Standing before an intimidating wooden building, the noise of shouting as weapons are swung filled the air.

Walking inside, there multiple doors as far as the eye can see.

"Aren’t the rooms a little small?" Incus asked.

"This village is a place for people to train their skills, so the rooms are accommodated with the simplest of needs!"

Nodding, Incus opened a hand.

"Hand over the room keys then."

Jumping over the front desk, the boy tossed a key.

"It’s room twelve, just near the entrance. Enjoy your stay!"

Waving a hand, Incus slammed her door shut.

"So, do any of you have any money?" Alleus asked.

Rummaging through our pockets, everyone shook their heads.

"I did have money..." Said Ulna.

Looking at her, I asked:

"So where is it now?"

"I lost it."

Scratching the back of my head, I walked outside.

"I guess we’ll have to stay outside again."

Unraveling the hero’s wind technique, I pulled out the fire hero’s sword.

"For now let’s use this time to hone our skill, and gauge the ability of our new recruit later."

Nodding they stood a bit of a distance from each other, Lieur walked back inside the intimidating inn.

Staring at the paper, I read it aloud:

"The first technique of the wind style is to forge wind with one’s mana, forming a vortex."

How do I even forge wind with my mana? It’s not like I’m a mage or anything, but even then I Kanium’s older sister had managed to do it... meaning I can too.

Tapping Ulna on the shoulder, she lowered her wand.

"What is it sir?"

Putting the paper away, I asked:

"Do you know how to turn mana into wind?"

"I do, but why do you ask?" Ulna raised an eyebrow.

"Just wondering, I need it for a technique you see. So if you can, could you tell me how... but I want to learn how to do it the quickest way possible, so cut the unnecessary parts."

Putting her hands on my shoulder, she pushed me to sit on the ground.

"If you want to learn it the quickest way as possible then listen to my instructions carefully." Her tone grew serious.

"Alright, I will." Closing my eyes, I hung on her every word.

"If what you want is the simple process of turning your mana into wind then you don’t have to form theories into casting it... as it will just be in it’s rawest form. Unlike other types of magic, the element of wind, water, and fire don’t require theorizing if the simple goal is conjuring... but that doesn’t mean it’s easy, it can take years for the average person if they weren’t born with a talent for magic."

I nodded, which she then continued:

"First, focus your mana and expel it."

Holding the fire hero’s sword firmly, I used blade aura, covering the blade in mana.

"Good. Now imagine wind as water but freer. Wind is ever moving and can come from anywhere, think your mana as wind, free and dancing."

Focusing my mind, it was hard but I had done as she said.

Nodding, she gripped my shoulders tighter.

"The last step is the most difficult, it took me a year just to complete this last step. So if you can’t do it now, don’t worry too much about it."

It’s going to be a little difficult to not ’not worry about it’ because the story is coming to an end soon.

"Expand your mana until it becomes indistinguishable from air, expand it so much that the faint hue of blue is no longer visible."

With sweat falling down my face, I attempted in stretching my mana as much as possible.

"You’ve got some knack for this sort of thing, are you sure you aren’t a mage? Anyways, getting back on track, focus on your air like mana... and compress it in a fluid motion. Not fluid like water, but fluid like wind."

Doing as she said, I felt a slight gust of wind.

"I can’t believe it, you’ve done it. I suppose this is what one should expect from the captain of the secret guards of hero Incus!"

[You acquired skill: Mana control]

Opening my eyes, I saw as wind swirled around my blade.

Standing up, I swung the sword.

Immediately, a gust of wind shot out.

"This isn’t the same as hers..." I whispered under breath.

I’ve managed get wind to wrap around my blade but it wasn’t like Kanium’s older sister... Patella Everlight.

The wind around her blade was like a vortexing monster, while mine looks like a small serpent.

Squinting in disappointment, I expanded my mana once more.

This time, I kept expanding it until I couldn’t even sense an ounce of mana.

Focusing my vision, I compressed it as fast and as compact as I can.

Soon, a hurricane like vortex swirled around my blade.

"This is beyond my expectations, I can’t believe that you’ve reached mastery of raw wind!" Ulna said in a surprised voice.

[Mana control has improved]

Turning towards her, I grinned.

"This is the talent of the captain of the secret body guards of her Incus. You are witnessing greatness."

I do find it strange, that although I was written as a side character, it seems that the talent I was meant to have as a scrapped main character bled into me.

I thought that I didn’t have an ounce but it looks like I do, but even so.

Someone like me shouldn’t have been able to mimic and do the ’Sky severing thrust’ technique that Radeius has worked hard for.

But even then, my talent still doesn’t compare to Incus.

"...This isn’t enough." I whispered under my breath once more.

Everything about me must grow stronger.

"Ulna, stay back a bit."

Listening to my command, Ulna the mage took a few steps away.

Raising the fire hero’s sword, I began swinging in sequences.

Every slash held incredible weight despite it being wind.

I continued this formation type training until I could no longer sustain the wind.

***

With sweat covered all over my body, I stared into the descending sun.

Commanding the dragon scales armor to get my things, I wore my clothes, hiding my muscular and lean body.

Walking back to the inn, Ulna asked:

"Excuse me but weren’t you going to examine my strength?"

Staring at her, I sighed.

"It’s too late, we’ll simply do it tomorrow... ah of course if Incus stays another day." Looking up in the sky, I looked back at her.

"Looks like we’ll be here for a week."

Because we didn’t have money and the front desk stopped us when we tried to enter, we decided to sleep in the lounging area.

As everyone was asleep, I noticed that Lieur walked outside.