The Traveler: Martial Druid

Chapter 14

When Katsuo woke up it was already the next day. 

Finally!

Finally, he could use mana!

He was on his way to becoming the strongest man this world had ever seen!

Well...

Fine, maybe that was an exaggeration but thanks to his system he was at least sure that he could get into the top 10 without much trouble.

"It seems like you have finally woken up dearie."

Aranel Sensei walked inside Katsuo's living quarters.

"Yes, Sensei!"

"Good. Now that you have set forth into the path of nature there is no turning back. I have told you about the ways of nature in the past. Now let's talk about the specifics of being a druid. You know that druids fall under the spellcaster category, then how do they get stronger?"

Katsuo grumbled inside. He had just woken up and didn't even have a chance to check his stats yet but Aranel Sensei was already having another class. 

"Uhm, warriors get stronger by creating an aura core in their body and converting the mana they have intaken to aura. Rogues get stronger by opening a channel in their body and attuning to the shadow world and mages get stronger by weaving mana rings around their hearts to better control the natural mana around them. Since we, druids, fall under the spellcaster category does that mean I will also have to create mana rings?"

This was the most logical conclusion that Katsuo could reach according to what he had been taught up to now but from Aranel Sensei's expression, Katsuo knew that he was wrong.

"We are not mages dearie. We indeed fall under the same category since we also cast spells but our philosophies could not be any more different."

"How?" Katsuo asked curiously. At the end of the day, both jobs cast spells. So what did that have to do with philosophy?

"You should carve what I am about to say into your heart. Mages chase domination while druids seek harmony."

Seeing that Katsuo still could not understand what she meant, Aranel kept on explaining.

"Those under the spellcaster category weave rings around their hearts to better control the mana around them, that was what you said to me. You can think of it like mages dominating the surrounding mana around them to obey their bidding. But as the heralds of nature, how could we, druids, follow the same path? We wish to protect nature and become a part of it in its eternal glory. So how could we servants dare to dominate it? So instead of weaving rings, we create a 'source' inside our hearts. This source resonates with nature and lets us borrow its power. Because of this, the strength of our druidcraft is ever-changing depending on our environment. A fire druidcraft you use in a volcano, compared to one you use in an icy mountain will not be the same, unlike a normal spellcaster's 'fireball' which carries the same strength no matter where they are. This can both be a blessing to a druid and a curse. Why do you think that is?"

"Because... of resistance? The demonic beasts living in a volcano should already be resistant to fire."

Aranel Sensei looked proud of Katsuo. She liked that instead of assuming his enemies would be humans, he thought they would be demonic beasts. He was truly suited to become a druid and it was not because of his body. He had the mindset of a druid who sought harmony.

"Correct, but if it's against other humanoids you would be blessed. Now, Katsuo, according to the tradition of druids I need you to make an oath. So repeat after me."

*Thump*

Katsuo's heart skipped a beat. He was finally going to be a proper druid. One accepted by his master.

"From this moment onward, I solemnly swear to the sun, the moon and mother nature..."

Aranel put her hand over her heart. The air around her changed. She was giving off a solemn air that a true powerhouse of this world should give.

"From this moment onward, I solemnly swear to the sun, the moon and mother nature..."

Katsuo repeated after Aranel and also put his hand over his heart.

"To never harm nature without proper cause..."

"To never harm nature without proper cause..."

*Thump* *Click*

As he repeated after her Katsuo felt something squeeze his heart. But he kept going.

"To stop those who conspire to break the balance between man and nature..."

"To stop those who conspire to break the balance between man and nature..."

*Thump* *Click*

Katsuo felt his heart getting squeezed one more time. It was like with every word he said another shackle was getting put on his heart.

"Lastly, to always seek the path of coexistence over destruction as long as the situation allows it!"

"Lastly, to always seek the path of coexistence over destruction as long as the situation allows it!"

*Thump* *Click* *Whooong*

As Katsuo completed his vow his heart finally felt released. He could feel the mana of nature gathering around his body and enveloping him like the warm embrace of a mother.

*Ding*

Passive skill [Vow of Riv'shae (Max)] has been created.

Another passive had been created but Katsuo was in no mood to check it. He was revelling in the sensation of feeling nature's mana embrace him. It felt like he was back in his mother's womb. He didn't want to leave here and just stay like this forever.

*Ding*

Stat [Mana] has risen by +1

*Ding*

Stat [Mana] has risen by +1

*Ding*

Stat [Mana] has risen by +1

*Ding*

*Ding*

*Ding*

*Ding*

Katsuo kept getting notifications but he wasn't in the mood to check them. He just wanted to revel in this sensation. Why couldn't the world just leave him be?

Unbeknownst to him, Aranel was watching this scene in solemn silence. 

The Katsuo in front of her was wrapped in a green cocoon made up of the purest nature mana she had ever seen. She could also feel his mana rising. This was a baptism of Idun. It was a phenomenon that only happened when someone was blessed. 

Just like she expected, the boy was loved by Mother Idun. Maybe not just Mother Idun and Aeternitas, he might even be loved by Fortuna as well. 

She knew something like this might happen so she wanted to postpone his training as much as possible but there was nothing else she could teach her that didn't require the usage of mana. Katsuo was not aware but even without aura his natural strength had already breached the level of expert and might step into the master territory at any moment.

Aranel didn't feel happy about this. Instead, she felt sad.

She knew that Katsuo was thrown into this forest to be her disciple. That fact alone should already speak volumes about the adversities he would face in the future.

Divine would never take any meaningless or benevolent actions. 

Aranel didn't believe one bit that Aeternitas randomly chanced onto Katsuo in his world and accidentally caused his death. Even if she did, she would have never granted him such strength.

The fact that she did meant that, to be useful to her, Katsuo needed to be at least this strong.

Aranel also knew why as well and this fact made her even sadder.

If only they were stronger and more united back then, none of this would have happened.

Now, the mistakes of the past generation had to be shouldered by a kid who didn't even have the chance to grow up. Just like her dear friend from back then.

Aranel sighed to herself and cut her line of thought there. If she didn't stop now, the dark thoughts she had suppressed would surface again. 

If Katsuo needed to shoulder the fate of the world in the future, she just needed to make sure that he would be strong enough to carry its weight. 

That was when Aranel noticed the little lass who sneaked into the cave. It was Aria. She was drawn to Katsuo and sat beside him to bask in the baptism as well. It was curious how she was not rejected and could share the mana together with her son. Just to be clear Aria was not stealing Katsuo's baptism. From the moment she arrived the baptism actually became stronger to accommodate her as well. 

As Aria basked in mana Aranel could see a new tail growing behind her.

This should be Idun's will as well.