Raiden knew that time was of the essence, and he couldn’t afford to lag behind. Yet, he also understood the importance of choosing wisely. Rushing into a decision without genuine conviction could lead to a lack of progress and dissatisfaction. As the day drew to a close, he resolved to give himself a bit more time to reflect and seek inspiration, hoping that the right idea would come to him when he was ready.

In the end, three days passed, and Raiden began to think of what he should do. It was around the time he was to sell some herbs to the healers of the village, so he began to work with his friends to gather the materials.

They worked in silence since they were all thinking deeply about the same issue, and because that kind of work was also something that they had to do with caution and focus.

By the time the day ended, Raiden and his friends finished working, and he dismissed them since he only had to store the herbs properly and distribute them the next day early in the morning. Thanks to his posture the whole day, Raiden felt his joints aching quite a bit.

"Joints, huh?" Raiden thought while massaging his shoulders. "This might be a good starting point."

Using Aura Force on the joints to enhance Raiden’s speed and agility possibly involved a strategic application of energy to optimize his body’s biomechanics and movement capabilities.

In theory, by channeling Aura Force into his joints, Raiden could enhance the activation of muscles around those joints. This increased muscle activation would allow for more explosive movements, enabling Raiden to generate greater force and speed in his attacks.

Aura Force applied to the joints can also enhance their stability and support. This stability was supposed to be crucial for Raiden to maintain proper alignment and control during rapid movements, reducing the risk of injury and allowing for more precise and controlled strikes.

"Joints are intricate structures where bones meet and articulate with each other. This complexity allows for a wide range of motion but also makes them vulnerable to wear and tear over time. The interplay of bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and synovial fluid that lubricates the joint can be disrupted or damaged under stress," Raiden thought. "Avoiding that should decrease a lot of problems and make my life as a fighter longer as well. Unlike muscles, joints have a limited blood supply. This means they receive fewer nutrients and oxygen compared to other tissues in the body. As a result, joint tissues, particularly cartilage, and ligaments, may not heal as quickly or effectively when injured."

While healing magic was a thing there, it wasn’t omnipotent. A person can probably recover from some types of damage faster, but over time, the body would be able to handle so much of it.

"I should bring this to instructor Altria tomorrow... but I still want to see what I can do by myself," Raiden thought.

Raiden knew that he shouldn’t do that without some clear tips... controlling Aura Force in an unusual way could cause a lot of trouble, after all. Some accidents may happen and he might injure himself. That was why everyone always shared their progress with Altria.

Raiden was supposed to be smart enough to avoid that kind of issue, but he just realized how impulsive he was as well, and he forced a smile.

"I told them that I wouldn’t cause them trouble... so I guess I will just have to endure it," Raiden thought. "No need to worry, my sister, Father and Mother."

When the next day arrived, Raiden approached the Tower of Mastery and immediately noticed Javier standing with Ruth, but something seemed different. Javier’s hands were wrapped in bandages, indicating he had sustained injuries. It was clear that he had been eager to speak with Instructor Altria without exercising the patience and self-restraint typically associated with him. He had an idea and decided to test himself...

"What happened?" Raiden asked, gesturing towards the bandages.

In the end, Javier could only look away before telling the obvious. Raiden nodded, understanding the pressure they all felt to progress quickly in their training. He empathized with Javier’s eagerness to show his dedication and mastery, but he also recognized the importance of pacing oneself and seeking guidance from their instructor. This incident served as a reminder of the challenges they faced on their journey to mastery, balancing ambition with the need for patience and proper guidance.

"It will be interesting to wonder if Altria will scold you," Raiden said while smiling. "Let’s talk with my sister if she can help you with this later."

"... Thanks," Javier said and then sighed.

As it turned out, Altria didn’t scold Javier. Once he showed the burn wounds in his forearms, she understood that the pain was the greatest lesson that he could have learned, thanks to his imprudence.

"You choose the strength path, right?" Altria asked. "And you thought that just using Aura Force on your forearms would be enough to bolster your attack power?"

"Yes," Javier said.

"Let me guess, you tried to enhance your muscles only with Aura Force ?" Altria asked. "Not only you burned yourself like this."

Javier’s forearms bore the aftermath of his impulsive attempt to enhance his strength through Aura Force . Dark, reddish-brown burn marks marred his skin, tracing the path where his efforts had backfired. The burns were concentrated around his wrists where the Aura Force had been channeled most intensely.

The burns varied in severity, some appearing as angry red welts while others had already blistered slightly, evidence of the heat generated by his overzealous application of energy. The skin around the burns was tender and sensitive to the touch, a painful reminder of the consequences of pushing beyond his limits without proper guidance or restraint.

As Raiden inspected Javier’s injuries, he couldn’t help but wince in sympathy. It was clear that Javier had learned a harsh lesson about the delicate balance required in harnessing Aura Force . The sight of the burns served as a sobering reminder to both of them of the importance of patience and discipline. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Look for a healer to heal your wounds," Altria said when Javier’s silence confirmed her guess. "Once you are healed, you will focus on trying to use Aura Force only on your arms, when you pull that off, come to talk to me again. You should know by know that force at its original state only works on your skin. It grows stronger and eventually affects your body more deeply, but that takes years to pull off. You tried to skip those steps, and that is the result."

In the world of martial arts and the use of Aura Force , it’s obvious that initially, Force affects only the superficial layers of the body, primarily the skin. At this stage, its influence is limited to enhancing attributes to a modest degree. However, as practitioners make progress in their training over years of disciplined practice, Force gradually deepens its impact.

Over time, the effects of Aura Force penetrate deeper into the body, affecting muscles, joints, and even internal organs. This progression is marked by a strengthening of all parameters associated with Force, including its potency and the breadth of its influence. As practitioners develop their mastery, they harness the Force’s full potential to enhance their combat abilities and physical prowess significantly.

This gradual growth of Aura Force influence shows the importance of patience and long-term commitment in martial arts training. It’s a journey that requires not only physical training but also mental discipline and an understanding of how Force interacts with the body at different stages of development. As Raiden and his peers continue on this path, they will learn to harness Force’s power responsibly, knowing that its true potential unfolds over years of dedicated practice and refinement.

"Next, what do you have in mind?" Altria asked.

"I want to use Aura Force to improve my moving and attacking speed," Raiden explained. "I thought that using it on my joints can do the trick."

"Your logic is sound, but you are also pretty impatient," Altria said after she crossed her arms. "You should focus on either your arms or legs first and not all of the joints at the same time. Try to improve the swing of your weapon. You use a spear, right? Try to rotate it in front of yourself as fast as you can until you can barely move your arms. Do that at home whenever possible, and then improve your control over your Aura Force here. When you obtain the power to control your Aura Force on your arms a bit better while weakening other parts, come to talk to me again."

Raiden was taken aback when Instructor Altria accurately identified his weapon of choice as a spear, despite him not having trained with it for long. It surprised him that she could tell such details with apparent ease. This keen observation showed Altria’s astuteness and her ability to perceive subtle aspects of her students’ potential and preferences.