Across the Starbound Sea

The next morning, Luca woke early, the sky still painted with shades of grey as dawn approached. He made his way to the mission hall, hoping to earn silver and military merits. However, when he arrived, a long line stretched out of the entrance, winding all the way to the outer courtyard. The hall was always busy, but he had never seen it this crowded so early in the day.

It seemed like the event from the previous day had stirred something in the soldiers. Many had gathered, likely inspired to grow stronger after witnessing the rare Soul Resonance demonstration.

Luca let out a quiet sigh and joined the line, adjusting the strap of his training sword across his back. After what felt like an hour of waiting, a soldier finally emerged from the hall He raised his voice so the crowd could hear clearly.

"Priority will be given based on rank. Those below Grade 3 should return in the afternoon."

The Kingdom of Waldria had a strict ranking system that separated its people based on achievements and service. Unranked civilians were common folk without official recognition. Grade 3 was the lowest rank of distinction, awarded to those who had either joined the military or accomplished something noteworthy. Grade 2 was reserved for mid-level officers and officials, while Grade 1 was granted to those with significant contributions who were not nobles. The nobles themselves held even more prestigious ranks, divided by family status and heritage.

While it was possible for a Grade 1 civilian to become a noble through exceptional contributions, the requirements were incredibly high, often requiring years of dedicated service or remarkable feats. Rising through the military ranks was generally more straightforward, though still demanding.

Luca was still unranked. Though he and his group had been training under the military, they were considered temporary recruits. Only after reaching the Harmonisation Stage would they be officially recognized and granted Grade 3 rank.

Resigned, Luca returned in the afternoon. The line had shortened, though the hall was still crowded. When he checked the mission board, his heart sank. Most of the remaining tasks were basic chores—repair work, cleaning, and other menial jobs that offered little pay and barely any merits.

"Seriously? Can't they leave something better?" Luca muttered under his breath.

Determined to make progress, he decided to take on three odd jobs at once to speed things up. However, when he reached the receptionist's desk, she shook her head.

"You can only take one mission at a time. Complete your current task before requesting another," she said.

Luca could only nod. It felt like everyone had become more competitive lately, making it harder to get decent tasks.

He grabbed a random repair job and completed it quickly. Then, he returned for another. After finishing that task as well, he came back once more—only to find the mission board completely empty.

"There are no more missions available today," the receptionist informed him with a neutral tone, barely glancing up from her ledger.

Luca could only sigh and hope things would improve the next day. However, the same situation repeated itself for days. The hall remained packed, and the mission board cleared out almost instantly. Instead of wasting time standing in line, Luca decided to focus on his personal training, sharpening his sword techniques and meditating on his Essence Flow.

Two weeks passed before the crowds finally thinned. With fewer soldiers competing for tasks, Luca was able to accept more serious missions. He completed them steadily, and his efforts paid off—he had finally earned enough merits to visit the library.

Luca exchanged his tokens, which represented his hard-earned military merits, into his personal record sheet—a parchment tracking his contributions. Only by transferring the merits there could he actually use them as currency within the military.

The library hall was grand, with tall windows allowing sunlight to filter through the high ceilings. The receptionist, an elderly man with a calm demeanour, handed Luca a catalogue listing the available books and scrolls. The library spanned four floors. The first floor held books on law, history, novels, poetry, and politics—available for free to all soldiers. The second floor contained scrolls related to cultivation, specifically techniques and insights for reaching the Essence Flow Stage. The third and fourth floors were restricted, requiring higher ranks and special permission.

Luca browsed through the catalogue carefully before selecting a scroll titled Mastering the Peak of Essence Flow. He approached the receptionist again to register it, and the man deducted the required merits from Luca's record sheet with a quiet nod.

"Since you've spent merits on a scroll, you may now access the first floor's collection for free this week," the receptionist added, gesturing toward the rows of shelves behind him.

It seemed the free access was a reward for soldiers who invested their merits.

Luca carried the scroll to the reading hall, where a hushed atmosphere filled the vast chamber. Rows of wooden desks stretched out in neat lines, occupied by soldiers and scholars, all silently focused on their studies. Candles flickered softly, adding to the quiet stillness.

As he read through the scroll, some of his lingering doubts about cultivation were clarified. He learned techniques for stabilizing his energy and refining his control over Essence Flow. The scroll also detailed rare herbs and fruits that could aid in reaching the peak of the stage.

Hours passed unnoticed as Luca absorbed the knowledge, his mind racing with new ideas for his training.