"You were far stronger than I anticipated. However my evaluation is not changing. If I were in charge of the company, I would not induct you into its ranks."

"However, I am not the commander. In addition, I am willing to hold my judgment until you return from the core hunting trip with Edward."

"I look forward to sparring with you once again after you receive the spider queen core. I believe it would be a good fight then."

Caine had a neutral expression as he replied "Why did Edward say you were a formal adamant tier combatant? I can tell that you did not go all out in the match earlier."

"My purpose was not defeat you. It was to evaluate you. I am not underestimating you, not many combatants on your level could have forced me to trade blows in an even manner. Make of that what you will." Tarin turned and left the grounds to the loud cheering of the crowds.

Tiffany stepped up to Caine along with Johan and a blond-haired man.

Caine, this is Prince Aureus Astrea. Tiffany introduced.

"Highness, I greet you. Caine Smith at your service."

"I heard the last part of your conversation with Tarin. Whatever faults Tarin may have as a person, lying is not one of them. He speaks it as it is. He has an uncompromising stance when it comes to recruitment standards. Do not take it to heart. I am impressed by your performance. It is perfectly reasonable for you to join the Direwolf company in my opinion." Aureus smiled as he related.

"Understood, highness. Thank you for the concern."

"Hey Caine, can you customize some of these golems for training purposes? I believe they would be a great help in training militia and elite troops. Johan asked in an eagerly from the side."

"No problem. Who is footing the bill?"

"There will be forms to fill but that is no issue, I can requisition those materials after you come back from the core hunting expedition."

"Very well. I will look forward to that then."

—

At the castle's study later…

"It appears Johan has a question he wants to ask you, Tarin." Aureus was smiling brightly as he opened the conversation.

"Little Johan, don't bother. I did not activate Mass on the first strike as I wanted to see whether Caine prepared a counter-measure in the event an opponent broke through all his stratagems."

"Did he?" Johan asked.

"In my opinion, yes. It was a guess between left and right for Caine and he went the wrong side. As simple as that."

"He had to have known you had Barrier up. Unless he hit you with a direct shot of Bolt, there was no way he would have won."

"I agree. I judge his decision to fight to the end despite knowing it was a foregone conclusion, admirable. For a mage, at least. Not many mages would have his resolve to see the fight through."

"I judge him perfectly competent. Even if he is unable to control 100 golems, he is able to control 9 golems with exquisite skill. He is no different from an upper tier damascus combatant when he and his golems are in full flow." Johan added.

"The issue does not lie in his personal skill, it lies in his application on the battlefield. Would you have diverted resources to save a damascus combatant in the middle of a raiding operation for your company?"

"No, I would not."

"Regardless, if he cannot hold his own during an operation especially of the kind Edward is envisioning, it is a far greater mercy to cut him out now then have soldiers paying the ultimate price later on."

"We could mitigate that with the use of teleportation seals and stasis orbs. Having a strong golem mage guarding the fallback teleportation point is a great boon. Especially in the event of being overwhelmed. Golems can buy enough time for a complete retreat."

"What is your highness's opinion?" Tarin turned towards Aureus.

"Tarin, the methodology that brought you to first Tribune of Triem army is showing itself. I agree with that logic however I am of the opinion that we should relax the expectations on Caine."

Am I missing something, highness?

"Current combat potential wise, no. Future combat potential? Yes."

"Please enlighten me."

"This is an idea of Edward's, he posed a question. What if 8,000 iron tier golems is not the limit of the golem branch? What if 8,000 damascus tier golems is? Taking a step back, how about 8,000 steel tier golems?"

"A difference of that quality can impact entire battlefields, highness. Kendal army could probably put up a closer fight if 8,000 steel tier golems were controlled by a skilled golem mage."

Johan snorted "You mean trounce the Triem army."

Aureus was grinning at this point.

"I mean a closer fight. Especially if Crown Prince Leo is out of the picture. Consul Kendal will not be able to match wits with Consul Triem on the field. That is a fact. Not a speculation."

"Discussions of Consul Kendal's strategic acumen aside, I have more information about Caine. It is his ambition to vault the golem magic branch into being a primary magic branch."

Johan began whistling after that. Wow, I mean, isn't that a little too unrealistic? Given his Aether rating. I admire his ambition but doesn't there appear to be a mismatch here somewhere?

Tarin appeared contemplative instead. "Little Johan, I believe you are familiar with Sage Mynir's history?"

"Who in the Empire does not? This is a different matter we are talking about.To the best of my knowledge, there were proper channels and policies that were put in place by the First Emperor which allowed such a miraculous rise as Sage Mynir's."

"However, there is no such measures in place for a change in magic branch categorization. In fact, there is stringent opposition in the changing of a magic branch's status. I heard it gives the Magi Order and Magitech Institute no end of headaches to the point it is well known that they try to put off a promotion or demotion of a magic branch to the last possible moment."

"The rules are dead. The ones who created it are living. All categorizations are bendable. Tarin spoke in a deliberate manner. I cannot speak for the matters of the magi but should the lad raise big enough waves, who is to say the magi community would not acknowledge his efforts?"

"I agree, I hold admiration for this young mage, instead of being embroiled in hatred against his kind for his treatment due to his rating, he remains loyal to his branch instead."

"If I could win over the complete loyalty of such a retainer, I would not hesitate in the slightest."

Tarin and Johan appeared thoughtful as they mulled over Aureus's declaration.

—

"Don't look so disgruntled at the duel, Caine. I assure you, Tarin was not underestimating you." Edward opened up as they sat in a private corner of the officer's mess in the castle.

Edward held up his hand "There is a reason why he is considered former adamant tier. He used the forbidden ability Ignition two years ago. He can no longer use three spheres now."

Caine and Tiffany exchanged surprised looks with each other before Tiffany responded "A non mage mastering Ignition is impressive by itself. More so the will to actually carry it through. What was he doing? I cannot imagine a combatant as formidable as Tarin needing to use such a drastic ability."

"Consul Triem was caught in an attack, Tarin was his Praetorian guard commander then. Tarin made the decision to use Ignition to save his commanding officer. He resigned from his position after deeming himself unfit for further duty."

Tiffany's lips curved while nodding in a grudging manner as she digested that information.

"The man walks his talk," Caine acknowledged.

"He defeated Caine and his golems with 3 less Aether abilities. I assume he did not equip the Divine Barrier gem in either of his spheres earlier? " Tiffany asked.

"When you put it that way…" Caine grimaced.

"No, he mentioned his loadout to me earlier. It was two grade 4 monster cores." Edward related with an understanding smile.

"Well, he was the former head of the praetorian guards of the famed Triem army after all. There is nothing to be ashamed about. I think the fact that you forced him to a dim barrier was plenty good enough." Tiffany spoke in a firm tone.

(It is good that Caine possesses such fire in him even after such a defeat. Then again, if he were to fold so easily, his dreams of vaunting the golem branch would be nothing but smoke.) Edward thought.

"No worries, Tif. I already feel more motivated about the core hunting expedition on the morrow. Speaking of that, I wish to discuss some intelligence further with you, Edward. I heard several spirit beast tribes moved into the area we will be hunting the spider queen in. I fear there may be complications."