Chapter 29

With knowledge of her magic getting Sika a job was the next objective, and thankfully there was a place looking for people like her. Thus Naro brought Sika to the Adventurer's Guild. Approaching the desk Ava glanced up from the book she was reading and closed it seeing it was Naro.

Sika’s eyes twitched as the half-lidded woman yawned before speaking.

“Here for a job Naro,” she said remaining seated. “I can give you any information you’d like…”

Ava trailed off noticing the woman next to him, for a brief moment her eyes fully opened before her uncaring gaze returned.

“...a woman by your side…I can say I didn’t expect that Naro.”

“I…don’t know how to feel about that,” Naro said offering a weak chuckle. “This is Sikali. She wants to be an Adventurer.”

“Hmm…if you’re recommending her than I’m guessing she fits the criteria.”

Naro looked at Sikali who nodded and stepped forward.

“I know magic and I have some basic sword skills.”

Ava immediately stood up from her seat, her eyes opening fully and slammed her hands on the counter.

“You can use a blade and you know magic. I wasn’t expecting someone actually useful.”

“Ava…you said that out loud…and I’m right here,” Naro said.

Ava looked past Naro and whistled, when she did a woman with short mop-like brunette hair at a nearby table sighed and stood up.

She was dressed in simple armor, leather armor over a red tunic, brown trousers with a sword attached to her hips with a pair of brown boots.

“Leona, mind testing her.”

“Sure,” she said walking over to the two.

Her voice lacked any energy to it, somehow she was more monotone than Ava. Her voice was low and somewhat boyish, Naro felt like she’d make a good noir detective but put the thought aside.

“Wooden swords.”

The woman named Leona spoke and Ava tossed two blades over the counter. The woman caught them and tossed one to Sika who snatched it out of the air with ease.

Tapping the blade on her shoulder Leona waited until Sika held her sword horizontally in front of her getting into stance.

“Come at me properly so I can judge you.”

The other Adventurer’s moved the tables more towards the walls apparently used to these exchanges.

Sika closed the distance without hesitation bringing her blade straight down. Leona easily sidestepped and responded in kind. Sika moved to the side doging the downard slice, but had to duck her body as the older woman shifted her footing and swung at her neck.

Stepping forward Sika raised her blade aiming for the woman’s skull, Leona however leaned back dodging the strike and stepping to the side swung at her again, forcing Sika to block the strike.

Naro had never watched two swordsman fight up close, it was hard to follow but the clash of blades, the sound of the wood echoing in the room, and the two weaving between each other strikes, stepping forward looking for any opening they could take advantage of.

While he was enjoying the exchange it didn’t last long, Leona body seemed to vanish, Sika’s blade passing through the woman’s intangible body, before she could figure out where the woman was, she was conked on the head from the back.

“Ow!” Sika said ducking down holding the top of her head.

“Fight’s over.”

Sika glared at the woman but raised her body and relaxing her face offered a small bow to her.

Leona gave her a nod before looking at Ava.

“She knows the basics of basics. I’d say she’s about E rank in terms of skill, just past beginner.”

Sika’s brows furrowed but she couldn’t deny the woman’s words, she lost against her and she admitted that she struggled to even keep up. She rarely wielded her blades in hand even back then, she had so much power back then that she could cut down monsters from a distance, and even then she had fought anything above D rank. People were far different form monsters, she could barely find any openings and it was clear Leona was holding back.

“If that’s the case then we’ll be happy to have you,” Ava said smiling at Sika.

“...her attitude completely changed,” Sika said as Leona sat down and the tables were pushed back.

“You get used to it,” Naro said as the two returned to the desk.

“Oh speaking of E rank, Naro may I have you card?” Ava asked holding her hand out.

Naro handed the card to her and holding her hand over it, magic poured into the card before the F on it turned to E. Naro’s eyes widened as he took the card back.

“You’re now E rank, congratulations Naro,” Ava said.

Naro looked back at Ava and noticed the woman’s smile was gentler than usual, her body not as tense. For a moment he wondered if that comment was genuine but Ava attention moved away from him.

“Sikali right? Pour your Mana into this card, It’ll be ready by tomorrow.”

Doing as Ava suggested the two went to leave but before they walked out the door Leona spoke up.

“Sikali, in exchange for round I’ll help you improve your swordsmanship, round a session though.”

Sika turned to Leona who glance back at her.

“I…would appreciate that,” Sika said turning fully towards her.

“Happy to hear, now Naro I’m more into the sword but you like to fight with your fists right?”

“I…uh do yeah.”

Void only worked when he came in contact with someone, he learned the hard way he can’t use it through weapons.

“I can get you to D rank in terms of fighting at least. Same offer.”

“Oh! Yeah I would appreciate that. Thank you.”

“We start tomorrow. You can cover for Sika’s round the first time.”

With the Guild business done the two returned to Naro’s home, Nefi and Aeli had managed to find a place for Sika, a place recently left behind by someone who left town, but as it was on the other side of the Old District they decided to attend their affairs at his place.

The two had made a deal on the way to the Guild, Sika knew next to nothing about the Guild and while the Pamphlet was handy it didn’t cover everything. Since it would take time for her to learn everything, having Naro condense it would let her act sooner rather than later. In exchange she would teach him what she knew about Magic and other matters.

“I can only teach you the basics, I don’t know your magic or how it works so I can’t help with that,” Sika said from her seated position.

“Understood, I’ll take what I can get,” Naro said from his knelt position in front of her.

He wasn’t sure why she was sitting in a chair and he was sitting on his knees in front of her but he was desperate for information, this was nothing.

“First and foremost magic is able to improve, it possesses ranks. With time it’ll grow stronger.”

Sika held up a finger as she continued.

“Magic has five forms. To my knowledge it starts at Mage then moves upward. Thus the ranks are: Mage, Adept, Caster, Master and finally Sage.”

Sika held up five fingers and Naro nodded to show he understood.

“My former magic Radiance was at the Adept Stage, so it was Rank Two. Generally you learn a new name to your Magic when it ranks up. In my case I gained more swords and learned the phrase Radiance Burst.”

Sikali closed her eyes at the reminder that she’d never be able to use that magic again, but clearing her throat continued.

“The rank of your magic also determines your status as a magic user. This is the same for Mortal and Deity alike. A former Celestial apparently created this rule. Though Mage is still used interchangeably as the title for all magic users, a way of humbling oneself, if you properly introduce yourself to a rival mage however you generally name your rank in the introduction.”

“I see,” Naro said. “You didn’t do that though.”

“You weren’t a rival then, you were an enemy,” Sika said crossing her arms. “Why reveal your magic rank to an opponent?”

“Were? Also am I your Rival now?”

“Moving on!” Sika said waving her hand. “Sages are the height of magic and Master’s right under….I suppose I was unlucky to meet a Master here.”

“You met a Master? Where?”

“What are you talking about, you’re a master.” Sika said pointing at Naro.

“Me I’m just a Mage.”

“Yeah a Mage Master.”

“No no just Mage, the lowest rank…wow introductions have to be difficult when you're at the bottom.”

“Hold on…Naro. Are you…really a Mage, plain old Mage?”

Naro dug in his pocket and held his Guild Card towards Sika, he explained that the Guild Cards matched the power of your magic and gave you a rank matching it. Sika trembling hands stared at the card in front of her and the ‘Mage’ in bright letters on it.

“You..you really are a Mage.”

“I mean I’m probably a Mage Adept now since I learned a new Phrase, but I only now Void and Void Cast so…”

Sika fell onto her hands and knees causing Naro to stumbled away from her.

“...I…I lost to a Mage Adept.”

“Well I mean we were the same rank that’s not…too bad right.”

“You weren’t hiding your Mana…it was just that weak.”

“Well…yeah I don’t have that much.”

Sika gripped her skull with her hands, despair escaping from her muffled groans at the realization. Naro gently pat her on the back deciding to ignore the harsh comments about him.