Fifteen years had passed since the last great demon invasion. The peace had lasted longer than anyone expected. This made people nervous rather than happy.
"Something's brewing out there," old soldiers would mutter. "Demons don't stay quiet this long without reason."
But for the Skywalker family, life went on as normal. They lived in a small house on the outskirts of the capital. It wasn't much, but it was home.
Marcus Skywalker stood at his usual post on the capital walls. He had been a soldier in the Garrison Division for nearly twenty years. His weathered hands gripped his spear with practiced ease. His sharp eyes scanned the horizon for any signs of trouble.
"Another quiet day," he said to his fellow guard. "Almost boring."
"Don't jinx it, Marcus," his companion replied. "You know what they say about quiet days."
Marcus chuckled. He was a man of average height with broad shoulders. Years of military training had kept him strong. Gray streaks ran through his brown hair. Worry lines marked his face. Not from fear of battle, but from concern for his family.
Being a commoner soldier didn't pay much. The family lived modestly. They had enough food and a roof over their heads. That was more than some could claim.
At home, Mira Skywalker finished cleaning the house. She was a woman of gentle beauty with kind eyes. Her brown hair was tied back in a simple braid. She wore a plain blue dress that had been mended several times.
She hummed softly as she worked. The melody was an old lullaby she used to sing to Lucian when he was small. The sound filled their modest home with warmth.
The front door burst open with enthusiasm. Lucian Skywalker practically bounced through the entrance. His eyes sparkled with excitement. His messy black hair stuck up in several directions.
"Mother!" he called out. "I'm back!"
Mira turned from her cleaning with a smile. At fifteen, Lucian had grown tall and lean. He had his father's determined jaw and his mother's expressive eyes. His clothes were simple but clean. The family made sure he always looked presentable.
"How was your day, dear?" Mira asked, setting down her cleaning cloth.
"Amazing!" Lucian replied. "Old Master Chen told us more stories about the legendary mages. Did you know Luna Ravencroft was only thirty-two when she became legendary? She's the youngest ever!"
Mira's expression grew thoughtful. "Yes, I've heard those stories. She founded the first mage academy, didn't she?"
"That's right!" Lucian's excitement was infectious. "She invented the whole system. Before her, mages were just scattered around doing whatever they wanted. She brought them together. She made them independent from human politics."
Lucian began pacing around their small living room. His hands moved as he talked, mimicking spellcasting motions he'd seen described.
"And then came the other three legendary mages," he continued. "Vincent Astralwind, Ethan Starweaver, and Sylvana Windcaller. Each one established their own academy in a different empire."
"Slow down," Mira laughed. "You're making me dizzy with all that pacing."
But Lucian couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "The humans had to create their own warrior academies to keep up. Four mage academies, four warrior academies, one in each empire. It changed everything!"
Mira watched her son with mixed feelings. She was proud of his intelligence and passion. But she also worried about his dreams. The path of a mage was dangerous. It was also expensive. Their family had little money to spare.
"Speaking of academies," she said carefully, "are you excited about tomorrow?"
Lucian stopped pacing. His eyes went wide. "Tomorrow! The entrance exams!" He had almost forgotten in his excitement about the history lessons.
"Yes, mother! I can't wait!" He grabbed her hands and spun her around. "This is my chance! My chance to become a real mage!"
Mira smiled at his joy, but concern showed in her eyes. "Remember, dear, the exams are very difficult. Many young people take them. Not everyone passes."
"I know," Lucian said, his voice becoming more serious. "But I've been practicing for years. You've seen me make those little lights dance. You've watched me move objects without touching them."
That was true. Lucian had shown magical ability since he was young. Small things at first. Candles would light themselves when he was excited. Toys would float briefly when he concentrated hard.
Like all children, his magic had manifested through emotional surges and instinctive casting. Their local teacher had given him basic training. He'd learned about magical safety and simple control techniques.
"The ranking system is clear," Lucian explained, as much to himself as to his mother. "First, I need to become an Apprentice Mage. That's for ages fifteen to seventeen. I have to learn basic spell theory and elemental control."
"And how many spells must you master?" Mira asked, testing his knowledge.
"Ten different spells to graduate," Lucian replied proudly. "Then I can advance to Journeyman Mage from eighteen to twenty. That's when the real training begins. Combat magic, spell combinations, using magical items."
His eyes grew distant with dreams. "After that comes Battle Mage, then High Mage, then Archmage. Each rank brings more power and knowledge."
"And at the very top?" Mira prompted.
"Legendary Mage," Lucian whispered with reverence. "Age fifty and above. They can alter reality itself. Create new forms of life. Cast divine-level spells. They've transcended normal magical limits."
Mira nodded thoughtfully. The system ensured steady progression while allowing exceptional talent to advance quickly. Some individuals could skip ranks with extraordinary demonstrations. Others might specialize entirely in one school of magic.
"There are different paths too," Lucian continued. "Elementalists master a single element completely. Healers focus on medical and restoration magic. War Mages specialize in pure combat. Enchanters create magical items. Scholars research ancient magic."
"Which path calls to you?" Mira asked.
Lucian considered this seriously. "I'm not sure yet. I feel drawn to different types of magic. Maybe I'll discover my specialty at the academy."
The afternoon wore on as they talked. Mira prepared their simple dinner while Lucian continued describing what he'd learned.