance of the left outer chamber.

"BeerNBears?" they step in from the oak door. The inside is just a normal tavern, with people talking and sipping their beers. Occasional shouts here and there, just loud. They continue moving forward towards a desk on the side.

"How much for a room?" Kai asks the tavern keeper who is wiping a cup in her hand. The lady— in her 60's, brown hair that is put on a bun and freckled face, raised her head to Kai.

"Oh hi there! We have two beds, 3 silver for one bed and 5 silver for 2" the lady presents. Kai looked to his satchel with a mere 7 Gildas left. [This sister is a money spender!] Kai looked at Camilla with pointed eyes but the girl refused to meet his gaze, she just played innocent, whistling in the air.

"One room for two beds please" Kai requested. The lady then proceeded to handed him the keys with a smile. "Room 8 on the second floor" she said.

The two went upstairs to find their room. Camilla quietly follows Kai.

Eventually, they found a door that had a sign of 8 on it. Kai pulled the key and opened the door. Camilla turned the lights. The room has 2 beds, a side deck with a lamp on it. The walls are brown and the wooden floor is cleaned.

Camilla jumps on one of the beds, claiming her territory. "Finally a soft comfy bed" Camilla laid comfortably while Kai explored the room. There is a door leading to the bathroom and also a window covered by brown curtains. You can see the central section view from the window and the walls that divide the outer chambers. [What could be on the other side] Kai thought

Kai heard the shower running, probably Camilla taking a bath. He set himself in his bed and loosely closed his eyes. [Now that I am here...I need to pass the selection and find the woman that father is talking about]

Kai continued to sink further to sleep when the water stopped. Camilla came out after a minute in the same clothes. "You should also shower, you stink!" Camilla complained, pinching her nose in disgust. "Yeah, yeah" Kai retorted back waving his hand.

•••

After cleaning themselves up the two laid in their separate beds in silence. "Why do you want to be an aura user?" Camilla asked out of the blue. Kai faced her and stared at the girl's eyes. "...I need to" Kai answered. Camilla met his firm gaze.

After a moment of silence, Camilla turned his back and tucked herself in "We should sleep'' as silence made its way in the room again. Shifting on his back Kai faced the ceiling and decided to also close his eyes "Goodnight" without a single word from Camilla. Kai turned off the lamp and the two finally succumbed to sleep.

•••

The morning ray glazed to Kait's skin, slowly opening his eyes and adjusting to the light. He raised his hands to the air and stretched his arms upwards. Looking to his side he found Camilla was still soundly asleep so he decided to go to the bathroom and wash his face.

Splashing a handful of water to his face he looked up to stare at his reflection. [Why do I want to be an aura user?] He thought to himself. 

Being an aura user is undoubtedly dangerous, so not everybody would want to enter the world of aura users themselves.

Using one's aura has certain restrictions and consequences. Just like when depleting one's aura can lead to death, some would choose to just live their life and not waste their aura reserve. It is a fact that not everyone can be an aura user.

Kai is contemplating his own resolve. Did he need to be an aura user just because his father told him to? He started to doubt himself because all his life he was used to his parents telling him what to do. Facing himself in the mirror, his eyes gave a certain glint. But he was interrupted by the loud banging at the door. "Hey! Let me use the bathroom!" Camilla yelled at the other side. 

Kai fixed himself up and breathed a long shaky sigh. [I guess I will find out when I get there. But for now, let's stick to the plan] fixing his hair he walked to the door and opened it.

 A certain Camilla is yawning in front of him, scratching her back without any kind of decency. She just walked past him and slammed the door to Kai's face. Then he heard the tap water running.

He just shrugged it off and gathered his belongings in the bed, though it's just his sling bag and his coat. After Camilla's done they prepared themselves to leave.

"I need to register myself first but you can also register if you want" Kai spoked. "Sure...might as well" Camilla replied, fixing her hair and tying it into a ponytail.

After making sure they took all their belongings, the two went downstairs. Kai paid for their room. And proceed to leave the tavern.

•••

Walking on the stone road they made their way to the registered office. The building has a decent size with at least 2 stories tall. There is no grandness in it, just a plain-looking building.

Inside there is only a desk with a person in it. A couple of couches with a handful of people present. Kai and Camilla made their way to the desk.

"We're here for the selection exam?" Kai said to the man at the desk. The man in his 30s didn't bother to look up and only placed an envelope at the front, continuing what he was writing. Confused, they stared at the envelope.

"Take it and get out of here" the man said in a deep almost threathening voice. Kai took the envelope in his hand, with no uttering a word. "Thank you" Camilla said, even though the man just ignored her. 

They step out of the building with conflicted looks on their faces. Kai stared at the black envelope, confused about what just happened.

"Let me see" Camilla snatched the envelope from the boy's hand and opened it slowly. There is a letter tucked inside, so Camilla took it out.

"The selection starts at sunrise peak"  is what written inside.

"Huh!?" They both exclaimed with wrinkles on their forehead. [How this even make sense?!] Kai muttered to himself, scratching his head.