Grade 4. Praise God.
I still have a chance to become a great mage knight.
In a world where your soul potential is determined at birth, it's truly terrifying.
Peter stood beside me, his gaze lowered. He seemed disappointed. Should I say something? No… I don't want to distract the session.
"Now let's move on." Instructor Bale's voice echoed across the marble chamber.
It seems Instructor Bale is about to address us again.
"Everyone, listen carefully. A little reminder about the manament," he said, pacing slowly. "Remember, mana is a fragment of the soul, but the soul is the essence of life. Using magecraft depletes the soul, and using any significant attack can kill, no matter your grade."
Silence filled the room.
"Not too long ago, a royal engineer from the neighboring Kinisha state found a rare stone buried beneath one of the world trees. Virellium."
He paused, letting the word sink in.
"A deep violet gemstone with a pulsing inner glow, like lightning trapped in crystal. These stones are unique—they act as mana amplifiers. With them, a single fragment of the soul can act as though the entire soul were in combat. They are used in the making of high-tier manament."
Fascinating. A stone that could amplify a soul's reach.
"Now… it's time for the grimoire selection. Everyone, place your hand on your manament and focus. A grimoire should respond to your mana."
"Mana can be transubstantiated." Bale continued. "Using incantations from your grimoire, you can shape mana into elements, change its nature—transform it into a weapon, a shield, even into life itself."
I watched closely.
Grimoires fluttered in midair like glowing tomes of destiny, pulled by unseen forces, swirling toward their rightful owners.
But none came to me.
Not one.
I tapped into my soul, gritted my teeth… nothing.
Even Peter couldn't summon one.
"Strange…" I muttered.
We had to use our manament to manipulate ambient mana to draw a grimoire, but only we—Peter and I—couldn't.
Instructor Bale furrowed his brow.
Concern. Obvious concern.
He called for a priest.
"What's the situation?" Priest Jackson of the Royal Cathedral asked, eyes narrowing beneath his ceremonial hood.
"It seems Peter and Johannes are incapable of manipulating mana for their grimoires," Bale explained.
The priest turned toward me.
"Johannes of the Freiburg family... An honor. I reviewed your mana manipulation records. This is not a matter of incompetence."
"What about Peter?" Bale asked.
The priest hesitated. "That is… different. It's likely his encounter with the non-godblood caused a mana blockage. We must perform a cleansing. A second baptism."
Peter followed the priest without resistance.
Whispers flooded the hall like cold wind.
I too was asked to go, given I'd faced the same intruder.
We arrived at the Royal Cathedral.
A monument of gold and diamond. Larger than the castle itself.
Said to hold the remains of the First Obedient Man.
"Into the sacred bath," Priest Jackson instructed.
Submerged, I listened to his voice as he prayed:
"God, the scripture says that water was created to feed the world tree, and this same water shall feed the soul, purify it, and expand its scope. Amen."
When Peter entered the bath…
The water turned black.
The priest stumbled back.
His face was horror incarnate.
He drew a dagger—then drove it into his own throat.
Screams. Chaos.
Bale cried out, "He's a non-godblood! That's why! That's why!"
Peter trembled, reaching for the dagger to end his own life—but he couldn't.
Scripture forbade it.
> "God's servant must not touch the devil or his descendants—he must slaughter his throat and seek salvation."
Such cruel words…
Mage knights stormed into the cathedral, responding to Bale's orders.
Peter cried out.
"I'm innocent! My father is a godblood, and so is my mother! You all know this!"
But the question lingered:
Why did the water turn black?
I knew his family—top to bottom.
Pure godblood.
The academy court didn't care.
They ruled swiftly—
Guilty of blasphemy, idolatry, and satanism.
His execution set for two hours later.