In the kingdom of Da Yan, the town of Xinning is more accurately described as a sizable village rather than a true town, at least in the eyes of Dick.

Dick, the youngest son of the lord of Xinning, was transported here at the age of three and is now nine. Indeed, it's the clichéd scenario of transmigration, but his position as the 'village chief's' son ensures he won’t starve.

Xinning is designated as a knightly domain because its 'master,' Dick's father Sinclair, is a formidable knight of the fourth rank, reputed to be quite distinguished within the York domain.

This world is inhabited by both sorcerers and warriors (the latter, when ennobled, become knights). Sorcerers are considered the more noble of the extraordinary professions. For instance, the lord of York is a baron and a second-tier sorcerer. Sinclair, from a young age, served in the baron's retinue of warrior servants, earning considerable merit and thereby being granted the knightly domain of Xinning.

Of course, a knight must possess a domain to be a truly powerful knight loyal to the baron.

Knights are a type of honorific; they are essentially warriors whose training is divided into nine levels. Sinclair, being a level-four warrior, is a mid-tier warrior, of which there are reportedly only five in York, indicating their rarity.

(The classification for both warriors and sorcerers is nine levels: levels one to three are basic; levels four to six are intermediate; levels seven to nine are advanced.)

Why does only Sinclair hold a domain among York's five intermediate warriors, and not the others?

Firstly, the baron, being a sorcerer, relies on strong knights for close protection. Secondly, Sinclair, having suffered severe injuries including the loss of an arm and internal wounds from a final battle, has seen his combat effectiveness greatly diminished, rendering him nearly incapacitated.

To appease his loyal knights and garner support, Sinclair was granted the Xinning domain ten years ago.

In theory, Xinning should be exempt from taxes to the baron. However, the prevailing feudal attitudes are unsatisfactory. A warrior who pledges loyalty to a lord from the start essentially dedicates his life to the lord.

Sinclair, influenced by this feudal mindset, contributes most of his domain's revenue to the baron. Observing the poverty of Xinning’s inhabitants and the financial straits of the lord's own household…

When Sinclair’s eldest son turned ten, he was sent to serve the baron; the second son, similarly, was given to the baron’s son.

Loyalty is indeed a full commitment, akin to signing a contract of servitude.

With Dick approaching ten…

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Damn it! Why should I pledge allegiance? Dick, a transmigrator from the twenty-first century, is deeply resentful of this feudal remnant.

Are knights truly so esteemed? Constantly bowing before their 'masters' and acting as bodyguards, they possess little personal freedom.

Yet Sinclair views knighthood as highly esteemed. Even with an amputated arm and significant internal injuries, Sinclair's punch could shatter large stones.

Ah! This world values martial prowess above all. A level-four warrior can lift a four-thousand-pound barbell; a level-four sorcerer can easily incinerate an entire town like Xinning with a mere fire spell. In essence, this is a world governed by sorcerers and warriors—without strength, one must resign oneself to being a poor, subservient commoner.

Dick envies the sorcerers the most, for attaining the fourth level extends one’s lifespan by a hundred years, and reaching the seventh level grants an additional two hundred years.

As for warriors? They don’t gain extended lifespan until reaching the seventh level. Yet, warriors’ training… reportedly, there is only one advanced warrior in the entire Da Yan Kingdom. Considering the kingdom’s vast population, this ratio is quite stark.

Of course, sorcerer training is also immensely challenging; Da Yan has no advanced sorcerers either.

"Dick!" His father Sinclair’s voice broke his reverie.

"Father!" Coming from a family with a knightly domain, they could be considered half-nobles, and thus Dick was well-versed in basic noble etiquette from a young age.

Though Xinning is impoverished and his family likewise struggling, Sinclair, as a level-four warrior, remains an extraordinary being despite his injuries. He occasionally returns from hunting trips in the mountains, providing some relief.

Lacking sufficient resources, inadequate nutrition in childhood could hinder the development of a warrior’s physique.

At nearly ten years old and standing at 1.6 meters, Dick maintains his physical training under Sinclair’s guidance. It is said that starting warrior training too young is detrimental. Nearly all warriors begin their training at ten.

Yet, for the poor, even a strong body is of little use without access to warrior training techniques.

Warrior and sorcerer techniques are monopolized by the nobility and the kingdom.

Simply put, without the baron's permission, Sinclair cannot risk privately teaching warrior techniques to his children.

"Dick, have you truly made up your mind?" Only father and son were present in the room.

"Yes, I wish to go to the capital!" Dick replied resolutely. "Father, perhaps I have the talent for sorcery…”

Dick is determined not to bow and pledge loyalty to that damned baron just yet. Becoming a sorcerer seems to be his only opportunity.

In this world, sorcerers are relatively noble. Even a baron cannot demand a sorcerer’s loyalty. Thus, in York, the baron’s stronghold, Blackstone Fortress, annually recruits promising young warriors from his domain to teach them the warrior techniques. However, a sorcerer of the baron’s standing would never share his family’s sorcerer techniques with his subjects.

Moreover, sorcerer training is incredibly resource-intensive; only a kingdom can afford it.

The Da Yan Kingdom has a Mage Academy in the capital, which provides third-tier sorcerer techniques for free. However, upon reaching the fourth tier, if one does not show loyalty to the kingdom (not as blatant as the warriors’ servitude contracts, but close), the kingdom will not provide fourth-tier and above sorcerer techniques without charge.

For Dick, receiving third-tier sorcerer training for free would be sufficient. As for reaching the fourth tier, that is a distant dream with so few in the entire Da Yan Kingdom.

Of course, the prerequisite for training as a sorcerer is possessing the talent. What mental power and magical affinity entail is beyond Dick’s current understanding.

No matter, Dick has already resolved to head to the capital and see for himself. Even if he lacks the talent for sorcery, there is still a warrior academy in the capital. Indeed, not a knight academy, but a warrior academy.