It had been several weeks since Winfred began his study with Alcott as per the tradition of the Emerdine family. Every day, he convinced himself that the world he was currently living in was the third game of the Reaneus Saga, based on the information and knowledge he had gained during his education with Alcott. Today was no different. Winfred attended Alcott's lessons, which was discussing ranks of power.
"...as I explained, in this world, if you want to know someone's strength, you can use the Norman Scale. What is the Norman Scale? It is a scale for measuring a person's strength based on the amount of Mana in their body."
"Norman Scale...it sounds like a person's name..."
"That's right, Young Master. The measurement is named after its inventor, Norman Rosewell. He is also the founder of the Adventurer Guild, which has many branches all over the world."
"Wow...! That's so cool!"
Of course, Winfred already knew about this, but he wanted to test the accuracy of his information with people in this world, including Alcott. So far, everything he knew was the same as what Alcott had taught him.
"Ahem, let's continue. The Norman Scale states that there are five ranks of strength, starting from Apprentice, Expert, High, Master, and Grandmaster."
Winfred thought to himself. So far, all he had seen was a small demonstration performed by Nina. He had never witnessed firsthand a magic held by someone with a greater power like his father, a Master-rank. Perhaps if he had the chance, he would ask his father to demonstrate a High-rank or Master-rank wind magic spell. Alcott illustrated the Norman Scale on the blackboard as a staircase.
"On the lowest rank we have Apprentice-rank. Every human being has set foot on this path. Then there is the Expert rank, where those who work hard can stand. A very large portion of Mana users feel satisfied and stop here, especially the commoners and even some nobles. Next is High, a rank that truly tests one's persistence and struggle. Mana users on this rank begin to find fame, since most populace considered a High-rank as dependable person."
Alcott once again illustrated the last remaining ranks.
"Then there is the Master rank, where harsh truth separates the daydreamers and the lucky ones. Only the very fortunate can enter this rank. This level was once very popular as a requirement for someone to become the head of a noble family, but recently it has begun to fade because many noble families are choosing their head at the High-rank."
"So then... Grandmaster is the strongest, Sir Alcott!?"
"Ahaha, that's right, Young Master. The final rank, Grandmaster, is reserved for those who transcend human limits. Many believe that those who reach this rank are blessed by the world and loved by the gods and goddesses. For now, there are only four Grandmasters in this era, and among those four is our Emperor, His Majesty Edward of the Noggen Empire. That's right, our empire has a Grandmaster, and we should be proud of that!"
Winfred smiled slightly at Alcott's enthusiasm as he talked about Emperor Edward. Hearing Alcott's explanation that there are only four Grandmasters, Winfred could only smile wryly because he knew that in the future, new Grandmasters with absurd powers would emerge.
Speaking of power, Winfred was also looking forward to discovering what powers he possessed. He didn't expect much and didn't think he would get any overpowered cheats, systems, and so on. To find out what powers he had, a certain ceremony was required for every 7-year-old child, called the Appraisal Ceremony, and coincidentally, that ceremony was to be held today.
"Excuse me, Sir Alcott. It's time. Come on, my son! Let's see your aptitude! Are you excited?"
"Oh, is it? Very well, Lady Olivyn."
"Yeah, okay! I want to know my magic, Mother!"
Olivyn knocked on the door and entered the study room with Helina and Nina. Yes, as his mother had just said, they were going to hold the Appraisal Ceremony in a room near the Main Library. Feeling nervous and curious, Winfred got up from his chair, approached his mother, and immediately left with the four of them to find out his power.
***
In front of Winfred and his group was a large double door painted dark brown, and standing beside the door was a knight wearing armor and carrying a sword in its sheath on his right side. Seeing Winfred and the four others, the knight bowed and greeted them.
"It is a pleasure to meet you today. Lady Olivyn, Young Master Winfred, Sir Alcott, Miss Helina, and Miss Nina. Master Evan is waiting inside."
"Good day to you, Sir Conrad. On behalf of me and my son, I humbly thank you."
"Good morning, Sir Conrad!"
Sir Alcott and the others bowed slightly to Sir Conrad, who was guarding the door. Sir Conrad then opened the door and invited them in. Winfred was amazed when he saw the contents of the room, which contained various bookshelves and equipment such as magic wands, strange apparatus, various grimoires, and mystical symbols that he often encountered in the game. But that wasn't all. At the far right end, there was a spiral staircase leading to a medium-sized platform containing a dark gray spherical crystal placed on a pedestal with a unique motif.
"Hoh? You're here already. Little Winfred... Miss Olivyn and her entourage."
From behind one of the bookshelves, an old man with a bored expression appeared. The old man had a thick beard and mustache, and his dark green hair was starting to turn gray. His vivid yellow eyes looked sharply at Winfred and his mother, then shifted to Alcott, Helina, and Nina. For some reason, Winfred felt uncomfortable with the old man, and it turned out that he was not the only one who felt that way. The other four also felt the same way, their faces looking stiff and rigid.
"Thank you for your time and opportunity today, Master Evan. I would like to ask for your help in assessing my son's potential and talents."
"Heh, talents and potential, you say? You'd better lower your expectations if you don't want to be disappointed."
"Thank you for the admonition. Come on, Winfred. Please greet Master Evan."
"Um... Looking forward to your help, Master Evan."
"Heh... at least he still has manners. Come with me, boy. The rest of you stay here, I won't hear another word."
Winfred knew that not everyone was friendly, but this was the first time in this world that he had spoken to someone whose tone of voice and nature tended to be sarcastic. Judging by his luxurious brown robe adorned with gold trimmings, Winfred assumed he was a Mage of high standing, as the aura and presence he exuded felt similar to that of his father, Victor and his eldest brother, Ardyn.
The old man Evan began climbing the stairs leading to the platform with crystals in the room, but when Winfred was about to follow him, his mother held his shoulder and crouched down so that she could see eye to eye with him, then stroked his cheek and head. Olivyn looked at her son with affection, and with a gentle smile she said to Winfred.
"Listen to me, Winfred. Whatever the outcome, whatever the circumstances, you are my beloved son. Do you understand?"
"Uhm...? I understand, Mother. Thank you, Mother..."
"Good. Then go, my son."
After saying that, Olivyn hugged Winfred while stroking the back of his head. Winfred was a little surprised by his mother's behavior because she rarely expressed her affection in front of many people like now. However, he knew that his mother's intentions were truly good, and with his small hands, he shyly hugged Olivyn back.
Following the old man Evan, Winfred climbed the stairs and soon arrived at the platform. He knew that this appraisal ceremony tradition was very common, even in the game Reaneus Saga, where the ceremony was merely a formality to determine the protagonist's abilities in the game's prologue. That was from the perspective of the player and the protagonist, but it seemed different from the perspective of the aristocratic society.
"Extend your hand. It will feel hot, but try to hold it and don't whine, do you understand?"
"I understand, Master Evan!"
"Hmm... let's begin."
Old Evan snapped him out of his reverie. Following his instructions, Winfred held out his hands, and soon after, Evan gripped both of Winfred's hands tightly. It didn't take long for a burning sensation to envelop his hands, and he furrowed his brow. For some reason, Winfred was familiar with that burning sensation.
"Good. Now place both your palms on this crystal. And then imagine you are transferring that heat to the crystal in front of you."
Following his guidance, Winfred placed his palms on the crystal and attempted to visualize the heat in his hands transferring to the gray crystal. A few moments later, he felt the heat slowly begin to transfer to the crystal, and at the same time, a blinding light emanated from it. Winfred was startled and quickly closed his eyes tightly, but old Evan was only slightly surprised and nodded his head.
"Hmm...hmmm...not bad, kid. Your Mana quality and quantity are quite good for a 7-year-old. But..."
The light lasted for several tens of seconds, and slowly began to fade until it finally dimmed instantly. Winfred opened his eyes to look at the crystal. He knew that when someone performed an appraisal ceremony, the crystal used would emit a color corresponding to the person's elemental attributes, but he was careless and closed his eyes because of the glare of the light that had been emitted.
"Umm... Master Evan... how did it go?"
"Tsk, tsk. Too bad, kid. Looks like you're a gray child."
A gray child. Winfred knew that term. It referred to those who had mana but no elemental attributes whatsoever, which meant he was just an ordinary child who only had mana.
"Are you...are you sure?"
"Hm? You doubt me, little boy? Doubt me, a Master-rank?"
"Th-that's not what I meant! In that case, excuse me!"
Seeing old Evan radiating suffocating aura, Winfred hurriedly ran down the stairs and approached his mother. Seeing her son rushing down and approaching her, Olivyn hugged and stroked Winfred's head.
"Son! Are you done? So how did it go!?"
"Mother...about that..."
Winfred was torn about explaining what had happened to him during the ceremony. Deep down, he was afraid that if he revealed the truth about himself as a gray child to his mother, he would be shunned and ostracized, given the harsh social life of the nobility.
"Sorry for disappointing you, Miss Olivyn. But that boy is a gray child."
"A gray child...? My son?"
"That's right. But the good thing is that what he has is better and more potent than most children out there. Heh, he's a bit like his father, but not in terms of his elemental attributes."
"Really!? Thank goodness! It's okay, son! You still have a great chance to become as strong as your father!"
Alcott, Helina, and Nina were shocked to hear the news, their faces showing surprise, but they quickly composed themselves. They knew that the talent and elemental attributes of the noble family were sensitive matters, so they remained silent.
Meanwhile, Olivyn comforted Winfred, who was lost in thought, by hugging him tightly. Winfred thought his mother would hate him and distance herself from him, but he was apparently wrong, because Olivyn kept her word exactly as she had promised before he underwent the appraisal ceremony.
"Are you done here? Please leave this room. I still have a lot of work to do."
"Oh, I'm sorry for being insensitive. Thank you for your help today, Master Evan."
"Thank you... Master Evan."
Olivyn and Winfred bid farewell to old Evan with a bow, while Alcott, Helina, and Nina also bowed in farewell. Holding his mother's hand, Winfred and his group left the room. Lost in thought, he pondered and planned what steps he should take with his limited power.