This is a world filled with innumerable creatures and countless races. Measuring the strength of one thing in terms of other is something extremely complicated, however, be it a Dragon, a Chimaera, a Dwarf, an Elf, or a Human, there are qualitative changes that are perceptible when one becomes stronger.

When someone is born, be it a monster or a human-like race, their strength is classified as being in “whatever its race is” realm. In case of a human child, they are considered of being in the Human Realm, in case of a Kobold, they are considered of being in the Kobold Realm.

Some race are innately more powerful than others, which means that some realms are weaker than others. However, nature, or whoever created the universe, is infinitely wise. Those seemingly weaker races has their strong points too. Be it wisdom, intelligence, faster growth rate, faster reproduction rate, there is some kind of balance that tied all the known world together in a perpetual equilibrium.

However, there are wolfs that are destined to be more than mere wolfs, and there are humans that are destined to break the boundary of the human realm. In the case of a monster, it is often referred as evolution or upgrade. A Wolf powerful enough could break the boundary of the strength of the Wolf Realm and become a Dire Wolf, and then it can dream with becoming a Fiendish Wolf, an Ogre Wolf, or even an almighty Lesser Fenrir.

A Dire Wolf or a Fiendish Wolf aren’t merely bigger and stronger subspecies of the Wolf family. It’s a change on the fundamental level of the Wolf, it stops being a Wolf to be something else. It’s a mysterious change that originates from the soul.

In the cases of human-like and most of the demi-human races, something as mysterious as the evolution doesn’t exist. A human remains human for its entire life, same with the other races. However, they can become stronger, they can break the boundaries of the strength limited by their respective realms. This is possible by treading a Heroic Path.

A warrior can execute more powerful techniques and have a strength that far surpasses an ordinary human, a cleric can feel more vividly the call of its God, and a wizard can control the surrounding elements on a far larger scale. The difference between someone that has reached the boundaries of their realm and someone that has just begun treading a Heroic Path is not that huge, in fact, there can be certain individuals far stronger than those who are treading Heroic Paths, but the possibilities of the one who has unlocked his Heroic path are just boundless.

For example, a Wizard apprentice who has reached the boundaries of the human realm may be able to guide the elements and perform minor tricks, often called cantrips, and minor magic. He could create minor fireballs the size of a fist, and fire deadly elemental arrows. A Heroic Wizard, often referred as just Wizard, could potentially cast huge fireballs, create walls of ice tens of meters in length, and even perform ritual that could change the weather of an entire city. The problem is, that is a boundary, not something they get by unlocking their Heroic Path. In order to summon an ice wall they need the knowledge of how to use the elements to create such magic, they need the guidance of someone else.

Because some humans can carry five times their weight, or run for hours nonstop, it doesn’t mean that all humans can. Because someone unlocked its Heroic Path, that doesn’t mean that it is stronger than an average human if he doesn’t know how to transcend his past limits.

The Heroic Path is a mysterious state of the mind that lets you break the boundaries of your realm, but there are a limit to the powers you can attain as a Hero. There are physical limits that can’t be broken. A human, no matter how strong, can’t get to the point in which he could lift a mountain by sheer strength.

The maximum input which every class can display, be it speed, dominion over elements, strength, endurance, wisdom, etc., are dictated by the boundaries of the Heroic Realm. Then again, the Heroic Realm isn’t an absolute limit to the capabilities of someone.

Going one step further, in order to break the boundaries of the Heroic Realm, ones has to… tread a Paragon Path!

In order to become a Hero, one needs the Will to be one. Although it isn’t an easy task, it isn’t an extraordinary difficult one. Many people can find and tread a Heroic Path on their own, many can inherit and follow their master’s path.

In order to become a Paragon, having the Will to be one is insufficient. Also, it is not something that you can easily inherit from someone else. To start treading a Paragon Path you need to hear its calling, you must be destined to break the boundaries of the Heroic Realm, a Paragon Path chooses a Hero in order to transform him in an almighty Paragon, not the other way around.

Breaking the boundaries of the Mortal Realm and becoming a hero means a qualitative upgrade on the physique, letting you attain higher heights. Breaking the boundaries of the Heroic Realm and becoming a Paragon means a qualitative upgrade on one’s soul, letting you change your destiny.

If you just became a Hero, some extremely powerful Mortals are a threat for you. However, if you became a Paragon, is highly unlikely that any Hero could match you.

A spell that costs a Paladin’s life, for a Paragon is just child’s play, Sile could cast it whenever she wished without risking her life.

Sile, as a True Paladin blessed by the light, was destined to become a Paragon sooner or later, it is a fact that no one in the Holy Empire of Ivalice would dare to doubt. But being a Paragon at the age of 25 is something unheard of.

Isiurem has witnessed Sile’s talent first hand, however, even this rate of progress surprised him. Being so young and yet so powerful, meant that maybe she could become….

“I underestimated you, but you are overestimating your abilities. I will dye the ground with the red of your blood. Let me show you true despair.” Isiurem Sicer said with a tone of disdain. He was shocked in his heart, but he didn’t let that emotion surface in his voice. He took a final glance at Sile and then turned towards the citadel and commanded his horse to move.

Sile watched his former master depart silently, a look of melancholy in her eyes. ‘Life is sacred, protecting it is my wish.’ She murmured inwardly. That was the last line of the paladin oath.