Arlena walked sluggishly across the courtyard, her figure silhouetted against the evening glow as she carried Lucius slung over her shoulder by one leg.
His unconscious body swayed gently with each step, a loud, undignified snore escaping his lips. A large ball of mucus dangled precariously from his nose, threatening to drop at any moment.
"Haaaaa…" she sighed heavily, shaking her head, her exasperation clear as day.
Her voice was soft but tinged with disbelief as she muttered to herself, "I can't believe he's a... Primarch." The word carried weight as it left her lips, a term reserved for a mage with affinities for all four major elements. "That's just plain impossible."
Primarchs were the stuff of legend, whispered about in ancient tales but never confirmed to exist in the modern world. They were figures of myth, said to wield unparalleled power and command over the elemental forces, yet their existence had been so shrouded in mystery that they were widely regarded as nothing more than folklore.
Over time, scholars had dismissed the idea entirely, claiming the stories to be exaggerations or misunderstandings of ancient magic. The rumors of their existence had faded into obscurity, relegated to children's tales meant to inspire awe and wonder.
And yet, seeing one now—right here, slung over her shoulder, snoring like a child—was far more significant than anyone could comprehend. The implications were staggering, and the sheer impossibility of it made Arlena's head spin. For all her years of study, for all her expertise in magic, she'd never thought she'd live to see a Primarch, let alone fight one.
The thought kept dancing in her mind as she trudged toward the Earldred Manor. The dirt path crunched beneath her boots, and her long, torn robes fluttered in the gentle evening breeze. Her body felt the strain of the battle, but her mind was sharper than ever, replaying the events of the fight in vivid detail.
'He shouldn't have been able to push me this far,' she thought, with a faint grimace on her face. Her hand tightened its grip on his leg, and it was clear that her pride had been wounded.
"While my victory was always assured…" she muttered, as if trying to reassure herself. A faint smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. "I can't believe I got pushed to the edge by a child—one who's had no proper training in magic."
Her thoughts lingered on the moment he had created that water tornado to counter her whirlwind. The way he seamlessly transitioned between elements, the sheer rawness of his power—it had been astounding.
'He's reckless. No sense of control, no understanding of strategy… but the potential?' Arlena's smirk deepened. 'The boy's brimming with it.'
As she neared the entrance of the manor, she reflected on why she had won. It was obvious—she was stronger, far more experienced, and well-versed in the art of battle. This had been his first true test in combat, yet he had forced her to fight seriously, even if it was only for a moment, something no novice had ever accomplished.
"I suppose I should be impressed," she admitted, finally stopping at the tall oak doors of the manor. She shifted his weight on her shoulder, glancing at his snoring face. "You're lucky you're too unconscious to hear me say this, kid."
Arlena let out another sigh and resumed walking, the light of the hallway illuminating her path as she continued reminiscing.
'If he's this strong now, with no formal training'... She paused in thought, and her steps slowed slightly. Her eyes suddenly hardened with resolve.
If nurtured properly, he might just surpass everyone in the kingdom's history. He could be the strongest mage we've ever seen.
That thought planted itself firmly in her mind. Arlena wasn't one for taking on apprentices or mentoring anyone, but this boy was different. His raw talent and the impossibility of his existence demanded her attention.
"I'll train you," she said aloud, though the unconscious Lucius couldn't hear her. Her voice carried a tone of authority and finality, as if she were declaring an unbreakable vow. "You'll become a force to be reckoned with… if you don't drive me insane first."
With that, she pushed the doors open and carried Lucius inside, her expression shifting between exasperation and determination. Whatever challenges lay ahead, one thing was certain—Lucius's journey was just beginning. And Arlena would make sure he was ready for whatever came next.
****
A few days later. In a modest, candle-lit classroom within Earldred Manor.
Arlena was seated at the head of the table, a scroll open before her as she jotted notes and reviewed her lesson plan.
Across the table sat Lucius, his exhaustion and curiosity evident as he tried to absorb everything she was teaching.
Arlena's voice was steady as she spoke, with a firm but patient tone.
"So, let's go over this again," she said, her hand gesturing as she explained. "The power system in this world operates through elemental attributes. Every mage draws their strength from these elements—wind, fire, water, earth—and their combinations. Depending on their mastery, they can specialize in more than one element over time, but the four primary elements are the foundation for all spells."
Lucius leaned forward, rubbing his temple as he tried to make sense of it all.
"Right, and each mage is classified into tiers," she continued, her voice clear and precise. "Mage tiers range from Tier 1 through Tier 9, with each tier representing a mage's overall magical strength, skill, and mastery of their abilities. The higher the tier, the greater the power and versatility a mage can command."
She paused for a moment, her gaze narrowing slightly.
"And then there are the Supreme Mages," she added. "They stand above the nine tiers, their power so great that they're considered legends themselves."
Lucius looked at her, processing the words as he let them sink in.
"So," he began cautiously, his voice cutting through the silence that followed, "which tier or mage are you, Arlena?"
The question hung in the air for a moment, and Lucius watched as her brow arched. Her expression shifted from calm teaching to something unreadable—a faint smirk playing at the edge of her lips as if she found the question amusing.
"Oh?" she said with a chuckle. "Curious, are we? Well, let's just say I've managed to climb pretty high up the ladder, but you'll learn that strength isn't always about titles or numbers."
She leaned back in her chair, letting her words linger as if leaving him to wonder just how far her own power truly extended.
Lucius crossed his arms and gave her a sharp, unimpressed look. "So, you're probably not that much of a high-ranking mage, are you?"
Arlena froze for a moment, her expression flickering with surprise. Her eyes narrowed as she turned toward him, a sharp edge creeping into her voice. "Excuse me?" she said, with a tight and steady tone.
Lucius smirked, leaning back in his chair casually. "Oh, come on. You're probably just a middle-tier mage, aren't you? Maybe, what, Tier 5 at most?" His grin widened as he leaned forward with mock arrogance. "Not that impressive."
Arlena's face flushed, her pride clearly stung by his words. She crossed her arms defensively, glaring at him. "If you must know," she said, flustered but attempting to maintain composure, "I'm a Tier 7 mage. Satisfied now, you little imp?"
Lucius tried his hardest to keep a straight face, but the moment the words left her mouth, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Tier 7, huh?" he said, shaking his head, his voice laced with teasing. "Wow. I guess you're pretty middle-of-the-road when you think about it. No supreme mage, no flashy title."
Arlena's face turned even redder, and she stood up from her seat, her voice rising. "Oh, you little rascal!" she snapped, her temper getting the better of her. "I'll have you know that Tier 7 is nothing to scoff at! You may think you're clever now, but just you wait until I show you real power!"
Lucius smirked again, his arms still crossed as he leaned back further in his chair. "Oh, I'm sure you could show me something really impressive," he teased, stretching his arms. "But hey, all I'm saying is, Tier 7 is still a long way from the top. You're not exactly intimidating yet, are you?"
Arlena groaned, putting her hand to her face in frustration. "You're insufferable," she muttered under her breath, "but fine. I'll give you some time to prove you aren't completely worthless."
Lucius chuckled to himself as Arlena sat back down, steam practically coming from her ears. "I'm just saying, though... you might have to back up all that confidence with a little more punch next time."
She glared at him, shaking her head. "Keep joking, little one. I will show you."
Arlena leaned back in her chair, folding her arms as she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Anyway," she began, "based on my evaluation of you, I have a pretty good idea of what tier of mage you are."
Lucius leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. "What tier am I?!" he asked, his voice laced with both nervousness and excitement.
She gave him a sly, knowing smirk, her gaze piercing into his. "You're a..."