In the path of magic, mages would always try to rise to higher ranks striving for power, but this was easier said than done, and it became more difficult the higher the level of the mage. Sometimes even training insanely wasn't enough and one needed to engage in real combat to hone oneself and gain experience while experiencing the dangers of death. Also, many mages gave up trying to break through after trying so many times and got stuck at the same level for so many years.
As for the factors that made each rank different from the other, there were three basic things. The first factor is the amount of mana that the mage can absorb inside the mana seed, taking into account the second factor regarding the speed and rate of absorbing mana from the outside, the longer the fight, the more magical energy a person uses, and thus the greater the need to reabsorb the lost mana from the outside. Finally, the quality of magic, and of course the magic of someone at level A would be stronger than the magic of someone at level B.
Now Kotaro was concentrating the mana seed inside of him and circulating the mana around his body to speed up the healing process.
As for the level that Kotaro reached in just under two years, it can be said that he was truly the most outstanding of his generation. There were those who had begun to learn magic since their mana seed had opened to them at the age of eleven and yet they hadn't been able to get past level C for their entire lives.
As Kotaro was spinning his mana, something strange was happening around him. Within the room the atmosphere changed, thin streams of energy started rising out of nowhere and appearing in the form of thin silver threads, however the shape of the air was distorted by the spreading mana, and at the same time this mana surrounded Kotaro and started seeping through his body forming a small funnel-shaped vortex focused on him .
When Ryota was beside Kotaro, He also felt mana fluctuations which hindered his contemplation, he opened his eyes to check the matter, and as soon as he saw the condition his friend was experiencing, his expression became stunned.
This was a phenomenon that occurred during the penetration process to the next substation of the same level, and in Kotaro's case now he was in the average C level. The mana continued to gently move through every part of Kotaro's body, carrying a pure energy that brought a warm flow and an invigorated feeling. At the level of the mana seed, the mana was more and more concentrated and continued to stabilize until it could no longer absorb any more, as the amount of mana rose by a noticeable amount, Kotaro was refreshed and filled with an ethereal feeling and a sense of power spreading through his entire body, as it became His aura is more coherent.
A few small wounds had already healed amidst this vital field. This situation had been continuous for a full ten minutes, before the mana flow in the room began to return to normal, and the process ended without any incidents.
This was proof that Kotaro had succeeded in breaking through, he was currently a higher C level mage, now his efficiency in fighting and using magic would increase even more than before.
"It worked." Ryota had been watching from the start and was already expecting this result. This was because Kotaro's foundation was strong and secondly, that moving between substations was not dangerous and anyone would bypass this process if they had sufficient training, not like breakthrough between two complete levels, where it was very difficult.
Moments later, Kotaro opened his eyes, his strong confidence reflects on them. He was inspecting his body and feeling the changes that occurred after his breakthrough.
"You've outdone us again, congratulations." Seeing Kotaro, Ryota joked, happy for his friend.
"Thanks, hmmm, looks like you're also a step away from the next station" Kotaro was able to sense the magical energy of Ryota as she approached the next stage.
"Yes, the previous battle was important, those knights were the first mages we fought with except for Uncle Cesar, although they were weak and nothing compared to what we would face later, it was a good fight for us to start with," Ryota said.
"You're right, this was another chance to know the truth of this world more," Kotaro replied, remembering once again how difficult his goal was.
"Then tell me, are you sure about leaving Selania and her minions like this? You know, they know you have double magic, and there's a chance that they'll gossip about it here and there," Ryota suddenly remembers and alerts Kotaro.
"Honestly, I don't care, and even if this news reaches the Yamikara, what is the evidence that I am the wanted person, there are countless mages who have fire magic, and not a few gravity magic users, how will they find me?" They're going to capture all of them? I don't think this would be easy even with the power of the Yamikara, and they definitely wouldn't do anything without certainty like using all their strength to search for a rank C person like me" Kotaro didn't seem to take this issue into consideration, as if it wasn't all about him.
"I see that you are underestimating the power of the Yamikara, Kotaro, these people are hard to predict what they will do." Ryota would always think twice before acting against this existence called Yamikara, and refused to give them any reason or the slightest chance to capture them, and he was right in that. This was an organization that had dominated the whole world for more than 200 years without anyone being able to stand up to them, how would three children manage to escape their grasp?
"On the contrary, I am well aware of how strong they are, that is why I say that I don't care, because I am simply weak, and I admit it now, and my caring or not will not change anything. We have no choice but to keep moving forward slowly, holding on to the slightest hope of living. This will also be a test if we are destined to avenge my mother or not." Kotaro also agreed with Ryota's point and understood his friend's concern, but he had no choice but to say this harsh truth.
Meanwhile Akina woke up, and witnessed the conversation between the two of them, after listening to the end she said with gentle anger: "Hmph, what's going on here, didn't you tell me to rest? Why do you keep talking like boring old men? You really ruined my sleep. ".
"Huh" Kotaro and Ryota were caught talking, the two of them smiled sorry and stopped talking. "Looks like you're awake, Akina," Kotaro said with a long smile on his face. "We're sorry if we bothered you."
As Ryota added after being reprimanded, "Sorry Akina, we woke you up."
"Hmph, men are really selfish." Akina got up from the bed, raising her eyebrows, while showing her small mouth and her rosy cheeks hanging from her face, expressing her childish anger.
"..." The place was silent and Kotaro and Ryota became even more shy.
After some time Akina thought a little and then smiled innocently, like a little child getting you forget all the worries of life: "Okay, well, I forgive you, there is no need to be so serious."
"Eh." Kotaro and Ryota stared at each other, not knowing what to say. The two of them fell silent for a moment before looking at Akina and suddenly started laughing as if they had never done it in their lives. This situation was simple, but all the negative feelings and thoughts completely disappeared from the two of them and it seemed as if nothing from their previous conversation was as important as this strange moment. The way Akina got angry at them and then forgave them just for the sake of apologizing was a naive but real thing that made the place lively again and put an end to all the gloomy atmosphere.
Akina continued to smile as well, knowing that something like this the three of them needed from time to time.