章 20: Rankings

"So now it's so easy to knock me out," Garmond muttered, his gaze fixated on the stark white ceiling above the sickbed. The weight of embarrassment twisted in his stomach, a heavy knot that tightened with every heartbeat. This was the second time he had fainted, and the sensation of weakness was alien—an unwelcome intruder that he despised.

As he turned his head, he realized he wasn't alone. The other recruits lay sprawled out in their beds, their unconscious forms an array of embarrassment mirroring his own. A dull ache throbbed through his limbs, a lingering reminder of the oppressive pressure from the inspector's aura that had drained him far more than he had anticipated.

"Reina, are you mad? How could you use aura domination on these kids?" a voice chimed in, crisp and clear against the quiet hum of the room.

"Isn't it obvious? How else would I check their stamina?" came Reina's flippant reply, tinged with a nonchalance that set Garmond's nerves on edge.

Straining to listen, curiosity prickled at him. It sounded like the healer who had tended to them was now confronting the inspector.

"Do you know the amount of internal damage you've inflicted on these kids?" The healer's voice cracked with exasperation, the weight of her concern palpable.

"But at least none of them died," Reina shrugged, a dismissive smile playing on her lips. The healer let out a frustrated sigh. "You do know that if anything happens to them and it interferes with the Emperor's plans, you won't escape his wrath, right?"

For a moment, Reina paused, her expression turning thoughtful. "I'll be more careful next time," she finally replied, glancing at Hendrix, who was stirring awake.

"Do you plan on lying there all day?" she teased, her voice light but with an edge that seemed to pull him from his stupor. Hendrix jolted, clearly caught off guard.

"Uh, not really. I'm just… a bit tired, that's all," he stammered, offering a sheepish smile. The intensity of her gaze sent goosebumps crawling up his spine, a vivid reminder of the pain he had just endured on the training ground.

"Oh, so you're still tired? I know just the thing to whip you back into shape!" she declared, sarcasm lacing her words. Hendrix's face paled, panic flickering in his eyes.

"Yeah, don't worry, I'm fine!" he insisted, leaping from the bed and launching into a series of vigorous exercises. "See? Perfectly fine!"

"Even better! Now you can help me with some activities," Reina replied, her confident strides accentuating her presence as she approached him. Defeated, Hendrix fell in step behind her, his earlier bravado evaporating.

Once the door clicked shut behind them, Garmond finally opened his eyes, only to find Reina's face hovering inches from his own.

"Yeah, I think you'll be joining us too," she said, her smile bright and mischievous, setting his heart racing. He felt dumbstruck, a whirlwind of emotions crashing over him. Had he really thought she had left?

"I can't believe you actually thought she was gone," Ariana's voice echoed in his mind, her tone incredulous.

"Well, who would have expected her to close the door and pretend like she left?" he shot back, annoyance bubbling to the surface. It irked him how easily she made him feel foolish.

Hendrix's loud laughter resonated from the hallway, a small comfort that he wasn't the only one caught in Reina's trap—and that Garmond's embarrassment was even more pronounced than his.

"Couldn't you sense her level from the aura earlier?" Ariana pressed, curiosity igniting her tone.

"Level?" Garmond asked, confusion knitting his brows. How could one even grade someone based on their aura?

"Yes, there are various levels to attain—both magical and physical," she explained, her voice firm. "The person you just encountered is an Arcanist, nearly at the Arch stage, similar to what you were in your previous life."

"Huh. I doubt she could have beaten me back then," Garmond replied, pride bubbling to the surface.

"You can believe whatever you want," Ariana countered, her tone flat.

As they conversed, Reina guided them into the enrollment room. "You've all passed the test, and we've taken your measurements for your uniforms," she announced, opening the door wide.

Before them hung sleek black coats on hangers, each emblazoned with a familiar emblem. It was evident the new Emperor had no intention of changing the insignia of the empire.

"You'll be joining the training for the Empire's Special Forces, and you'll be trained by the ten Hounts of the empire," she declared, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Wow, this is actually turning out cooler than I expected!" Hendrix exclaimed, darting toward the uniforms, his excitement infectious.

"This boy is probably an idiot," Ariana remarked, rolling her eyes.

"That aside, brief me on the ranking system. Is there any rank higher than the Arcanist?" Garmond pressed, his curiosity piqued. If there was a ranking system, he wanted to understand how it worked and what it took to advance.

"Haaa," Ariana sighed in exasperation, as if weary of his endless questions. "Here, I'll just do this…"

"Do wha—?" Before he could finish, a sharp pain shot through his head, causing him to freeze.

His mind exploded with a rush of information, each piece hitting him like a tidal wave. "What the… I didn't tell you to kill me!"

"So you wanted me to explain it all to you? What a joker," she laughed, her amusement tinged with mockery.

The knowledge flooded into him—an intricate compilation detailing power levels and the capabilities tied to each rank.

"At least now you can see it for yourself without having to make me talk," Ariana said, satisfaction evident in her voice.

Garmond let out a deep sigh as he scrolled through the deluge of information while donning his new uniform. It fit him perfectly, the fabric tailored to his form, matching his black hair with its subtle red strands.

"Yeah, this suits you nicely. You look way better than a malnourished kid," Ariana remarked, a hint of humor in her voice. "I love how it covers your entire frame, and MY GOD! It's enchanted!"

Garmond's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "For someone to enchant clothing… that means…"

"The person must have attained the level of an Arch Magician," Garmond concluded, his astonishment evident.

Ariana's thoughts intertwined with his, allowing her to share not only her insights but vivid memories of her own. She could even tap into his consciousness, though it seemed to strain her.

The knowledge she bestowed wasn't mere trivia; it encompassed her firsthand encounters with different ranks of magic.

First, there was the Novice rank—those just beginning their journey into magic and combat. At this level, one could only perform basic spells, barely surpassing an average human.

Next were the Adepts, who had begun to grasp the intricacies of their paths, showcasing remarkable potential. They could face about fifty average humans without breaking a sweat.

Then came the Enchanters, skilled at infusing magic into objects, their prowess steadily growing.

The Arcanists were the few who delved deep into the mysteries of magic, manipulating arcane forces with precision.

Finally, the Arch Magicians, or Grandmasters as they were often called, were the pinnacle of magical power, effortlessly casting immense spells.

From Ariana's memories, Garmond understood that magic could stem from various sources, not solely from casting spells. A person's magical abilities could be innate or artificially enhanced.

The artificial aspect primarily involved utilizing materials crafted by those innately gifted with magical prowess. Magical abilities further branched into two major categories.

Casters emitted mana into the world, bending their surroundings to their will. However, they needed to supplement their mana core with energy from the outside to cast spells.

Their power was a combination of imagination and the volume of magical energy they could harness. They could move mountains, summon beasts, and manipulate elements at will.

Hosts, on the other hand, lacked the ability to cast spells but could enhance their bodies with mana, granting them incredible strength, defense, and agility.

"An Arch Magician made this? Then it's probably Azazel himself," Garmond surmised, realizing the Arch level was the highest, closely followed by the Arcanist.

"I highly doubt that," Ariana replied, bursting into laughter.

"What? Why are you laughing?" Garmond asked, bewildered.

"You see, Azazel has transcended that level. At his peak, even I would struggle to defeat him. Honestly, the list I gave you pertains only to those you're likely to encounter currently."

"So you're saying that me, at my peak, was barely halfway to Azazel's level of power?" Garmond replied, incredulity etched on his face.

"Exactly. That's to illustrate how much training you'll need to even think about defeating Azazel. At your current level, if there's anything less than an ant, that's how you'd measure up to him," Ariana said, her tone serious.

"Hey, you two! Aren't you done dressing yet?" Reina called from outside the room.

"Yeah, we're done!" Hendrix replied, having just finished putting on his uniform. Garmond quickly stashed the crystals he had received from Darius into his pockets, their weight a comforting reminder of his past.