"Get stronger, for both yours and mine's sake." The words from the mysterious being in his dreams continued to replay in Lucien's mind, echoing like a persistent whisper in the quiet of the room. Each time he thought about them, a new wave of curiosity washed over him. Who was this figure? Was he the one who brought Lucien into this world, or was there something more to his existence? What purpose did he have in his life, and more importantly, what did those cryptic words truly mean?
The questions piled up in his mind, each one more pressing than the last. What kind of power did this being possess? Was he an ally or a foe? What kind of danger or destiny lay in wait for Lucien now that he had been chosen, or perhaps, cast into this strange new world?
But for all the swirling confusion, Lucien knew one thing with certainty: there were more pressing matters at hand. The answers he sought would have to wait. The immediate future had already been set into motion, and there was little time to dwell on these existential questions. The entrance exam for the Casius Imperial Magic Academy was only two days away, and that was something he couldn't afford to ignore.
The weight of the letter on his bedside table seemed to add a sense of urgency. Lucien glanced at it as though it were a signpost marking the next step in his journey. With slow, deliberate movements, he reached for the envelope, the heavy insignia of the academy gleaming in the morning light. The emblem was unlike anything he had ever seen before, its design radiated a sense authority, exuding an aura of both prestige and power. It was a symbol that commanded respect, and Lucien couldn't help but feel the weight of that respect settle on his shoulders as he carefully opened the seal.
Inside, the letter unfolded, Lucien's eyes quickly scanned the words, his heart pounding with both excitement and nerves. The letter read:
" Casius Imperial Magic Academy
Excellence in Power, Wisdom, and Honor
To : Lucien Noctis
We are pleased to inform you that you have been granted the opportunity to participate in the Entrance Examinations for the prestigious Casius Imperial Magic Academy. As a beacon of knowledge and mastery, our institution seeks individuals of extraordinary potential, character, and determination to join the ranks of tomorrow's leaders and protectors of the realm.
The entrance examination is designed to assess not only your innate magical aptitude but also your ability to adapt, innovate, and persevere under pressure. Be advised that the trials you will face are rigorous and demand both physical prowess and intellectual acuity."
Once again recalling the Mysterious mans words Lucien felt as though something within him was ignited, he knew that he had to get stronger and for that attending the Imperial Magic Academy of Casius is of utmost necessity, why? Because the Academy itself has an unrivalled prestige all throughout the Reun continent as testament to that, the majority anyone from the last 400 years that had made a great contribution in the field of magic and swordsmanship was connected to the Academy one way or another.
Furthermore, the current headmaster of the Academy itself is said to be one of the 7 monarchs which is to say that the headmaster is someone that is at least on the 8th tier, in this world you can pretty much guess how a strong a person is, simply by knowing the what tier they are in, tier 1 being the weakest and tier 12 being the strongest, though according to the original Lucien's memory no one has been able to reach tier 12 for the past 700 years and currently there isn't even anyone that has reached the 11th tier, much the the 12th.
Whilst Lucien is still currently on the 2nd tier that's already quite an achievement for his age as often times people that aren't subjected to quality education or rigorous training at a very young age wouldn't be able to reach that tier until they turn into adults
Aside from tiers the concept of "skills" is also a very crucial aspect of a persons strength, skills itself are divided into ranks starting from the lowest rank :
Rank F - Relatively weak skills learned by most individuals through effort or by buying low level skill books
Rank E - Enhanced abilities capable of more noticeable impact, affecting single targets or small areas.
Rank D - skills capable of influencing small groups or creating a considerable level of damage.
Rank C - abilities capable of significantly altering a localized battle or environment on a low scale.
Rank B - Abilities with broad effects, impacting larger groups or areas on a slightly higher scale but with more overall power and efficiency.
Rank A - Abilities capable of devastating small armies or creating large-scale effects.
Rank S - skills capable of reshaping landscapes or creating catastrophic effects over vast areas.
Rank SS - abilities capable of affecting entire regions or nations with overwhelming power.
Rank SSS - Unknown
While skills are extremely useful for increasing ones overall combat prowess acquiring them can be challenging and often times expensive specially skills of B rank and above which are highly rare and hard to come by, as people that possesses them are either from very powerful families or adventurers that we're lucky enough to have obtained them.
So far there are only two methods of obtaining skills that is from treasures called skill scrolls or from loots from dead monsters called Memories, which is why people of lower status would usually not have any of such skills at all.
Sighing, Lucien placed the letter back on the table, his thoughts swirling around the implications of the entrance exam. The weight of the decision ahead didn't hit him all at once, it lingered in the back of his mind, pressing on him steadily like an unrelenting current.
For now, though, there was little time to dwell on it. His preparation was far from complete, and he needed to ensure he was ready for the test that would shape his future. The entrance exam was two days away.
***
The following morning, Lucien woke early. His room still carried the faint, quiet hum of the night before, but there was no time to waste. The sun was barely up, and already he was moving through the motions, gathering the necessary supplies for the journey ahead.
His small desk, usually cluttered with papers and books, had been tidied, with only a few personal items left out. Lucien made quick work of packing his bag, ensuring that the essentials were secured.
Once everything was arranged, Lucien took a moment to glance over the skills he had accumulated so far: Jump Boost (E), Aerial Slash (D), Body Strengthening (D), and the strange, unnamed skill, the one labeled only as [Error]. His thoughts lingered for a moment on that last one. He wasn't sure what it was, but he felt its presence deep inside him, gnawing at the edges of his consciousness.