In the human realm, there are three main paths of power that certain humans awaken
1]A Mage
2]A Knight
3]A Saint
1] THE PATH OF THE MAGE
Every mage is bound by the number of Mana Cagestheir soul can sustain. A cage is more than a vessel—it is a crucible, a prison, and a wellspring, containing the very essence of magic within its lattice. The number of cages one possesses is the measure of their strength, and each new cage reshapes not only their body but their spirit.
The progression is as follows:
Single Cage — The Novice MageThe first spark of magic. A single cage flickers to life within the soul, fragile and unrefined. Those at this stage can conjure only the simplest of spells, more sparks than flames, yet it is the foundation upon which all else is built.
Double Cage — The MagicianWith two cages, mana begins to flow more steadily, and a Magician may weave spells with true form and structure. They are apprentices of the arcane arts, capable of small wonders yet far from mastery.
Triple Cage — The Initiate WizardThe third cage marks the first step toward true wizardry. Spells gain potency, and one's body begins to change under the strain of mana. At this stage, the mage is no longer a dabbler but a practitioner on the path of power.
Quadruple Cage — The Intermediate WizardWith four cages, mana runs like rivers through the soul. At this stage, a wizard's power stabilizes, granting them command over the battlefield and recognition among their peers.
Quintuple Cage — The Expert WizardFive cages bring refinement and danger in equal measure. Mana here flows so densely it can erode the very body that holds it. The mage stands on the threshold of wizardry's highest art, their spells beginning to echo across reality.
Sextuple Cage — The Wizard (or Witch)The sixth cage is a mark of transcendence. Here, the mage becomes a Wizard—men claim the title of Wizard, women are called Witch, though both are equally revered and feared. Their very presence distorts the weave of mana around them.
The Higher Forms of the Arcane Path
Septuple Cage — The SorcererThe seventh cage is not merely forged, but awakened. A Sorcerer does not draw upon mana—they embody it. Their essence becomes intertwined with the elemental truths of the world. Spells bend to their will without incantation, and their mere breath can ripple with magic.
Octuple Cage — The Sorcerer SupremeAt eight cages, the mage ceases to be bound by mortal limits. The Sorcerer Supreme is no longer a wielder of magic but a living pillar of the arcane. Few in all of history have reached this stage. Their words can alter storms, their thoughts can move mountains, and their souls shine brighter than stars.
Nonuple Cage — The ArchmageNine cages mark the apex of mortal magic. An Archmage does not cast spells; their existence itself is a spell. Time, space, and reality tremble in their presence. Archmages are living legends, often regarded as beings closer to gods than men. Few survive the forging of the ninth cage, for their bodies strain against the infinite. Those who do ascend are remembered for eternity.
Nonuple Cage — The MagnusAnd yet, beyond the Archmage lies a forbidden step. Rarely, an Archmage who forges their ninth cage not only survives its crushing weight but awakens a fragment of divinity. These rare few are called The Magnus.
2] THE PATH OF THE KNIGHT
Unlike mages, who forge cages of mana, knights are bound to the brilliance of the Stars. Each star within a knight is not multiplied but deepened — its brilliance dictated by the density of their aura and the strength of their spirit. The brighter and denser the star, the greater the knight's radiance on the battlefield.
The path of a knight is not a climb of numbers, but a refinement of will. Steel may shatter, flesh may fail, but a knight's star endures.
The Ranks of Knights
1-Star Knight — The InitiateThe first step upon the road of the sword. Their aura flickers faintly, a newborn flame in the dark. Weak alone, yet their star marks the beginning of discipline and duty.
2-Star Knight — The AdeptTheir aura has grown denser, visible even to the untrained. Adepts are proven fighters, no longer apprentices but warriors who stand firm in battle.
3-Star Knight — The VeteranKnights who have completed the formative stages of their path. Hardened by combat, their aura cuts sharper, and their presence weighs heavily upon lesser men.
4-Star Knight — The Warrior KnightTheir strength surpasses common soldiers by leagues. A Warrior Knight can scatter entire cavalry units alone, their aura flaring like a banner of dread and inspiration.
5-Star Knight — The Master KnightMasters of martial discipline. Their aura resonates like tempered steel, and they can overwhelm formations of trained knights with sheer presence and skill. A single Master Knight may stand as the bulwark of a kingdom.
6-Star Knight — The GrandmasterLegends in their own right. A Grandmaster wields an aura vast enough to drown armies, shattering morale before blades even cross. Entire battalions tremble when faced with such a figure.
7-Star Knight — The Supreme KnightTheir aura is no longer merely felt but seen — a celestial weight pressing upon all beneath it. A Supreme Knight can topple cities, shake thrones, and decide wars by their lone hand. A single one is enough to tilt the balance of nations.
8-Star Knight — The OverlordA living calamity. Overlords stride into battlefields like storms, capable of crushing entire kingdoms or holding the line against demon hordes. Their aura bends the battlefield itself, suffocating all beneath its weight.
9-Star Knight — The PrimeThe pinnacle of mortal knighthood. A Prime has mastered both blade and star, fusing them into one perfect will. Their mere presence is legend, their footsteps echoed in history.
10-Star Knight — The ParagonBeyond mastery lies transcendence. The Paragon embodies the ideal of knighthood itself, their aura so refined it rivals the divine. Paragons can duel gods and remain unbowed, their stars burning brighter than empires, their names etched into eternity.
3]THE PATH OF THE SAINT
Unlike knights, who refine their aura, or mages, who build cages of mana, the Saints walk a path that blends cultivation of the soul with the breath of divinity. Their strength is not just power, but resonance with the higher truths of existence. The number of breakthroughs determines how deeply they draw from both life essence and the divine flame within.
1. Awakened SaintThe first step. A mortal who has touched the rhythm of divine breath. Their bodies toughen, and their spirit gains clarity, though their light is but a flicker.
2. Anointed SaintThe sacred essence within them begins to condense. Their aura radiates calm, and their words alone can sway weak-willed men. They are regarded as touched by the heavens.
3. Sacred SaintThe divine essence begins to entwine with their very marrow. Their presence inspires awe, and their strikes carry traces of sanctity, burning corruption wherever it lurks.
4. Blessed SaintThey channel divine will naturally, blessings flowing through them into others. A Blessed Saint is often seen as a walking miracle, able to heal, to curse, and to bend fate slightly toward righteousness.
5. Exalted SaintThey ascend beyond being mere mortals touched by divinity. Their very existence becomes an act of worship, their aura so radiant it repels lesser evils by its presence alone.
6. Radiant VirtueHere lies the true sanctity of the Saintly Path. A Radiant Virtue is no longer simply blessed by divinity—they embody it. They are the living virtues of truth, justice, and compassion. To see one is to be reminded of what mankind was meant to become. Their voice can still storms, their presence can topple tyrannies.
7. Eternal SaintLegends bound in flesh. Time itself bends around them, their essence unshaken by the centuries. Even in silence, their memory lingers, inspiring civilizations long after their passing.
8. Ascendant LuminaryThe final step before godhood. Their existence is a beacon across realms, drawing reverence even from beings of other planes. They are the axis of worlds, standing where mortal and divine intersect.