City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Proofread by Thomas F

My heart began to beat wildly as I walked through the underground path.

I have fully recovered and am now walking toward the training space to learn the aura methods. Bell informed me that my control has reached that level.

I wanted to test it after waking up, but I didn’t. Instead, I freshened up and came here.

Click!

Soon, I reached the door and stepped inside. There, I saw Bell at her usual place.

Though she feels different today, more serious.

“Lord Silver,” she greeted. “Bell,” I replied, and sat in front of her as I usually do.

We didn’t just start fighting immediately; there are a few exercises involved, and her guidance before we fight, which usually happens at the last hour of a three-hour session.

She kept looking at me for nearly a minute before she opened her mouth.

…

Bell

“Aura is not a blessing of the great sky,” I said, repeating the words my mother used to say when she taught the aura skills.

I didn’t use the skills. This moment does not require it; it will ruin it if I do.

“It is the will made tangible, a personal force that stems from the core of an individual’s beliefs, emotions, and intent. Unlike the blessings of the great sky, which are structured, Aura Methods are not.”

I paused, controlling my emotions, which are threatening to burst out.

My mother expected me to do this, just as her father had before, and his father before him.

It was what her house was known for, and they didn’t, even when their power and noble rank rose to become one of the strongest in the land, they didn’t abandon this.

It’s why they were one of the best on the continent.

“That’s not to say there is no system to it; there is, it is why they are called a method.”

“The aura methods have more similarities with witchcraft than the skills and the spells,” I said. This line is mine; my mother used different words.

“I can show you the form—but the essence, that you must find on your own. It won’t be easy. It will challenge more than your skill; it will test your will, and the truth within your heart.”

…

A single tear streamed down her face as she finished.

I didn’t say anything; my mind was on the words she spoke. I know aura methods are different, and learning them is a unique experience for each individual.

“I cannot teach you the secret methods of my family, but I will teach you one of the best basic aura methods,”

“My mother used to teach these to people she liked the most,” she added, with a slight smile, but the next moment her eyes became filled with a terrifying rage, burning in them.

It remained there for a fraction of a second, making me feel as if I had imagined it, but I hadn’t.

“The method is called Verdant Path.”

Hearing that, my eyes couldn’t help but light up. I had read about it. It is a very popular aura method, but guarded by those who have it.

It is named as one of the best foundational aura methods. If I learned it, it would be invaluable in learning higher-level aura methods.

It will create a firm foundation for me.

“It is divided into four parts. Offense, defence, strengthening, and mind,”

“The conventional wisdom states that we should start with the Enduring Roots, which will strengthen your body, but given the state of things. We will start with Falling Leaf.” She said, and my eyes lit up.

Yes, I would have loved to focus on the body, but I need an offensive method.

“Falling Leaf is an offensive method. It forms a blade of aura, which you could coat around your weapon or shoot at the enemy.” She informed.

The next moment, a purple color blade formed in her hand. It is sharp with a faint ripple flowing over it.

Thud!

She swung it, and the blade moved slowly like a falling leaf, but a moment later, I heard a sound and saw it buried in the wall.

It was so fast, despite feeling slow.

I looked at the hole in the wall and couldn’t help but feel shocked. Those walls aren’t easy to breach; they are enchanted, but that blade had just torn through them.

This was just a basic aura method, and she didn’t use any skills to enhance it further.

I doubt she even used her full power.

“Aura methods are truly terrifying,” I said and sighed, looking at the deep hole it had created. It is why I need it; both of the Undead Lv. 40’s have an aura and are aware of the methods.

If I didn’t learn at least a single aura method by then. Then it would be really bad for me.

I cannot depend solely on two people and those things; I also need to be strong enough to repel the enemies.

“I will now show you its form,” she said, and a moment later, I felt her aura transforming into a complex shape.

It is fractal, the size of a palm, and complex and moving. It looked like a leaf.

I could feel it clearly, every facet of it. It’s because she is showing me. If she didn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to sense more than the rough shape.

It’s not easy to see these things; otherwise, aura methods would have been copied left and right.

“This is the form of the Falling Leaf. Don’t memorise it. You need to understand the essence of it; only through that, you will be able to learn the method,” she said, and another fractal formed beside it.

A moment later, it turned into the purple blade.

I looked at the fractal carefully, and with my current stats, I didn’t have any problem memorising it. I tried not to, but it had happened.

She seemed to understand what I had done, as her lips curved slightly in a smile.

“Now try it,” she said.

I nodded, but didn’t immediately start. I kept looking at its shape, taking in all the curves and lines and their subtle changes.

She didn’t hurry me and waited patiently while I studied it.

It is not a simple design, and there is much more to it.

As I looked at it, I could feel the rustle of leaves, their shape, and the weightlessness.

I didn’t know how much time had passed when, finally, the aura emerged from me and began to form a shape of the fractal. As it happened, my eyes remained fixed on the fractal.

Aura is part of me, and I didn’t have to look at it to feel it.

Bell, from the beginning, made sure I wouldn’t depend on physical senses for aura. It is invisible, but from childhood, we are conditioned to look at what we are doing.

These habits transfer when learning the aura, which could be detrimental.

My aura moved smoothly, forming those curves and lines. Within a minute, a fractal formed. I could see a spark of surprise appear in her eyes as it happened.

“It’s excellent, near-perfect copy,” she praised. “But it’s not giving the same feeling as I am getting from yours,” I said.

“That’s because you had got the form, but not the essence,” she replied, with a smile.

“Sense it, comprehend it, listen to it, understand it. Without you getting the essence, the method wouldn’t work.”

Once more, she conjured the fractal and turned it into the blade. She did it slowly and smoothly, like it didn’t take her any effort at all.

It likely wouldn’t. Bells’ control and understanding of the aura are far above mine. I would need years, even more than a decade, to catch up to her.

I pushed those thoughts and focused on the fractal again. I wanted to understand it while I drew it.

I drew the form perfectly, but I couldn’t bring out the essence of it.

I tried again and again, but I failed. She watched patiently as she repeatedly demonstrated the method to me.

“I think it’s enough for today. Let’s continue with our usual training.” I wanted to try more, but nodded.

Soon, the training is over, and I am all sweaty and tired, to the point where my knees are shaking, but a smile is still on my face.

My control over the aura had improved far more than I had thought. Increasing my strength, as I could enhance my body and skills even further.

“How long do you think it will take me to learn the method?” I asked.

“It’s an impossible question to answer. I have seen people learning it within minutes, while some take months, even years. It all depends on one’s mind and luck,” she replied, with a smile.

I shook my head, hearing that, and walked out.

I do not have years. I have a month or so, and I need to learn the method within that time. It will increase the city’s chances of success against its enemies.

A few minutes later, I reached my room and took a shower. The water I used for it is from the artifact.

It soothed my spirit, healed my injuries, and alleviated fatigue. Training with Bell isn’t easy; at every session, she pushes me to my limit.

That’s how I want it; I need to be ready for anything that comes with it.

After coming out of the shower, I changed into my clothes and ate breakfast before walking toward my office, where Danielle and Cath were waiting for me.

They have taken over more of Caena’s responsibilities, while Caena is focusing more on her witchcraft. That brought more duties on these two; they were already handling a lot.

We need more madams in a few weeks. I am going to elevate some; they are nearly ready. Until then, these will have to handle the extra responsibilities.

Their expressions didn’t look good. There is only one reason for that.

“How many?” I asked as I stepped inside. They were a little surprised, but quickly controlled their expressions.

“Four,” they replied in unison.

“That takes the number to twelve,” I said heavily. They nodded and forwarded the file toward me. I looked at it and my expression turned bad.

All four were working girls. All of them had years of experience in the Velvet Garden.

One of them from the third batch, Caena’s, and three were from the fourth. They have been here before the Velvet Garden turned into a legacy.

They are experienced and higher-level.

“Ungrateful whores.!” cursed Danielle. “If not for the Velvet Garden and you, Master Silver. They would have been rotting in some wretched brothel.”

“Instead of being grateful. Those whores ran away. Betraying you and the establishment that gave them everything they have,” added Cath.

Hearing that, I sighed before shaking my head.

“We can’t say that. Yes, we trained them, but they have also helped Velvet Garden in return.”

“They are employees like you all. If they want to leave, we will let them go, wishing them good luck for the new chapter of their life,” I replied, surprising them.

Yes, I am hurt and a little angry, but I am running a business, and employees leave.

It is bad, but also good. It tells us who is loyal, willing to stay with us through thick and thin.

“I fear this is just beginning, Master Silver. The aggressiveness with which they are using this time, and the offers they are making, had tempted even me,” said Cath, while Danielle glared at her.

I smiled hearing that. I am happy that Cath feels comfortable enough to speak those words to me.

“Yes, more will leave, but I think that will be good for us. Because after this, we will know whom we can trust and with them we will build an even better Velvet Garden,” I said.

The next few weeks are going to be painful for the Velvet Garden and the city.

Even crippling in the short term.

In the long term, it will be of tremendous help to us. Those who remain will be absolutely loyal to us. The only thing we have to do is deal with the enemies coming at us.

After that, we will rise and nobody will be able to stop us!

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