Chapter No 7. The Scale Of Strength.

Following the intense explosion of flames emitted from Lucius, a powerful shockwave—similar to those previously used by the ghost bear—propelled various objects and individuals backward with extraordinary force. Sia, who had been seated on a stone, along with nearby trees and scattered wooden logs, were all influenced by the flame-infused shockwaves. A tree struck Sia during the incident; fortunately, her damaged armor provided some protection, preventing any additional injuries. However, other objects in the vicinity suffered significant damage and were shattered upon impact.

Once the chaos subsided, Sia quickly moved to Lucius's side, despite her injured arm, which had swollen due to her collision with the tree. As she knelt beside him, she attempted to assess Lucius's condition but found that her hands struggled to establish a steady flow of mana. Taking a moment to collect herself, she recalled the adage, "Haste makes waste, patience prevails," and focused on calming her nerves before trying again. A brief examination revealed that Lucius was merely unconscious, exhibiting subtle signs of breathing. This observation reassured her; she confirmed to herself that he was alive.

To maintain her composure, Sia repeated the phrase, "The worst is in the past," to remind herself that, despite the circumstances, Lucius was still alive and breathing.

Lucius's POV

"The worst is in the past."

I heard the words, but their meaning slipped through my grasp like sand through my fingers.

"The worst is in the what?"

Had I really repeated that? My own voice sounded foreign to me—raw, strained, and barely above a whisper. My mind, instead of easing my burdens, did what it did best: amplify them. Questions flooded in. Had I lost my grip on sanity after just a single day in this world? Was this even real?

Pain, sharp and unrelenting, shot through my body like a bolt of lightning. It wasn't the dull ache of exhaustion—it was the kind that seared itself into your memory, a pain that demanded attention, that refused to be ignored. I wanted to scream, to let it out, but my throat was swollen, my voice reduced to a mere rasp.

Slowly, my eyes fluttered open, the world around me a blur of light and shadow. It took a moment for them to adjust to the golden sunlight filtering through the canopy above. And there—above me—was her.

Sia.

Her form hovered over me, her entire upper body acting as a shield, her blood-red hair catching the light like a halo. But it was her eyes that held me captive—sharp, intense, watching my every tiny movement as if one wrong shift could shatter me completely.

"Hi?"

The single word barely left my lips, and the way it sounded—weak, breathy, almost childish—made me want to curl up and disappear. Of all the things I could have said, that was what came out? Really?

Sia blinked. Then, she exhaled, her voice carrying that same firm gentleness I had come to recognize.

"You're only eight years old, you know?"

The words made me pause. My mind struggled to process them. Eight years old?

"Wait! You know my exact age?! How did you figure it out?"

Even I didn't know my precise age. Time felt meaningless to me. I had only been alive for a single day—how could I possibly have an age?

Sia remained unbothered by my reaction. "While you were unconscious, I did a quick scan of your body."

A scan? That was how she figured it out? No asking, no warning, just—?

"But I was unconscious for only a minute at most."

"Exactly."

Her response was as calm as ever, her tone carrying no inclination to elaborate. She expected me to piece it together on my own.

"What else did you exactly fi—"

Before I could finish, the pain returned in full force. A white-hot jolt surged through my body, scrambling my thoughts like a hammer smashing delicate glass.

"Son of a bitch!"

The curse ripped from my throat instinctively, though my voice—still rough and hoarse—made it sound more pathetic than angry. In another situation, I might have laughed at how ridiculous I sounded.

Sia hummed in acknowledgment, almost amused. "Hmm. A mana backlash. Pretty common amongst mana wielders, like us."

Us.

That single word struck something deep within me. It wasn't just an observation—it was an inclusion. A confirmation of what had just happened.

Despite the agony, I forced myself to focus inward.

I closed my eyes, blocking out everything else—the pain, the exhaustion, the lingering panic—and searched for the change within me.

And I felt it.

It was like a second sun, burning inside me. A radiant, molten sphere of energy nestled deep in my chest. It pulsed with life, its warmth seeping through my veins, flooding my limbs, my senses, my very core. It wasn't just there—it was me.

The raw, purified mana that had once threatened to consume me was now my own. It belonged to me.

I had survived.

"Congratulations, Lucius."

Sia's voice pulled me from my trance, and as I reopened my eyes, I found her watching me with a quiet sense of pride. "You now possess a mana core and a mana signature, just like the rest of us humans."

A mana core. A mana signature.

I let the words sink in, tried to grasp the weight of what I had gained. But before I could fully process it, something else caught my attention.

Beyond Sia, in the distance, a massive tree stood, its bark scarred by a violent impact. The dent in its center was deep, as if something—or someone—had crashed into it with terrifying force.

My gaze snapped back to Sia.

She was holding her arm. Her injured arm.

A fresh pang of guilt tore through me.

I didn't need to ask. The truth was painfully clear. My Mana Discharge—the same uncontrolled explosion that had nearly consumed me—had hurt her.

Sia must have noticed the change in my expression.

"It wasn't your fault."

Her words were firm, as if she had anticipated my guilt before I even felt it. "What mattered most was that we succeeded."

Succeeding didn't erase the damage. It didn't undo the fact that she had been injured because of me.

Before I could think about it, I moved.

Without hesitation, without concern for my own aches, I stepped toward her—then pulled her into a hug.

It was clumsy. Awkward. But I didn't care.

"Thank you."

The words barely reached a whisper, but I meant them with everything I had. "Thank you for believing in me. For helping me from the start. For protecting me. For sharing your past with me."

Sia didn't respond at first.

For a long moment, she remained utterly still. Then, slowly—hesitantly—she returned the gesture.

It was brief, just a moment, but it was real.

As I pulled away, she met my gaze.

"We have much to discuss," she said. "It will take time. But as we march toward my city, I will fill you in on the details—on what you need to know about your new home. And I will answer your questions to the best of my ability."

A new home.

The words felt foreign.

But what else did I have?

I took a deep breath. "Alright."

There was no hesitation in my answer.

I would follow her.

Wherever she led me.

For now, that was enough.

***

"You can begin, little one," Sia instructed, her voice steady as she climbed ahead of me. The uneven, rocky terrain of the cliff was an obstacle, but nothing compared to the weight of curiosity pressing on my mind. Each step took us higher, promising a view of something grand—something I had only heard about in stories. The eastern border of the empire.

"What's the name of the city we're heading to?" I asked, pausing briefly to catch my breath.

"Varis," she answered without missing a step. "The central city of the eastern region."

"And the empire? The one you guys seem so proud of?"

She glanced back at me with a small, knowing smile. "The Mighty Empire of Verdun."

There was a quiet pride in her voice, an unshakable reverence that made the name feel heavier, more significant. I had heard it before, but somehow, hearing her say it made it feel… invincible. There was something about it—something eerily familiar—that tugged at the edges of my mind, but I ignored it.

"Verdun? That's a cool name," I admitted.

"Yes," Sia continued. "Our empire was named after our first emperor, the Invincible one—His Majesty, Lord Verdun himself. A warrior unlike any before or after. He was the hero who united countless warring kingdoms under a single banner, ending large-scale wars and forging the strongest empire this continent has ever seen. A true legend."

Her admiration was evident, and I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to command that level of respect, to have one's name echo through time.

"So… we're in the eastern region, right?" I asked, shifting the subject.

"Central-Eastern, to be precise," she corrected. "Most of the eastern region is covered in the Beast Forests—just like the one where I found you."

I nodded. The memories of my arrival here were still fresh—wild creatures, danger lurking in every shadow, and an overwhelming sense of survival instinct.

"Yeah, I remember that. The 'Outer Rim,' if I'm not mistaken. What's with all these 'rims' anyway? Why not just call it 'the Beast Forest' and be done with it?"

Sia smirked. "That would be… inaccurate. The different rims help us categorize the forest better. The Outer Rim is the largest and most populated with beasts, filled with the most diverse and numerous species. It's so vast that it had to be divided into multiple sectors for hunting and navigation."

She adjusted her grip on the hilt of her blade as we climbed higher, the sun catching the silver metal for a brief moment before she continued.

"The Middle Rim is separated from the Outer Rim by a massive river. The creatures there are fewer but much stronger, more developed. They're the real threats to hunters."

"And the Inner Rim?"

"That," she said with a grim expression, "is home to the Apex Predators—the undisputed kings of the rims. Only the most experienced hunters or military squads dare venture that deep."

"And the last one? The Central Rim?"

For the first time, she hesitated. "No one truly knows. Theories exist, and stories have been passed down, but no solid evidence has been recorded. Most who attempt to explore it… don't return."

A chill ran down my spine. The way she spoke of it—as if it was some forbidden place, a realm beyond human reach—made it all the more intriguing.

Sia suddenly picked up her pace, practically jogging toward the top of the cliff. I gritted my teeth, forcing my tired legs to follow. I wasn't about to be left behind. The incline grew steeper, every step a battle against the weight of gravity, but I pushed forward.

Then, she stopped.

Dead still.

Her back was straight, her shoulders squared as she gazed at something beyond the cliff's edge. The stillness of her stance told me everything I needed to know.

Something was waiting for us.

I reached her side and followed her gaze, and what I saw stole the breath from my lungs.

The great walls of Varis.

They loomed over the distant forest, massive and impenetrable, stretching endlessly in both directions. Hundreds of meters tall, built from a pitch-black stone that swallowed the sunlight rather than reflecting it. A fortress so vast it seemed to defy reason.

And beyond those walls—just barely visible through the shimmering air—was the legendary city itself.

"This view…" Sia murmured, almost to herself. "It never gets old."

I swallowed, my throat dry. "Yeah… it's something else."

I had never seen anything like it. The sheer scale of the empire, the power it represented, the history etched into every stone of those walls.

For the first time since arriving in this world, I truly understood.

This wasn't just any place.

This was Verdun.

And I was about to step into its beating heart.

Sia took a deep breath and turned to me. "Come now. We still have hours of travel ahead. We're taking the long route, as usual."

I glanced down at the steep path ahead—one that twisted and turned, leading deep into the forests below before eventually curving toward those enormous walls.

It would be a challenge. A test.

And I couldn't wait.

A grin crept onto my face.

"Then let's not waste time. I want to see what this new life has in store for me."

With that, we began our descent—toward the city of legends.

***

"That was so fun, Sia! Can we do that again?"

My heart was still pounding from the descent, a wild, exhilarating rush that felt more like skiing than climbing down a mountain. The jagged cliffs and uneven terrain had turned into an impromptu obstacle course, with small hills acting as ramps that sent me gliding down with bursts of adrenaline. Though Sia led the way, guiding me whenever I stumbled, I managed to keep up.

It was my first time experiencing something this thrilling—at least, since waking up in this world.

Sia, on the other hand, barely looked fazed. If anything, she seemed completely indifferent, as if what we just did was nothing special. Does she do this all the time? It was an ordinary routine for her, but to me? It was the most fun I'd had in forever.

"No."

Her answer was immediate, blunt, and without hesitation. She didn't even bother to look at me.

I frowned. What's with her? She had been acting strangely distant ever since I regained my connection to mana. Was it something I did? Or… something I had yet to do?

And then it hit me.

Mana.

An unsettling realization crept into my mind, making my fingers twitch. There was something I needed to ask.

"Lady Sia? Do you have a moment?"

She kept walking but gave a small nod. "I hear things from my ears, Lucius. They're focused on you. What's on your mind?"

That wasn't exactly the response I was hoping for, but I took the opening anyway.

"Can I become as strong as you? Or Sir Ragnar?" I hesitated, then pushed forward. "You restored my connection to mana, but… what now? How do I move forward? How do I control it? And what exactly are 'mana cores' and the ability to bend mana to our will? I need to understand if I want to survive whatever this world throws at me."

I had no intention of being dragged along, helpless and dependent on others. Information was my weapon now. If Sia was willing to teach, I was willing to learn.

She remained silent for a few moments before finally speaking.

"Alright, then. To start, there are two types of mages among our kind. The first group consists of those who can sense, absorb, purify, and circulate mana—allowing them to reinforce their bodies, weapons, and armor. The second group is limited to circulating mana in their bodies unconsciously, without being able to use it externally."

"So we both fall into the first category?"

"Correct. But within that category, there are further divisions."

Her voice grew steadier, as if slipping into a familiar rhythm of teaching.

"First, there are knights like myself. We can enhance our bodies and weapons with mana, making us deadlier in battle. Then, there are healers—like June. While most of them lack combat abilities, their magic is invaluable. They can mend wounds, heal themselves and even purge poisons from the body. They're our greatest asset in prolonged battles."

I nodded, following along.

"Then comes the third type—spellcasters, like Dawn. Unlike knights and healers, spellcasters aren't restricted by their innate affinities."

"An affinity?" I asked, intrigued.

Sia gave a firm nod.

"Mana is the fundamental force that created our world, governs it, and will one day end it. Every sentient being—humans, beasts, even the Ghost Bear we fought—has the ability to manipulate mana in some way. You can reinforce your body. I can shape mana into arc-like attacks. The Ghost Bear, however, could channel mana into its core to alter its nature."

"You mean… it was an Ice affinity?"

"Precisely. Now, Lucius, based on what I told you about that Ghost Bear, can you guess where it originally came from? Don't worry, there are no wrong answers."

I thought for a moment before answering.

"The Northern Mountain Range of Terra? It makes sense, considering it launched ice beams and shards while lowering the surrounding temperature. That kind of adaptation must mean it comes from an ice-cold region."

Sia slowed her steps.

"How did you—?" She stopped herself, quickly regaining her composure. "I mean, yes. You're correct."

I smirked. Caught her off guard there.

Sia continued, brushing off her momentary lapse.

"Just as living beings have affinities, so do the natural elements around us. The sunlight that warms our world, the earth beneath us, the skies above, the oceans, lakes, and rivers—all of them influence mana differently. Even mountains and volcanoes shape the mana that flows through them. This phenomenon is called the 'Creation of Mana Nature.'"

I absorbed every word, my mind racing with possibilities.

"So aside from raw mana, there's Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind mana naturally occurring around us?"

"Correct. But despite their presence, most people cannot sense them."

I narrowed my eyes. "Because we lack an affinity to them?"

A small smile tugged at Sia's lips. "You're catching on quickly."

Her expression darkened slightly before she continued.

"Before my… incident, I had an affinity for Fire. I could ignite my spells, my weapons, and my armor at will. But after what happened, I lost my connection to the flames. I still possess my fire affinity—after all, it was my mana that reawakened yours. But my ability to control it is gone… forever."

Her voice grew distant, carrying a weight I didn't fully understand.

"Does that mean there's a chance I also have an affinity?"

She didn't answer.

Instead, she changed the subject entirely.

"We entered this forest a while ago. Have you noticed anything unusual, Lucius?"

My brows furrowed. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palm. She's dodging the question. But fine. I got my answer.

"There are no beasts," I answered flatly.

"And why is that?"

I sighed. "I don't know."

"Because it's off-season," she said simply. "The beasts retreat deeper into their sectors this time of year."

I scoffed. "And what exactly am I supposed to do with that information?"

The air around us shifted.

I felt it immediately—the change in her aura. A subtle, nearly imperceptible shift, but enough to put me on edge. The red-haired knight in front of me didn't have the best temper.

Shit.

I needed to de-escalate.

"I apologize for my tone, Miss Beauty-with-Brains. Please, continue."

Sia exhaled sharply but resumed talking.

"Dawn was a spellcaster with a Fire affinity. Unlike knights like me, she could channel mana into her core, purify it, and amplify its destructive nature. Spellcasters like her are capable of launching devastating long-range attacks that we knights could only dream of."

That made me think.

"Then… doesn't that make her invincible? I mean, there's an infinite amount of mana in the world, right? Couldn't she level mountains if she wanted to?"

Sia let out a small chuckle.

"You'd think so. But nothing in this world is without limits. The more mana you channel, the greater the burden on your body. Spellcasters like Dawn can only handle so much before they reach their breaking point. There are ways to push past those limits, but… let's just say it comes at a cost."

A cost?

I had a feeling I'd learn what that meant soon enough.

***

Sia's thoughts lingered on Lucius as she walked.

Is he really only eight years old? And with no memories of his past?

She had observed many young recruits over the years—some talented, some prodigies—but never had she met someone who could grasp the intricacies of mana nature so easily. It wasn't just that he understood; he could analyze the given information, break it down, and construct theories that were one hundred percent accurate.

Was he some hidden genius? Or was there something more to him?

She hesitated, debating whether to give him a hint. But before she could decide, Lucius spoke.

"Does it have something to do with the core inside us?" His voice was steady, confident. "Is that the catch I mentioned earlier? The thing that determines our limitations—the amount of mana we can absorb, store, and manipulate?"

Sia nearly stopped in her tracks.

Amazing.

She stole a glance at him. His expression, his stance—everything about him in that moment radiated intelligence.

"Yes," she answered, her voice measured. "It is our core that allows us to manipulate mana… but it also determines our limits. How much we can store, how much we can circulate, how much we can control at any given moment."

Lucius nodded, absorbing her words like a sponge.

"For example," Sia continued, "your core right now is at its weakest stage—what we call F-rank. This means your ability to absorb, circulate, and store mana is severely limited. Even your ability to manipulate external mana is nearly nonexistent."

She glanced at him again, wondering if he grasped just how fragile he was at the moment.

"Similarly," she went on, "Dawn was a C-rank mage, Ragnar is B-rank, and I… I am A rank."

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "And the highest rank?"

"The ranking system follows this order: F, E, D, C, B, A—and then comes S-rank and finally, SS-rank. The higher your rank, the more mana you can manipulate, the stronger your abilities become. Those who reach the upper ranks are rare—exceedingly so."

Lucius was quiet, processing.

"Dawn," Sia continued, "was a spellcaster, meaning she was naturally gifted. But her potential was still limited—by multiple factors. The biggest ones being genes, bloodline, and, most importantly, her connection to mana."

Lucius tilted his head. "Mana connection?"

"It decides how much raw strength a sentient being can wield." Sia's voice took on a serious tone. "Amongst a million, only a few thousand have the potential to reach A-rank without an affinity. Of those, only about a hundred can reach that rank with an affinity. And only a handful can rise beyond that—to S-rank or SS-rank."

Lucius let out a slow breath. The numbers alone were staggering.

"But…" she hesitated for a moment, "those who have no affinity yet still reach SS-rank… They are even rarer. Throughout all of history, only five to seven knights have ever accomplished such a feat."

Lucius's eyes widened slightly.

"And these knights… they achieved the impossible?"

Sia nodded. "They shattered what the world believed to be an iron law. They had the right combination of genes, bloodline, and—most importantly—luck. Luck beyond reason, beyond comprehension. Without an affinity, their chances were close to zero, and yet, they still reached SS-rank."

A pause.

"And yet…" she continued, her voice dropping, "having an affinity doesn't guarantee you'll reach the upper ranks either."

Lucius frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Take Dawn for example," Sia explained. "She had an affinity. She was a spellcaster. She had a rare skill set. And yet, even if she had survived that battle… she would have only reached A-rank at best. And that would have taken her decades."

"Why?" Lucius asked. "What was holding her back?"

Sia met his gaze.

"Because she lacked talent… lacked bloodline… lacked genes… and lacked luck."

The words hung in the air like a heavy weight.

"If you truly wish to rise—to achieve the greatest heights, to stand where only legends have stood—you must have all five of these factors in perfect balance."

Lucius clenched his fists. Talent. Affinity. Bloodline. Genes. Luck.

Five things that determined whether someone was destined for greatness… or mediocrity.

"And what is the ultimate rank?" he finally asked.

Sia's eyes burned with something—respect? Reverence? Fear?

"The SSS-rank," she whispered. "Or simply… 'The Rank of Saints.'"

She turned her gaze to the sky, her expression unreadable.

"It is the pinnacle of human strength."