Somewhere, in the lavish halls of a grand building, people of all shapes and sizes flooded through a wide corridor. There were humans, elves, dwarves, vaella (fury demi-humans), and even a small amount of baella (non-fury demi-humans).
It opened into an expansive, circular structure of polished stone, fitted with a curving row of seats that surrounded a rather large platform of somewhat similar material, by the looks of it. Snowflakes danced elegantly in their descent from the blue-tinged sky, casting a pristine, otherworldly glimmer to the atmosphere.
In total, it resembled a colosseum, only less ancient and… barbaric.
The numerous bodies spilling into the stadium were being led by a group of three, distinguishable and professional-looking figures, each exuding such precise control over their mana cores to the point where it was nearly impossible to pick up on their presence by sensing it.
Nearly.
"Attention, all examinees!"
A young man clad in a suit of standard yet pristine, state-of-the-art armor yelled, repeating himself in an orderly fashion. "Follow a single file line as you make your way into the stands. There is no seating arrangement, but please be mindful of the others around you! You shall each be called upon one at a time so that you may be tested individually!"
Like this, the people fell into a routine as the stands were slowly filled.
Standing on the platform were two other figures—another young man adorned in armor, only less extravagant and seemingly more practical, and a woman wearing clandestine robes, wielding a wand embedded with a ruby gem at its point.
It wasn't long before the first row was filled, followed by the second, the third, and finally, even the fourth.
The examiners all sighed under their breath, silently lamenting their fates.
'Had this rapid gate-opening catastrophe not happened, there wouldn't be as many people required to test. Such an unfortunate luck,' was probably along the lines of what they were thinking.
They would be correct, if so.
It had caused a major stoppage in the amount of new adventurers—so much so that most of the ones here had admitted themselves to the guild months prior, only to now get a chance at finishing their rank evaluation.
Truly, it was unfortunate luck that the examiners would have to get through so many of them at a time. Not to mention the fact that a lot of these were probably rank re-evaluations.
But alas, it was their profession.
Still… there would be no harm in calling for support, the man responsible for testing enhancers seemed to think, pulling out a scroll and scribbling something on it before it disappeared.
Shortly after, three more examiners showed up.
After what felt like an eternity, all of the seats were filled, with no lingering examinees.
Everyone was properly seated.
Examiner Ardeen—wearing his sleek suit of armor and sword holstered at his waist—turned his head and began flipping through a notepad pinned onto a clipping board with almost ten fully filled pages.
It was complete with the dates of when each person registered, alongside general information about them, such as their magic core levels, specialties, and mage type.
He felt a strong desire to yell at the top of his lungs before simply resigning to his fate, calling out the first name.
"Examinee Graham! Step on to the platform so that we may begin your rank evaluation!"
A burly, muscular man wearing little-to-no armor and wielding a large buster sword that rested on his shoulders rose from the stands. Standing at a domineering six-foot frame, he looked more like a hunk of muscle than the dwarf that he was.
Thankfully, he had chosen to position himself on the last row, making it much easier for the others around him to be seated without worrying about his stature.
He confidently made his way down the flight of steps before briefly stopping, casting a wary glance at a man sitting on the edge of one of the rows right next to him. There was an outstretched leg obstructing his path.
The younger—and much smaller—man snickered amongst his friends, feigning ignorance to the situation.
"So yeah, then I invited her over to have dinner at my place, and the second we got into my estate, she dropped her dress like it was nothing! I didn't even have to do much, haha. Man, I'm telling you, mundane women are such—agh!" A gasp rolled over the crowd.
Raised upside down by his outstretched leg, the flaunting man dangled helplessly under the grasp of Examinee Graham. He eyed him menacingly.
"Oi! The hell do you think you're doing, you meat sack!? Do you even know who I am? I'd advise you to not anger me! Let me go, right this instance!"
The burly man huffed under his breath, still staring unshakenly. After a beat or two worth of silence, he merely smirked. "Sure."
Then, the arrogant man was sent crashing into his group of friends, each of them staring daggers at his back—yet too shaken to truly make a move. "You bastard!" "How dare you!" "You'll pay for this!"
Truly, the epitome of human stupidity.
Graham continued down the flight of steps unperturbed for the rest of his descent. Soon, a shouted command brought a thin, translucent barrier of mana to life around the testing platform, shielding those in the stands.
And finally, the first rank evaluation in months began—with many, many more to come…
***
Hours soon passed by of this routine.
The variations of test examinees was astounding, yet the examiners were steadfast and unyielding, never once dulling their senses or blades. Or in this case, wands.
Wind magic whirled around the testing platform, sharp and as lethal as daggers aimed to kill.
…Of course, that was a mere illusion, as the rules clearly stated no lethalities will be tolerated, but the examiners' ruthlessness seemed to protest otherwise.
Examinee Grenda swiftly chanted under her breath as six blades of wind shot at her, forming a dense water barrier around herself which drowned the impact of the wind blades.
"Yes!"
Excitement coursed through her veins, seeing the result of her practice come to fruition.
A dark glint flashed across Lady Nuela's expression, and she soon flicked her wand, commanding the remaining two blades to a halt.
Grenda's face grew surprised as her opponent released a chant, bringing to life balls of flame that merged with the blades, enhancing them. Nuela sighed under her breath.
"Let us see just how long you'll be able to last within that prison of yours…" [Flaming Winds.]
Immediately, the swirling scythes of fire crashed into the barrier, before being vaporized into steam.
Soon, two more scythes were conjured, coming to the same result as the other two. Then three, then five, then seven—each reaching the conclusion of their predecessors. Lady Nuela seemed undisturbed by this, continuing onwards.
Meanwhile, uncertainty rolled through the crowd, whispers already mounting. "What the hell is she doing? Clearly her attacks have no effect!" "So, she's just going to spam? The heck…" "What type of examiner is this?"
Discord and dissatisfaction soon filled the stands. Despite it, a few mages in the stands seemed to understand what was happening behind the scenes.
With every spell that struck the barrier and rebounded, steam blossomed, unfurling.
What began as a faint mist soon thickened, shrouding even the examinee in a fog thick enough to puzzle and encapsulate onlookers.
Which was exactly where the best place to be in such a situation was; unknowing and curious.
Concealed beneath the steam, Grenda's vision blurred, coming to her in flickers as she choked on the remnants of her oxygen, supplanted by scalding steam.
Yet she remained determined, standing her ground.
…Only, unfortunately for her, she was not yet at a position to where her will held enough significance in the face of such a cunning opponent.
Her spell collapsed, winds carrying away the leftover mist from their clash, like a brief, passing morning dew.
Revealed in their center was a young woman with honey-blonde hair and comfortable clothing, resting on her knees and clawing for air. Light burn marks highlighted themselves across her otherwise smooth, chocolate skin.
The stadium erupted with gasps and stunned expressions, forced with the revelation that their understanding of the situation was incorrect. Others merely felt a dark anticipation, wondering just how they would fare against such a resourceful opponent.
All in all, one realization settled amongst the examinees, both experienced and inexperienced.
That in the face of an insightful and cunning opponent, their previous notions of strength were flawed and limited, failing to properly account for such scenarios.
A fight wasn't always decided by brute force.
The test examiner broke into a short stride, her eyes taking in her former opponent's state.
She spun her wand into a passive position, bringing a notepad up.
"Examinee Glenda. Though you possess exceptional control over your mana and bear a rather unyielding resilience for your age, both traits are overshadowed by your dependence on your family's special divergent art."
Her voice was stern yet instructional.
"True expression lies in breaking away from comfort, and the promise of your potential is confined by reliance—never to break free unless you step beyond it. For now, I recommend that you learn to think much further ahead in your battles. Figure out what's the next step after your Ocean's Shield is rendered useless, or even a burden, as is the case now. I hereby declare you as a C-minus-rank adventurer."
The girl recovered herself, a solemn expression creeping into her expression as she slowly bowed, received an official slip of rank confirmation, and made her way back through the hall in which everyone originally entered; her head never rising.
A silence overcame the stands as the instructors called out yet another name, continuing onwards with their routine.
In total, close to forty people were examined that day, with a few fights in particular being exciting and quite interesting to watch. There was a young girl clad in exquisite layers of white and dark gray robes, loose enough for her to move in freely.
Long silver hair cascaded past her shoulders in soft waves that shimmered faintly, each strand seeming to shift between pale grey and alabaster, matching the color of her eyes.
In her right hand, she wielded an obsidian-forged wand embedded with a pure white gem.
Her magic was unique in the way that it seemed to mold into whatever construct she desired, switching between states of matter at will, as well.
One moment it was liquid, flowing smoothly as one coherent stream, and in the next, it was as solid and sustainable as the most durable of metals—unshaken, unblemished, and unyielding.
Truly, it was a mighty special divergent art.
And her resourceful mind only enhanced its capabilities.
She was a strategist at heart, yet worked in a passive manner—waiting, playing off of her opponents mistakes.
A young boy stepped up after her rank was assigned—a staggering B-minus, eliciting shocked whispers and murmurs.
His long, vibrant red hair was styled in a wild ponytail that tumbled past his shoulders in unkempt, windblown waves that seemed to move even when the air was still, adorned with a golden ornament keeping his hair in its fashion.
A sharp and predatory, golden-eyed gaze swept around the stadium as he settled on the platform, his confidence radiant. No one even bothered to make eye contact with the boy.
…Except for a few select people, including the test examiners.
By the time he was finished, the snow surrounding the platform had melted by quite a large amount, warming up the stands with the after effects of his fierce battle.
Even the examiner responsible for taking care of him seemed tired and drained by the arduous battle.
In the end, though, he, too, walked away with a B-minus… one of the only two people thus far to have been assigned one. Excited chatter overcame the seating area as people discussed the ferocity of that fight, which seemed to last oh so long.
"Dang… two monsters back-to-back. Just who the hell are these rookies nowadays?"
"Yeah, man. I've never heard of two B-ranks being assigned immediately after each other. Haha, we could be witnessing history itself right now!"
"That's true. I wonder who this next guy will be…! You think he'll be able to match the others? Triple B-ranks, even?!"
"Yeah, as if. Tell you what, if something like that happens, I'll personally let you shave my head bald!"
"Oh, you are so on!"
Soon after, a woman stepped forward to take the examiner's place, her eyes searching down her notepad.
It was Lady Nuela once again.
Eventually, her eyes stopped as she called out the name of her next examinee, echoing through the stadium with a strange solemnity.
"Examinee Crownless," she began, "Please step forward so that we may begin your rank evaluation!"
For a moment, her words went unchallenged; no one rising to meet them.
Confused glances were exchanged amongst each other, people searching for this mysterious person—craving the next exciting spectacle.
Unfortunately for them, nothing like that seemed to be on the forecast today.
…At least that was, until another boy stood from his seat, leaving a small, silver fox behind with ethereal magenta eyes.
As he made his way down from the stands, the attention, expectations, and hopes of others all silently weighed down on him.
Of course, he could tell… though that isn't to say he cared.
The boy's mind was clear and focused, with only one goal firmly planted.
Soon enough, he reached the platform, his expression solemn.
…Or rather, slightly amused.
A small smirk seemed to have found its way onto his face as he regarded his examiner.
Lady Nuela's brows furrowed ever-so-slightly with intrigue, seeing this.
"Examinee Crownless. You appear to be in quite the good mood. It is quite refreshing to see someone seemingly eager for once." Her stance shifted. "Is there any particular reason?"
"Im afraid to say that there isn't," he merely said, hand reaching for the single braid of hair that hung loosely, tucking it behind his right ear. There was a beat of silence before any of the two said anything else.
"...I see. Very well then," Lady Nuela affirmed, putting away her notepad and brandishing her wand.
"Then, in accordance with the rules, we shall now—"
"Wait just one second, Examiner Nuela," a respectful voice called from behind, interrupting.
"I've been given express permission to handle this particular individual myself, if you don't mind. A rookie sponsored by House Vorlet brings quite the attention and intrigue, as I'm sure you know quite well yourself."
A man with a dark colored, sleek attire marked with pauldrons that accentuated the contrast between his suit and his light armor, stepped forward from beyond the shadows of the corridor, a light smile playing on his lips.
"Don't worry, it will be brief. That much, I can assure you."
The examiners all turned to him, eyes flickering with surprise and hints of respect. Nuela was the first to address him.
"Ah, Master Harghen. A pleasant surprise to see you here today."
Gasps and chatter overcame the crowd in the stands, and her attention briefly flickered to the examinee standing before her, considering something distantly, before returning.
"Very well. I admit, I was quite curious about our examinee as well, but this truly seals the deal. In any case, in accordance with the rules, I shall step aside and allow you to undergo your special examination. May Her Lady's blessings be with you."
And with that, the experienced woman stepped aside, giving way to the newcomer… who also seemed quite experienced himself, considering he was called Master.
In the world of adventuring, guilds of all kinds each possess a hierarchy system.
It went as such: Initiate, Member, Master, Saint, and Guild Leader.
If that man had the title of a Master, then it meant that not only was he quite well versed in the inner-workings of the society of adventurers, but also it showed that he was quite the competent one in terms of combat. Most likely, he was a part of the Adventurer's Guild.
Meaning that Crownless… or rather, Lost Prince Seraphis of the Verlice kingdom, had his work cut out for him.
Resting his hand on his thin rapier, Master Harghen stepped forward, extending his arms as an undercurrent of mana carried his voice throughout the stadium effortlessly.
"Examinee Crownless, welcome to your Rank Examination Test. It's a pleasure to have you here—as well as everyone else present. Forgive me, but your ties to House Vorlet require us to deem you as a person of interest. Therefore, I have been sent to test you personally." His sharp eyes narrowed. "I hope you don't mind."
Crownless put a foot forward, clearly undisturbed by the situation.
"Is that the case? I see, then… No worries, this should make things a bit more interesting for me, as well."
Master Harghen tilted his head curiously. "Really? And just what do you mean by that, exactly?"
"It's bad manners to ask a man his secrets, especially when yours scream from that blade."
His words rolled over the crowd, eliciting a series of comments, both spiteful and slightly admiring.
"That bastard… Just who does he think he is, talking to a Master like that?!"
"Don't be too angry with him, he's still a mere child. He'll learn eventually."
"Hah. The kid's got guts. I like him already."
"Yeah, no kidding. Almost makes me wanna root for the guy. Almost…"
Even the examiners appeared a bit stunned by the boy's straightforwardness.
Harghen chuckled low, rapier hand flexing.
"Ah, I suppose that is fair. Very well, allow us to talk no further. May our weapons converse in our stead, and M'ansmoir be the guiding precision that cuts through even a cloudless night."
The polished silver blade of his rapier was finally revealed, scintillating in the chilly atmosphere, and he shifted his stance into something relaxed and passive, standing upright, and with it pointed towards his opponent.
Across from him, Seraphis adjusted his white, fur-lined overcoat held together by an elaborate brooch.
Beneath it, he wore layers of intricate black robes, fitting both close and loosely on his body, his long sleeves adorned with subtle runes that increased his elemental resistance.
A slim, and rather undetailed black rod appeared in his hand from a faint whirlwind of sparks, which he unsheathed to reveal a straight and slender blade, extending in a seamless line from hilt to tip, with no curve to break its silhouette.
The blade itself was also a polished silver.
To on-lookers, the sword would've appeared quite… comical.
As if it was better fit to cut grass instead.
However, in the hands of its wielder, it felt perfectly balanced and efficient—existing as the purest form of expression for his swordsmanship.
Soon, a thin barrier of mana shimmered to life, and a commanded shout carried through the stadium, sparking both mages into motion.
"Begin!"
***
SERAPHIS ELTATH VERLICE
I exploded into motion, mana already surging within my body as I met my opponents strike with the flat of my blade.
Metal clanged as our eyes met with each other; a preluding lull, like the pause between notes in a dirge only fate could compose.
Surprise, slight anticipation, and a nascent understanding flickered within Master Harghen's eyes, gone in an instant and forced against the backdrop of battle clarity.
…Similarly, a budding understanding emerged from my own.
His weight shifted, pivoting his foot as he spun to my right, bringing his sword around in a swipe.
Instead of catching the strike, I jumped back a short distance, slipping beyond his range and twisting my body.
My left arm swung around and a scorching ball of fire flew straight at him.
At the same time, I conjured a gust of wind at my feet and lunged, closing the distance between us. His rapier pierced through the first spell, dispersing it in an interaction I couldn't quite explain, but he hadn't expected me to be following behind it.
…Or rather, he did, actually, his weapon already poised to retaliate against a downward slash.
I feinted, finally activating my wind spell that I'd conjured beforehand, bringing me directly behind him. [Swift Step].
He spun around and our weapons clashed against one another, turning into a fierce clash that lasted only a few entries.
Eventually, our mesh of steel was interrupted as our swords broke away from each other.
I stepped in, sensing an opportunity, but was immediately forced out of his space.
His blade thrusted, and I ducked underneath it, followed by a counter-attack aimed at his legs.
He stepped back with minimal movement, completely evading it, and adding in an attack of his own.
I jumped out of his range, coming to a stop a few feet away. Slowly, I unfurled from my crouching position.
"You're quite an evasive one, aren't you? Good footwork," I said, smirking. "Had I not known any better, I would've mistaken you for a Golden-Shelled Tortoise masquerading as a man." Across from me, he seemed to relax, stretching slightly.
"Ahaha, as do you, my friend. Yours is quite unique. You're a lot better than I thought, Crownless, that's for sure," he began, "However… I think it's time I switch things up. Forgive me, but that sort of fighting style—playing defensively and passively—has never really been my cup of tea."
He paused, bringing his rapier up again, tensing. "It's time I stretch my limbs a bit."
In the next second, he was on top of me, his sword thrusting. I hardly had enough time to bring my own up to block it, so I sidestepped, only to be met with yet another attack, chaining into a fierce combination that sacrificed neither speed nor precision for power.
Our blades stretched into a sustained note that rang out through the stadium, like a song of steel, except its composers were locked in a battle against one another, pulling for control—changing the tempo and rhythm at will.
He stepped out, looking to get enough distance in order to strike again, but I stepped into his space to dissuade that.
My sword sang as it cut through the air, carving an upward, silver arc.
His position shifted ever-so-slightly in order to avoid it, and he moved to my side, instead.
With a fluid pivot, his rapier swept low in a calculated arc aimed towards my ankles, I dragged my heel across the stone platform to evade it, while also countering with my own sword.
Steel ground against steel in a shower of sparks, the force behind the clash traveling through my grip and into my shoulders as we strained for dominance.
An opening…!
Seizing the moment, I slipped inside his extended reach, my left elbow slamming into his midsection with enough force to disrupt his balance.
My foot planted against his bent knee and I pushed off of it, spinning in the air as I silently conjured a wind spell as I landed a small distance away, unleashing it immediately upon landing.
A strong force pushed him forward as I closed in, meeting him halfway, sword poised to strike.
Master Harghen recovered himself far too quickly, and once more, our blades rang out as they clashed, reverberating through our bodies. Despite the biting cold, my body surged with heat, and distantly I registered as sweat dripped down my brow.
It only ended when I went for a cheeky strike aimed toward his center, which he dodged, but not without consequence. A piece of his pristine uniform fluttered to the ground as we made sufficient space in between ourselves, eyes still prying for opportunity.
Surprised murmurs rolled through the stadium.
As Master Harghen inspected himself, a genuine chuckle escaped his lips that seemed to surprise even himself.
"Truly extraordinary," he said, gawking, "I haven't met someone such as yourself in ages, able to dish out and receive so many attacks without a single blow. Your skill belies your age, Examinee Crownless. I'm beginning to regret having ever underestimated you, really."
I stood from my battle-ready position, not bothering to hide the amusement on my face. My voice carried itself through the examination arena with profound ease.
"Master Harghen, your words of praise are far too indulgent for someone such as myself. Please, do refrain," I began, eyes narrowing, "...Otherwise, even you'll begin to believe in them."
A ripple seemed to roll throughout the stadium at this, a few examiners twitching slightly, even.
The mass of the crowd didn't seem to understand what I meant, but others definitely did.
Master Harghen, however, didn't seem too bothered by it. Amused, even.
A knowing smile creeped into his expression, and he stifled his laughter.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed our battle thus far, that much is true, and I hope for it to continue in such an entertaining manner, up until the very end. Don't disappoint me now."
"But, of course, I wouldn't dare to," I replied.
His eyes narrowed—even more than they already had—and he sighed, stabbing his rapier into the ground and rotating his wrist in a flexing manner. There was a brief pause before he continued.
"In any case, why don't we put a final end to these… charades of ours. Give the audience what they want."
I eyed him carefully, my tone measured as I asked, "Just what exactly do you mean by that, I wonder?" and he snapped back at me with precision.
"Dear Examinee. Don't think for a second that you've fooled me in the same way that you've fooled the rest. You're quite obviously privy to the saying. A battle between two people is nothing but a conversation, at its core, one that cannot be expressed with mere words. So, do us both a favor and give it your all, won't you?"
A breath of silence passed as I considered his words, a myriad of thoughts racing in my mind. Eventually, I plucked the easiest thread, giving in to his provocation.
"...I suppose I have no choice, then." I closed my eyes, piercing the ground with my sword and resting both my hands on it as I drew on my connection with Seraphina—whose worry and anxiety I could feel from the stands.
Don't worry. I can handle this, I sent to her.
Then, I concentrated. For how long, I was unaware, but the moment had to have stretched for at least ten seconds, before…
"Come forth, Seere."
Warmth spread through my body, starting from my magic core, which burned with a radiant silver sheen, blossoming outward until its heat suffused every limb.
My senses sharpened to an unnatural degree, colors bleeding more vividly, the subtle rise and fall of my opponent's chest becoming a mixture of sight-based observation and hearing-based, and a golden rune came to life on my right hand.
A mane of silver-white hair spilled over my shoulders in flowing tresses, brushing down to the small of my back, and my ears elongated, tapering to delicate points.
I felt my reflexes grow honed, movement presenting itself to me on instinct in a way that allowed my body to react to the slightest stimuli without the need for my mind to catch up.
"This form… It sure takes some time to get used to."
[Beast Stigma, First Manifestation Aspect: Seere (Physique)]