To so Damion’s question might have seed out of line, but to Mage Harris and the other S Rank mages present, hearing that Mage Thresbane was SS Rank was too shocking to care about the young man’s manners.
However, Mage Thresbane just lifted an eyebrow and looked at Damion with a mild sense of amusent.
“Yes. I have reached SS Rank. What of it?”
“Judging by Mage Harris’ reaction, you haven’t shared your Rank with him or likely any of the S Rank Assembly. I’m curious as to why.”
“Do you share everything about yourself with everyone you et?” Mage Thresbane countered. “The Protectorate is not a part of the S Rank Assembly. We exist to protect and preserve humanity should the worst ever happen.”
“And we applaud your efforts,” Mage Harris spoke up, giving Damion a chance to gather his thoughts. “But how is it that you have reached SS Rank? None of the labyrinths have reached that level. Without the increased mana density, we have been unable to pierce the ceiling.”
While Mage Harris and the other S Ranks wanted for Mage Thresbane to answer them, Damion turned his attention to the Magic System.
‘System, is there a way to not reveal my other affinities if I touch that testing crystal?’
{Affirmative. System can shield the Host’s affinities so that only the Ice Affinity is detected by the testing crystal.}
‘Great. What about the Rank? Will it show as NX Rank?’
{Negative. Analysis of the testing crystal shows it can only detect up to SS Rank. Most likely the testing crystal will show SS as Host’s Rank.}
‘Well, that is good. Is the crystal limited because there are no SSS Ranks to be able to asure against?’
{Host’s theory is possible, however, there is insufficient data to provide a definitive answer.}
“There is little I can help you or any of the S Ranks with on the thod of reaching SS Rank. It is a matter of personal experience and perseverance,” Mage Thresbane was telling Mage Harris on the others.
While they were speaking, Damion walked over and took hold of the testing crystal. His actions imdiately caused the four other mages to stop talking to watch the result. Above the crystal shown two sets of information. One was Damion’s magic affinity Rank and the other is magic talent Rank. His affinity read Ice SS Rank and the other just SS Rank.
“Well,” Mage Thresbane said, looking at the figures. “It seems your talent is beyond what even my testing crystal can asure. You might just be the first to truly surpass everyone.”
“Truly remarkable, to think your affinity and talent are still beyond asure,” Mage Harris said. “This seems to confirm there are still higher levels to reach.”
“Indeed,” Mage Thresbane agreed.
“Are there many SS Rank mages in the Protectorate?” Damion asked the Shadow mage, his curiosity getting the best of him.
“We do not typically discuss the Protectorate’s matters. Just know, that for as long as humans have been on Nerotath, the Protectorate has existed.”
The phrasing of the statent made Damion wonder what Mage Thresbane was leaving unsaid. However, this ti he decided not to push. Revealing an SS Rank mage was a mber of the Protectorate was probably already enough to push his luck to the max.
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“In that case, what does the Protectorate think of Mage Teft’s and my plan to create a new White Zone?”
“Your plan has rit. Building so far away from all the other Zones is sowhat worriso though. I really must ask, why build so far away?”
“Because we don’t want to be bothered by the politics of the other White Zones.”
“Like the politics that got you pulled into a hearing in front of the Mage Council?”
“Exactly,” Damion responded. “I want to build a place where the first concern is not, how do I get richer, but how to help my neighbor.”
“A noble goal, but do you really think you can build such a utopia?”
“Perhaps it won’t ever reach that level. However, I think we can at least make it a place that ensures the strong protect the weak and not just because they have to, but because they want to help the weak grow.”
Mage Harris and Mage Thresbane exchanged a look. Neither of them was sure Damion’s ideal White Zone would work, but they did not have the heart to tell him the harsh reality of human nature. Better to let the young man keep hope alive and perhaps succeed, than to dash it and perhaps end any chance of such a place truly existing.
“There are a few elents of this White Zone that seem to be missing,” Mage Harris said, looking to Mage Teft and to Damion.
“Such as?” Damion asked, not wanting to give anything away.
“You have a new remote location, and you are securing it against all but the worst beast waves, but there is the issue forming an economy and the issue of a magic academy.”
Damion looked to Mage Teft to see how she was going to answer, but she just gave him a nod. Taking it as her giving him the go ahead he started off with address the issue of economy.
“I’ve got the economy issue handled.”
“The Realm Breach you acquired and refused to turn over,” Mage Harris realized. “It isn’t just a Stable Breach that you found is it?”
“Mage Harris has keen perception,” Damion replied, but did not answer fully.
“That will indeed jump start your economy, though you will need other Breaches in the future to supplent materials not found inside the Breach you have. What about the magic academy? Are you intending to establish a new school?”
“That is the plan,” Mage Teft spoke up. “I have more than enough experience to teach students and while we may not have as rich a history or access to the best spells, I think we will be able to get by.”
“But with how many students? Sure, so people may be willing to move their families out into the middle of nowhere. But there won’t be many. So, unless you intend to try and poach students from other Zones…”
“We have no such plans. We have decided instead to instigate a rule for our Breach, that requires adventurers to bring their families and enroll their children into our school for admission.”
“That is just going to limit your student base even more. No one is going to want to uproot their teenagers from one of the established magic schools to co here.”
“I think you misunderstand. We will be starting their education very young, so we expect to have plenty of young adventurers and their families co to us.”
“Young?” Mage Harris and Mage Thresbane questioned.
“How young?” Mage Thresbane asked.
“Are you aware of Mage Wells’ unique history Mage Thresbane?”
“Of course. He was rejected by a forr Dean of Silver Spire, put down as no magical talent, but then you trained him up and… You don’t an you are going to train all the students in your school this way?”
“It seems the only way to prove for sure if the thod is effective. Was Damion a fluke? Always extrely talented? Or was he brought to that level by training for twelve years before being properly tested.”
“You want to not just create a White Zone. You want to change the power dynamic of the entire world!” Mage Thresbane exclaid.
“Really now, we have no interest in doing sothing so dramatic. But, as I’m sure you both suspect, our thod of training and raising a new generation of mages might very well do that.”
“Does he know?” Mage Harris suddenly asked, pointing at Damion.
“That the testing crystals used by the Mage Association lock in core growth and limit the number of people that can be mages? Yes, Damion knows that.”
“Did you tell him?”
“I figured it out on my own,” Damion said. “I am curious though, why keep using them if you know they cause issues?”
“The thod was developed to make it easier for mages to learn magic seals. With the affinity glyph inside a core, it allows a mage to bond magic seals to their core instead of having to keep spells in their head to cast. For complex spells, like tier 3 or higher, most mages would not be able to morize them, so the thod allows for the wielding of greater magic power.”
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