Night had fully settled over Thornheart Castle.
Soft orange light from an oil lamp illuminated Ivan's room as a servant quietly placed a tray of food on the table. Steamed bread, roasted meat, and a simple bowl of soup—nothing extravagant, but warm and filling.
After the servant withdrew, Ivan locked the door and sat down.
Only then did he allow himself to relax slightly.
He ate slowly, methodically. Every bite grounded him, reminding him that no matter how advanced the Orin Civilization had once been, his current body was still human—young, injured, and dependent on food and rest.
After finishing the meal, Ivan wiped his hands and leaned back in his chair.
"Nova," he said softly, "organize the information gathered today. Start with combat power classifications in this world."
"Yes, Master."
A faint blue glow shimmered before his eyes as Nova began compiling data.
"Based on scanned texts, historical records, and oral accounts," Nova reported, "the primary combat power system recognized across the Valen Continent is the Knight Path."
A structured chart appeared.
"Knight trainees are referred to as Knight Apprentices or Knight Squires. Your current physical parameters place you at the upper level of this stage."
Ivan nodded silently.
That matched his expectations.
"Above Knight Squire," Nova continued, "is the Low-Level Knight. At this stage, individuals form a stable energy circulation within the body, greatly enhancing strength, endurance, and reaction speed."
"Next is the Mid-Level Knight, capable of releasing external force through weapons or strikes."
"Then comes the High-Level Knight, whose physical body approaches the limits of human potential. Such individuals can face magical beasts head-on."
Ivan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And above that?" he asked.
"Above High-Level Knight is the Great Knight," Nova replied. "This stage represents a qualitative leap. Their internal energy undergoes transformation, allowing sustained large-scale combat. Great Knights often serve as kingdom-level military assets."
Ivan absorbed the information carefully.
This alone explained much.
A single Great Knight could influence the outcome of a battle—or even a war.
"However," Nova continued, "fragmented records suggest the existence of a higher classification."
Ivan's posture straightened.
"Designation varies across texts," Nova said. "Most commonly referred to as Sky Knights."
"Sky Knights?"
"Yes, Master. Descriptions indicate individuals capable of long-term aerial combat, extreme mobility, and power exceeding Great Knights by a significant margin."
Ivan's fingers tightened slightly.
"So… another qualitative leap."
"Correct. However, confirmed sightings are extremely rare. Most references come from ancient records or heroic epics."
Ivan exhaled slowly.
If Sky Knights existed… then Great Knights were not the ceiling.
This world was deeper than it appeared.
After a brief pause, Nova added, "Beyond Sky Knights, no reliable knight-based classifications have been confirmed."
Ivan leaned back, his thoughts churning.
If the knight path has limits… then what lies beyond?
As if answering that question, his gaze drifted toward a book lying on the table—one he had borrowed from the library earlier.
An old adventurer's journal lay open on the table.
Ivan picked it up and slowly flipped through the worn pages.
The handwriting was rough and uneven, clearly not authored by a scholar. The journal was filled with records of monster hunts, near-death experiences, and half-finished maps of ruins scattered across the continent.
Most of it was ordinary.
Then Ivan's gaze stopped.
"…I swear it wasn't knight force…"
"…there were no battle cries, no charge, no visible weapon…"
"…the fire appeared out of thin air, twisting unnaturally, as if responding to invisible marks in the air…"
Ivan frowned slightly.
He continued reading.
"…I thought it was some strange magical beast at first, but it stood there like a man…"
"…I couldn't feel any pressure like I do from knights…"
"…I don't know what he was, but when he raised his hand, the ground cracked and the air burned…"
The adventurer never named what he saw.
There was no classification, no explanation—only fear and confusion.
Ivan closed the journal slowly.
So… something outside the knight system.
Not a magical beast.
Not a knight.
And not something this man could understand.
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Nova," Ivan said quietly, "search all recorded materials. Cross-reference descriptions of non-knight combat entities."
"Yes, Master."
A soft blue glow shimmered as Nova processed the command, accessing every scanned book, journal, and fragment Ivan had encountered.
Several seconds passed.
"Search complete," Nova reported. "Multiple fragmented references detected. No unified classification."
Short excerpts appeared before Ivan's eyes.
"…ancient scholars who shaped phenomena through symbols…"
"…individuals who prepared effects in advance rather than relying on physical strength…"
"…beings recorded in pre-kingdom ruins, identity unclear…"
"…figures associated with geometric markings and altered environments…"
Ivan read each fragment carefully.
None of them explained the mechanism behind such power.
But they shared similarities—patterns that could not be ignored.
"These records originate from different regions and eras," Nova continued. "However, a recurring designation appears in later texts."
Ivan's attention sharpened.
"In several fragmented sources," Nova said, "these anomalous individuals are referred to by an ancient designation."
A single word surfaced in Ivan's vision.
Wizard
"This term appears repeatedly in records predating the Age of Kingdoms," Nova continued.
"However, all structured knowledge regarding them is missing or incomplete."
Additional fragments surfaced one after another.
"…wizards who bent flame without fuel…"
"…those who spoke of laws hidden beneath the world…"
"…individuals who altered phenomena through symbols and preparation…"
"…their presence distorted natural order…"
"…records end abruptly after the Collapse Era…"
Ivan read in silence.
The descriptions were inconsistent.
Some texts described fire that moved unnaturally.
Others mentioned gravity-like distortions, storms forming without cause, or land reshaped by unknown principles.
But none explained how.
"No unified system exists," Nova added.
"No standardized training method. No confirmed hierarchy."
"However," she continued, "all records agree on one point."
Ivan waited.
"Wizards did not strengthen the body," Nova said.
"They pursued understanding—of magic, phenomena, and what ancient texts describe as 'laws.'"
Ivan's fingers tightened slightly.
So they existed.
Not myths.
Not rumors.
A real path—one that had once flourished, then vanished.
"Estimated disappearance timeframe," Nova added, "correlates with widespread ruin sites and loss of pre-kingdom knowledge."
Ivan stared at the word again.
Wizard.
Not a title of nobility.
Not a military rank.
A designation for those who sought truth beyond the blade.
No wonder they disappeared.
Paths like that rarely ended peacefully.
Ivan leaned back slowly.
He did not feel fear.
He felt curiosity.
Quiet. Controlled. Dangerous.
"Continue monitoring," Ivan said calmly.
"Limit your focus to information related to wizards only. If any new records, rumors, or anomalies surface—notify me immediately."
"Yes, Master," Nova replied.
Ivan exhaled slowly and looked away from the floating fragments.
Wizards were a path shrouded in uncertainty—one that could not be rushed.
For now, observation was enough.
He shifted his attention inward, feeling the familiar rhythm of his body.
The ache in his muscles.
The subtle warmth circulating through his limbs.
Knight training was still his foundation.
Whatever mysteries this world hid, survival came first.