'I've been in this home for a while and gotten used to it. I've grown to like Sydney's energetic behavior, though she seems to be mellowing out more. She's become more serious in general. Speaking of, Sydney's also started swordsmanship and spars with me every morning.' Theo thought as he looked out the window, watching the clouds in the night sky move slowly.
"Theo, go to sleep. The light is annoying." Sydney said tiredly as she walked over to the window and closed the curtains on him as she rubbed her eye.
'Also, I share a room with her now. I think we're planning on turning the storage room into a bedroom, but as of now, it's still the storage room.' He thought as he ducked under the curtains and went to his bed. 'Tomorrow I turn five... In this country, there are two birthdays to be celebrated. The fifth and fifteenth.' Theo thought to himself.
'The fifth is celebrated as a celebration of consciousness. From what I've learned, it's because five is the latest that most children realize they exist and begin to actually learn, although some realize much earlier. And the fifteenth is the coming of age birthday. They have a lot of meaning for the culture.' Theo thought as he closed his eyes.
'It does make me miss my old world a little though...' He thought as he drifted off into sleep.
In the morning, he was allowed to sleep in while breakfast was prepared and was woken up once it was finished. 'Ah, the luxury of sleeping in. Something I haven't felt in a while.' Theo thought as he sat at the table.
"Theo! After breakfast, let's spar!" Sydney said excitedly as she ate quickly. Theo considered it for a moment.
"Alright." He said with a nod.
"Yes!" She said happily.
'She's a worthy opponent, but not nearly as difficult as John... He's just too good...' Theo thought to himself as he ate.
After breakfast, they went outside with the wooden swords and began sparring. After about half an hour, Theo was panting on the ground trying to catch his breath.
"I lose. No way I can keep up with you." He said through his heavy breaths.
"Yes! I win again!" She said happily.
'This is about how it always goes. I'm not good enough in swordsmanship to actually beat anyone... Actually, I'm bad at almost every physical task, but we're gonna focus on swordsmanship for now...' Theo thought to himself as he saw Sydney look down at him as she crouched next to him.
"I should probably tell you that Pierre is planning something for both of us today. Something about a tradition for magic tutors." She said.
'Ah, probably a kind of test.' Theo thought. "Okay. Thanks for the warning." Theo said. She smiled, then sat next to him.
"Hey! What are you two talking about?" John asked as he walked over to the two.
"Papa!" Sydney said excitedly as she stood up and ran over to him and jumped into a hug.
"Hey, little fire!" He said with a smile.
"I thought you had to work!" She said as Theo sat up.
"I did, but I got home early." He said as Sydney disengaged her hug. "After all, it's this little monster's fifth birthday!" He said as he walked over to Theo and ruffled his hair a bit.
'The more I learn about the average caster, the more I realize that nickname fits...' Theo thought to himself. "Hey, dad, I have a question." Theo said.
"What is it?" He asked.
"What are the rankings for swordsmen? If there's one for casters, there's one for swordsmen, right?" Theo asked.
"Ah, that." He said, then considered the question as he sat down next to Theo. "It works a bit differently, but it exists." He said.
"What do you mean?" Theo asked.
"You see, in magic, there are definitive levels is spells, but for swordsmen, it's based on skill, so in order to rank up, not only do you have to prove your precision, you have to prove you can fight on par with someone of the rank you want to try and be." He explained.
"That does make sense. But what are the ranks?" Theo asked.
"I wanna know too!" Sydney said as she sat next to John.
"Alright, well, there are nine levels. Unlike in magic, swordsmanship is not separated into categories." John explained.
"Why is that?" Sydney asked curiously.
"Well, it's much harder to define categories of skill when your skill in swordsmanship is defined by an abstract measure." John said.
'I see, that makes sense.' Theo thought.
"That aside, the ranks are as follows, Amateur, Novice, Intermediate, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, Prince, King, and Emperor." He listed.
"Which one are you?" Sydney asked expectantly.
"I only ever got to the intermediate level in matches, but I might be able to beat an expert nowadays." He said.
"Wow!" Sydney said. "Where do you think I am!?" She asked excitedly.
"Hmm, novice maybe?" John said after a moment of thinking.
"I'm gonna assume I'm amateur level..." Theo said sheepishly.
"Unfortunately..." John said with a nervous chuckle. "At least you have magic, though." John mentioned.
"Yeah. That's true." Theo said.
"Yup! He's better than me in magic!" Sydney said happily.
...
"I've now given you both an Elite level spell, one at a time, cast it." Pierre said as they stood at the top of a nearby hill.
"Is this... A rank test?" Theo asked. Pierre nodded.
"Sydney, you first." Pierre said.
"Alright!" She said, then looked at the small slate tablet and read over the spell a few times and faced her hand to the target placed by Pierre. "Bend to my will," She said as a large red light formed, surprising her and interrupting her cast. Pierre laughed.
"The same thing happened to me the first time I cast an elite spell, don't worry, just start again." He said.
"Right!" She said with a serious tone.
'If this was two years ago, she would be doing this with a bunch of excitement on her face, but now? It's flat, serious. She really wants to succeed.' Theo thought to himself.
"Bend to my will," She said causing the red large light, but not losing her focus this time. "And form to my will, magic, I call upon this energy to invoke my will, I call upon the flame of salamander to make what is and what can be," She spoke as flames burned in front of her, forming for an attack.
'That's... Big...' Theo thought.
"Form the spear of heat, the pointed edge that will, and always has pierced the veil of reality," She continued as the flames formed into a spear pointing at the target. "Pierce my target, Flame Spear!" She said loudly and confidently, causing the spear to fly from her hand at the target. Pierre clapped.
"Well done! You are officially an Elite Mage!" He said as he walked over to her with something hidden behind his back. "For that accomplishment, I present you with this." He said as he revealed what he was hiding. A small staff with her name engraved on it.
"Really!?" She asked. Pierre nodded. Nervously and hesitantly, she too the staff and looked at it.
"Staffs are made of materials that amplify the output of the individual. The wood of this one comes from a tree that amplifies by about two times." Pierre explained. "Now, Theodore, your turn." He said as he handed him a small slate tablet with the chant on it.
'Theodore? Is that because this is semi-formal?' He wondered as he read the chant. 'Anyway, let's do this.' He thought as he got in position.