Astra walked past the massive gate of the upper bazaar, this place was heavily guarded and had many duskgaurds who were rank ones as well as dusk nights rank twos who were manning the walls and outposts there was about 2 dusk bishops in the whole district, rank threes, astra needed to avoid them, Nobels also were effiecnt at using their magic and were all quite trained, in fact the guards being there was nothing more than a formality and sometimes had to stop political schemes and assassinations as no one was ever stupid or crazy enough to steal from nobles,
Astra naturally knew this, but he was not normal, he was in fact stupid and crazy, he was a rank one apprentice, whose talent was incredibly high, or he so told himself.
In this world people can check their strength and power in many ways, the most common way and basic way however was by entering your inner domain. Every intelligent being had one
To enter naturally one must train the use of magic and awaken oneself, to know who you are and what you want to be, some extremely powerful Nobels struggled this simple task as the heart cannot lie to the mind
There were other ways to enter the domain and even improve upon the basic method, which entailed seeing what elements and powers inhabited your inner domain and made your magic well your magic, as people are all beings of magic and the flame of divinity.
This way came in the form of mana coins, there were 2 types of coins in this world, the Nobel coins and the Mage coins, the Nobel coins were strictly given out by the upper powers of the world and cannot be accessed by most, however the Mage coins were way more accessible and just as effective in the way they functioned at their base.
In the world of magic and mystery, the mage coins held a power unlike any other. Bound to the soul of their bearer, these enchanted discs were not mere symbols of rank—they were windows to one's true potential, a reflection of their strength, wisdom, and purpose. The coins were crafted in the ancient halls of the Arcane Foundries, each one imbued with the knowledge and essence of the realms themselves. No magic could alter them once they were soul bound to their owner. Once bound, the coin became a permanent part of the wielder's very being, a testament to their journey in this world.
But unlike their more common counterpart, the Nobel Coins, which were used by the wealthy and powerful to teleport material goods back to their sanctuaries, the mage coins held far greater significance. Nobel Coins vanished upon the death of their holder, returning all their worldly possessions to their estate. But the mage coins—they endured beyond death, preserving the soul's legacy, holding within them not only a record of one's journey but also the knowledge and power amassed during their lifetime. This was both a blessing and a curse.
There were many kinds of mage coins, each one marking a significant step in a mage's ascension, and each imbued with different powers and abilities, granted as a reward for their advancement. There were only a few who reached the pinnacle—the Pinnacle. A dozen or two in total, spread across all the realms, they were living legends, touched by fate itself.
And so the journey began, with the first coin and first rank
[The Pawn]
Rank 1 –Apprentice of Mana- one Mana core
The Pawn Coin was the first step on the path of magic—a humble thing, copper-green and inscribed with the image of a dagger. On its reverse side, a sigil unique to the organization that bestowed it marked the bearer's allegiance. This was the coin given to those just beginning their journey, the initiates, the apprentices.
"It is not power, but potential, that a Pawn holds," the old masters would say. To the world, a Pawn was little more than a student—an untested soul, learning the ways of magic. But the coin granted them the knowledge of the basics: spells to conjure fire, to heal the wounded, to summon the most basic of elements. The coin also allowed them to communicate with their soul, a reflection of their desires and ambitions, as well as granting them access to a quest log that would guide them forward. As well as storage access to their souls
Though the world saw them as nothing more than novices, those who wore the Pawn coin carried within them the key to their future—a spark that would one day grow into a blazing fire.
[The Knight]
Rank 2 –Warrior of Mana- two mana cores
The Knight Coin gleamed like silver, its surface lusterless and smooth, marked with the image of a longsword and shield. Its reverse side bore the emblem of the organization that bestowed it, or in some cases, the symbol of the freelance paths they had chosen. It was the coin of those who had proven themselves beyond the rank of apprentice—warriors, defenders, or mages of the second rank, the Knights.
To hold the Knight Coin was to be seen as a protector—a step above a mere foot soldier, a warrior capable of shaping the flow of battles, of standing in the defense of the realm against whatever horrors lay beyond its borders. These individuals were the non-commanding officers in society, their powers more refined, their magical abilities sharpened for combat. They were trusted with more than simple tasks; they were often sent on missions that required a deft touch, leadership, and strategy.
In the world's eyes, a Knight was a figure of respect, someone who had earned their place in the ranks. Their influence in the world was still modest, but their reputation was beginning to grow.
[The Bishop]
Rank 3 –Scholar of Mana- three mana cores
The Bishop Coin was a beautiful thing, crafted from the purest of gold. On one side, the symbol of a bishop's staff marked its wielder as a scholar, a guide, a keeper of arcane wisdom. The reverse side would bear the intricate sigil of the mage's organization or, in rare cases, their own personal crest. It was given to those who had risen above the rank of Knight—those who had spent years studying, mastering, and refining their magic until they were not only mages but strategists, leaders, and mentors.
Those who bore the Bishop Coin were powerful figures in their own right. They were the ones entrusted with the guidance of the younger generations; the ones sent to broker treaties or lead magical councils. A Bishop could command armies of Knights, could lead vast expeditions into the unknown, and, most importantly, they could unlock the deeper secrets of magic itself.
The mana blessed these people who commanded three cores, this is when one's path to the pinnacle truly begins and where foundations begin to matter.
They were no longer the soldiers of the realm; they were its guides—the hands that shaped the future.
[The Arch-Bishop] (Master)
Rank 4 – Master of Mana- four mana cores
The Arch-Bishop Coin was a thing of unrivaled beauty, platinum in color and imbued with a radiance that could only be described as divine. The intricate staff on its face marked the holder as someone of immense magical and political influence. These were the leaders, the rulers of realms and cities, the ones whose decisions shaped the very fate of entire nations.
These people were extremely powerful, elites of the world, special forces of many organizations and Nobels, for one to be an arch bishop, it is to study the world and mana itself and become its master, searching for your path forward, this is where normal people with good to great talent and Decent grade aptitudes stop in their journey as the wall to rank 5 becomes harder
An Archbishop held not just power—they held authority. They were the special and elite of everyone, their status equal to Nobels they could be generals and commanded the loyalty of the greatest of armies. In their hands, the coin represented not only magic but also the might of a civilization itself.
Though they stood above the masses, Archbishops were not untouchable. Their role was one of great responsibility, for the weight of kingdoms lay on their shoulders.
[The Arcane] (Wizard/Witch)
Rank 5 –Demigod-five mana cores
The Master Coin was reserved for the greatest of mages, those who had achieved true mastery over the arcane. Polished gold, adorned with symbols of power, these coins were forged for those who had unlocked the mysteries of magic that others dared not even whisper about. They were the Wizards and Witches, the Masters of the arcane, capable of shaping reality itself with the wave of a hand, they were the upper echelons of society or some of the strongest people in the realms, a master can topple cities, their might and wealth was unrivaled, some rank fives were the leaders of minor houses and orgs, their might a testament to their skills. They were demigods their might more divine than it is mortal.
To wear the Master Coin was to be regarded as a living legend. These were the scholars who discovered new schools of magic, the mages who created forbidden spells, and the leaders who influenced the course of history. Their power was legendary, their wisdom unmatched. They were often the heads of magical academies, and their words held the weight of law.
[The Grandmaster]
Rank 6 – Angel-six mana cores
The Grandmaster Coin was the mark of those who had transcended the limitations of mere mortals. Crafted from radiant platinum and adorned with glowing gems, the Grandmaster Coin was the symbol of the greatest mages who had ever lived. These were the figures who had achieved a near-godlike mastery over magic, wielding power that could shift the very fabric of reality.
Grandmasters were the rulers of entire realms. Their influence was felt across the cosmos, and their decisions could alter the very balance of life and death. They stood at the edge of eternity, their power unmatched, their wisdom eternal.
[The Pinnacle]
Rank 7 -King of Angels-seven mana cores
The Pinnacle Coin was the rarest and most coveted of all—a thing of pure light, its form constantly shifting as though it were not entirely bound to this world. Only seven such coins existed in all the realms, and they were bestowed upon those who had achieved the impossible. These were the Heroes the Devils, those whose deeds would become legends, whose names would echo through time for eternity. To be a rank seven is to be a deity, someone who's half a step away from godhood, the people who were rank sevens are known as legends in history and only a couple dozen have existed throughout the ages. These people have fought gods, defied fate, destroyed realms then rebuilt them, their power was divine, it was profane it was unholy and holy, they were conquerors and hero's, murderers and devils.
To be king of angles was to be invincible, to hold power far beyond that of even a Grandmaster. However, no one is at that level and the current wielders of the pinnacle coins are all rank six, and even among them only 3 have been deemed worthy on the realm of dune, 4 in Alfheim, 4 in the great jungle and 3, in land of ice and 2 for remaining 2 realms
It is even rumored for one to become a god, there is a rank 8, this rumor was common, but no one believed it as no one can even crack rank seven in the last one thousand years. Yet alone rank eight
For a coin to deem one worthy, one must be a rank six and be deemed worthy of advancing by the coin, these coins cannot be sealed or held, if they wish to disappear, only rank sevens and gods can find them, to which there are none alive.
Or so the books say, astra recalled all of this from the book that made him love magic
The path to power by the arcane scholar, it's the most published book in the realms and has been there for ages, no one knows who published the book, but when they did, they revealed secrets the Nobels had been keeping and established a great magic age, where many people advanced through the ranks!
Astra finally entered his inner domain