Ari

Alexi's change in personality, if it could be called that, was a shock to everyone, but his unyielding loyalty to Xasha remained steadfast. Xasha was so elated at the news of Stormy transitioning to a beastman, he held a large celebration and took him under his wing as his personal disciple. For the next few years, Xasha, Alexi, and Alexi's senior Tulip took on the most intensive training regiment on the continent.

In a little over seven years, both Tulip and Alexi were at the peak of the Thorium Realm. The only problem was breaking into the Emerald Realm was not dissimilar to breaking into the Platinum Realm. One had to surpass their limit and gain the respect of the mana. That was easier said than done, evidenced by there being less than a dozen Emerald Mages on the continent fifteen years after its discovery.

Alexi's loyalty and admiration of his master led him to take Xasha's ambition of changing the world and carving out a place for Human beings on the continent as his own. Because of this, he trained day and night without rest. When he reached the peak and became stuck, he focused solely on improving his technique. He practiced and mastered every spell and combat technique in Stardust City, even taking the breathing technique Xasha taught him to levels never seen before.

He became famous for being elusive and for his outstanding performance in the assessments Xasha had set up to find powerful mages of the younger generation to join the army and his raid teams. One after the other, he flung these assessments far behind him, and those he failed he would train nonstop then return with a vengeance. At first, there was a group of mages trying to keep up with him, but after the 60th assessment, they gave up. Those levels were too arduous and they would only court death if they were to tackle them before they were ready.

The people gave him the moniker Rasing Dragon and proclaimed him the most powerful mage of the younger generation. His fame spread across the continent quickly. Young mages from all over the continent came to Stardust City to find him. Each of them confident, each of them powerful, each of them challenged him for the title and each of them left Stardust City with looks of both disappointment and respect.

His rapid growth also became a concern for some. At his current pace, he would surpass Xasha within a few years, and at that point, who knows what ambitions he might have towards Stardust Province? Who knows what ambitions he might have toward the continent? It was not lost on anyone that this young genius of a mage was not a human, but a beastman, and all beastmen had their innate nature. Some felt it was only a matter of time before Alexi's base instincts took over and he forgets all about his loyalty towards his master.

Xasha was not worried about any of this. He saw Alexi like his own son and was nothing but proud of everything he had accomplished. His one concern shared by the entire family was that Alexi only cared about training and nothing else. He had no life, no friends, no hobbies or interests outside of training. No concern for his looks, clothes, or hygiene. He showed no interest or Enchantment or Alchemy, only combat magic and martial arts. Xasha worried he might regret throwing his childhood away and not living his life. However, no matter how much he persuaded him to forget about training and live life, there was no change in Alexi's behavior. Eventually, Xasha gave up and left him to his own devices, and so did everyone else.

Alexi gulped and wiped a bead of sweat that formed on his brow. "I... I suggest we move first, launch an invasion, set up our outpost, and return to Henosis with a report of our findings. If the energy beasts and whatever else is out there is as powerful as we fear. When the others see what they are up against, they will think twice about setting foot in the wilderness without adequate strength."

Saxon shook his head at this statement. "This proposal will bring more harm than good. Who says we are powerful enough to challenge the wilderness ourselves? And us charging into the wilderness will have the opposite effect. The other powers will see that we have an advantage, that we are ahead of them and in a bid to catch up. They will storm the wilderness with no fear of consequences. These member states' greatest fear is falling so far behind us and the Devos Family in strength that they lose speaking rights at the table and become puppet states. If they have no deterrent, what's stopping us from taking their provinces for ourselves or say, "do as I say or I will kill you?" them teaming up against us is their only trump card. If the strength gap widens and this is no longer an option, they will become desperate."

"Desperate people do desperate things," Xara finished her husband's statement. Just like that, it was back to the starting line for the Stardust Council. After another few hours of silence and no suggestion thrown out, yielded any result. The group finally split and everyone returned to their posts.

"Master," Alexi called out, as he and Xasha walked along the corridor leading to the deck. "I still think we should do as I suggested. We don't have to announce our findings, but we also need to know what we're up against. We should organize a recognizance mission. I and my Ascending Dragon team would be honored to accept this responsibility."

"This is too dangerous a mission for your young and inexperienced raid team, especially since the number of Storm Dagons is actually so low. I will take on this mission myself. Of course, you can tag along. I'm sure Tulip will want to come as well. It can be a training mission for us all. "

Alexi's face lip up with excitement, Xasha noticed but paid him no mind, as he knew exactly what he was thinking. "Originally, I wanted to wait until we had a team of Emerald Realm mages before we launched this mission. But with things being what they are, I think we are short on options." He let out a long sigh. "Those assessments were designed to increase the power of our mages through adversities. Having them constantly push themselves to their limits and surpassing them. With this ingrained in their bones over the years, it made it easier to break past the Platinum Realm. The results of this are evident, as the number of Thorium Real mages under our Falling Stardust is countless."

"The problem lies in the elusive Emerald Realm. After 15 years, we only have a handful of Emerald Realm Mages. I had high hopes for you. I was sure that passing all hundred trials would be the key needed to transcending the Thorium Realm. The latter trials are so intense I felt it would be the catalyst needed to gain mana's respect. Now I need to think of something else. Maybe the answer lies in the wilderness and staying here mulling over it will do us no good."