Seeing the horns inside the sacks that had been tossed in front of him, Aster was genuinely puzzled. They didn't seem useful for anything at all—aside from perhaps hanging them on a wall as decoration.
Because of that, he decided to ask his master.
"What are you planning to do with these horns?"
Valorant climbed back into the carriage and answered his disciple calmly.
"We're going to sell them."
That answer immediately sparked Aster's curiosity.
"Who would buy these? And where are we selling them?"
The old man had no intention of explaining further. He wanted to see the look on his disciple's face when they reached the place where the horns were sold.
"You'll find out once we reach the city."
The carriage resumed its journey.
"How much do you think they're worth?" Aster asked.
"I'm not sure. They'll appraise them when we arrive," Valorant replied, opening one of the sacks.
"Can I take a look?" Aster asked, reaching toward it.
The moment the young Elestar stretched out his hand, it began to tremble. Catching his master's gaze fixed on him, Aster hastily grabbed the sack and pulled it toward himself.
'Master noticed.'
Clenching the sack tightly, he fell silent.
Seeing his disciple's reaction, one of the Seven Sages immediately understood.
"You still have a lot to get used to. You lack aura."
That statement startled Aster.
"Aura?! Like wild beasts?"
The old man closed and opened his eyes once, as if answering yes.
"You're still young. All you've done so far is train. That's why you're uncomfortable with blood—"
Aster interrupted him.
"I'm not afraid of blood. Killing wolves… taking the life of a living being… that was frightening," he said, lifting the sack and staring at it.
The old man's expression grew serious.
"That's natural. I understand being afraid of killing something. But after you've killed enough beasts like that, you'll gradually get used to the sight of blood—and to killing. Eventually, you won't fear it anymore."
Aster didn't know whether he should feel relieved or disturbed by those words. He simply listened.
"And then," Valorant continued,
"you'll begin to want to kill. That desire is what creates bloodlust."
"Bloodlust?!" Aster exclaimed, setting the sack down.
Valorant placed the sword he carried beside him and continued.
"Bloodlust is aura. It's especially common among predators. When those wolves charged at you, did you feel fear?"
Aster nodded.
"That fear you felt—that was bloodlust."
Aura was described in many ways by different people. Some said it was the result of experience, others claimed it was born from pain and hardship. In the end, it depended on how a person perceived it.
Wolves hunt other animals from a young age. Rabbits, on the other hand, live by eating plants and vegetables. When a wolf sees a rabbit, it sees food—prey. The rabbit senses that gaze, feels helpless, and runs in fear.
"Bloodlust is when the opponent in front of you feels like prey—and senses you as the predator. That is what we call aura."
Aster asked,
"What's the difference between them?"
One of the Seven Sages glanced at his sword.
"Bloodlust is just one type of aura. Aura itself is a power that allows you to present yourself however you wish before others. Politicians and leaders of organizations often use it to appear dignified and imposing."
Aster, who preferred learning through practice, asked eagerly,
"Can you show me?"
"If I show you bloodlust, you might feel unwell."
The young Elestar nodded anyway, clearly wanting to see it.
"Fine. If you feel sick, that's on you. You asked for it. I'll show you aura first."
Aster stared intently at his master, waiting.
Suddenly, the mana flowing from Valorant began to change. A gentle warmth radiated from him—like sunlight—instilling a sense of trust and reassurance.
Then, just as suddenly, the feeling vanished.
"Did you feel it?" the old man asked.
"How did you do that?"
Valorant straightened slightly, coughed once or twice, and replied proudly,
"I'll teach you later. That was just a way of making yourself appear harmless and innocent," he said, leaning closer and whispering,
"By the way, if you use this in front of girls, they'll fall for you instantly."
A faint blush spread across Aster's pale face.
"Please stop…"
Valorant continued whispering.
"It's true! Try it if you don't believe me. Smiling lightly while using aura in front of girls makes you look like the nicest person in the world. You just need to know when to use it."
Hearing this, Aster's imagination ran wild.
'A crowd of girls chasing after me, shouting "Aster! Aster!" They all confess their love, and when I say, "I love you too," they all faint at once… What would that even look like?'
Aster sank deep into his thoughts. He had never even played with other children, let alone talked to girls.
As those fantasies filled his mind, a strange grin formed on his face—one that looked almost villainous.
Turning to his master, he said earnestly,
"Please teach me!"
That delighted Valorant.
"Of course. I'll teach you not only aura, but also how to talk to girls—and their weak points. You're sitting before a man with nearly fifty years of experience—the bane of women."
Understanding the joke, Aster bowed deeply inside the carriage.
"Oh great master! I am forever grateful!"
"Alright, that's enough. Sit properly. Of course, I'll teach you everything I know," Valorant said, laughing.
They both laughed together.
As they did, Aster felt something stir inside him. When he had first met Valorant, the old man had seemed cold and distant. Now, everything felt different.
'I never thought I'd see Master this happy. It feels like he's family… like we've been together since birth.'
After the laughter subsided, Aster spoke again.
"Now show me bloodlust!"
"Brace yourself," Valorant warned, reaching for his sword.
Hearing that, Aster adjusted his posture and began repeating to himself.
'It's fine. This is just a test. Master won't hurt me.'
"I'm ready!"
Valorant lowered his head and placed his hand on the sword's hilt. From that moment, it was as if the blade came alive—green energy began to seep from it.
The cheerful atmosphere inside the carriage vanished instantly.
Aster swallowed hard and looked at his master.
Valorant slowly lifted his head. His gaze was cold and resolute—like an unbreakable cliff. His eyes were those of a predator that had found its prey.
Aster's body trembled. His throat tightened, and he couldn't even breathe properly. He felt that if he moved even slightly, he would die on the spot.
"Master… he'll kill me… no—he'll crush me."
His face turned pale as he began to suffocate. Seeing this, Valorant immediately stopped his aura and released the sword.
Only then did Aster feel the pressure lift, the invisible hand around his throat disappearing.
"Are you feeling sick?" Valorant asked, placing a hand on his disciple's shoulder.
"I'm fine… I'll recover in a bit," Aster replied, head lowered.
"If it gets worse, tell me."
He sat there for a long time, clutching his chest.
He had never imagined his master's aura could be that terrifying.
There was one other person who had felt it as well—the coachman, Dan.
"What was that…? Why did you even ask for that, Aster?" he whispered.
Aster remained quiet for quite some time until the weight in his chest finally eased. Once he felt better, Valorant gave him a task.
Since Dan was neither a mage nor an Elestar, Valorant ordered Aster to take over driving the carriage for a while.
At first, Dan objected. But after enduring the freezing cold for some time, he eventually agreed.
Treating it as training, Aster guided the carriage while maintaining [Flame Mana] for as long as he could.
The sun set. Darkness fell, and the road became difficult to see. Aster stayed alert, trying to sense any approaching beasts before they could attack.
As he drove, Valorant's voice came from inside the carriage. The old man leaned out the window and asked,
"Aren't you freezing?"
"Not yet."
"How long can you keep using Flame Mana?"
"About thirty minutes."
"Good. We're almost at the city. Endure a bit longer."
Though they were close to Northstat, Aster had only ever heard of the city. He had never visited before, which made him nervous as he guided the horses.
Half an hour passed.
Aster exhausted his [Flame Mana] faster than expected. The moment it faded, he suddenly felt how cold the air truly was.
The cold had been there all along—
He just hadn't noticed it until now.