The Ascension Of The Celestial Priest

Representative Malten clapped his hands, and another personage appeared beside him. He carried a tray with 5 Badges that shone in a brown l.u.s.ter under the daylight. They were neatly arranged with the one in the middle marked with a star that pulled their attention immediately.

"These badges…" Malten waved his hand over them, "…represent that from now, all of you are officially recognized as Adventurers in our Guild. They will serve as identification and give you access to countless of missions on the board. It is heavily recommended to wear them especially when you are in the vicinity of our Headquarters. If one's badge gets lost for any other reason, your identity will need to be reconfirmed and a small fee charged before you are issued another one."

He turned towards them. "They will also function as token for your rewards held in the Trading Pavilion. It was inconvenient to carry that much gold so a temporary account was made with further instructions given upon arrival."

He waved for the representative to recede a little further before he went on.

"There are 4 badges in our Guild each assigned to its level. Bronze badges are for Mortal Ranked, Silver badges are for the Earth Ranked. Obsidian badges are specifically for the Crystal Ranked and the Golden badges are reserved for the Heaven Ranked."

He continued,

"These badges allow one to take certain missions which a roughly ranked from Grade 1 Missions to Grade 4 Missions. Bronze badges are allowed to take Grade 1 missions with occasional Grade 2 missions while Silver Badges give access to grade 2 Missions with the occasional grade 3 Missions. It is strictly prohibited for a badge to take missions ranked 2 times higher than its level. This means that while Bronze badges can take an occasional Grade 2 missions, Grade 3 mission are strictly off-limits. Is that clear?"

They all mumbled an agreement before Representative Malten mysteriously smiled as he summoned the star marked badge into his hands.

"On those rare occasions where the Adventures Guild acknowledges one's strength and potential, a star is bestowed as a token of appreciation and a mark of prestige. They are usually given where a feat unheard of was accomplished or a deed done cannot be ignored. They are very rare and very had to obtain as they are awarded only as the Guild sees fit to do so."

Knowing full well he had their full attention. He went on, twirling the Star-Marked badge in his hands.

"Each single star acts a mark of honor and status as one can enjoy many perks depending on how much you have achieved. They can range from small discounts from the Market to certain priorities granted during auctions. Collect enough of them and you can have access to special missions, usually reserved only for the best and the daring with such dividends that can promote your cultivation to ]unimaginable heights."

Their eyes shone in wonder and fervor as they hungered for the badge that flitted around his hands. Who wouldn't want to advance their strength, especially in the country where one's magical aptitude is venerated and worshiped?

They were just about to ask whose badge was it before he swiftly answered for them.

"But this one…" he teased, "is given to Lukas." He announced, stunning the whole hall in surprise.

Lukas wryly smiled while Rexsi couldn't help but feel a trace of envy inside. At the end of the day, they all had witnessed Lukas's capabilities in the Catacombs and if they were to gauge his real strength, they knew he possessed the prowess of a Late Mortal Mage with his Mid Mortal cultivation showing that he was marked to be a future powerhouse especially if he maintained the same proficiency at higher stages also. Counting the fact that he saved their lives, it was proof enough that he deserved it.

"You will be amongst the rare mages ever given a badge at bronze rank. The rest of its uses will be upon you to figure them out." Malten said before he added. "And don't worry; this star will follow your badge as long as you are an Adventurer in our Guild. All you have to do is to wear it with pride."

He smiled at Lukas before he settled the Star marked badge back to its tray and as a sudden stifling atmosphere descended upon the room like a heavy cloud.

"Before you take your badges," Representative Malten began, "I thought it might be wiser if i gave a few words of caution before we part." He paused, eyeing each of them in turn.

"If you haven't figured it out by now then for the sake of taking precautions, I had a special quest following and protecting all of you from the shadows. In the wake of last events," this time his eyes flickered at Lukas, "I didn't want unnecessary risks in an exam under my watch. And that meant I am also aware of everything you all saw, did and …learnt."

At first more than few of them had indignation plastered across their face but after he finished his sentence they all froze. They immediately understood exactly what he was talking about since it was the only secret they had stumbled upon in the darkened halls and endless corridors that sn.a.k.e.d underground of the Golden City.

Representative Malten didn't fail to notice previous expressions.

"It was on my order that he wasn't to interfere until it was needed. How would you expect to grow stronger and be accomplished adventurers without facing peril? This time it was under my watch that you were all protected from the inevitable demise but next time, next time you will all be in the real world where you will face treacherous perils the likes you can ever imagine."

He sighed," The truly strong are born under the pressure. And if you all have any hope to be adept adventures, then you will have to be mentally prepared to face threats that will lay claim to your lives regardless of your strength."

He took a breather before he continued.

"As for you what you learnt in the Catacombs of the Graveyard of Sorrow, it will be for your own good if such knowledge is best left under the depths, never to see the light of the day. Do you all agree?"

His voice thundered across the room and his body radiated some much power and pressure that it suffocated and robbed them of any questions they would have wanted to ask. And so they had no choice but to fervently shake their heads in agreement, fully realizing the weight of what they know.

Representative Malten exhaled, letting go of his power. He had no choice but to drive his point home.

"I know all of you have a lot of unanswered questions." he said, "But some things are better left silent, especially when all of you are still to awaken to your full potential."

He collected a few of the scrolls from the podium before placing the tray with their badges on it, right after relieving it from the hands of the personage who previously carried it.

He gave them one last look before he said. "Do be careful out there. It's a dangerous path you have chosen."

His gaze lingered on Lukas for a second longer than necessary before he made for the exit, leaving all four of them dazed and confused with their badges staring at them with promises of wealth no longer alluring as it once was at the beginning.