Several days passed.
Ryn spent his time doing little more than sitting and lying around—not because he felt guilty about failing to save everyone, but because he still wasn't ready to accept the truth:
That no one can save everyone, all the time.
Richard, meanwhile, remained in his usual spot, lounging as always, paying little attention to Ryn's condition—almost as if he were leaving his disciple to find the answer on his own.
At last, Ryn spoke.
"Master… what am I supposed to do with this piece of paper?"
Richard took the paper and glanced at it.
"Oh, the pass certificate? It's nothing important.
Just like those honorary papers they love handing out.
If you don't want it, you can toss it away."
Hearing that, Ryn finally understood its weight—or lack of it.
"Then… what should I do next?"
Richard paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered.
"Oh, right. You need to report in to receive your Divine rank."
He shifted slightly.
"Just go to the Central Council and tell them you're there to claim your position."
Ryn nodded and headed out at once.
When he arrived at the Council, his eyes drifted to the white mansion on the left.
He recalled the days he had spent learning magic from Aurelia.
Will I finally be able to study advanced magic now?
The thought lingered only briefly before he shook it away and walked toward the Council's main entrance.
Inside, he told the guard on duty,
"I'm here to report in for my position."
The guard nodded and escorted him to the innermost room of the building.
Inside were many trainee soldiers and mages—those who had completed the trials.
A soldier handed Ryn a sheet of paper.
"Registration form."
Then he returned to his post.
Ryn skimmed the contents.
It was a congratulatory message for passing the difficult trial.
At the bottom were two choices:
— Apply for the Arch Trial
— Retire and return to your homeland
Images of Goran and Alize surfaced in his mind—each having chosen different paths.
Before long, Ryn made his decision.
He checked the box for Apply for the Arch Trial and sat down to wait like the others.
Soon, a soldier announced,
"Those who wish to continue training, remain here.
Those who do not may leave."
Many stood up and exited the room.
Fewer than ten remained.
The selected soldiers received bronze armor as their Divine insignia, while the mages were given light-blue cloaks. Afterward, everyone dispersed from the Council.
When Ryn returned home, he carefully placed his Divine armor down and looked at it in quiet satisfaction.
Then the familiar thoughts returned.
What comes next?
Just then, Richard stepped out of the house.
Ryn spoke up.
"Master… what do you think I should study next?"
Richard walked down the stairs, stopped in front of him, and let out a low chuckle.
"Study, you say? I think you should rest first."
He looked Ryn over from head to toe.
"You're only fifteen. What's the rush?"
Ryn replied immediately, as if he had already prepared the answer.
"I'll be turning sixteen in two months."
Richard fell silent for a moment, then sighed.
"Hah… is that so."
He scratched his head lightly.
"Alright. Give me two or three days to think about it. I'll tell you then."
Then, as if something had just occurred to him, Richard added,
"But for now, I need to go to the Central Council."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Ryn standing alone, surrounded by the quiet evening air as silence slowly swallowed every sound around him.
The next morning, Ryn stepped out of the cabin and ate his meal by himself.
The silence was heavy.
Richard still hadn't returned.
No orders.
No complaints.
No one asking what he was thinking.
Only the faint clinking of a spoon against a bowl.
When he finished eating, Ryn stood up and decided to take a walk through the heart of Central.
The atmosphere was no different from the day he first arrived.
Unfamiliar faces.
New soldiers.
New mages.
People came and went without pause.
This city never stopped moving.
Only those who lived in it had to keep up.
Ryn stopped in front of the library—the place where he had once been denied entry.
This time, he smiled faintly.
I'm a full-fledged Divine now…
At the very least, I should be allowed inside.
He walked forward, but before he could step through the door, a guard's voice rang out.
"Hold it. What business do you have here?"
"I wish to use the library," Ryn replied calmly.
"I'm a Divine."
The guard scanned him from head to toe, then frowned.
"And where's your uniform?"
Ryn fell silent for a moment.
"…I forgot to wear it."
"Then you can't enter."
The guard shook his head.
"Rules are rules."
Ryn let out a quiet sigh.
He had the rank—but not the uniform.
So he turned around and headed toward the same garden he had visited before.
Ryn sat beneath a tree, tilted his head back, and stared at the sky for a while.
And then—
"Hey! Ryn!"
A deep, booming voice rang out.
Ryn turned around, his eyes widening slightly.
Goran was walking straight toward him, wearing a broad grin.
"Man, I'm glad I found you! I was just looking for you!"
"Goran?"
Ryn stood up.
"Why were you looking for me?"
Goran laughed loudly.
"I'm heading back home tomorrow, that's why."
Ryn paused for a moment.
"So soon?"
"Yeah. The job's done, and I don't feel like waiting for my beard to turn white."
He smiled, then added,
"So I thought—before I leave, I'd like to have a drink with you."
He hesitated briefly, then said in a casual tone,
"I invited Alize too."
Ryn quickly shook his head.
"That's not a good idea. I—"
"Come on,"
Goran cut in immediately.
"It might be the last time, you know. Who knows? One day, when you become someone important, I might have to salute you."
Ryn chuckled softly.
"You're overthinking it."
Goran shrugged.
"Overthinking or not, as long as there's a drink, I'm happy."
Ryn fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"…Alright."
Goran's grin widened even more.
"Great! Let's meet in the market district this evening. Don't run away!"
With that, he waved and walked off, leaving Ryn standing alone in the quiet garden.