Leo awoke with a broad grin on his face. He was ecstatic because it was the day before his Paladin exam. Today, Peter and Faleria retake his state, and if he meets the requirements, he can become a Paladin. For the past few days, He has increased his exercises on his own. He practiced at home every day with his new weight bracelets, and he was confident that he was ready.

Taking advantage of his rest day, he allowed himself a bit more sleep than usual. Upon emerging from his room, he found his mother occupied in the kitchen, he had earlier informed her about today's exam.

"Morning mom"

"Morning," she said without turning around, but Leo could tell she was excited by her voice.

He took a shower, changed his clothing, and returned to the kitchen. His egg had already been placed on the table. His mother sat across the table from him, smiling, as he ate his egg.

Leo cast a puzzled glance at her. “Is something wrong?”

His mother’s smile remained unwavering. “Don't be nervous, sweetie.”

“I’m not nervous,” He countered, though his voice betrayed a hint of uncertainty.

“I’m your mother, Leo. You can't keep these things from me,” she said with gentle firmness.

A crease formed on Leo’s brow as he processed her words.

“I’ve seen how diligently you’ve prepared for this, and I have every confidence in your success,” she reassured him.

A genuine smile broke through Leo’s lingering apprehension. “Thanks, Mom. That means a lot.”

Feeling more at ease, he finished the last of his egg and grabbed his things before heading out for work. The crisp morning air filled his lungs as he made his way to the storage room, where Peter was already waiting.

“Good morning,” Leo greeted him with a smile as he stepped inside.

Peter returned the smile, feeling the excitement in the air. “Hello. Today’s the big day, huh? You ready?”.

“Of course I am,” He replied, his confidence returning in full force.

“Good,” Peter said, nodding approvingly. “Go get yourself ready. We’re starting right away.”

Leo quickly stashed his belongings in his locker, his heart beating a little faster as he returned to the main room. The mana-estimating crystal was already sitting on the table, glowing faintly in the dim light. Its presence felt almost ominous, reminding him of how crucial today’s test would be. He took a deep breath and glanced at Peter, who was watching him with a calm but expectant expression.

This was it—the moment to prove himself.

"You already had more than enough mana, and you didn't do any magic exercises, so I don't think your mana score has changed, but it never hurts to double-check, some people say that with increasing physical states, your mana also increases a little.”

Leo pressed his palm against the crystal, watching as it illuminated before withdrawing his hand. Peter then retrieved the crystal.

"Ok, let's see."

He cocked his brow.

"Well, I guess they are right; your score increased to 155; in Mana State, you are an E rank, and that's not a little, that's a lot."

Leo smiled.

"Now it's time for your physical state."

He nodded and went over to Faleria. Faleria was seated at a table, conversing with Edmond. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice Leo approaching.

"Ahem…"

Edmond and Faleria turn around.

"Captain, coach, good morning."

"Good morning."

Edmond glanced at his watch.

“Have you come for your training?” Edmond inquired, his gaze fixed on Him.

Before Leo could utter a word, Faleria interjected, “He’s actually here to retake his physical examination.”

“Is that so? Have you discussed your mana levels with Peter yet?” Edmond’s curiosity was piqued.

“I have,” Leo confirmed.

“And the verdict?”

“It’s risen to 155.”

Edmond’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “155? Weren’t you at 98 before?”

“That’s correct,” He nodded.

A look of bewilderment crossed Edmond’s face as he glanced at Faleria. “How come you're staring at me? I didn't do any magic exercises with him.”

Shifting his attention back to Leo, Edmond probed further, “What did you do?”

"Nothing, just an exercise in a book to feel my mana." Leo didn’t mention creating a ball of light exercise.

"Now I want to know about your physical states too."

Faleria rose to her feet. "Ok, you know what to do."

He took off his clothes and stood in the middle of the room; this time he wasn’t as embraced as before. Faleria began her examination.

"Your muscles are also a lot more powerful."

She was eventually finished after ten minutes.

"Ok, it's time to punch me."

To obtain the most points, Leo understood he had to hit as hard as he could, even if his target was a woman. He struck his position and punched hard with every muscle in his body. Faleria remained unmoved, but her face twisted. Edmond and Leo both had apprehensive and exciting expressions on their faces as they waited.

"You did well; your new physical score is 85."

Edmond was taken aback once more. Leo turned his hand into a fist; his efforts had paid off, he never felt this happy in both of his lives.

Edmond put his hand on Leo’s shoulder. "Good job, Leo."

"Thank you, captain."

Faleria handed him a piece of paper. "Go and give this to Peter."

Leo put on his clothe, took the paper, and walked away.

Edmond was still there, staring at Faleria.

"Not even Liamond was this fast; I think I brought a genius."

"Or a monster."

"Monster?"

"I have trained more than one hundred people; no one was this fast."

…

Bishop Oryu was poring over documents in the solitude of his church chamber when a knock interrupted the silence.

“Enter,” he called out.

The door creaked open, revealing Erik.

“You summoned me, my lord?”

“Indeed, Erik. I need you to deliver this missive to the capital, directly into the Pope’s hands.”

“Wouldn’t a telepathic message be more expedient, sir?”

“Erik, trust that I have matters here well in hand. The Pope’s duties are many, and I’d rather not add to his burdens.”

With a respectful bow, Erik accepted the letter and withdrew.

Once alone, Bishop Oryu muttered under his breath, “Foolish boy.”

A cool breeze blew through the room. A female figure appeared within the window behind Oryo.

"And what can I do for you, my lady?" Oryu spoke, his back still turned, voice steady.

Her reply was soft, almost otherworldly. "What did you send to Pope?"

Oryu smirked, sensing her presence more than seeing it. "You still don't trust me? It was an empty letter. Erik won't make it to the capital." His voice was laced with quiet arrogance.

She stepped further into the room, her movements graceful and deliberate, as if the air itself parted for her. "If you kill him, it will raise suspicion," she said, her voice calm but sharp, like the edge of a blade.

"Leave that to me," Oryu snapped, his patience thinning. "I know what I'm doing. And don’t forget, this is your fault. Why did you walk into the dungeons yourself? That was reckless—foolish."

The temperature in the room plummeted. The air grew so thick and cold that it seemed to suspend time itself. Oryu’s breath caught as he realized the gravity of his words. His heart pounded, every muscle tense.

"Do not forget who you are speaking to," she whispered, her voice now icy and laced with a power far beyond Oryu’s.

He felt it instantly. The weight of her presence was suffocating, he bowed slightly.

"My deepest apologies, my lady. I lost control."

The cold lingered for a moment, the silence unbearable. She moved toward a bookshelf, her expression unreadable as she pulled out a book, flipping it open. Slowly, the biting chill began to fade, the air returning to its normal temperature.

Without glancing at him, she began to read. The moment had passed, but the unspoken warning hung in the air like a shadow.

"Why did you interrupt my spell in the dungeon? It was a great opportunity to get rid of Goldenshield."

"He can still be useful, and I need him to trust me."

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Do what you want, but don't ruin this, or I will destroy you and this city to the ground."

Oryo bowed again. "Of course, my lady, I have everything under control." .

The woman turned to leave, she went to the window and glanced outside.

"Is there anyone above A rank beside you in this city?"

Oryo lifted an eyebrow. "No"

"You have to be more careful about your city," she said, before disappearing.

Oryo clenched his teeth. ‘That damn witch’.

He stood up and approached the window. He placed one of his fingers on his head.

"Tera, make a meeting with all of the captains; everyone must participate."

Tera was Oryu's secretary, and she was a C+ priest.

"it will be done"

Oryu took a deep breath and looked outside.

"How dare an A rank invade my city?"

He then smiled.

"But this is a good opportunity."

…

Peter’s eyes widened in disbelief as Leo presented him with the paper detailing his score. For a long moment, Peter was motionless, his mind grappling with the numbers before him. Leo, growing concerned by the silence, glanced at his watch.

“Is everything alright? You’ve been silent for two minutes,” Leo prodded gently.

His words seemed to snap Peter out of his stupor.

“Oh, my apologies, it’s just that… I’m astounded. How did you manage to achieve a score of 85?” Peter finally found his voice.

“I dedicated extra hours to training outside our scheduled sessions,” he explained.

“But where did you find the stamina for such an endeavor? You’ve been training rigorously with Faleria,” Peter questioned, his curiosity piqued.

Leo shrugged modestly. “I simply kept my objectives in sight and worked towards them.”

After a brief pause, Leo ventured another question. “Is it really that fast?”

Peter leaned back, reflecting on his experience. “I’ve overseen countless Paladin candidates and their assessments. Your speed is matched by only one other.”

Leo’s interest was instantly piqued. “And who might that be?”

“Arthur, the Pope’s son,” Peter revealed.

A lump formed in Leo’s throat as he swallowed hard, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind.

‘Have I pushed myself too far?’

Peter seemed to sense Leo’s inner turmoil and offered some reassurance. “Regardless, your examination is set for tomorrow. You’re free to go home and rest if you wish.”

“No, I’d prefer to stay here; somehow, time seems to pass more swiftly in this place.”

He pivoted to head towards the library. As he pushed open the door, he paused, hesitating briefly.

"who was faster? Me or Arthur?"

"Arthur was two times faster than you."

Leo's eyes widened.

"Then why does everyone get surprised when they see my result?"

Peter placed his hand below his chin as an indication of thought.

"Your growth is fascinating but Arthur is different; he began at the age of twelve and advanced to a B rank in four years; by the age of twenty, he had already achieved an A+ rank, and he is currently 24, I don’t know what rank he reached, but even in the history of the world, this progress is near impossible.”

Leo lingered for a moment before Peter added another piece to the puzzle.

“I can’t say for certain, but rumors in the halls claim that not even Elbridge, the first paladin, advanced this quickly.”

Leo furrowed his brow, perplexed. “How is such speed even possible?”

“I wish I knew,” Peter admitted, realizing that this question would remain unanswered for now.

“Thank you, nonetheless,” he said with gratitude, then turned on his heel and departed.

He made his way to the library, where he busied himself with tidying up. As he worked, Peter’s words echoed in his mind.

‘Reach A+ rank within eight years? That’s an ambitious target. It seems I’ll need to redouble my efforts.’

After completing his chores, Leo returned home at four in the afternoon. His mother was there to greet him, her eyes alight with anticipation.

“Hello there,” he greeted.

“Hello… well?” she prompted eagerly.

A smile spread across Leo’s face. “I am ready to take the test to officially become a paladin”

“See, I told you not to worry” there was big and beautiful smile on his mother’s face.

“Thanks, Mom,” Leo replied warmly.

“What would you like for dinner?”

“Anything you cook is delicious ”

“Then join me in the kitchen in two hours,” she said as she walked away, her humming filling the house with a cheerful melody.

Leo attempted to occupy himself with various tasks throughout the day, but his anticipation for tomorrow relentlessly consumed him and made time drag on

…

The next day, Leo awoke as usual. His mother made him the best breakfast to make him ready for the exam. He finished his breakfast, said goodbye to his mother, and headed to the association. He then got to the storage room to put his belongings into his closet.

"Good morning"

"Good morning Leo, when you are ready, go to captain's office to start your exam"

Leo nodded, stowing some of his belongings neatly inside his closet before making his way toward the main hall. As he passed through, he offered a quick greeting to Lara, who smiled and waved as she continued her work. With a deep breath, he approached Captain Edmond's door and gave a firm knock.

“Come in,” came Edmond’s voice from the other side.

Leo stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “Captain, good morning.”

Edmond glanced up from a stack of papers and returned the greeting with a nod. “Good morning, Leo. Are you ready?”

Without hesitation, Leo met his gaze. “I’m ready.”

Edmond leaned back in his chair, studying him for a moment as if assessing more than just his words. "Good," he finally said, rising from his seat. "Let’s begin then."

"I talked to Sam, and he told me that you already read all the books you need to read, so after a conversation with Faleria and Mr. John Damson, who is in charge of church examinations, we decided to take the G rank and F rank exams together, so if you succeed, you can become a F rank right away, and you can also take the E- rank exam in one month."

Leo's eyes twinkled with excitement.

"Really?"

Leo's face turned red as he realized he had behaved like a child. He placed his right hand on his chest.

"Thank you, captain."

Edmond laughed, making Leo's face even more red.

"Your welcome; let's go to the great hall."

Leo followed Edmond into the great hall. There was a man there, placing some paper on a table. He was tall, with short black hair, typical male facial features, black eyes, and glasses, which made him ideal for an examiner. Edmond lead him to the man.

"Leo, this is Mr. John Damson; John, this is Leo Mantine."

Leo shook John's hand.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Damson."

"Edmond told me so much about you; let's see if they are true."

He pointed to the chair beside the table.

"Shall we"

'Just like a teacher,' Leo thought.

He glanced at Edmond, noting the thoughtful expression mirroring his own thoughts. Leo proceeded to take a seat, and John placed the paper in front of him.

"The F rank and G rank questions have been combined; simply answer every question you can, and we will determine your rank, You have one hour."

"Then I leave you two for now; tell me when it is done."

Edmond left after John nodded. Leo started reading the questions, which were all very basic. The majority of the inquiries concerned the role and religion of the god of light. Leo was nervous that answering all of the questions would seem suspicious, so he chose the most difficult question and did not answer it. After about 30 minutes, he was finished. He waited for another five minutes, acting like he was cheeking the questions, then stood up.

"I am done, Mr. Damson."

John looked at Leo, perplexed. He took the paper from him and looked it over.

"You didn't answer question eleven."

"I didn't know the answer."

"Ok, go to the main hall and wait; I will give you the result in thirty minutes."

Leo went into the main hall and sat in one of the chairs. He knew his answers to the questions were correct, so he wasn't nervous. He looked at Lara, who was engrossed in her paperwork as usual. The thirty minutes felt like a year to him; he checked his watch a million times. After thirty minutes, John appeared with his paper in his hands. He motioned for him to follow. Leo followed closely behind John as they made their way to Edmond’s office. The corridors were quiet, the soft echo of their footsteps the only sound as they approached the sturdy wooden door.

John knocked, the sound firm but respectful. A brief moment passed before they heard Edmond’s voice from the other side.

"Come in"

When they entered, there was another man there. He stood the same height as Edmond and had long blond hair. He also had a small mouth, a well-shaped nose, and dark blue eyes, he was as beautiful as Liamond. He looked at Leo and John before returning his gaze to Edmond.

"Then I see you there, Edmond."

He turned back, nodded to John, and left. Edmond waited for him to leave and then looked at Leo.

"You were fast, so what was the result?"

John handed Edmond the paper.

"43 from 50, you really are full of surprises, Leo."

'43? Did I answer any of the questions incorrectly?’ Leo was wondering.

"It looks like you are ready to become a F rank."

Edmond signed the document and handed it back to John.

"I call the Priest, Aldarth Foreward, to come here tomorrow."

"Ok, thank you."

John nodded to Edmond and went without saying goodbye. Leo gave Edmond a look.

"Captain, who is Priest Aldarth Foreward?"

"He is a priest from the church; he is going to bring the book of light to add your name to it; you are going to learn about it tomorrow; you can go to your daily work now."

Leo placed his fist on his chest, bowed, and left Edmond Office. He looked at the time, it was already eleven so he went into the library. He looked around but no one was there. He looked at all of the books.

‘Even as an F rank I can’t read the books I need, first I need to know if there is a spell on any of these books or if there is a spell like camera. If there is, I need to find another source for the books I need, also I need to decide what path I want to take for E rank. There are a million things I want to know about this world.’

Leo start cleaning the tables and bookshelves. At 12:30 Leo went to the kitchen to find something to eat. Liamond, Frank and Gery were there, playing cards.

“Good day, everyone,” Leo greeted as he entered the room.

Liamond looked up with a smile. “Oh, hi Leo.”

All eyes turned to him, and Leo felt a wave of confusion wash over him.

“What’s going on?” he asked, puzzled.

“How did your exam go?” Liamond inquired, breaking the brief silence.

“Oh, the exam! The captain believes I’m ready to ascend to F rank,” Leo replied.

“F rank?!” Frank exclaimed, his surprise evident. He turned to Gery. “We need to step up our game, or he’ll surpass us in no time.”

“Indeed, we do,” Gery agreed, nodding solemnly.

Liamond’s smile broadened as he stood. “Your advancement calls for a celebration.”

“A celebration?” Leo echoed, taken aback.

“Yes. Let’s all go out for dinner tomorrow after work—my treat,” Liamond declared.

Frank and Gery leapt to their feet in excitement.

“Yay, a free meal!” they cheered in unison.

Liamond raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t say everyone was invited.”

Frank’s face fell comically, eliciting chuckles from the group.

“Come on Liamond, how are you supposed to celebrate without a party? we will be there.”

Liamond's lips curved into a smile.

"Then if you see Albert and Wina, tell them too; I will tell others."

"You got it."

Leo lingered in the lively room for another thirty minutes, joining in casual conversations and laughter with the others before finally deciding it was time to head to the library. The moment he stepped through the library’s heavy wooden doors, Samuel appeared returning from his daily rounds.

"Ah, Leo, you're here! How was the exam?" Samuel's voice was warm and familiar, but his eyes betrayed a hint of curiosity.

Leo greeted him with a nod and a grin. "Hey, Mr. Samuel. It went great! Tomorrow, I’ll officially be an F rank."

Samuel’s eyebrows shot up, a look of mild surprise crossing his face. "F rank? You really never cease to surprise me, do you?"

Leo chuckled and shrugged. "I try my best to keep you on your toes."

The pair exchanged a few more words before Leo settled into his work, organizing papers and quietly reading until the clock ticked to 4 p.m. At that moment, he stood up, gathering his things. "Alright, Mr. Samuel, I’ll be heading out."

Samuel gave a nod of approval. "Take care, Leo."

As Leo left, a thought crossed his mind. ‘I should check in with the captain about that magic shop’. He made his way through the building, arriving at the main hall where he spotted Ms. Lara.

"Ms. Lara, is the captain in his office?" he asked, pausing briefly by her desk.

Without looking up from her work, she replied, "Yes, he’s in."

"May I go in?"

She glanced up this time, offering a slight nod. "Yes, you can."

Leo approached the captain's office door, knocked lightly, and waited. A voice from inside called out, "Come in."

Opening the door, Leo stepped inside and respectfully placed his hand over his chest. "Captain."

Edmond, seated behind a large desk cluttered with papers, glanced up. "At ease, Leo. What brings you here?"

"Captain, I was wondering if there’s been any update on that magic shop I mentioned?"

Edmond's brow furrowed as he stared at Leo, his confusion evident. "Magic shop? What magic shop are you talking about?"

Leo blinked, momentarily thrown off by the captain’s response. "Uh… the one I told you about when we visited Mr. Liamond at the hospital."

The captain's frown deepened. "You didn’t mention any magic shop."

Leo’s mind raced. He could clearly remember the conversation. "I’m pretty sure I did. I even asked if I could talk to you privately that day."

Edmond leaned back in his chair, the suspicion growing in his eyes. "Yes, I remember that. But you asked about my spell. Nothing about a magic shop."

Leo felt a sudden chill crawl up his spine. ‘What’s going on?’ His skin turned pale as he stared at the captain, struggling to make sense of the situation.

Edmond’s eyes narrowed as he noticed his reaction. He stood up slowly, stepping around the desk toward him. "Leo, are you absolutely sure you told me about this magic shop?"

Leo’s mouth went dry, but he forced himself to answer. "Yes, I’m sure."

"Okay, try this. Come and tell me the same thing tomorrow, once Aldarth Foreward has arrived and left; I will also write it down, If I forget it again, remind me that I have the chance to advance to A rank in the near future."

"Why?"

"Because only a few people know about that right now,"

Leo remained pale, frozen in place, his mind racing. Sensing his fear, Edmond stepped closer, placing a firm hand on his head. A gentle warmth spread from the captain's palm, and a soft glow illuminated the space around them, wrapping Leo in an almost tangible sense of calm. The icy dread that had gripped his chest melted away in an instant.

"Don’t worry," Edmond said in a reassuring tone. "If someone powerful enough to make me forget something like this is around, you have nothing to fear."

Leo’s brow furrowed. "How can you be so sure?"

Edmond gave him a knowing smile, his confidence unwavering. "Because if that person wanted you dead, you'd already be gone. Whoever they are, they’ve got other plans. So go home, Leo. Rest."

Leo nodded, still processing the gravity of the situation. He offered a quiet farewell and left the office, his steps more hesitant than usual. As the door clicked shut behind him, Edmond’s expression hardened. He walked back to his desk with purpose, pulling a blank sheet of paper from the drawer.

In neat, deliberate handwriting, he jotted down three words: "Magic shop, Leo, forgetting."

He folded the paper and slid it into a small wooden box on his desk, its surface etched with strange, ancient symbols. For a moment, he stood there, staring at the box, his mind racing. Satisfied, Edmond put on his coat and headed for the door, leaving the office with silent determination.

As soon as the door closed, the faint markings on the box flickered with an eerie light, and the words on the paper began to blur. Slowly, each letter faded until nothing remained but an empty, unmarked sheet.