Interceder of Chaos

Finishing breakfast, Mathrilda took a minute to read the document Axis passed to her.

"I see, so the mana aptitude and quality measurement artifact of the tower almost got destroyed as it overflowed. Good thing it did not and shut down on its own; otherwise, it would be a hassle to find a replacement..."

"Elya, as things stand, I can't leave Axis in your hands..."

"Hmm," the duchess replied with just a nod.

"I don't mean anything bad. You know I don't quite have a knack for teachi—" Mathrilda's hurried attempt to clarify was cut off by the duchess's nonchalant response.

"I agree," the duchess remarked, cutting off Mathrilda mid-sentence.

"Pardon me?" Mathrilda said, not believing her ears. The duchess, notorious all over the world for her stubbornness, was agreeing so easily."I think it's a good idea if Mathrilda taught you for some time. What do you think, Axis?" the duchess asked, her gaze steady on him.

"Before I make a decision, I'd like to ask some questions first," Axis replied, his tone thoughtful.

"As expected," Mathrilda said, a small smile forming on her lips. "I would be disappointed if you just agreed without thinking. Ask away."

"Who has more experience in teaching between the two of you?" Axis asked, his eyes darting between the two women.

"That would be Mathrilda," the duchess answered without hesitation.

"And who is better at mana control and sensitivity?"

"Good question for a mage or any profession that deals with mana, mana control and sensitivity are very important talents to have.

As a spirit master, summoner, and tamer—among other professions—my mana control and sensitivity are naturally superior. However, if you want to learn swordsmanship and magic, and how to combine the two, very few can rival Elya in that regard," Mathrilda explained, her tone filled with pride.

"I see. I think I have a general idea of how each of you teaches. One final question: who is stronger between the two of you?"

"That's a tough question," Mathrilda admitted, glancing at the duchess.

"Why?" Axis pressed, curious.

"Because, in terms of rank, we're equals," Mathrilda replied.

"And what rank is that?" Axis inquired.

"SS rank," the duchess stated, her voice carrying a weight of authority.

"Before you ask about that," Mathrilda interjected, "there's something you should understand."

"Okay," Axis nodded, listening intently.

"You know how ranks are determined up to rank A, yes?"

"Yes, somewhat."

"Until rank A, we use devices commonly available in magic towers to measure the quality and quantity of mana and assign ranks. But after rank A, starting from S, these measures become meaningless," Mathrilda explained.

"Meaningless?" Axis echoed, puzzled.

"Yes, because starting from rank S, the quality of mana changes so drastically that most devices can't detect it accurately. This often leads to incorrect assessments and the potential loss of many talented individuals," Mathrilda continued.

"You said 'most'—does that mean it can still be measured?" Axis asked.

"Yes, but the devices capable of measuring mana above rank S are few and are not accessible to the general public," Mathrilda clarified.

"Then how does one get promoted from rank A to rank S?" Axis questioned.

"Usually, lower rank S awakeners are responsible for the assessment. Starting from rank S, awakeners can sense the rank of their opponent with a fair degree of accuracy, and they are assigned to judge whether a person has reached the milestone of rank S," Mathrilda explained.

"Though it's a flawed system," the duchess added, her voice tinged with disapproval.

"Yes," Mathrilda agreed. "As rank S or not, they are still human and susceptible to bias. To counter this, a council was established to handle promotions to S rank. It's led by elites and masters of different fields, mostly composed of awakeners above Rank B."

"I see," Axis said, absorbing the information. "So I have the potential to reach the same level as you two?"

"No," Mathrilda replied, her eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and seriousness. "You have the potential to surpass us."

"I could surpass you?" Axis asked, feigning surprise, even though he knew full well that his myth rank potential was far beyond what any device in the world could measure.

"Yes, and that's why I'm uneasy about leaving you solely in Elya's hands..." Mathrilda admitted.

"Why? Is she that bad of a teacher?" Axis inquired, his tone innocent but probing.

"Why don't we leave that question for another time, Axis?" Mathrilda replied smoothly, sidestepping the question. "When would you like to come to my estate?"

"Aren't you going to teach me here?" Axis asked, slightly surprised.

"No, I came here because I had some matters to discuss with Elya," Mathrilda explained.

"So, have you decided who you'll learn from for the next few years?" the duchess interjected, her voice calm but expectant.

"I feel I should learn from Aunt Mathrilda," Axis said after a moment of consideration.

"Good choice. Learn from her for a few years," the duchess nodded, standing up and walking over to Mathrilda. "You two can discuss and decide on a departure date."

"Going somewhere?" Axis asked, sensing something was amiss.

"Yes," the duchess muttered under her breath, her voice low. "Beasts have been behaving strangely lately. I'm going to look into that and discuss a few other matters."

"You can leave Axis to me," Mathrilda said softly, her voice reassuring. The duchess nodded in acknowledgment before walking out, leaving Mathrilda and Axis alone to plan his future training.

"What are you going to do today?" Mathrilda asked, turning her attention back to Axis.

"Read some books, I guess. When are you going back to your estate?"

"Tomorrow or the day after," Mathrilda replied casually.

"That's soon," Axis remarked.

"Can't actually leave the estate without notice," Mathrilda said, hinting at the responsibilities waiting for her back home.

'She left without informing anyone in her estate, and this is a good chance to leave the mansion and get some fresh air,' Axis thought, seeing an opportunity. "Let's head out tomorrow if that's okay?"

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