Chapter fifteenth: "Mages and Knights"

As Nevalis, old Elias, and the three others descended to the lower floor, all eyes immediately fell upon them.

However, Nevalis ignored the stares and sat down on a chair, waiting for old Elias.

Soon after, old Elias pulled a chair and sat across from Nevalis. He said,

"So, what makes you so confident? We have nothing. We need money, soldiers, weapons, and experience. These kids don't have any of that. How do you plan to solve all of this?"

Nevalis smiled calmly and replied,

"As for money, don't worry—I have plenty of it. For soldiers, we already have many; the slums are scattered all across the kingdom. As for weapons, I also have enough. They may not be the best, but they'll suffice for now. As for experience, that will require time and effort, but I already have some ideas."

Elias studied Nevalis closely. He had solved half the problems, yet gaps remained.

Noticing Elias's gaze, Nevalis continued,

"For training, I will handle the theoretical and part of the practical. After all, my head is filled with the books we need. So whether it's magic or knights, I can create both as long as we find the right people.

And as for mage training, you will be a part of it, of course—if you decide to join."

Nevalis subtly hinted at Elias's role in the magic circle.

Everyone was shocked first by Nevalis's words and second by the revelation that their grandfather was a mage.

Nevalis widened his gaze, looking beyond Elias to the kids behind him, and asked,

"So, is anyone willing to join?"

The room fell silent. No one responded, but they all looked at Elias as if waiting for him to decide.

Ivan suddenly broke the silence, addressing Elias,

"Grandfather, I think we should join."

Everyone was stunned by Ivan's statement.

Elias turned to Ivan, already knowing the reason behind the boy's decision, but he wanted to hear it aloud—for himself and the others.

"And why should we join something that might bring us new suffering?" Elias asked.

Ivan responded passionately,

"At least we would have tried. I don't want to spend my whole life here. I can't protect my siblings if another vile noble comes and does whatever they please.

I want the strength to protect those I care about, the strength to avenge my sister, the strength to pull those wretches off their thrones.

I understand we might suffer if we fail, but so what? We're already suffering here. I'd rather endure pain while trying to escape this nightmare than stay silent and hidden in some alley."

Elias nodded at Ivan's response. He had wanted to say the same but was afraid.

Afraid of the children's destruction, afraid of failing to protect them. After all, he had failed once to protect his family, and the thought of failing again terrified him.

Elias turned to the other children and saw determination and resolve etched on most of their faces. Ivan's words were like a beacon that reignited their spirits.

At that moment, Elias realized he couldn't deny their fight because of his own fear.

Looking back at Nevalis, Elias said,

"We will join you, but only after hearing your full plan. I trust you've thought this through."

Nevalis smiled, stood up, and announced,

"From this moment, only those who are willing to join may stay."

He expected some to leave, but no one did. The hesitation on some faces vanished after Elias gave his approval, a testament to their trust in him.

Once he saw no one leaving, Nevalis said,

"Good." He sat back down, looked at Elias, and declared,

"Listen carefully, old man. After all, you'll be the manager overseeing everything in my absence."

He continued,

"First, I'll explain the kingdom's hierarchy since most of you seem unfamiliar with it. The kingdom is divided into four classes:

Nobles (the ruling class): The royal family, grand dukes, counts, and barons.

The middle class: Wealthy merchants, officers, and professional soldiers.

Commoners: Farmers and laborers.

The outcasts (the slums)."

Nevalis elaborated,

"I'll explain the nobles and the army since they're crucial for gaining experience and training.

In particular, the baron class. There are twenty-four baron families in the kingdom, each with their own knights and mages. At the end of every year, there's recruitment for soldiers and mages. That's what we'll aim for after basic training here, which I'll provide.

You'll divide yourselves among the families and enlist. The conflicts between noble houses will give you the experience we need."

"Secondly, there's the army, which is even easier. Enlisting in the army is straightforward."

"The most important event, however, is the kingdom's mandatory monster subjugation every twenty years. It's a compulsory event for noble houses and the army. There are three years left until the next one, and it will be a crucial opportunity for expansion, whether through the army or the noble families."

"As for the four grand ducal families, no one is to consider volunteering there. Their examinations are unavoidable, and we would be exposed instantly."

Nevalis exhaled deeply after finishing, pausing for a moment before continuing,

"Thirdly, there are the adventurer and mercenary guilds. This path is safer and provides experience. Mercenaries also occasionally participate in noble conflicts, making it a lucrative option."

After realizing he had shared a lot of information, Nevalis decided to let them process it before continuing.

...

When Nevalis gave them time to absorb what they had heard, even old Elias remained silent, knowing the children needed time to grasp the gravity of their decision.

Some faces darkened as the weight of the situation set in, while others were still processing. Yet they all thought the same thing: Had that boy really planned all this? Nevalis wasn't older than them; in fact, he appeared younger than some, seemingly only around fourteen.

After a few minutes, Nevalis resumed,

"Now that we've established the framework, let's discuss the pillars—mages." He gestured toward the room he had emerged from earlier.

"In that room is a magical detection circle. It will reveal whether any of you have the aptitude to be mages and determine your magic type."

As soon as Nevalis mentioned this, everyone's faces lit up. Magic was a dream everyone aspired to achieve.

But their hopes were quickly dashed by Nevalis's next words:

"Don't get your hopes too high. Mages are rare. It would be remarkable if one or two of you in this room have the aptitude."

This revelation hit hard. After all, there were over twenty people in the room, and only a handful might have a chance.

Ignoring their shock, Nevalis continued,

"Now, let me explain the types of magic. There are the 'primary magics', such as:

Fire magic

Water magic

Wind magic

Earth magic

Dark magic

Light magic

Sound magic

Then there are 'secondary magics,' derived from primary ones, which require creativity and advanced skill. They are often weaker but highly versatile, like:

Ice and mist magic (derived from water magic)

Flight magic (derived from wind magic)

There are also unique magics, rare and exclusive, such as:

Healing magic

Blood magic

Sand magic."

Nevalis added,

"Lastly, magic is ranked from the first to the ninth tier."

Shifting the discussion, he said,

"Now let's talk about knights. These are the ranks for those pursuing the path of the sword:

Soldier

Warrior

Knight

Once you become a knight, you gain the ability to wield aura."

He explained further,

"There are advanced knight ranks:

Elite Knights: Skilled swordsmen who excel in advanced combat techniques.

Phantom Knights: Rare swordsmen with incredible speed, specializing in evasion and swift strikes."

"Finally, the ultimate rank for swordsmen is Sword Master.

Those who hold the title of Sword Master are elite warriors recognized across the continent. There's even a global ranking for the top 100 Sword Masters and the top 100 mages."

The children's spirits rose once more, realizing there was a noble path even for those who couldn't become mages.

Nevalis added,

"And there are those rare individuals, like me, who can wield both aura and magic."

Everyone in the room was shocked by this information.

But Nevalis, as always, did not take care of their shock and said with a confident smile.

So should we get started?