The outskirts of Vacuo, One month after the first Voyden incursion

The day before travel

CASL and their guests were rushing about to fill up the Black Wagon and a newly refurbished APC. An early morning dash to supply all the necessary goods for their travel to the settlement known as Oasis. With newcomers Neptune, Scarlet, and Sage quickly speeding up the process. Gillian being as defiant as ever simply awaited within the Black Wagon.

As Neptune was rushing between the pile of luggage supplies he couldn't help but wonder out loud. "I really don't get why the girls get the all spacious black wagon and we're stuck with the cramp military APC… Like I wouldn't mind if I had a reason if someone would just tell me one!"

Luntian who was speeding up the process with the help of his semblance constructs was quick to reply as he simply took his time walking between the supplies and the vehicles.

"Easy, it's polite, chivalrous, and we offered it up first as a majority of our guests were women before you and your friends joined. Numbers-wise it would have been an even split between five and five, but with you three it's us eight cramped into one APC. Besides, we took a joint contract to provide security for a caravan, so it's not like we're gonna be staying inside the thing the entire trip."

Neptune paused in his tracks still going through the points Luntian had just quickly gone through. "R-right… y'know when Sun talked about you all before he came to Mistral for school, the way he spoke made you all seem more… scary."

Luntian looked back and Neptune and his expression crept into a sinister grin. "Well, we did put him through the wringer of training at request Isis. I mean we knew how to motivate him after all, but seeing as you have time to stand there and talk maybe you need some motivation too."

Neptune's expression sank and before he could respond a sharp bark right behind him scared him back into pace. As one of the wolves started chasing him back and forth between the supplies. Right up until Neptune tripped, however, the same auric wolf phased through the ground and popped up from underneath to catch him.

Still chuckling as Luntian approached he helped pick up the young huntsmen. "So long as you're on my good side my constructs' bark is worst than its bite. Although they do retain a bit of personality outside of me." As he finishes speaking Neptune notices a strange sensation of warmth lapping at his hand. Seeing the auric wolf had become playful as it licked his hand. "Heh right… sorry for lagging."

The Night Before Departure

With everything packed and ready to go, the entirety of the group was waiting on the members of CASL debating a certain issue. Soon though Luntian was seen stepping out as he began loading his rifle with yellow and pale green speckled bullets.

"Alright, first of all, we're gonna need to test two things. Your Aura as well as how quickly you can recharge your aura. Luntian here will be taking shots at each one of you… don't try to dodge it and do your best to endure the blow. We'll be monitoring your aura and be ready to apply first aid."

Gillian gave an audible scoff "This should be beneath us, most of us have had combat experience given the state of the world and you've been training us all for about a month!" Everyone was surprised she was speaking for them as well as vouching for their abilities.

All of CASL seemed to take notice rather quickly and Luntian pulled his rifle up ready to fire. "Alright then, if you believe you have the strength to withstand my gun. Then by all means step up and take your chances… hell I'll give you a handicap. Why not take in all of Sulfur's aura too."

Gillian looked insulted and walked up getting ready to fortify her aura without taking any boost from anyone. A brief pause of silence between her and Luntian before he spoke up saying "Wise choice." A large boom was followed by the shattering glass-like sound of aura. With the sound of static accompanied with the entire moment.

Everyone saw how quickly her body dropped and skid across the sand as if she were a ragdoll. She seemed to lay there lifelessly… until her breathing interrupted the stillness her body had followed by groaning from what pain she could express.

"Boys and girls, I'm sure Ms. Isis has informed you of my title as Mistral's Underground Alchemist. That right there is called Auric Shock, I'm certain everyone has experienced the sensation of their aura breaking. However, Auric Shock is what happens by the sudden sensation of aura starting from one-hundred to zero in less than a second." He takes a moment to pause so everyone can absorb everything.

"You may think you've encountered all that the world has to offer since you met the Voyden Grimm, truth be told they are very new… but Remnant is just as old if not older than these newcomers are to the scene. The further away you are from civilization the more dangerous the Grimm is. And since we are in Vacuo of all the four kingdoms… the Grimm of Remnant are some of the most vicious here. Once you each take your shots we'll move onto one final lesson with Ayla at the lead, now who's up next!" He announces as everyone lined up to take a bullet.

Once everyone had taken a hit from the sniper rifle, Cael and Shampoo stood facing each other with Ayla ready to explain the next course.

"Now if you all were wondering why we have been having you just focusing on basic aura manipulation. Well, it serves as a foundation to how many huntsmen and huntresses survived alone in the bitter wild for so long back in the old world periods. Allow Cael and Shampoo to demonstrate."

Raising her hand to motion everyone to focus their eyes on the two sparring. "So, ready to see how Sulfur lasted so long in a fight against you?" Cael said as his fingers moved back and forth between loose and clenched.

As she was about to utter a word, his hands had quickly shot out for a gut punch that was easy enough to take with her aura up. "Y'know sucker punches don't work without Armis." She boasted a bit between the two of them, Cael seemed to relax though as it was her turn to throw a punch and as informed by Ayla she wouldn't hold back too much… Jabbing at his face Cael's arm seemed to jolt up to defend himself.

There they saw it as a dull orange barrier formed for a moment as it caught redirected the strike as if it were glancing off of him. With Cael's other hand just stopping an inch away from her face.

Shampoo as well as their onlookers seemed a bit in awe by Cael's deflection of an Armis strike.

"If you have to know what just happened, Cael redirected his aura into his hands to help parry her blow. I'm aware of the principles and purpose of Armis and its ability to penetrate auric defenses. However, my study of it has shown me a lot of its practitioners have emphasized their ability to use aura to enhance their physical prowess when penetrating aura. As you saw there Armis wasn't able to penetrate when his aura was concentrated on his hands. Any ideas on how this works?"

Velvet was the first to speak up her month with training with CASL had her feeling confident on the answer "Auric manipulation! The concentration of aura made the defense of his aura far more resistant to her strike!" There was a pause as Ayla and Cael looked between each other.

"Partially correct, if you would open up your scroll to see the status of Cael's Aura levels please." Ayla instructed everyone, what they noticed quite quickly that Cael hadn't suffered damage from what the aura readings were. He was still at a hundred percent. "So does anyone have an answer as to why Cael's aura didn't suffer any harm during that trade-off, while Shampoo's Aura did take damage?"

There was a brief pause as almost everyone seemed puzzled. Although, as everyone was trying to brainstorm on how it occurred, a new voice spoke up. "His aura started to ripple once he caught the punch. The flow of the aura from what I could make of it was well… moving in a way that redirected the punch…almost like water bouncing shooting back from a curved surface."

Everyone looked to see Neptune speaking despite the answer his voice spoke with hesitance. As silence from everyone's gathered attention broke as soon as clapping could be heard from Ayla.

"That's correct, the principles behind auric manipulation are what allow Huntsmen to stay in prolonged hazardous environments as it has its use for maintaining your body as well as a tool for a fight. Or at least it should… just about all of the academies do not go in-depth on how to develop control over your abilities. When it comes to combat, they focus more on what has been tried and tested from the Great War. This prolonged peace most kingdoms have endured has made their warriors complacent. So then I want each of you to start practicing this technique, how far each of you utilize it is ultimately dependent on your desire to improve. Well then, good luck with the practice, and make sure to get enough sleep for departure tomorrow!"

A/N: Apologies for the long period of no updates. Been bogged down by personal things and planning how I want CASL to function in the story as well as talking to Yoshi about CASL's involvement and future in R4S. By the end of CASL's first volume I will provide a complete detailed profile on the characters.