Chapter 444 – New Member

“This meeting of the S Rank Assembly is now called to order,” Mage Harris announced as he took his seat in the chamber.

Aside from the usual S Rankers that attended in person, Mage Fletcher and Mage Levine of Atlantis had attended in person, which led the Time Mage to wonder what new headache the young Damion Wells had instore for him today.

“Our first order of business is the recognition of a new member of our Assembly and the first with his affinity to ever rise to S Rank.”

Mage Harris’ announcement caught everyone’s attention. Usually, decades, or even centuries, passed between mages reaching S Rank. The news that another had risen to the pinnacle of humanity was welcome news. Only a few short years had passed since Mage Teft’s ascension, but now another S Rank mage had emerged.

“May I present, Mage Axton Veers, S Rank Void mage,” Mage Harris said, finishing his announcement.

Most of the S Rankers were lightly clapping to welcome their newest member, but a few were noticeably uneasy. Mage Veers, while a member of the Mage Association and owed them a fair bit for his training, was a common born mage. This marked another powerful mage that would likely side with Mage Teft’s faction should he have to decide. Not only that, but a few of the members recalled how Mage Veers had defended Mage Wells during his hearing over the ownership of a Realm Breach.

If Mage Veers continued to support Mage Wells, his faction had not only just grown in size, but in power. Void was a dangerous affinity, which was why only a few mages were ever allowed to train it. If Mage Veers really did side with Mage Wells, then the only S Rank mage that would stand a chance against him was Mage Harris.

“Thank you all for your kind welcome,” Mage Veers said, carefully noting the looks on the faces of a few of the nobles. It had not been easy for him to rise in the Mage Association, and those same faces that looked worried about him now being S Rank were likely the same ones that made sure his magical growth was slow. “I am a man of few words, so I will return the dais to Mage Harris.”

“Thank you Mage Veers,” Mage Harris said. Mage Veers took a seat, leaving the Time mage to wonder whom to address first. Since its founding, the members from Atlantis had rarely participated in the Assembly, for them to be here now, he felt, had something to do with Mage Wells’ return, so he turned to them. “Mage Fletcher, perhaps you can enlighten us on how things are progressing in Atlantis.”

“Of course,” Mage Fletcher said, rising to her feet. “Mage Levine and I have several pieces of news to share with the Assembly. The first, as I am sure most of you have heard, is that Mage Wells has managed to return from the place that Exile sends things.”

Mage Fletcher intentionally paused, waiting for someone to object. No one had ever returned from being caught in Exile. The idea was astonishing, but all of these S Rankers had long since heard the rumors of Damion’s return and used their spies in Atlantis to confirm it. What they did not know was all the knowledge the young mage had brought back with him.

“What can you tell us about this place?” Mage Harris asked.

“After Mage Wells was caught in Exile, Mage Thresbane informed us that Exile creates a spatial rift that sends things caught in it to our ancient home world, which he called the Mother World. On Damion’s return, he confirmed he was sent to the Mother World and that it is currently occupied by goblins, Iblis and Alfar. With the Iblis and Alfar stuck in a prolonged war. If you all would like to learn more, I have transmitted an initial report to each of you. I believe Mage Wells is preparing a more detailed report for a later time.”

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Mage Fletcher touched her tablet and the report she mentioned was sent out to the other S Rank mages. The report explained the basics of Exile, how it was most likely a one-way trip, but did not go into detail on how Damion managed to return from the Mother World. Nor did the report mention the Iblis asking for their aid in the war with the Alfar or about deactivating the magic seal that was causing the Mother World to produce excessive amounts of mana. Those details were best left for Damion, after news of the SS Rank floor hooked in the members of the Assembly.

“How did Mage Wells return?” Headmaster Sorin asked after skimming the report and not seeing the answer.

“That is something for Mage Wells to reveal if he so chooses in his report. After all, you can’t expect a mage to reveal all their secrets just because you ask.”

Mage Fletcher’s answer left all of the Assembly dissatisfied, but they could not fault her reasoning. Each of them had secrets they were loath to reveal.

“What else can you tell us about Mage Wells’ return?” Mage Harris asked. He had heard rumors, but nothing concrete. If half of them turned out to be true then Mage Wells’ transformation from prodigy to living legend could be considered complete.

“Mage Wells has achieved A Rank and is continuing to raise his magic power by training on the S Rank floors of the Avalon labyrinth.”

Confirmation that Damion Wells had reached A Rank was a heavy blow to the headmasters of the other magic academies, as well as the supporters of the Mage Association and the noble families. At only 20 years old, Mage Wells was now among the elite of the magic world and would only keep climbing. Would the next member of the S Rank Assembly be him?

“His progress is quite exceptional,” Mage Veers said with a smile. He had always liked Mage Wells and was glad the young man had carved his own path instead of relying on compromises and rewards handed out like crumbs from the feast the nobles enjoyed.

“Our final announcement for this Assembly is that the Avalon labyrinth has successfully cleared the S Rank floors and on the fifty-first floor of our labyrinth, have encountered an SS Rank floor.”

The Assembly went quiet for a moment as everyone assessed what they had just heard. The Avalon labyrinth, the newest labyrinth discovered, had been cleared up to the fifty-first floor and had revealed the existence of SS Rank floors. The other labyrinths had stalled in the mid-forties, the floors becoming too difficult for the S Ranks to clear. Never would any of these noble S Rankers have thought that Mage Teft and her few S Rankers would be able to reach SS Rank floors.

“How do we know you are speaking the truth,” Headmaster Sorin spoke up first. “I motion for a team from this Assembly should be put together and head into the Avalon labyrinth to verify this outlandish claim.”

Headmaster Sorin’s motion caused a wave of chaos in the assembly chamber. Mages who had been silent up to this point shouting at one another. Some in agreement with Sorin and some opposed to the gross overreach of authority. It was not until Mage Harris spoke up that the chamber calmed down.

“The Avalon labyrinth is the property of the Avalon Magic Academy. Who they choose to let enter is up to them. However, I hope they are willing to at least allow groups to go in and feel the density of SS Rank mana so that it will be possible for those of us at the peak of S Rank to climb higher.”

“Our standards for entry to the labyrinth will not change,” Mage Fletcher said with a smile. “However, Mage Wells brought back with him a good bit of disturbing information about the Mother World, Nerotath and Realm Breaches, which I believe the Assembly should consider. Because of the dire need to respond to the threat he has identified, Mage Wells has convinced the Atlantis City Council to make an exception for entry, provided those seeking entrance provide the assistance sought.”