The trip back to Everlance from the forest wasn't supposed to take long. Five days at most. They were far north on the continent, but their path back had been cleared on their initial march. Whatever they sought in the forest, clearing that route had been part of the mission. It was why they had covered over half the distance in just two days. They hadn't encountered a single Fiend since leaving the forest either.
The fleeting hours between dusk and nightfall found the cohort settling down to make camp. Twenty Knights moved with practiced efficiency, their cohesion and purpose a testament to rigorous training. Their movements were quick, deliberate, as if choreographed by an unseen hand. Food rations were shared evenly, water was collected at streams along the way, and soon the smell of roasting meat filled the crisp evening air.
Five tents stood in a circle, housing five people each. Two guards per tent rotated through the night, their primary task being to keep the dragon-newts calm and the camp secure.
That was initially, before Athaan was captured. His presence changed the routine ever so slightly. Krown, Aisha, and Kevin were tasked with watching him — one person till noon, and the other after noon, each day — taking shifts to ensure he remained restrained. Tonight, though, was different. The three Knights were gathered, the air light with laughter and the warm glow of a campfire illuminating their faces. Even Athaan, to his surprise, had been invited to sit with them.
"That's how I perceived my Aura trait for the first time." Kevin said, his voice slurring slightly. He had drunk more than he could handle, the lion's share courtesy of his uncle.
Athaan tilted his head, intrigued. "Wow, the process of growing in power as a Knight sounds grueling. How do you cope with it?"
Kevin opened his mouth, but Aisha cut him off. "You wouldn't get it, even if we told you." she said sharply, her teal eyes glinting in the firelight. "You Espers don't understand power earned through hardship."
Athaan raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.
Sir Krown, seated on a large rock, chuckled. "Kids shouldn't talk about turmoil as if they've lived it. Every Kingdom has its trials. Comparing them is pointless. Rating an Esper's power based on their ability to withstand physical peril is akin to ranking a Knight's power based on their ability to improve obscure abilities to even more obscure states. It simply won't work."
Kevin leaned forward, his expression curious. "What is your Esper ability, Athaan?"
Athaan hesitated for a moment, then smiled faintly. "It's not something I can explain with words. It's better if I show you."
"Nice try." she scoffed. "Alright then, tell us your rank. At least that way, we'll know what to expect from this 'great evil' you're so worried about."
"I'm an Axis-5 Esper." His tone was flat, disinterested in her baiting.
"Axis?" Aisha frowned. "Uncle, isn't their system based on Axioms?"
Krown sighed, swirling the wine in his cup before speaking: "Unlike the other Kingdoms, the Esper system has two halves. The first is what you're familiar with — Axioms. This presumably corresponds with the standard relative ranks of other Kingdoms. Axioms 1, 2, 3 and Savant loosely align with our ranks- Pawns, Templars, Bishops, and Avalon…." Taking another sip of wine he continued, "However, this isn't the case. The second half, the one he mentioned — Axis. This is the half that aligns with that of the other Kingdom's equivalent ranks. They are Axes 1 through 7"
"I don't follow…." Aisha murmured.
"Ok, let Me explain it this way." Sir Krown illustrated on the ground with a stick. "The rank 'Axiom' isn't a measure of power, instead, it's a measure of the complexity or obscurity of an Esper's ability. As such, An Axiom-3 Esper can't necessarily take on or defeat a Bishop. Unless…."
"Unless?" Aisha and Kevin asked in unison
"....they are Axis-7". He continued. "Axes are divided into three tiers. Axis 1 to 3 align with Pawns. Axis 4 to 6 align with Templars. And Axis 7…. that's Bishop level. Savants, of course, transcend all that. They're in a category of their own. Theirs is the only title that addresses both the complexity and potency of their ability."
Athaan leaned back, building on what Krown had said. "Seeing as I'm the only Esper here, I'll give a little example to finish up what Sir Krown just explained." He exhaled before continuing: "An Axiom-1 Esper might have something like heat vision. Axiom-2 might be fire manipulation, which subsumes heat vision. Axiom-3 could be heat manipulation, encompassing both. But a Savant…." He paused, letting the word hang in the air. "A Savant controls the very concept of heat itself. It's no longer an ability. It's an Authority."
Kevin leaned forward, fascinated. "So Axioms don't measure strength. They measure how complicated an ability is?"
"Precisely. Note this though. While the Axiom isn't really a rank of power, it is still something to be weary of. An [Axiom-2•Axis-3] Esper and an [Axiom-1•Axis-3] Esper might perform the same feats. However, the higher the Axiom, the more complex the ability, the more complex the ability, the more dangerous it is, and the more contrived its effect, making them even more of a threat." Krown completed.
"What a complex structure, so much information, how did I never hear of this before?" Aisha asked with indignation.
Krown laughed. "You don't expect to learn everything from textbooks, do you?"
Aisha fell silent, unable to reply.
She finally asked "Does that mean Myself, Kevin and He…. Are relative?"
Krown assessed them for a bit, contemplating over a long pause, before replying. "Saying that would be inaccurate. I'm also a Templar, although I'm closer to being a Bishop — but not quite. Athaan over here is actually closer to me than you two. Using the Esper system, you twins would be Axis-4, he Axis-5, and I Axis-6."
Aisha stared at Athaan, her skepticism clear. "Surely he can't be that powerful?" she continued "He doesn't look a day over 17, even amongst prodigies such speed is unreal!"
Athaan shrugged. "Believe what you will."
Krown's gaze lingered on her for a bit. While she wasn't wrong, this level of naivety would be her undoing. His voice cut through her disbelief. "I need not remind you the tales of Aighar."
Before she could reply, his head snapped ahead, his hand already reaching for his sword. The warmth in his expression vanished, replaced by the cold calculation of a seasoned warrior.
"Men, ready yourselves. We're under attack!"
The Knights sprang into action, their movements fluid and precise. Athaan remained seated, his silver eyes narrowing as the shadows beyond the campfire flickered.
The air grew tense, the weight of impending violence pressing down on them like a heavy shroud.
And then, the first Fiend emerged.