The City of Lathe

As they began their trip to Lathe, the central city of the territory of Ruthergett, via the carriage that was way bigger inside than it actually appeared, Ayla and William conversed with Ubel, while the Knights were silent.

"I just realized I didn't ask about your age, young man. How old are you?" William inquired.

"I am 24 years old, My Lord." Ubel answered.

"You look older than you are, Allen. By the way, I am 21 years old." Ayla commented while smiling.

"You indeed look older than you are, but it's not really your appearance. Maybe it's the aura around you? You have experienced many things, it seems. Well, not as much as this old man, I suppose. Hahaha!" Her father laughed heartily as he added.

"Father, I do not think being old is something to be proud of." Ayla rolled her eyes towards her father. "Allen, do you have training as a Magician or a Knight? You appear to have the physique of a Knight." She asked him next.

Both Magicians and Knights used mana. They only differed by the way the use it.

Magicians usually use mana externally. That means they channel mana outside of their bodies and use it accordingly to whatever spell they are executing.

Knights use it mostly internally. That means they strengthen their physical or mental abilities, like physical strength, the five senses and etc.

That does not mean that Magicians can't use mana internally or Knights externally. It's just that they specialize in only one way, as mastering that is something extremely time consuming and very few succeed to actually master what they focus on.

Knights are called Knights mostly in the region around the Gredia Empire. A lot of countries call it differently. For example - Martial Artist or Technique User. They do that because the name Knights doesn't really sum up the meaning of people who use the internal mana method.

The official name is supposed to be Martial Artists, but the Gredia Empire does not adhere to that. It was mostly because it was willing to recognize only Knights as internal mana users.

As Magicians use spells, Knights or Martial Artists use techniques, which are also called skills.

There are also Sorcerers. They are people who can use both magic and techniques at an equal level and can even mix them together. However, they are very rare, since as it has been stated, only one of the two ways of using mana is not something you can necessarily master in one lifetime.

Magicians and Knights (or Martial Artist) are both divided into 1 star to 8 star Magicians or Knights respectively. That is universal and there is no difference anywhere in the world.

The reason Ayla thought that Ubel is a Knight was because generally Knights have trained bodies as they need to be able to withstand the mana they channel to strengthen it, while Magicians did not have such a need. Ubel had a lean and muscular body, so it was natural to make an assumption like that.

"No, I am not a Magician or a Knight. I just trained my body when I had the time as there is no harm to being stronger whatever way you can."

That was a lie. He was officially a 2-star Magician when he was 14, from what he can remember anyways, but he obviously didn't have this physique. He did train his body, but being limited by time, as he studied to become a Magician, and his age, there was no way he could have a figure like this.

He didn't say he was a Magician because he had to have a certificate that recognized him as such from the Institute of the Arcane.

"Yes, you are completely right. You have a rather nice form, so you must have trained vigorously to reach where you are. I admire that." William sincerely expressed.

"Your praise is wasted on me. There is no way I can compare with My Lord and the esteemed Knights." Ubel humbly expressed.

"Well, you are right about that." Grant said mockingly.

"Grant!" William raised his voice a little and Ayla glared at Grant.

"My apologies." He bowed his head a little and said.

Ubel did not feel anything at his remark. There was no way he would feel anything from such a childish remark. Moreover, it was the truth. He had no doubt in his mind that if any of the people in this carriage wanted to kill him, they could do it in an instant, even Ayla.

"I apologize for that, Allen. He is still not that well acquainted with how to treat unfamiliar people since he was sheltered by his family and spent all his time training until recently." Ayla's father apologized to Ubel for his subordinate's actions.

"It is fine, My Lord."

As they conversed lightly for the next hour, the carriage began slowing down and when Ubel looked out of the window he could see a 10 meters high wall made out of concrete. There was a tall gate in the middle of the road with a lot of guards around.

When they saw the carriage, they immediately lowered the gate, made way and bowed towards the carriage.