In a lavishly decorated chamber within the royal castle of Meridonia, a knight with short black hair knelt before a woman seated on a grand chair, he was wearing silver armor with Meridonia's symbol, a silver hawk, and had a sword hanging on his left side.
The woman was Elena Meridonia, Queen of Meridonia and Vanessa's elder sister. Like her sister, she had long pink hair, and her pointed ears were uniquely shaped—too long to belong to a human, yet not long enough to be fully elven. She was a half-human, half-elf.
She looked too young to be a queen. Her face and striking figure were as perfect as Vanessa's, but she exuded a much more mature charm.
Her left hand clenched the armrest tightly as she glared at those around her. "My sister has been missing for an entire day, and you only noticed it now?" she demanded, anger flashing in her eyes. "What's the point of keeping any of you around?"
The people in the room avoided her gaze, staring at the floor in shame and fear.
"Bring me my mount," Elena commanded. "I know where she's headed—I'll go after her myself."
The kneeling knight looked up hastily. "Your Majesty, please reconsider. It's too dangerous. Allow me to go in your stead."
Elena looked at the knight before saying. "You come with me, Alistar."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the knight replied. He didn't want the queen to go, but it would be better if he at least went with her.
—
Two days had passed since Ash's journey to Grumhald began. Today, they were about to cross the frontier into the Empire. As they neared the border, Ash noticed that Vanessa, usually so talkative, had grown unusually quiet, almost as if she were trying to avoid attention.
Respecting her apparent wish for silence, Ash refrained from speaking, though his curiosity grew. Could it be that these two girls were wanted in the Empire? If that were the case, it would certainly take a great deal of courage to cross the border like this.
Since there was nothing he could do even if they were wanted, Ash soon let his thoughts drift elsewhere. However, the moment the caravan came to a halt, his attention snapped back.
He glanced out the window and saw the merchant, Guilherme, talking with a group of guards. The men exchanged smiles, and soon enough, Guilherme handed each of them ten silver coins. After a brief exchange, the guards bid him farewell and waved him through without any trouble.
It seemed just as Guilherme had explained. Paying a small bribe was a common practice at border crossings, allowing merchants to pass through without issue.
No kingdom wanted to hinder merchants, as they relied on the vital goods brought in from other lands. If a kingdom angered the merchants or made their lives difficult, they risked severe repercussions later on—cutting off access to important supplies could lead to economic turmoil and unrest.
The Empire sought to dominate the entire human realm, but they weren't foolish enough to antagonize merchants, especially when they relied on the supplies they brought.
Their journey continued through the dense forests of the Empire. The times Ash stepped out of the caravan and attempted to greet a few mercenaries, he received nothing but cold stares.
Unlike Vanessa, they weren't interested in small talk. Most of the mercenaries, however, paid more attention to the women.
While Vanessa enjoyed the conversation, she quickly grew uncomfortable with the lecherous glances directed at her, and Athena, with the face of a few friends, didn't engage much either.
When a few men attempted to force their way and get closer, Athena effortlessly sent one Evolved ranker running, quickly putting the rest on notice. The mercenaries realized these women were not easy targets and backed off, knowing it wasn't worth the trouble.
Fifteen days had passed since their journey began, and Ash found himself witnessing their first real encounter with danger.
The caravans were suddenly surrounded by a massive pack of wolves, their eyes gleaming a menacing red in the moonlight. The mercenaries quickly disembarked, readying themselves for the battle ahead, and Ash watched with keen interest.
The wolves appeared to range in rank from Inferior to Evolved, similar to the mercenaries. However, the mercenaries had an Ascended ranker among them, making their victory nearly certain.
From what Ash had gathered, and what Vanessa had hinted at, Athena was also incredibly strong, likely an Ascended ranker herself. However, she remained unmoved by the battle outside. She only seemed prepared to act if Vanessa's life was in danger.
Ash watched as a sword-wielding mercenary clashed with a wolf, his sword crackling with mana, making it sharper and more powerful with every strike. 'This must be one of his skills,' Ash thought, recognizing the technique.
The wolf himself wasn't falling behind. His claws and teeth were filled with a translucent power, similar to the mercenary's.
Clang!
The clash of mana unleashed small shockwaves that rippled through the air, carrying an oppressive energy that seemed to weigh on Ash's chest. The claws' strength was evident—capable of striking solid metal without leaving a single scratch.
If Ash were the one fighting, he would die within two seconds. Not even his bones would be left.
Skills that involved mana in any way were key to advancing a ranker's realm. Ash knew that the initial skill levels, from lowest to highest, were: Subpar, Common, Decent, and Uncommon. The ranker's level was determined by a combination of their skills and their overall power.
The ranker's four initial realms, from lowest to highest, were: Inferior, Superior, Evolved, and Ascended.
Certain traits came with skills, but to gain one from a trait, a ranker typically needed at least an S-rank trait. For example, Layla's SSS-rank trait, Archmage, and Vanessa's Saint trait both granted them skills at the Subpar level, instantly making them Inferior rankers the moment they awakened.
Ash, having neither gained a skill from his awakening nor learned any techniques to manipulate mana, couldn't even be considered an Inferior ranker yet.
Acquiring skills wasn't easy, especially for those who couldn't manipulate mana. For most humans, it didn't come naturally, which was why those with low traits or no support struggled to improve their realms and succeed as rankers.
The path to advancement was an incredibly daunting challenge for those without strong backing or resources.
Those with money could pay a ranker to teach them a skill, slowly improving through training. But Ash couldn't afford that luxury. His only option was to train on his own, risking his life in the process. By pushing himself to the limit, he hoped to discover a skill the way Earth's first humans had done.
This had been his original plan—the reason he had intended to work as a mercenary when he first arrived in Agan. If his journey to train with the orcs failed, becoming a mercenary would be his only remaining option.
However, if the orcs accepted him, he might learn their skills and advance his realm. And if the stories he had heard were true, they should possess incredibly powerful abilities.
A few minutes had passed since the battle began, and it was already nearing its end. The wolves were strong, but not strong enough.
Some mercenaries had sustained injuries while defending the caravans, but they had a healer among their ranks to tend to them. Vanessa also volunteered to assist. Although she was only an Inferior rank, her healing abilities surpassed those of their Superior rank healer by a notable margin.
The mercenaries were surprised by her skill, and a newfound respect grew among them. Healers could save lives in crucial moments, and they would never again disrespect her.
Ash was taken aback by her display of skill, and the difference between them became clear. His promise now seemed a bit naïve. She was already a skilled healer, while he could barely swing his wood-cutting axe.
"Never mind," Ash thought, gripping the axe tightly. "Sooner or later, I'll get stronger."