NoveLight ™
In most traditional families or organizations, students are trained to awaken their mana between the ages of five and ten.
But the Ragnar family was different.
At fifteen.
The family intentionally delayed their first mana awakening until then, afraid that the overwhelming Ragnar talent would consume them if awakened too early.
Instead, they trained the body to its limit beforehand, creating a foundation for this latent power to bloom.
And the moment they opened the Aura Hole was during a special ceremony, known as the Blooming Ceremony.
This grand event marked the transition from apprentice swordsman to seasoned swordsman, raising one’s rank in the family. The event was mandatory for all main and branch family members turning fifteen, as well as the younger members of vassal families.
According to tradition, Theo shouldn’t be able to open his Aura Hole just five months before the Blooming Ceremony.
That was the time-honored tradition of the Ragnar family.
If he were to do so and be caught?
Immediate execution. The penalty was death.
But…
Five years from now, someone would appear to shatter that tradition.
“Martial Genius” Neuwitz.
Once a secluded scholar buried in the mountains, he was none other than Theo’s master.
The Ragnar family prided themselves on being descendants of the ancient dragon. But their breathing techniques, mana usage, and aura composition were unlike any dragon’s.
The remarks Neuwitz made one day sent the Ragnar household into turmoil.
In short, he’d said:
—“Aren’t you guys the descendants of dragons? Then why are you using mana like humans?”
—“Are you lying?”
Theo vividly remembered the pandemonium.
The family’s elders, usually so arrogant, were incensed yet speechless, suppressing their anger because Neuwitz was right.
Eventually, all the Ragnar family’s elders, council members, and their top thirteen swordmasters came together to form a vision.
To breathe like dragons, to use mana like dragons, and to craft aura like dragons.
This was the concept behind the Dragon’s Heart.
Typically, the Aura Hole was placed on the right side of the navel, what Theo referred to as the dantian.
But the Dragon’s Heart was positioned in the opposite direction—in the left chest, within the heart.
The reasoning was simple: a dragon uses its heart as the core of its mana circuit, storing energy there.
The problem was that, unlike dragons who could innately control mana, the swordsmen of the Ragnar family were human.
Many of them couldn’t handle the rampaging mana and either died or were left crippled.
Ultimately, the council deemed it impractical and scrapped the Dragon’s Heart concept.
They concluded that it was impossible to contain mana in the ever-beating heart.
But…
“My master didn’t give up; he actually revived it.”
Neuwitz obtained the abandoned Dragon’s Heart and continued to refine it until he succeeded in transplanting it into Theo.
He referred to the Dragon’s Heart by another name:
The Aura Heart.
It was a second mana organ that resonated with the dantian-based Aura Hole.
—A dragon is a dragon, and a human is a human. Forcing a fit just won’t work. Idiots.
Theo could still hear his master’s laughter echoing in his head.
Hah hah hah…
“So the Aura Heart we created back then is still here?”
[As an additional reward based on your evaluation, you have rediscovered the mana of your previous life.]
[All previous life mana will be absorbed by the newly created Aura Heart.]
Theo was stunned.
He’d already experienced reincarnation and regression, which was astonishing enough, but now his Aura Heart had been fully restored too?
This is… amazing!
Of course, Theo had no intention of turning down this unexpected gift.
The concept of an Aura Heart didn’t exist in this era.
Which meant he could train his aura without attracting the family’s attention.
This will be my hidden ace.
The amount of mana he’d accumulated in his past life was not insignificant.
At least at the level of a fifth-rank swordsman.
That was enough to be considered a master.
And if he were to open the Aura Hole in his dantian, enabling him to operate two mana organs simultaneously…
If he could achieve resonance between them and amplify his power…
The result would be indescribably explosive.
It’s like having two engines.
And his body, blessed by the Ragnar lineage, only grew stronger with training, never weakening.
He had no concerns about the strain that might come from such explosive power.
“Well then, let’s get down to serious training.”
How strong could he become by the Blooming Ceremony?
He was already growing curious.
“Theo, did you spill something on your clothes?”
“Why, is there a problem?”
“Oh, n-no, sir! It’s just that your usual clothes started smelling sour and seemed to be… disintegrating…! Ah! I don’t mean that you smell or anything—!”
“I know. Don’t worry, I don’t mind. I think I spilled something while making a late-night snack. Sorry about that.”
“Oh, no! Please don’t apologize! I didn’t mean to imply…”
As Theo stepped out of his room, he scratched the back of his head.
Seems like circulating mana all night ruined my clothes… Guess I should prepare some throwaways next time.
The Aura Heart, now enhanced with mana from his past life, was performing splendidly.
Despite the physical strain, his mana was never fully depleted, even as he continuously circulated it to develop his mana circuits.
As a result, he’d been able to clear his circuits through the night and establish the first line.
The process had also expelled impurities from his blood vessels and qi paths, leaving his clothes in tatters.
Given that he’d be repeating this process for the foreseeable future, he’d have to be mindful of what he wore during mana training.
With the Aura Heart, or maybe due to my naturally large mana reserves, everything feels more efficient. It’s great.
Humming softly, Theo made his way to the Fourth Training Hall.
Now that he’d cleared his mana circuits and awakened his aura, it was time for the next step.
Training in swordsmanship, of course.
This additional reward really came in handy, but what is it exactly?
As he walked, Theo continued pondering the message that lingered in his vision.
Even though he’d been granted a beneficial reward, his suspicion remained.
In fact, he was even more cautious now.
There was no such thing as a gift without strings attached.
It’ll probably demand something of me later.
A new message had already arrived.
[A quest has been received.]
[Tutorial Quest #2]
Train your Aura Hole.
Train his Aura Hole?
Did it mean training his mana, or the body that would contain the aura?
Plus, the words are so distorted it’s like someone did it intentionally.
Both the Reward and Failure sections bothered him.
This doesn’t feel like a minor matter…
Would the reward be as valuable as the previous one?
And what about the penalty for failing?
How severe would it be?
While he was lost in thought, a maid suddenly approached him.
“Ah, good morning, young master! Have a wonderful day!” she said, bowing deeply before quickly departing.
Theo was taken aback.
…It seems the maids can’t make eye contact with me today. They keep blushing. Did something happen?
“Yaaawn.”
Evelyn stretched and yawned, scratching her empty left shoulder.
She was bored.
It was a thought she had several times a day.
Perhaps it was because she’d lived a fierce life as a senior swordsman, but managing the Fourth Training Hall felt tediously dull.
Without the entertainment of watching that person, I’d be in big trouble.
Lately, she’d had something interesting to watch.
Theo Ragnar.
The quietest and most inconspicuous of the Lord’s numerous children.
Though the elders and current swordsmen hardly knew his name, he was actually quite popular among the maids and servants.
And not just popular—he was admired.
Unlike the arrogant and self-centered Ragnar relatives, he had a genuinely good heart.
Over time, Evelyn had developed a certain fondness for watching him.
But today, Theo’s routine was slightly different.
His morning run had started as usual.
A month ago, he could barely complete a lap, but now he could run several with ease, which impressed her.
Huh? The weapon storage?
Instead of returning to the palace after his run, he headed to the storage attached to the training hall.
It was filled with practice weapons for beginner and training swordsmen.
Theo carefully inspected each weapon, handling them one by one.
He lifted them, swung them, gripped them with both hands, and tested his stance.
When a weapon didn’t suit him, he’d put it down and try the next.
At first, Evelyn thought he was searching for a weapon that suited him, but…
Even when he found a weapon that seemed perfect, he’d shake his head and put it back.
What is he up to? I have no idea.
After nearly five hours of this, Evelyn was genuinely curious.
Then, Theo suddenly rummaged through the storage again, his eyes lighting up as he held something aloft.
Evelyn’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“A… a zweihander?”
A massive greatsword, nearly two meters long and weighing tens of kilograms, was now in Theo’s hands.
In the tarnished blade of the greatsword, Theo’s face shone with a bright smile.
As if he’d found a hidden treasure.
“L-Lord Theo?”
“What… what is that?”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. Just go on with your practice.”
Everyone in the Fourth Training Hall—from swordsmen to servants—gaped as Theo passed by.
The sight of a boy with a youthful face dragging a sword nearly twice his height was shocking.
Is he actually going to use that? He hasn’t even attended the Blooming Ceremony yet!
And yet he’s lifting it…
It actually seems light?
Did Lord Theo always have this much strength?
As the onlookers expressed their shock and awe…
Whoosh, whoosh-whoosh-whoosh—
Theo swung the zweihander through the air, testing its balance.
Yes, this is it.
Despite the massive size of the greatsword, Theo wielded it easily, with no strain.
The months of running to build muscle and the completion of his Aura Heart had changed his body immensely.
His master had once said:
With the heart of a dragon, shouldn’t you wield a sword worthy of it?
And the zweihander was perfect.
Big, heavy, and… magnificent.
There was no better weapon to push his body to the limit and accelerate his growth.
I want to become stronger.
A powerful voice echoed from deep within his chest.
At that moment, Theo realized something.
It wasn’t that he’d been ignoring these feelings; he’d simply been blind to them.
But now that he was facing them, they surged from his heart, filling his entire body.
All doubts about the messages vanished completely.
I guess I am a Ragnar after all.
With that thought, he steeled himself.
Let’s do this.
“Haaah…!”
Taking a deep breath, Theo began to lift the zweihander.
He cleared his mind, pouring all his focus into the sword.
A serene calm settled over him.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
Conversely, his heart beat wildly, pumping blood and mana through his veins, filling his body with strength.
And then—
Boom!
Theo took his first step.