Damien remained silent after his conversation with Albert, his mind still turning over the old man's words. He wondered why the teleportation was taking so long. It had already been more than a full minute since he tore the letter away and the pillar of light had begun pulling him toward his destination.
"You mentioned earlier that you would explain the Path of Soul after I saw the interface?" he finally asked, breaking the silence.
"Indeed." Albert's voice carried a patient gravity. "The Path of Soul is something that all beings—regardless of whether they walk the Path of Strength or the Path of Energy—must eventually tread. Think of it as a universal road. No matter where you start, whether your hands wield a sword or weave spells, you will one day arrive here.
"The soul is the bedrock of every path. It is the hidden foundation upon which your talent and potential are built. Those born with strong souls—high Soul Ranks—find it easier to comprehend the world's mysteries. The path you choose reflects your affinity, but your soul determines how far that affinity can carry you."
Damien slowly began to grasp what talent truly meant. Looking at his Path of Soul Rank, he realized his own talent was… average at best, perhaps even below average.
"No one in your world knows about the Path of Soul until they reach Saint level," Albert continued. "High-rank cultivators know only that the soul evolves as they rise in their chosen paths—which is true—but there are many ways to advance in Soul Rank. These range from something as subtle as a change in mindset, to something as profound as experiencing a war; from something as complex as comprehending one's true self, to something as straightforward as using cultivation techniques specifically designed for the Path of Soul."
Albert paused for a moment, allowing Damien to digest his words before he began describing the Soul Ranking System.
****
Path of the Soul(Focus: Willpower and Mental Dominance)
Rank 1 – Spark: A small but steady resolve.
Rank 2 – Steadfast: Resists fear and pain.
Rank 3 – Unyielding: Will does not bend under pressure.
Rank 4 – Resolute: Presence inspires allies.
Rank 5 – Indomitable: Will forces enemies to falter.
Rank 6 – Fearless: No illusion or threat sways you.
Rank 7 – Dominion: Will bends weaker minds.
Rank 8 – Transcendent: Resolve that warps reality itself.
Rank 9 – Eternal Will: A soul unbroken, even beyond death.
The Path of Soul was divided into nine ranks. Unlike the rankings for other paths, this one was set by the System's Will itself—making it universally accepted. For a cultivator to advance to Saint rank, they had to break through from Rank 3 to Rank 4. Without a Rank 4 soul, one's journey ended there.
The importance of the soul could be understood from this alone—even with only a Rank 4 soul, a person could reach the level of a Saint. What, then, of those who climbed higher?
****
"What's the average Soul Rank for someone my age?" Damien asked, finally understanding just how critical the soul was.
"For those selected into academies, Rank 1 at minimum," Albert answered. "Yours, however… is abysmal. You are at the very beginning of Rank 0 with no progress. Nightmares, lack of sleep, and no real life experiences have worn your soul thin. If not for the System's awakening, you would have remained below Rank 0, unable to meet even the minimal qualifications for selection by a Will. Your affinity for the Path of Strength seems to have been enough to offset your weak soul—barely."
Albert's voice took on a slightly amused tone. "Curious, though, that the so-called Great Academy would take you in based solely on your Path of Strength talent. In all other aspects they value, you would have failed miserably without the System. Even with it, you'll find improvement… difficult. Well, nothing in this world is certain—so we shall see."
Damien did not bristle at the words. He had thought all this long before. For the first time, he even wondered if the System's reading of his talent might be flawed. He had never been a good student—but that was thanks to the whispering horrors in his mind, not a lack of intellect. His intelligence was leagues beyond his peers; he knew it. He had seen what passed for "brilliant" in his class during group projects, and the results had only reinforced his unwillingness to associate with them.
"Now that you have the System's guidance, try to raise your soul to Rank 1 soon," Albert advised. "Only then will you truly begin your Path of Soul. I'll say this again—you will be guided, but the work must be done by you."
"Sigh… I know," Damien replied, sounding exactly like someone used to enduring the old man's constant nagging.
****
The entire exchange lasted about five minutes. Just as Damien was about to lose patience, the beam of light abruptly ceased—and hurled him onto a hard surface.
"Argh…" He clutched his head, ears ringing from the impact.
When he looked up, he saw dozens of students in casual clothes staring at him. They were clearly newcomers as well, but most had arrived earlier. Many had dust clinging to their clothes—likely from the same graceless arrival he had endured.
Some, however, stood immaculate in fine garments, their posture radiating poise. Not a speck of dust marred their presence. Damien didn't need to guess—they were nobles, accustomed to teleportation methods.
Straightening his worn suit, Damien adjusted his now-mussed tie. He detested looking unkempt and had long since developed what some might call an obsessive compulsion for cleanliness—a quirk inherited from Miss Beckar, whose meticulous lifestyle had been his only reference growing up. He didn't resent it. Quite the opposite—he liked it.
With his appearance restored, Damien moved to stand at the back of the forming line outside the academy gates. When he looked up at the towering black gate, he finally saw the academy's true name. "Great Academy" was merely a title for the foremost academy of a nation. Hanging above the gate in bold letters was the name:
Gravemont Academy of Might and Mysticism
Noble or commoner, every student there gazed at the sign with some mix of awe, pride, and anticipation. This was the moment they had all dreamed of.
"…Oh."
That was when Damien remembered. He had left his suitcase behind—in the plaza—right under the podium. In his rush to avoid lingering with the crowd there, he had walked away without it.
"…No wonder people keep glancing at me," he muttered.
"Wahahaha!" Albert's laughter echoed in his mind. "Boy, did you think you were so handsome that even boys couldn't stop sneaking a look at you?"
Damien didn't respond, his expression flat. He was still adjusting to having a voice suddenly intrude in his head at any time.
"Don't worry, kid," Albert said, voice still dripping with mirth. "As much as you think I'm a chatterbox, I'm not. You're the odd one for thinking our little exchange about the System was some grand conversation. I'll be going dormant inside the System now. Functions will still be available to you, but I don't have the energy to stay awake. Only disturb me if it's important. Though… I'd rather you didn't at all. As I've said before, the aim is to make you not rely on—"
"System," Damien interrupted, "change Albert's auditory permissions. He cannot speak to me unless I specifically allow it."
[Command received by host — configuration initiated…]
"You—!" Albert's voice was cut off mid-protest.
[Configuration completed. Changes in immediate effect.]
"Thanks for letting me know the System still works without you, Albert," Damien said aloud with a faint smirk. "Well then, sleep tight until you're recharged."
Albert, now forcibly muted, could only stew in disbelief. He hadn't even planned to talk much longer!
Damien exhaled in blissful silence. For the first time since the awakening… his mind was his own again.