They walked through the Palace, passing knights who saluted Divan as he walked by. Lumi noted the subtle details. It wasn't a matter of simple hierarchy or regulations. The knights, both young and old, sincerely admired Divan, their eyes sparkling as he walked by.
The Aria Knights held five divisions, each with their own class. Each held their own Chief Knight, logistic divisions, training grounds, and more.
Despite being technically equal, the Eclipse Knights held a touch higher status. This was because among all the Chief Knights, one would be selected as the Empress's Guardian. For many generations, the Chief Knight of the Eclipse Knights has always held this position.
This contributed heavily to the admiration Divan received.
Divan led Lumi to a side passage which opened up into an outside field, the training grounds for the magicians of the Aria Knights.
The training grounds stretched across a scorched clearing, which started next to the Palace, and ended nearing the edge of a forest. The trees there held black fire resistant bark, and the ground held charred and glassified traces.
Along the perimeter, there were several charred stumps. These were intertwined with practice dummies all in a line. Occasional plumes of smoke curled upward from small, persistent embers that refuse to die, giving the air a constant smell of burnt wood and ozone.
They found Alice on an elevated platform, overseeing a group of fire mages running through combat drills. She was not what most people imagined when they thought of a powerful magician. She was short, almost stocky, with dark red hair, not like flames, but like blood. And an obviously youthful face, which contrasted with her harsh, unforgiving expression.
"Formation Gamma!" she barked. "I want overlapping fields of fire, not this nonsense! You think the enemy will politely line up for your convenience? You fools! Two of you casted in the same spot! Half your ambush points are uncovered! Not a single one of you knows what's happening behind Jamie! What if a thief was about to stab you right in the back!?"
The mages scrambled to adjust their positioning. Lumi watched with interest as they wove spells in coordination, creating interlocking patterns of destruction that would devastate any force trying to break through.
"Fuck off!" Alice looked aghast. "Martha! How dare your magic guard waver like that! You aren't even being attacked! Would you panic and die directly if you were actually being assaulted!?"
Lumi let out a small smile. This was the advantage of organized, professional groups. Through sheer organization and professionalism, cannon fodder became a threat. If you underestimated them, you'd get killed by a group less than half your level.
Such a thing may seem like a simple feat because of how easily Afton got jumped, but that was the exception, not the rule.
A few levels difference may not mean much. But when it came to a difference of double, it highly resembled an insurmountable gap.
"Better." Alice grudgingly admitted, "But Simons, if you cross Merkle's line of fire one more time, I'll demonstrate why friendly fire is called 'friendly' by making you very 'friendly' with the infirmary. Disperse and regroup in ten Minutes! Not seconds."
The knights dispersed, some grabbing water, others immediately beginning to discuss their performance. Alice turned, noticing Divan and Lumi for the first time.
"Divan." she said with a nod that was barely respectful, "What brings you to my domain? Finally decided to learn some real combat? Something actually useful like magic, instead of sticking to useless melee combat?"
"Charming as always, Alice." Divan replied dryly, "This is Lumi, the leader of the group that captured Afton S. Crow. He's requested permission to train with your mages. Just temporarily."
Alice's attention snapped to Lumi. "Hm, interesting. Very good magical power. I can see it. You have a weak body, bad dexterity, hm… you lack everything except magic. I like that. A magician has one focus. Nothing else matters except your magical power. Mana circulation is... interesting. I haven't seen it before. Self taught?"
"No, not at all." Lumi admitted. "I'm entirely following the path of Alton, Hero of Light."
"Ugh." Alice groaned, rolling her eyes. "With that bastard Afton you just caught, it took me aback. Afton doesn't deserve to have a name so similar to Alton. It's just a letter off. Disgusting.
Lumi could only let out a small smile. Of course she would latch on to such a small thing.
"Hmm." She circled him slowly, and Lumi felt probing magic wash over him. "Looks like it, looks like it. I never met the man. But I am familiar with his work." She lightly raised her wand. "Say, did you want to learn some skills from me?"
Lumi could only give a forced smile. He'd love to, but it wasn't possible. The system wouldn't let him. He can only learn by investing skill points, and he could only invest in skills that were part of his selected class.
His Rank One class was "Hero of Light: First Light". There was no getting around it. He couldn't obtain additional skills to invest in it. He couldn't obtain another Rank One class. He couldn't grab them as an extra.
However, there WAS something he could do.
Core skills. This was a section even before beginner skills. Through certain methods, players could gain some. This was in his guide.
And he was about to perform one of them.
Lumi gave a small bow in apology, "Thank you for the generous offer, Chief Knight Alice. However, I'd like to focus on following the Hero of Light and his light magic."
"I see..." She wasn't disappointed, nor glad. She simply accepted it. "Which means you want fundamentals. Proper professional training, given that you belong to no facti-." She stopped herself, her eyes focused on Lumi. "Nevermind, I was told you have an identity card from Merath. Normally, you'd get training from him. What brings you here, then?"
"May I demonstrate?" Although Alice seemed respectful, Lumi could tell she was holding back harsh words due to Lumi's contribution. But that wouldn't hold forever. Alice was a woman of action. And Lumi would demonstrate for her.
Alice gave a small nod.
Lumi immediately cast. "Light Shower."
"Perfect." Alice immediately saw through every single detail of the cast. "Your mana flowed perfectly. In theory, there were no mistakes. You could only improve by making modifications specific to your body, rather than any improvements in magic theory."
"And yet," She continued, giving a measured pause. "It was slow."
She raised her wand, a fire ball coming out as soon as she moved her arm, which traveled out, then looped back around and merged into her wand.
"For a magician at the First Rank, it was acceptable." Alice stated. "Good, even. I would not complain if one of my Knights cast like that while at the First Rank. Yet the speed is inconsistent with the level of skill shown by your mana flow."
"You're either hiding something…" Alice's voice dropped slightly, "or you're burdened by something."
Lumi kept his face still, eyes calm. This was exactly what he wanted. No, better than he wanted. "I'm not hiding. But I am burdened."
The words carried weight. Truth and limitation, both.
Alice stared at him for a moment longer, then she turned away with a grunt. "I suppose you want some help with that issue? I shouldn't be capable of assisting when nothing else could."
"There haven't been other attempts." Lumi replied, instantly confusing her. "Simple training should be of assistance."
Her face immediately contorted in confusion.
After a couple seconds, her face hardened. "Fine! I'll train you! No matter anything else, you can join because of our debt to you! But now answer me this Lumi, why should I, personally want to waste my time on you? I have my knights to manage! What can you offer that justifies disrupting their routine?"
Lumi met her gaze steadily. "Perspective. Both my magic and tactics will be unfamiliar to what your knights are used to. It can help get them used to unfamiliar situations."
"Interesting argument." Alice's lips quirked slightly. "Also probably nonsense. But you all were at First Rank, and captured a villain at Third Rank, so clearly you have some tricks. Fine. You can join the afternoon session. Try not to die."
"I'll do my best." Lumi replied respectfully.
"No." Alice said sharply, "You'll do better than that. In my training ground, 'best' is the minimum acceptable standard. Divan, stop hovering. Don't you have work?"
Chief Knight Divan gave Lumi a look that might have been sympathy. "I'll send word when the Empress is ready to receive you."
He left, and Alice immediately began barking orders. "Positions! We're running scenario seven with a modification. Lumi, you're blue team. Also its only member! Your job is simple. Survive for as long as possible against red team's assault. Jenkens, Merkle, Simons, you're red. Full combat rules, non lethal force only."
"Chief," one of the knights, Jenkens raised a hand, "He's only half way through First Rank. We're all at Second Rank. Isn't this a bit..."
"What? Unfair?" Alice's grin was sharp. "When has combat ever been fair? Besides, he claims to offer perspective. Let's see what perspective looks like when it's running for its life. Begin!"