Aelius, still clutching his new mage card, walked beside Garen through the bustling streets of the capital. The confusion from the Magic Court lingered, but he quickly pushed it aside. The proctor's reaction and Garen's explanation of the ranking system confirmed his initial thought: his immense power was beyond human comprehension. This misclassification was a blessing in disguise. A normal 15-year-old was barely a 1-star mage, and even a genius was a initial 2-star mage. A peak 4-star at his age would cause a massive stir. He didn't want the attention. He wanted to learn, to understand this world's magic, and to survive.
"Aelius," Garen began, breaking the silence. "I know this is sudden, but I want to officially recruit you into my party." Garen was an initial 4-star, but he was a veteran, an expert in his own right. With Aelius's incredible talent, their group could become a formidable force.
Aelius shook his head politely. "Thank you for the offer, Garen. It's a kind one, but I need to think about my future first."
Garen nodded, not pushing the matter. He understood. "Well, what about the academy? Aethelgard Academy? With your rank, you're more than qualified to attend. It's the best place to hone and show your skills".
Aelius's eyes widened. He had almost forgotten about the academy. Aethelgard could hold the secrets he sought. The academy would be his new home, a place where he could study without drawing unnecessary attention.
"What do I need to do to get in?" Aelius asked, his voice filled with newfound determination.
"The requirements are tough," Garen explained. "To even be considered, you have to be an initial 3-star mage by the age of 17. It's a harsh requirement, so only the most gifted and well-trained individuals can even apply."
Aelius scratched his head. A peak 4-star at 15? He was overqualified. He might cause a ruckus or not feel like he belonged if he attended right away. A year or two of adventuring would give him time to hone his skills, to better understand human society, and to prepare for the challenges ahead.
"Thank you, Garen. For everything," Aelius said, a new resolve in his voice. "I will repay you soon." With that, Aelius said his farewells, and they parted ways.
Aelius walked alone through the cobbled streets of the capital, his mind racing with quiet urgency. He knew his official mage card, which truthfully declared him a peak 4-Star Mage, would cause an absolute stir if he attempted to register at the Adventurer's Guild. A fifteen-year-old with that rank was simply unheard of—a prodigy whose sudden appearance would draw precisely the kind of scrutiny he was desperate to avoid. To operate freely and gather the information he needed, he had to change his appearance.
He decided to employ his mana skin, a draconian skill, to transform himself into a man in his late twenties, possessing a lean and muscular build—an appearance that would be more fitting for a mage of his publicly stated rank. Crucially, he also needed to drastically change his facial features to ensure that Garen and the others who had seen his true human guise wouldn't recognize him. He needed to find a secluded place, hidden from prying eyes, to make the radical transformation.
He headed toward the hunting grounds situated just outside the city walls. At the entrance, he presented his original mage card to the guard. The veteran warrior, clad in simple leather armor, looked at the card and verified his rank. The guard smiled, easily dismissing the discrepancy in age; he simply thought Aelius was a promising young student from the esteemed academy who wanted to gain some experience hunting low-level monsters away from the watchful eyes of his professors. The guard didn't question his age or his rank; he just waved him through with a brief nod.
Aelius left the city gates behind and ventured into the hunting grounds, a vast, ancient forest teeming with raw mana. He walked for a few hours, his draconian senses keenly alert, until he found the perfect, secluded sanctuary: a small cave hidden behind a cascade of thick, moss-covered vines.
Inside, the air was cool and damp, the sound of the world outside muffled by the stone and foliage. Aelius took a deep breath, centering his focus on his mana reserves. His mana skin, a skill unique to his true dragon nature, was more than a simple magical illusion or disguise; it was a physical manifestation of his will projected onto his current human form. He had used it to create his youthful human body initially—a disguise for his ancient, powerful self. Now, he would use it to become someone else entirely, a fully realized adult capable of moving in the higher ranks of society.
He began the transformation. His mana flowed out, not with the explosive force of a spell, but as a silvery mist swirling gently around his body. The process was slow and deliberate, consuming a surprising amount of energy. He consciously focused on Garen's heroic physique, choosing elements of a mature, seasoned adventurer—a man in his late twenties with a strong, veteran bearing.
As he reshaped his features, the fine, silken strands of his hair darkened, changing from its original silver to a deep, earthy brown. His eyes, once a vibrant, wind-element green, deepened into a dark, unassuming brown. He pushed through the exhaustion, his focus absolute, manipulating the mana to fill out his frame and refine his bone structure.
When the transformation was complete, Aelius looked at his reflection in a small pool of water that collected near the cave wall. He was a new man. He was taller, his body lean and muscular, and his face was more rugged, defined by a strong jawline and a serious, focused expression. The soft youthfulness was gone, replaced by the intensity of a veteran. He didn't know it, but his heroic features were so striking that many women in the capital would soon be eager to catch a glimpse of the handsome, mysterious adventurer.
He then headed back toward the city, his new form feeling slightly strange but surprisingly natural, like slipping into a well-tailored piece of armor. He made his way directly to the Adventurer's Guild, a bustling, noisy place filled with men and women in all shapes and sizes, all chattering excitedly about their latest quests and exploits.
He approached the registration desk. The guild receptionist, a young woman with a friendly, practiced smile, looked up to greet him. Her eyes took in his new appearance with a critical, appreciative gaze. A noticeable blush spread across her cheeks as she took in his rugged, mature looks. Aelius, now confident that he was unrecognizable, simply offered a small, polite nod.
"Name," the receptionist said, her voice a little shaky.
"Kaelus," Aelius replied, his voice a little deeper than before. "I'm here to register as an adventurer."
The receptionist took his mage card and placed it on a small, round plate on the desk. The card glowed, and a holographic image of his rank and element appeared. A peak 4-star mage. The receptionist's eyes widened in surprise. While it wasn't unheard of for someone his age to be a peak 4-star, it was still a rare and impressive feat.
"You're not a low-level mage, Kaelus," she said, her voice now laced with respect. "But you'll have to start at the bottom. The guild has its own ranking system. You'll begin as an F-rank adventurer."
Aelius nodded in understanding. He knew Garen was a C-rank adventurer, while his other party members were D-rank. He was fine with starting at the bottom. He didn't want to join a party just yet, as he wanted to familiarize himself with battle and hone his skills.
The receptionist then pointed to the large bulletin board. "All quests are posted there. Just grab the ones you want, and bring back the evidence to get paid."
Aelius looked at the board. There were all sorts of quests, from goblin subjugation to ore and herb collection. He wanted a quest that would help him climb the ranks quickly. He scanned the board, his eyes settling on a quest that seemed interesting. It was a Red Orc subjugation quest near the town of Valeridge. The notice explained that a new, aggressive nest of Red Orcs had been spotted about 250 meters southeast of the town. These creatures were a significant and immediate threat to the town's security and trade routes, known for their ferocity and rapid breeding. The guild was prioritizing their complete elimination before their numbers grew too large to handle. The reward was 50 silver coins for each confirmed Red Orc kill, and the quest was recommended for a full party of five B-rank adventurers.
Aelius took the quest, a cunning smile on his face. As an F-rank adventurer, he wasn't qualified to take a B-rank quest. However, he also took a nearby herb-gathering quest. He'd simply claim that he stumbled upon the Red Orc nest while looking for herbs and "accidentally" completed the B-rank quest. They'd have no choice but to accept it. And he was excited about it.