The Power of Aspect Power and Basic Swordsmanship (Thanks to the Alliance Leader, Mrs. Shenqi, who wants to cuddle with Alice)

Late at night, Sylutia could finally lie quietly in bed, while Talia slept on the wooden floor in the same room. It was the warm Rising Wind Season, so even though it was autumn, it wasn't cold—in fact, some of the day's heat still lingered.

She had been through so much today. Sylutia couldn't quite fall asleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, memories and images flashed through her mind.

What exactly was the Power of Aspects? Just how big was this world? How would she make a living here, and where would her future lead? All kinds of thoughts and questions tangled in her mind.

In the end, she was simply tired. She fell asleep in less than half an hour, her breathing gradually settling into a steady rhythm.

The night passed peacefully.

At dawn, the clear chirping of birds beneath the eaves woke Sylutia. She rubbed her eyes. Her snow-white hair stuck up in places, its strands scattered over her shoulders and neck. She shook her head and prepared to get up and use the toilet, but when her feet touched the uneven, hard-packed dirt floor, she realized something was wrong. Her eyes flew open.

"Where am I..." Right. She wasn't on Earth anymore. Her chrysanthemum-blue eyes narrowed slightly, and her voice carried a hint of emotion.

Oh well. Better not dwell on it. What was she supposed to do today? She felt around as she got up, slipped on her dainty leather shoes, and fastened the buckles.

The pale leather shoes and snow-white socks showed off the gentle curves of her ankles and calves. Even without any extra adornments, they had a natural beauty to them. After straightening her dress and hair, Sylutia walked around the room a few times, but couldn't find anything like a mirror.

There probably weren't any mirrors here. She wondered how the villagers usually washed and groomed themselves. She also really wanted to know what she looked like now.

Talia wasn't there. They'd slept in the same room last night, so had she gotten up early and gone out? Thinking this, Sylutia headed for the closed wooden door.

She opened it and stepped outside. The bright sunlight felt warm. Some villagers were already up and moving about. Compared with last night's perilous battle, today was exceptionally calm and peaceful.

The village square in the distance had already been cleaned up. Only a few traces of last night's events remained. Smoke rose from some chimneys—probably from people cooking. Sylutia followed the stone path down the hillside, hopping along lightly.

After what had happened last night, many villagers knew a noble young lady was staying here, but today was the first time they had actually seen her.

Curious and awed by her noble status, most of the villagers watched from a distance as she made her way down the slope. When Sylutia reached the square, the woman who had brought her a meat pie last night came over.

"Miss Tia, you're up. Would you like something to eat?" she called to the girl. It seemed she was making breakfast again today.

"Sure." Sylutia nodded, and the woman handed her some toast.

The bread was a little bigger than her hand and still warm. It tasted slightly sweet, with a bit of coarse bran. It was brown bread, but better quality than the usual kind.

"How is it? Are you used to the food?"

"Mhm, it's delicious." Given the circumstances, this was probably pretty good food. Sylutia was easy to please.

"I'm glad you like it, Miss Tia." The woman smiled broadly. She seemed rather proud and pleased that the noble young lady had approved of something she had made.

As they ate the bread, the two of them talked about the situation.

"Talia's probably gone to help with the injured. I'll go call her for you in a bit."

"We were busy all night yesterday, so quite a few people are still asleep and resting. We don't have much here to offer you."

"Captain Frien is resting in the stone tower at the entrance to the village. He probably won't wake up until noon."

"Old Ponder should still be taking care of the aftermath. How about I take you to the merchant caravan? They ought to have all kinds of interesting things."

Worried that the noble young lady might get bored, the woman took her to an open space behind the village, where the merchant caravan had camped for the night. The area was now surrounded by a simple fence.

"Henry!"

The woman waved to a young man in the distance and called him over.

"What is it, Auntie?" The honest-looking young man came over. He was a head taller than Sylutia and rather sturdy, dressed in a short linen shirt.

"Take Miss Tia to look around the caravan. Help her carry things, and don't let those shysters fool her when they're selling their wares."

"Oh, I understand, Auntie." He rubbed the back of his head, sneaking a few glances at the silver-haired girl before lowering his head again. He seemed a little shy and embarrassed.

"All right, off you go. Remember to bring Miss Tia back for lunch at noon."

"Got it."

Henry led the way toward the caravan, with Sylutia following behind him. Now and then, people greeted Henry along the way, but their attention was mostly on the rare sight of a noble young lady behind him. They were amazed by her looks and bearing; some even stared at her, dumbstruck.

Faced with the situation, Sylutia could only lower her head slightly to avoid their overly bold stares, occasionally brushing her fingers through the hair at her temple to hide her face a little.

It would be nice if she could buy something to cover her head, like the raincoat she'd seen in her previous life.

She was also looking forward to seeing the merchant caravan.

After passing through most of the village, the two arrived at the caravan's camp. A few villagers were already there, bargaining and shopping.

"I've got two bags of White Wind Root at home. I wonder if you'll buy them?"

"We'll buy it as long as the White Wind Root hasn't gone bad. Are you looking to trade it for this spearhead?" A caravan member took out an iron spearhead.

"I'll take that, then. I'll add a bag of Black Gravel Wheat. That should be enough, right?"

"More than enough. Go get the White Wind Root."

After they reached an agreement, the middle-aged villager left the caravan camp. He was probably going home to get the goods.

After hearing their conversation, the girl walked into the caravan's camp and carefully examined the wares. Many were piled haphazardly in sacks and wooden crates. A few of the more valuable items were kept inside a tent. There were iron goods, honey, spices, fabric, and various little things for daily use, like candlesticks, needles and thread, bath towels, and soap.

As she walked between the piles of goods, Sylutia looked around curiously, her eyes blinking now and then as bits of information surfaced in her mind.

[Purple Turnip] (Quality: Common), a common vegetable that keeps well.

[Iron Spearhead] (Quality: Common), made of pig iron and can be attached to a wooden shaft.

[Coarse Salt] (Quality: Poor), contains a lot of impurities and tastes unpleasant.

After looking around, Sylutia couldn't find the hooded coat she wanted, so she asked one of the caravan members.

"Do you have any coats for sale? Something that can cover my hair." She gestured with her hands.

"You mean a hooded cloak? Let me look." Before long, he had dug out a few, but their styles and quality left a lot to be desired.

[Linen Cloak] (Quality: Poor), the sleeves are uneven, and the stitching is crude. Probably a practice piece made by an apprentice.

"This won't do." Henry, who had been following Sylutia for some time, finally spoke up. He stepped in front of her to stop the shopkeeper from pushing the cloak on her.

Sylutia tilted her head and peered at the clothes from the gap beside Henry's shoulder. Most were poor quality and ugly. No wonder they hadn't sold and had been left at the bottom of a box.

Besides, she compared the size of the hood. It would probably have to be pulled tight around her head like a ball to cover her hair. It would be terribly uncomfortable to wear.

"Don't you have anything better?"

"No, I'm sorry, miss. This is all we have." The merchant looked helpless. They'd been short on supplies lately.

Sylutia turned her attention to the other goods around them, wondering whether she could find a substitute.

"Do you have any hats?"

"Hats? Just straw hats."

After searching for a while, they dug out a straw hat that was already crushed and covered in prickly bits. Just as the girl was about to pick it up and see if it would do, a familiar voice sounded.

"Are you Miss Tia? I'm Vandhi, the leader of this caravan." A bearded merchant wearing a felt hat walked over, followed by two bodyguards.

"Hello." Sylutia put down the hat, turned, and nodded in greeting.

After looking around, Vandhi heard from the shopkeeper who had just tried to sell Sylutia the cloak what was going on. He quickly understood and smiled at the girl with a nod.

"Miss Tia, are you looking for clothes and a hat? These things really aren't suitable for someone of your standing. Please, come with me." He gestured invitingly, asking her to come to the inner part of the caravan, where a rather elegant wooden carriage stood. It even had glass windows and looked quite impressive.

He opened the carriage door and invited Sylutia to sit opposite him. Then he had someone prepare tea before speaking with her.

"I have a few nice garments here. They were originally reserved by a wealthy family in the city, but I don't mind selling them to you. I can find another source to restock when I return to the city. It'll just take a little more effort." He showed how generous he was.

"Thank you." Sylutia nodded slightly, aware that the merchant must have something else to say. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken the trouble to invite her over.

"...I wonder where you're headed next, Miss Tia. If it's along my route, perhaps I can help you along the way." When the girl didn't respond, he stroked his beard and continued.

"I don't know where my family is right now. I may have to go to a larger city first and look for people who can help me." The girl twirled a strand of hair around her finger as she replied.

"In that case, I'd suggest going to the nearest city, Scorched Stone City. It's fairly prosperous, and you can find all sorts of trades there. I'm heading there myself this time." Vandhi hoped that traveling with her would bring them closer. As for why he believed she was a noble, her bearing, clothes, looks, and complexion were things commoners simply couldn't fake.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I don't have any money with me right now. I'm afraid I can't repay you yet." Sylutia replied politely.

"That's no problem. Just think of it as making a new friend. What do you say?" This was exactly what Vandhi wanted. If the girl really did offer him money, he would do his best to refuse. Otherwise, it would be harder for them to grow closer.

"Thank you." Sylutia felt a little less worried.

If she could get to a larger city, she ought to be able to find a suitable job and pay him back. As for making a life for herself afterward, that would depend on what opportunities came her way.

Just then, a caravan member came over carrying a wooden tray with freshly brewed tea. He set it on the little table in the carriage, then bent down and went outside.

"Please, have some. This is Musk Mountain Souchong, which I bought from Afira Manor in the north. It's a rare delicacy in these parts." After saying this, Vandhi picked up his own cup and took a small sip.

Sylutia picked up hers as well. Her eyes shifted slightly, and a string of information appeared.

[Black Tea (Musk Mountain Souchong)] (Quality: Good): Summer-picked tea, 82% fermentation. It has notes of honey, a rich, sweet aroma, and a slight astringency. It has a faint invigorating effect (influenced by the "Blazing Sun" Aspect Power of the Rising Wind Season).

Seeing that there was nothing wrong with the tea, she took a small sip. The hot tea slid between her teeth, bringing a hint of sweetness.

Sylutia breathed out softly and set the tea down. It was a little too hot.

Vandhi, on the other hand, didn't mind the heat. He savored the black tea with obvious pleasure. He was quite satisfied with the honey mixed into it, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Taking advantage of the moment, Sylutia asked Vandhi about the nearby villages and towns.

"Besides Linden Village, there's also Bee Village twenty kilometers away. They make good honey there. Farther out are Iron Rock Village and Long Cable Village."

"The nearest town is River Stone Town. Follow the road to River Stone Town for thirty miles west, and you'll reach Scorched Stone City. It's a city built against the mountains. It was burned down by a great fire long ago, and a lot of the stones turned black, which is how it got its name. It's Viscount Xuefeng's territory."

"About how many people live in Scorched Stone City?" the girl asked.

"Probably around forty thousand. No one's ever counted exactly." As a merchant, Vandhi knew a thing or two about that. A city's population directly affected the size of its market and its demand for goods.

After that, Sylutia asked him about many other aspects of the region and finally got a rough idea of the world she was in.

She was currently in the Regas Duchy, which had a population of about three million. It lay in the southern part of the continent, with several smaller duchies scattered across the plains between the broken mountain ranges nearby. Their strength varied considerably.

She also gleaned a few details about the Aspects from Vandhi's words.

This world had many extraordinary "Aspects," which could be understood as a kind of special conceptual magic. They could transform into one another in certain ways, and they could also weaken or grow stronger. When an Aspect grew stronger, the secret arts and abilities that used it were strengthened as well.

Ordinary people could focus on cultivating at most one Aspect and gain its power. Because of their race and origins, the "Blood Law" Aspect was an innate but latent Aspect engraved in the bloodlines of all living things. As long as an organism's blood ran red, it could gain the power of the "Blood Law" Aspect even while cultivating a Class based on another Aspect. Techniques such as the "Breathing Technique" were examples of this.

However, this compatibility only existed at lower ranks. If the power of a "Blood Law" Aspect ability grew too strong, it would interfere with the cultivation of one's primary Aspect.

Likewise, the "Beast Fang" Aspect was an innate but latent Aspect inherited through the bloodlines of many beasts; "Dragon Eye" was inherited through the bloodlines of dragonkind; "Spiral Fish" was inherited by aquatic and amphibious creatures; "Insect Moth" was inherited by insects; and "Emerald Nectar" was a latent Aspect found in all plants.

There were no restrictions on who could master Aspect Power. As long as the conditions were right, humans could also gain the power of Aspects like "Spiral Fish" and "Dragon Eye." However, compared to creatures that inherited those Aspects from birth, humans needed more techniques and resources to cultivate them.

People who focused on cultivating a particular Aspect path gathered together to share knowledge and learn from one another. That was how the first schools began.

The kingdoms of the present day were all built on the "Castle" Aspect. Wherever there were villages and towns, there were magical formations based on the "Castle" Aspect. Their main components were pillars, towers, castles, walls, and other structures built from stone. These structures formed a mysterious ritual, allowing the barriers of the "Castle" Aspect to envelop villages and towns, protecting their residents from the influence of other Aspect Powers.

When beasts in the wild gained Aspect Power, they felt oppressed and uncomfortable as they approached towns. That was why they avoided such places—unless—

"Unless they were led and driven by a high-ranking pack leader. Then they'd have the courage to charge into a village or town." A deep voice interrupted them, making both of them look up.

"Captain Frien, you're here." Vandhi was the first to rise and greet him. With the sunlight at his back, Frien bent down and entered the elegant carriage, sitting beside him.

Ignoring Vandhi's greeting, Frien nodded slightly to Sylutia. "Thank you for what you did last night, Miss Tia."

Thanks to Sylutia's help, many of the cavalrymen had survived, which was a great relief to him. He was grateful and had made a point of coming to find her.

"I only did what little I could," the girl replied modestly. However, there was something she wanted to ask the cavalry captain.

"I saw you using the Breathing Technique in battle last night. Is that right?"

"That's right. It's one of the abilities I have now." Apart from Fate Cards, every living being had three empty [Ability Card] slots.

"I'd like to learn the Breathing Technique to protect myself. Would you be willing to teach me?" Sylutia asked earnestly.

"Well... that wouldn't be difficult. I often teach it to soldiers and the village militia. It's nothing unusual, after all. Lots of people know it."

"But Miss Tia, are you sure you want to learn this? Transcendents of the First and Second Orders only have three Ability Card slots. If you use one up, you'll have less room to learn other skills."

"Can I not abandon it after I get the [Breathing Technique] ability?" Hearing this, Sylutia hesitated.

"You can, but it takes time. You'll probably need some potions to help ease and alleviate the side effects."

"I see. Then I don't have anything to worry about." Sylutia breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing this, Frien didn't try to stop her. However, there was one thing he didn't mention: the potions needed to get rid of the [Breathing Technique] were usually expensive. But for a noble, it should be a small matter.

"I happen to be staying in the village to recover from my injuries. We need to make sure that Crimson Wolf doesn't return. Over the next week, I'll do my best to teach you, Miss Tia."

Over the next few days, Sylutia stayed in Linden Village. She helped care for the wounded cavalrymen, changing their bandages and treating their injuries, then learned the "Breathing Technique" from Frien.

The next day.

In the clearing behind the village, several people stood beneath a tree as Frien explained how to train the "Breathing Technique." Besides Sylutia, there were several other young villagers, including Henry and Talia.

The battle a few days ago had made many people feel vulnerable, so they listened attentively as Frien explained how to use the "Breathing Technique."

"Though the 'Breathing Technique,' which strengthens the body, is much simpler than meditation techniques that train the mind, you'd be lucky if even one out of ten people could learn it. If you can't master it, don't be too discouraged." He gave them this warning before beginning. Based on his past experience, only one in twenty young people could learn it, on average.

"All right. Now close your eyes and gradually adjust your breathing to the rhythm I just explained."

Sylutia stood at the very back of the group. She felt more at ease there, and it was cooler in the shade. She began adjusting her breathing, closing her eyes as she searched for the rhythm and the strange cadence hidden deep within her heartbeat.

The clearing grew quiet. The eight young people focused on sensing their heartbeats and breathing. Slowly, they followed the instructions and adjusted their breathing, bringing it into rhythm with their heartbeat. Some furrowed their brows throughout, unable to sense any change. Others seemed to notice the faintest difference but still couldn't grasp it, so they could only repeat the exercise in vain. Still others couldn't even keep their breathing steady and grew increasingly anxious.

Looking at the people before him, Frien shook his head inwardly. He felt that not one of them had a chance of learning it. If any of them had real talent, it would have been discovered already. The village chief had been an adventurer when he was young and already knew the Breathing Technique. He must have tried to teach these children before.

Baron Holin's territory had eleven villages, each with a population of around three hundred. About ten or so people in each village could master the "Breathing Technique." Of those, after excluding the elderly and those who had gone away to seek their fortunes, only four or five remained in the village.

As far as he could remember, only two hunters, two patrolmen, one butcher, and the old village chief in Linden Village knew the Breathing Technique. It had taken the village more than a decade to build up that number. So if two people of Talia's generation managed to learn it, that would be enough to keep the tradition going.

While Frien was lost in thought, Sylutia's consciousness gradually sank into a strange state. The wind and birdsong around her vanished, leaving only the sound of her own heartbeat, growing ever clearer.

A hazy sensation rose within her. Though she couldn't see her heart, she gradually sensed something formless expanding and contracting. Following that indistinct pulsing shape, her breathing slowly grew longer, and her heartbeat slowed.

Every heartbeat became regular, gradually syncing with the rhythm of her breathing. Faint, hidden crimson threads appeared in her mind. The threads seemed to carry a trace of crimson Aspect Power, flowing with her blood and circulating again and again.

Little by little, the threads spread farther and farther, reaching into the unknown distance before winding and twisting back through her body in silence. At last, they completed a circuit and returned to their starting point.

("Breathing Technique" progress +12)

When Sylutia opened her eyes again, the other students had already left the clearing. Only Frien remained, sitting beneath the tree. Seeing her open her eyes, he got up and walked over.

"I dismissed the others so they wouldn't disturb you." He looked at Sylutia with a mixture of delight and surprise.

"Had you learned the 'Breathing Technique' before? I've never seen anyone master it so quickly." In his memory, anyone who completed their first breathing cycle within three days was a rare genius. Over the years, he'd only known one.

But this girl had completed her first breathing cycle in just half an hour, and the process had been exceptionally steady, without a single interruption.

"I don't know. I can't remember anything from when I was little, but I really don't know the 'Breathing Technique' right now." Hearing Frien say this, she also wondered if her former self had learned it.

"Either way, practice and repeat it more over the next few days. You'll slowly master the first stage of the Breathing Technique." Frien told her encouragingly.

"There are a few things you should know. The first stage of the Breathing Technique puts a lot of strain on your body. When you use it, you mustn't keep it up for more than ten seconds at first. You should rest and recover as soon as you're done, and you mustn't use it for more than one minute total in a day."

"Is it really that short?" Sylutia asked in surprise.

"Of course. What did you think this was? It's a way to decide a fight. You use it at the crucial moment—if you're just a little faster than your opponent, you can end the fight in an instant."

"Here, take this wooden sword." He handed the girl a wooden sword, then pointed at himself.

"Try to strike me."

Holding a wooden sword, Sylutia tried to attack Frien. As she stepped forward and swung, he flashed aside, evading the blade too quickly for the girl to react.

Then he chopped his hand toward her neck like a knife, stopping just two centimeters away and stirring a few strands of her hair.

"Did you see that? I was only a little faster, and I could have taken your life. And what did it cost me? Two seconds of using the Breathing Technique. Do you still think it's weak and not enough?" Frien grinned.

Only then did Sylutia truly realize how powerful and practical Aspect Power was. Even an ordinary Aspect ability could make someone far stronger than an average person, enough to take on ten opponents at once.

And yet, mastering such an ability was still a long way from becoming a true First Order Transcendent.

That crimson giant wolf was far more terrifying than she had imagined. Even Captain Frien had only been able to hold his own against it with the help of the village's "Castle" array.

[Breathing Technique Lv.0] (Blood Law): An ability not yet fully formed. Current progress (12/100)

Seeing the information appear in her mind, Sylutia felt her anticipation and motivation surge again. She wanted to know what she would be like once she had fully mastered the Breathing Technique.

"Hahaha, are you especially excited? I have a few sets of sword and spear techniques, too. Since I'm free these next few days, I'll teach them all to you."

"Knowing the Breathing Technique alone won't do. You also need suitable techniques, and, finally, the courage and will to fight. You'll understand in time. Only when all of these come together will you have a chance to truly embark on the path of pursuing Aspect Power." As he spoke, memories stirred deep in his eyes, and his voice was full of emotion.

"I understand. Thank you, Teacher." Sylutia bowed respectfully.

--

Aspect [Blood Law]: The rhythm of blood and life, the first sound and surge in the world, the beginning of all living flesh—and proof of existence.