Hayden tapped his fingers against his desk as he considered the Professor's words.
He already knew that many people never reached the Aura Initiate stage, but hearing it directly from a Professor made most of the students feel gloomy.
'He's too blunt… But I guess that's fine.' Hayden thought as he looked at his classmates' faces.
They were also aware of the chances of becoming an Aura Knight, that was why they were here in an Academy to learn from the experience of true Knights.
Since this Academy was built by retired Aura Knights, they at least believed that they would have a better chance than other children who were trying to learn on their own or those in Academies without the guidance of an Aura Knight.
Professor Eustass smiled as he could tell what his students were thinking. So as he let the tension settle for a moment, he turned back to the board.
"However," he continued, "there is something all of you can do to increase your chances. While you may not be able to force Aura to manifest, you can prepare your body to receive it when the time comes. That is where the first and most important lesson of this class begins: The Foundation Breathing Technique."
As soon as he said this, everyone in the class straightened up their seat since this was what they all wanted to learn immediately. They knew that the Breathing Technique of this Academy was definitely from the retired Aura Knight!
With that in consideration, they believed that this academy-exclusive Breathing Technique had a higher chance of helping them to become an Aura Knight in the future than some other Breathing Technique Manuals they could purchase from merchants.
"It's finally here…"
"I will master this immediately."
"I heard that it's hard though."
"It's normal since we're novices. But we just have to practice it daily until it becomes part of our life."
"That's true…"
Some students started whispering to each other as they all excitedly waited for the Professor to teach them the technique.
Professor Eustass, on the other hand, stepped away from the board and placed both hands behind his back.
"Once again, aura is not just energy—it is an extension of life itself. It resides in the body, but it does not manifest unless the body is prepared to contain it. Think of it like a river. A river cannot flow properly if the path is blocked or too weak to hold the water. Your bodies are like that riverbed. If your foundation is weak, your Aura will slip away before you ever get the chance to control it. But if your foundation is strong, then when the time comes, Aura will naturally accumulate and stay within you."
He then gestured for the students to straighten their backs… like most of them were already doing.
"That is why every one of you will begin practicing the Foundation Breathing Technique. This technique has been passed down for generations, not because it instantly grants power, but because it refines the body to one day wield it. If you train with it daily, you will enhance your stamina, strengthen your muscles, and—most importantly—expand your body's capacity to store Aura once it manifests. Remember, do not teach this to others since it could be dangerous if no one's guiding them."
The last part was certainly important as they shouldn't be spreading the Academy-Exclusive technique.
The students who were already excited straightened in their seats, all eager to learn.
Professor Eustass raised his hand and slowly inhaled. His chest expanded, his shoulders remained still, and there was a noticeable rhythm to his breathing—deep, steady, and controlled…
"Follow my movements."
He then slowly exhaled through his nose, and it lasted for a few seconds.
"This breathing method has three key phases: the Inhalation, the Circulation, and the Exhalation."
He then began to teach the first phase.
"Breathe in slowly through your nose, expanding your lower abdomen rather than your chest. Imagine drawing in energy with the air itself, filling your lungs fully, but not forcefully. A shallow breath does nothing. A proper breath nourishes every fiber of your being."
The students followed his instructions, taking slow, deep breaths.
Some struggled at first because they couldn't concentrate as they had some random thoughts in their minds while watching their classmates and professor doing the first phase…
Another mistake was that their shoulders were rising instead of their abdomen, but Professor Eustass quickly corrected them.
Hayden, on the other hand, found it surprisingly easy.
Well, he already knew about this since he had observed his brothers. Of course, he couldn't say that since he might implicate his brothers since it should be prohibited to pass the Foundation Breathing Technique of the Academy.
"Once your lungs are full, hold your breath for a moment—just long enough for your body to absorb the energy. Do not let your body tense. Instead, allow your breath to settle, as if you are letting the air circulate throughout your muscles."
This explanation was certainly not easy since they couldn't think of the air going through their muscles. It shouldn't be physically impossible. However, the key point was that they had to think of the air as some sort of energy.
As expected, this step was trickier for the students. Some held their breath too tightly, turning red in the face. Others exhaled too quickly, unable to maintain control.
Professor Eustass nodded at their efforts but didn't slow down. It was normal for them to make mistakes after all.
"Now, exhale slowly through your nose. Let the breath flow out smoothly, as though you are releasing all unnecessary tension from your body. Do not rush this part... The slower the exhale, the more effective the technique."
At this last part, several students coughed as their timing was uneven…