The world of sorcery had become a place of constant breakthroughs. New incantations, seals, and powers were being developed, and by incorporating modern technology into magic, sorcery had been launched into a new era.
Now, sorcerers were graded according to hierarchy:
1st-grade: The pinnacle. Only the strongest, the legendary, were given this rank.
2nd through 8th-grade: A steady climb.
9th-grade: The bottom rung, reserved for the weakest of the weak.
Most sorcerers started as 6th or 7th-grade, dreaming of one day reaching 1st-grade. However, attaining the top was considered an impossibility. Many believed that 1st-grade sorcerers had achieved godhood and were no longer human.
And yet, despite all of this, there were still those who stood at the very bottom — 9th-grade.
One of them was Code Weber.
...
Hazen, Western Province, Eldrid Region
Seventeen-year-old Code Weber stood hunched in a dark alley, dimly lit by the faint glow of the setting sun.
His eyes darted around suspiciously. He had already been robbed twice that week. Now, he had almost nothing left, and his tattered clothes spoke of it clearly.
He slowly stepped out of the alley, scanning everyone who passed by, until suddenly, a voice called out to him.
"Code Weber!"
Code turned quickly, alarm written all over his face, as he saw the man approaching.
"Tch," he hissed under his breath. "Sending another person again?" he whispered to himself, clenching his fists.
The man wore black armor, and on his chest gleamed a 5th-grade sorcerer badge. His black hair fell to his shoulders, and his deep blue eyes framed a neatly trimmed goatee, giving him a handsome look.
Code tensed slightly, eyes wide in alarm.
"What do you want?" he shouted, fists clenched.
"Uh?" The man stopped, looking surprised.
"Ahem." The man cleared his throat. "I'm Ran Cowell," he said, extending his hand for a shake.
"Ran Cowell?" Code repeated.
'A thief with such a fancy name? The world really is getting worse every day.'
"Um..." Ran brought Code back from his thoughts, still holding out his hand with a smile.
Code hesitated but eventually shook it, forcing an obviously fake smile.
"Haha," Ran chuckled lightly.
"So," Code said, his tone turning serious. "What do you want with me?"
"If it's the landlord who sent you, tell him I won't pay until he returns my bed!"
"What?" Ran blurted, barely holding back laughter.
"And my plates!" Code added sharply.
"Okay, okay, that's weird, but I'm not here for that," Ran said, suppressing a grin.
"Then what are you here for?" Code shot back.
Ran's tone lowered, his aura shifting.
"I've got a mission," he said.
"Mission?" Code raised a brow. "I'm sorry, I don't do dirty jobs. I might look poor, but that doesn't mean I'll do anything shady."
"It's not totally dirty," Ran smirked, his expression confident. "A mid-class demon's been spotted near Sylva. A little help would go a long way in taking it down."
"Uh?" Code stepped back. "Isn't that a sorcerer's job?"
"Yes and no," Ran replied. "The problem is, for weeks now, the demon has been running wild, and WAS hasn't sent anyone to deal with it. The village offered us payment if we could handle it."
"Hmm..." Code rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"And it's not even a powerful demon," Ran continued. "It's just mid-class. Even a 9th-grade like you has nothing to fear."
Code hesitated. He was torn. A part of him wanted to go, but another part screamed against it.
He knew it was risky, a serious crime, in fact, for uncertified or 9th-grade sorcerers to engage in a demon raid. And he, a 9th-grade with no real talent or combat experience, was at a severe disadvantage. Some even said he was lucky to have gotten that rank at all, since being 9th-grade was practically the same as being an ordinary human.
Code's gaze flicked to Ran again, and that was when he noticed it.
Ran's 5th-grade sorcerer badge was fake.
'Hehe, who does this guy think he's fooling with that? Or maybe it's just me.'
Code had always admired sorcerers and dreamed of owning a badge, but unfortunately, 9th-grades weren't qualified for one.
Ran's smile grew wider by the second.
"Arrgh," Code finally gave in after a few moments of thought.
Still, he had one more thing to clarify.
"What's the cut?" he asked, trying to sound casual, though his eyes betrayed his anticipation.
Ran's smile faltered slightly. "One percent."
Code's face fell instantly.
"Is that a joke?"
"Joke?" Ran asked. "We're talking business here, man."
"Tch. Go find someone else to joke with. I've got better things to do," Code said sharply, turning away.
"Uh?" Ran exclaimed.
"Okay, two!" he shouted.
Code kept walking.
"Four!"
Code stopped.
"Really, four! I can't go higher than that!" Ran pleaded.
"Four?" Code repeated, turning slowly. "I guess I can consider that, given my worth," he said, trying to sound cool, though his voice revealed his happiness.
"Arrgh," Ran groaned. "Four percent it is!"
"Yes!" Code grinned, reaching out to shake his hand. "Nice doing business with you."
"2 PM at Sylva, sharp," Ran replied, shaking his hand before turning to leave, waving as he walked away.
As he disappeared down the street, Ran bit his lip, brows furrowed. "Tch. The bastard thinks he's a hotshot."
Once he was gone, Code jumped for joy, throwing his hands in the air. "Now I don't have to worry about surviving for a while," he whispered.
He glanced around to make sure no one had overheard, then sighed in relief.
Life in the slums was rough.
'Now, I should probably go check how much a mansion costs in Centralis. Or maybe I'll buy an estate. Oh, I'll make that damn landlord pay.'
Grinning to himself, Code slipped into the next alley, excitement bubbling in his chest. Tomorrow was going to be a big day.
...
The Next Day...
Code woke up as early as 9 AM, even though they were supposed to meet by two.
The excitement of finally showing off his "sorcerer" skills wouldn't let him rest.
After getting ready, he boarded a train from Hazen Central Station to Sylva. His wallet was empty, but he had hope that it would be full on his way back.
Before stepping onto the train, he checked to make sure he had his most prized possession — his dagger — in hand. It was the same dagger he used to ward off stray dogs at night.
The train moved forward with a loud screech, belching thick smoke into the air as Code sank into a worn seat that creaked with every movement.
Gradually, the train passed through, leaving behind the soot-covered rooftops of Hazen.
Code stared out the window, watching the city fade into green hills and winding rivers. Every bump along the tracks stirred up his memories, fears, and fragile hopes.
All his life, he had been known as weak, rejected from guilds, laughed at, mocked out of jobs. Being a 9th-grade sorcerer was the worst thing that could happen to anyone.
Still, a small flame burned inside him. Maybe, just maybe, this mission could be his way out. A single step toward something greater.
He closed his eyes and whispered to himself,
"I'll make them see me. No matter what."
...
Sylva
The train screeched to a stop as it pulled into Sylva Station.
The doors opened, and people poured out in every direction.
Code stepped off the train, and the moment he did, a cool breeze brushed against his face.
A smile crept across his lips.
"That's a good sign," he murmured, and walked out of the station.
He took a taxi, yelling the directions to the driver. Their destination: Teron Forest, on the outskirts of Sylva.
The bustling city soon gave way to open fields and clusters of trees. Eventually, the car came to a stop.
Code stepped out, gazing at the vast expanse of forest ahead.
As he scanned the area, his eyes caught sight of them; Ran and the others.
They were already there, about nine in total.
Code approached, feeling their eyes on him as they sized him up. He was about to ask why everyone was staring when it hit him:
He was the only one without a badge. For some reason, 9th-grade sorcerers weren't certified.
"Right on time," Ran said as Code joined the group.
The others chatted among themselves, voices low but audible.
"I still can't believe Ran said we could do this with fake badges," one man whispered to his partner beside him.
"They're specialists in this kind of business," the other replied, nodding toward Ran and the tall man beside him.
They seemed close.
"I'm going to make a killing off this job, get a good wife and a house, then quit this line of work," another man said with a grin.
Code glanced around, feeling awkward. There wasn't a single familiar face.
His eyes shifted to the right, and met the gaze of a man standing at the far end. The man was of average height, but his pot belly and soft features made him look nothing like a sorcerer.
As their eyes met, the man whispered to the woman beside him, "What's a 9th-grade sorcerer his age doing here? This isn't a place for kids."
Unfortunately for him, his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.
'Everyone can hear you, bastard!' Code gritted his teeth, barely holding back the urge to punch the man square in the face.
The woman beside the man didn't seem interested in his words. She looked up, her gaze meeting Code's angry eyes.
"Uh?" Code's eyes widened.
"She's beautiful!" he muttered under his breath. Her long black hair shimmered slightly in the light, and her calm, angelic eyes nearly stole his breath.
She smiled faintly at him and waved.
For a moment, Code felt like he was floating in heaven. His heart threatened to explode from the impact.
But the bliss was short-lived.
Clap!
Everyone turned their attention toward Ran.
"We're all here," Ran said, his eyes scanning the group.
"This is a mid-class mission, with an A.T.R. of minus twenty-four point two percent," he continued. His tone was far more serious than it had been the day before.
"Let's start with introductions!"
"I'm Ran Cowell, mission leader. I specialize in demonology and combat specialization."
The towering man next to Ran stepped forward. His cold blue eyes matched his stern expression. "Kael Jensen. Battle and strategy."
The man beside Code spoke next. "Alric Screedinger. Battle and stealth."
Then another: "Dane Mikas. Health."
The woman next to him said, "Lyra Evermere. Support."
Then the beautiful woman from earlier stepped forward. "Elara," she said in a calm, detached tone. "Support and healing."
Code's eyes narrowed slightly. 'Why is someone so beautiful doing this kind of illegal work?'
The others followed with quick introductions:
"Darian Soudra. Battle. Sword-wielding."
"Darian Tenò. Same."
Finally, it came to Code's turn.
He swallowed hard, glancing at the ground. "Err... uh... Code Weber. I'm, uh... good with a dagger."
Silence fell. Kael raised an eyebrow, while the others exchanged glances.
"Ahem," Ran cleared his throat, breaking the tension.
"Let's get into formation!" he commanded, his voice firm.
The swordsmen took the front, sorcerers formed the rear, and healers moved to the center.
Code hesitated, unsure where to go, so he joined the healers, conveniently next to Elara.
The group finished their preparations, double-checking their gear.
Code took a deep breath, narrowing his eyes and tensing his face.
"This isn't a war, dude. It's just a mid-class raid," Ran said, giving him a friendly tap on the back.
Code grinned slightly as Ran and Kael stepped forward to lead.
"Alright, let's get this mission done!" Ran shouted.
The group moved out, stepping into the shadowy depths of the forest.
The march had begun.
***
To be continued...