Secret Forest

"Today, I'll explain how Royal Authority is established across the land." The knowledge Scholar Heide taught today had captured every student's interest.

"First, we must understand that maintaining a country requires three pillars: population, strength, and economy."

"Strength can be further divided into three kinds: public order, military power, and the strength of the upper ranks."

"Public order is easy to understand. The patrols and guards you see in villages and towns in your daily lives all fall into this category."

"Military power usually consists of the nobles' personal guards, knight orders, the nation's direct military regiments, and its advisory spellcasting corps."

"As for strength among the upper ranks, relatively few people know about it." Scholar Heide tapped the blackboard with a thin wooden stick.

"When the difference in rank between Transcendents' Aspect Powers exceeds three, it creates an utterly terrifying disparity."

"For example, when a Third Order Knight in full-coverage steel armor charges, even a tightly packed formation of five hundred people can be pierced with ease, like a boulder rolling across grass without the slightest resistance."

"When that Third Order Knight swings his sword with all his might, the circling blade's cold glint can kill ordinary people within twenty meters in an instant. Even if they're wearing iron armor, it won't help." Scholar Heide described the terror of a knight.

"So, if a country doesn't have enough high-ranking Transcendents to hold the line, it can easily suffer a one-sided defeat on the battlefield."

No wonder every country recruits people who reach the Knight stage, making them the lowest-ranking lords, the girl thought.

"Some of you have already reached First Order, so you should understand the kind of disparity I'm talking about." At this, many eyes turned toward the golden-haired girl in the front row.

Iona (First Order—Blazing Sun) was one of the few Transcendents who cultivated the Blazing Sun Aspect Power. The resources required for this path were so rare that ordinary people often wouldn't dare even hope for them.

"Teacher, besides Knights on the Castle path, are there no high-ranking Classes for other Aspect Powers?" a commoner student asked curiously.

"Of course there are. Every Aspect Power has its own high-ranking practitioners. It's just that you're unlikely to meet them."

"For example, Transcendents with the Spiral Fish Aspect Power are usually found near lakes, swamps, and the sea. Those who cultivate the Mist Shadow Aspect Power are mostly assassins, thieves, illusionists, conjurers, and the like. Most practitioners of the Dead Ember Aspect Power are outcasts, such as gravediggers, Bone Stitchers, and dark wizards."

"How do we come into contact with these Classes? I mean, where do they learn them? Do they all figure it out on their own?" someone asked.

"Some hidden organizations or schools teach these secret arts and abilities."

"I know you're all curious about how to find these organizations and schools. In fact, they aren't very far from us." Scholar Heide rarely put on a mysterious air as he raised a finger.

"Heh, the Candlekeep School I belong to is actually an organization of that sort, though we often appear in the public eye."

"Put simply, these organizations and schools are quite strict about recruiting new members. Some resources are exceptionally rare, so they're only willing to train the gifted." Heide shook his head slightly.

"In a sense, I'm a failure. I never managed to break through to the Third Order Secret Speech Class, so later I switched to the Second Order Castle Scholar Class."

"If you're among the most outstanding here, you may have a chance to visit a place like that and encounter the true higher-dimensional powers and knowledge of this world." He slowly closed his eyes and stroked the white beard on his chest.

Then the old man opened his eyes, his deep gaze sweeping slowly across the room.

"Viscount Xuefeng and I can jointly recommend one student each year to the Secret Forest in the Regas Kingdom. There, you'll encounter a world beyond ordinary people's imagination, as well as Transcendent paths leading to Aspect Powers above Fifth Order."

"But that place is also utterly different from the world outside. You'll no longer have any of your current identities, and if you die there, no one will ask questions, because the law cannot restrain those powerful beings who defy all reason."

"Fortunately, even schools as powerful as those need fresh blood. They need to pass down their knowledge, secret arts, and even certain beliefs. If you meet their expectations and prove suitable, they'll accept you as one of their own, and you'll leave the realm of ordinary people behind."

So it's finally here. Iona looked at Scholar Heide, suppressed excitement rising in her eyes.

The reason she'd come to this remote city wasn't only because Viscount Xuefeng was a distant relative of hers. It was also because Scorched Stone City had a recommendation slot for the mysterious Secret Forest. Only there could she access advanced secret knowledge and have a chance to become a truly powerful Transcendent.

If she advanced beyond Fourth Order, even the Grand Duke of Regas would respect her and release her father from the dungeon. If she went further and became a Fifth Order Transcendent, she could even influence the fate of the kingdom.

Other cities had similar recommendation slots, but they were usually reserved for powerful nobles or people with special connections, making them difficult to obtain. If nothing had happened to her father, she would have been able to go to the mysterious Secret Forest this year. But now...

She had no choice but to depend on others and stay in this backwater.

It wasn't just Iona. The other students also gazed at Scholar Heide with eager anticipation. As for the dangers he'd mentioned, no one gave them a second thought.

Where was there no danger? Even at home, one might be snatched away by a passing Ti Wolf. In this age, ordinary people lived an average of only a little over thirty years, and truly old people were exceptionally rare.

The mysterious Secret Forest... Mick clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm, and silently vowed:

"I have to go there. Jero, big brother, this is why you sent me to Scholar Heide, isn't it? Yes, it must be."

When Yero heard the teacher mention the mysterious Secret Forest, he was excited at first, but soon his spirits sank. He'd heard of it before, and the past two years had taught him that he was no genius. He'd never get a chance to go there.

If it were me... Solin straightened up, staring directly at the old man on the stage, his heart surging.

"Father, I know you've always regretted never truly crossing the threshold into Third Order. I'm determined to overcome that regret and walk a path you never got to tread."

There should be a Radiant Moon legacy there... Sylutia felt a little anticipation at the thought.

Everyone seems so eager, though. The competition must be brutal.

Each student had their own thoughts, and the enthusiasm that had begun to wane in recent days flared up again.

Whether for their own futures, their families' hopes, the chance to explore more possibilities, or the chance to see a wider world, this was the best choice they could make.

A nobody, or a name known across the land?

The answer had already taken shape in their hearts.