The next morning.
After a full night of sleep, most of the pain had subsided. Leo knocked on my door, calling me down for breakfast with Mia and Lia.
As I descended the stairs of the inn, I noticed people discussing plans to teleport to other floors. But what I couldn't ignore was how everyone seemed to notice my arm. It had withered away, and I could feel the weight of their stares. Conversations halted, and it felt like I was some sort of spectacle, like an animal in a zoo. Though I imagined most of the laughter was just in my head, it didn't make the situation any less uncomfortable.
When I reached the table, Mia and Lia were already eating with Leo. I joined them.
"Good morning," Mia greeted me with a smile as I sat down.
I gave her a small smile in return before ordering some eggs and steak for breakfast.
Mia and Lia exchanged a glance before standing up abruptly.
"We're so sorry," they said in unison, bowing deeply. "We don't know how we'll make it up to you."
Their apology only drew more attention, so I quickly told them to sit down.
"Don't worry," I replied, my voice flat. "I actually have a question for you." They immediately sat back down, eager to listen.
"Obviously, I can't continue being a knight," I said quietly. "So instead, I want to learn how to use magic."
Lia's face lit up, relieved I wasn't angry. She continued, "There are two ways to get skill books—either by visiting a library or by going to a guild like RG."
"RG?" I asked, confused.
"The Rating Guild gives you a rank from F to S," Mia interjected. Also known as RG
"What do the ranks mean?" I asked as the server brought my food.
Mia and Lia exchanged another look, clearly unsure.
"I got rated," Lia continued. "It's for PvP and the dungeon runs, which are entirely player-driven."
"Apparently, players didn't like how the guild explained magic, so they started their own system," Mia added. "They are rank 10 as well."
"Rank 10?" I echoed, surprised.
"It's the tenth highest-ranked guild," Leo clarified. He then explained, "A guild's ranking isn't just based on the strength of its individual players. It's determined by three factors: the amount of money they've accumulated, the levels of each player, and the guild's achievements. Player strength and levels are the least important factors. Since RG is ranked 10, it likely means they've earned their position through achievements and wealth more than anything else."
"How much does it cost to get rated?" Leo asked, turning to Lia.
Lia smiled. "The first rating is free, but if you want to increase your rank, that'll cost you."
"I don't see the point of ranks," Leo continued. "Since everyone can level up, players will eventually all hit S rank if the system stays the same. With the max level being 90, this guild seems like it's just ripping people off."
"What exactly do they rate?" I asked as I began to eat my food.
Mia glanced at Lia, who fumbled with her system for a moment before placing a silver metal ID on the table. It had a picture of her, with her blonde hair tied in a knot, and some information to the side:
=================
RG:
Lia
Class: Healer
Mana Count: ~500k
Mana Rating: Indigo
Overall Rank: E
==================
"I had to try a high-level healing skill, and they rated me accordingly," Lia explained.
"Yeah, I had to fight someone for mine," Mia added.
"What's the mana rating?" Leo asked.
Lia continued, "You place your hand on a mana crystal, and it measures your total mana. The darker the color, the more mana you have."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"They give you a pamphlet explaining it when you go," Lia replied.
"Then that's what we're doing today," Leo said firmly. "Where do we need to go?"
"They have a building in each quadrant," Lia answered quickly.
"Why don't we go shopping for some new clothes?" Mia suggested enthusiastically, slamming her hand on the table.
After I finished my food we walked through the bustling quadrant, where the streets were alive with activity. Merchants called out to passersby, showing off their goods, while players huddled together, planning their next quests.
We stepped into the clothing shop, Mia and Lia immediately started browsing. Their eyes lit from the outfits. The shop was vibrant, filled with all sorts of garments, from practical adventurer gear to more casual, comfortable wear. I hesitated near the entrance, unsure where to begin.
Mia noticed and quickly came over, holding up a simple but elegant tunic in a deep shade of blue. "This would look great on you," she said with a bright smile, her eyes full of excitement.
Lia nodded in agreement, her hands already full of different options. "You should try it on," she encouraged, her voice soft but eager. "It's just your style."
I couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm as they gave me the tunic and some other few pieces. After changing into the new outfit, I stepped out of the dressing room.
Mia's face lit up. "You look amazing!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with approval.
Lia smiled warmly, her gaze gentle as she added, "It really suits you."
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror.
Leo, who had been quietly watching from nearby, grinned as he saw the look on my face. "You look great," he said, his voice full of quiet pride.
We spent some more time in the shop, the atmosphere filled with laughter and light-hearted banter as Mia and Lia continued to find clothes for all of us. By the time we left, I had a few new outfits, and I felt like things might be okay.
***
When we finally reached RG, there was a long line of players filing into the building. The structure stood out sharply against the surrounding area—a massive red building with the RG logo emblazoned on the front. Mia and Lia didn't hesitate; they cut through the middle of the line, ignoring the queue, and grabbed me by the arm, dragging me along and losing Leo in the chaos. I glanced back, noticing him checking his system a couple of times, trying to keep up.
The middle line, as it turned out, was for people who were already guild members. They slammed their IDs on the desk and said in unison, "We need a rating for our friend," which made me smile
A human attendant approached me, wearing adventurer gear—completely different from the professional attire the World Guild members usually wore. The name "Gold" floating above her head.
"What's your name?" she asked softly.
"Wakaba..." I replied, a bit hesitantly.
"Wakaba," she repeated, quickly jotting it down. "What else can I do for you?"
I glanced at Lia for confirmation before answering. "I need to learn magic. Can I buy some skills?"
"Of course," the attendant replied. "Do you need an RG ID as well?"
"Yes," I said softly.
The attendant nodded and handed me a book containing a skill called Dark Lightning Javelin. She explained that it was the only skill they had left for purchase at the moment.
As I took the book, it seemed to radiate a mystical aura. I started to read it, but Mia interrupted me.
"You don't need to read it," she said, her tone reassuring. "You can just instantly absorb the book."
Not wanting to waste any time, I quickly flipped through the book, letting the knowledge sink in.
Flip
"Mana responds to your command. Mana is the energy that flows through every living being and can be shaped and molded according to the will of the mage."
Flip
"Every mage has a Mana Circle within their body; this circle can be upgraded ten times, from rank 0 to 10. A mage can't learn magic more than one rank above what they already know. Most people who read this book are at rank 0. The Mana Circle is the core of a mage's power, a mystical conduit that channels and amplifies their magical abilities."
Flip
"Begin by forming mana in your hand. Condense it as tightly as possible into a teal construct. Concentration is key. Feel the mana coalescing, a warm energy pulsing and growing denser with every breath you take."
Flip
"The strength of the javelin depends on the amount of mana you invest in it, increasing its potential damage. The more mana you pour into the javelin, the darker and more formidable it becomes, crackling with untamed power."
Flip
"Visualize the javelin as being made of lightning. Channel that image into your mana, letting the electricity course through your construct. Then, once you can do that, turn the mana dark, letting it absorb the shadows and grow in power."
I focused deeply on the concept of lightning—its speed, its brightness, its sheer power. As I did, a tingling sensation spread through my hand, and suddenly, a small spark of lightning crackled into existence, encasing the mana javelin I had formed. The sight was awe-inspiring; the javelin buzzed with electric energy, humming with the potential for destruction. I concentrated further, and the javelin began to darken as a shadowy energy enveloped it. The lightning turned black, and the javelin grew more powerful, exuding a sense of dark, raw power.
===========================
Skill Unlocked: Mana Condensation
Skill Unlocked: Mana Javelin
Skill Unlocked: Darkness Creation
Skill Unlocked: Lightning Creation
Skill Unlocked: Dark Lightning Javelin
Skill Unlocked: Lightning Javelin
============================
I looked up at the attendant, and she smiled back at me before speaking.
"Unlike humans and other races, we players—High Humans—can learn more than one magic type. However, it takes infinitely more time to master more than one of the elements."
"Elements?" I asked, curious.
"There are five elements we can control, each with two sub-elements: water/ice, air, light/lightning, dark, and earth."
Moments later, another guild attendant arrived, carrying a large white crystal ball that radiated a mystical aura. She placed it in front of the attendant. The ball seemed to hum with mana.
"Place your hand on this ball, and we'll get your stats and identification," she instructed.
I placed my hand on the cool surface of the crystal ball. I felt a powerful tug deeper toward the crystal ball's center.
After a few moments, the ball was emitting a white light, followed by yellow, orange, red light before it stopped at a soft light blue.
The attendant smiled at my results, her expression as if she had seen them countless times before. She handed me a pamphlet and said, "I'll be back with your ID," still smiling as she took the ball with her.
================================================
Welcome to the RG! Here's how we categorize our members:
White: 1 - 100 Mana (1%)
Yellow: 100 - 1,000 Mana (5%)
Orange: 1,000 - 10,000 Mana (20%)
Red: 10,000 - 100,000 Mana (25%)
Blue: 100,000 - 500,000 Mana (35%)
Indigo: 500,000 - 1,000,000 Mana (10%)
Violet: 1,000,000 - 500,000,000 Mana (2%)
Black: 500,000,000 - 999,000,000 Mana (1%)
Note: 1 Mana = 1 Silver in the guilds ranking.
==================================================
I noticed that the percentages didn't add up to 100%. This struck me as odd and thought that there might be a rare interaction with the crystal ball.
=================
RG:
Wakaba
Class: Mage
Mana Count: ~150k
Mana Rating : Blue
Overall Rank: F
=================
I looked back up at the attendant, who had returned to her work.
"What exactly does 'mana count' mean?" I asked.
The attendant smiled at me before explaining, "If a small heal, which restores 1 HP, costs 100 mana, then with your mana count, you could heal yourself up to 1,500 times."
I looked at the back of the ID and thought to myself how strange it was that my class still said "Knight" in the system. The attendant must have changed it manually, which I appreciated. Just then, Leo finally caught up with us and stood next to me at the desk, placing his hand gently on my hip. His presence was reassuring.
"I activated the chest," he said, "but I didn't get the rewards."
"Other guilds must be looking for it," I replied.
"So, what do we do?" Mia asked, her eyes bright with excitement.
Leo smiled confidently. "It's time to beat the boss of Floor 4.