Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Knights and Mages

    The battle between Adam and Amon raged on for another 15 minutes, each moment filled with unrelenting intensity. Finally, Adam emerged victorious, his longsword held steady as Amon yielded. Both knights, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, sank to the ground to rest.

    "Wow, that was incredible," Arthur murmured, not realizing he had spoken aloud.

    Klein glanced at him and smiled. "Indeed, Your Majesty. It was a remarkable display of skill and strength. Would you like to speak with them?"

    Arthur shook his head. "No, let them rest. They are all tired from the fight. For now, let''s move on to the mage training grounds. I''m curious to see how mages fight."

    "As you wish, Your Majesty," Klein replied with a nod.

    Arthur felt a surge of excitement as they began walking toward the mage training area. The duel he had just witnessed left him eager to see how magic was wielded in combat. Having only seen simple magic spells after his transmigration and seen depictions of magical battles only in manga and anime, the prospect of watching real mages in action stirred his anticipation.

    After a short walk, Arthur''s eyes lit up as he caught sight of the mage training grounds. Mages were spread across the area, each channeling their abilities by chanting the magic spell. Vibrant spells of fire, ice, and lightning shot toward dummies set up in the shooting range, leaving trails of energy in their wake.

    "This is the shooting range where mages practice their accuracy and hone their elemental attributes," Klein explained, gesturing toward the training mages.

    Arthur watched in awe as one mage launched a precise fireball that scorched a distant target, while another created a chilling gust that froze a nearby dummy solid. The range was alive with energy, the air crackling with the residue of spells.

    "Each rank—D through S—is divided into three sub-levels: D-, D, and D+, and so on. For instance, I''m currently at A-, though my potential was measured at A+. With enough dedication, I aim to reach it. Furthermore, in combat, factors such as skill and unique magic play significant roles. Even at A-, my unique magic frost and my experience, it could give me a chance against an A+ or even an S- opponent."

    Arthur listened intently, nodding as she spoke. He then turned to Klein and asked, "What about you? What kind of magic do you use?"

    Klein straightened slightly before answering. "Since I''m an aura knight, my magic capabilities are limited. My magic element is Water, but I can''t use it offensively. The most I can do is summon a liter or two of water daily—hardly useful in combat."

    Arthur furrowed his brow in curiosity. "Why is that? Is it because you''re an aura knight?"

    Klein nodded. "Exactly, Your Majesty. I thought you might already know, but since you''ve asked, let me explain. When a child is born, they can either develop as a mage or a knight, but never both. This is due to the way aura knights function. Upon becoming an aura knight, what we call an ''aura star'' forms around the heart. This star essentially consumes most of the person''s mana, repurposing it to enhance physical attributes like strength, speed, and resilience.

    "That said, having more mana at birth does allow a person to acquire aura stars faster than someone with less mana. But regardless of their starting mana pool, an aura knight''s magic will always be limited to basic or non-combative applications."

    Arthur nodded slowly, his understanding growing.

    Odette interjected, "However, this rule doesn''t apply to the heroes who will appear a year before the gates emerge."

    Arthur blinked, startled. "Heroes? Gates? What do you mean by that?"