I woke up early in the morning and washed my face. Winter had already started, so I covered my little sister with a blanket properly so she wouldn't feel cold. Rim looked very cute while sleeping.
Then I realized that my combat training was finally over. Now I had to focus on my aura training for the next three months. After that would come sword training, and then combat training again. I had to repeat this cycle for the next six years.
And after that… I would complete my revenge mission.
I came in front of Steven's room and opened the door, but he wasn't there. I started wondering where he had gone. So I went to a quiet place and began meditating, focusing on my aura.
After some time, I heard the sound of footsteps. I stood up.
It was Steven.
I asked him, "Where did you go?"
Steven replied, "Vegetables are fresh in the market early in the morning, so I went to buy some."
He went to the kitchen, kept the vegetables there, and then came to me.
"Come," he said. "Your aura training starts now."
I quickly ran to my room and slowly opened the door so Rim wouldn't wake up. I wore my clothes and got ready.
Steven took me near a waterfall. When we reached there, he said, "Take off your clothes and go meditate under the waterfall."
The water was extremely cold. At first, my body started shaking, but somehow I forced myself to endure it and focused on my meditation.
After a while Steven said, "Now release your aura throughout your whole body and keep your body relaxed."
I did exactly what he said. After about one hour, slowly my aura started releasing from my body. I could feel it.
Steven, who was cooking a little far away, could also feel my aura slightly. He muttered to himself softly, "This kid learns very fast."
I opened my eyes and saw that a black aura was slowly coming out of my body.
Steven came near me and said, "You learned."
I looked at my hand. A black aura was coming out from it.
Then he told me to stop releasing my aura. But I didn't know how to do that.
He said, "Focus on your aura and try to pull it back inside your body."
I tried… and slowly my aura went back inside me.
By that time my sister had also woken up. I went to her, picked her up, and carried her outside. Steven said, "Give Rim to me," and sent me back to continue my practice.
After some time Steven called me and threw a big cloth toward me.
"Wear this first."
I was confused. Then he said, "We're going to the market. To buy clothes for you and Rim."
Hearing the word market made me happy. It had been a long time since I went outside. I covered my face and we went toward the market.
We went to a clothing shop and bought some clothes. Then Steven went to buy fruits.
When I turned back… I saw the town head standing there, laughing and talking with another man.
Seeing him made my blood boil. I was barely controlling myself.
Steven called me, and the entire way back home I kept thinking about him.
Steven noticed something was wrong, so he started talking about aura to distract me.
"Leo," he said, "I didn't tell you everything about aura before."
He continued, "Every person's aura is black at the beginning. But as it becomes stronger, its color starts changing."
He paused for a second.
"Leo, as I told you before, there are two legendary auras. One is white aura, which belongs to angels. And the other is dark purple aura, which belongs to demons."
Then he said, "If you ever see someone with these two auras… be careful."
I nodded.
After that we reached home. We ate food and Steven went to sleep.
I was in my room, and Rim was sleeping beside me. But my mind kept thinking about that man.
Finally I got up, wore my clothes, and quietly left the house.
After running a little far, I poured my aura into my legs and rushed toward my old town at full speed.
When I reached there, I saw that my father's and mother's heads were still hanging there.
Seeing that made my anger grow even more.
I saw a man nearby who was drunk. First I knocked him unconscious, dragged him aside, and woke him up.
I asked him, "Where is the town head's house?"
At first he thought I was just a kid. So I broke one of his fingers.
When I broke his finger… I didn't feel anything. I didn't even think whether it was right or wrong.
Then I said, "Last time. Where is his house?"
He quickly answered, "The chief's house is a little distance south from here."
I left him and went toward the town head's house.
When I reached there, I knocked down a flower pot to make noise.
Soon the town head came outside. After a few seconds, his wife also came.
I knocked her unconscious.
Then I went into his room. He saw me and quickly stood up, grabbing a knife and attacking me.
I dodged his attack and punched him hard. He fell backward.
I broke one of his fingers. But he didn't scream because his children were sleeping nearby.
Seeing them reminded me of my sister. I only wanted to punish him for what he did to my family. I didn't want the chief's children to grow up without parents like I did
So instead of killing him, I dislocated his right hand.
Then I broke one of his legs.
I carried his wife and children outside the house.
After that, I set his house on fire.
I said only one thing to him.
"If you survive, you will see your wife and children again. If not… consider it bad luck."
Then I left.
By then, the town people had already started gathering.
I returned home.
And the moment I reached the house…
Steven was standing in front of me.