The first one to be dismissed was Brandon.
It didn't take long for the news of his ascension to the S–rank to spread across the instructors.
It had to be said, some of the instructors were from the guild themselves. For that reason, the sudden news of a new S–ranker piqued their interest.
They wanted to evaluate him using the crystal to confirm his status.
However, Brandon wasn't in such a state to even move.
For that reason, an argument ensued.
"Like I said, he's not in the condition for evaluation!"
Evelyn exclaimed, speaking to one of the instructors.
"Field Marshal, it's just a quick evaluation. You know how long these things take, so we have to get it done as soon as possible."
"And like I've said time and time again, he can't do that. The kid can't even move!"
This was the first time Evelyn had raised her voice like this, startling the other officers.
It had to be said, the instructor she was speaking with was of a lofty status within the main guild.
Evelyn could tell what the instructor's intentions were.
To recruit Brandon for the guild.
Suddenly, the tent was pulled open.
"Miss Evelyn...."
An exhausted voice chimed in. It was Brandon, who could barely walk, supported by Amelia. His arm hung over her shoulders, and the two entered the tent.
"Brandon, what are you doing here? You should be resting."
Evelyn spoke.
"I'll do it and get it over with."
After all, the Imperial Army couldn't simply ignore the guild's requests. They were partners—supposedly equals—and had to treat each other as such.
Evelyn's gaze lingered on Amelia, and Amelia merely shook her head as if she gave up.
"Great."
The instructor clapped his hand and smiled as if he wasn't arguing with Evelyn just now.
"We'll get the mana crystal ready. Please sit down and wait for a while."
"Sure."
Looking around, Amelia found a nearby seat and helped Brandon sit down.
The instructor left the tent shortly after, and Evelyn walked towards the two.
Evelyn pinched her temple and let out a deep sigh.
"Haaa.... I've had the situation under control. You didn't have to come."
"It's fine."
Brandon leaned his head back pointing at the canopy with his eyes closed.
Clearly, he was exhausted.
"It won't take that long anyway."
Indeed, it wouldn't.
But a ranking evaluation test would siphon all the mana outside the mana core, regardless of the current capacity.
But unbeknownst to them, Brandon's mana had fully recovered thanks to the only skill he had left from [Skill Weaver].
[Mage's Resolve.]
The skill that allowed him to recover mana as long as he stayed idle.
But truthfully, his body ached all over.
'Why did I do that.'
He could wholeheartedly admit he regretted it.
However, thinking back, maybe it wasn't so bad.
It was the first time he had enjoyed himself, ever since Belle died—
"...."
His chest tightened at the memory, and he quickly pushed the thought away, shaking his head as if trying to clear it from his mind.
He didn't want to be reminded of Belle's supposed death.
"I'll see myself out and check to make sure the guild won't try anything funny."
Evelyn said softly, breaking the silence.
Without waiting for a response, she slipped out of the tent, leaving Brandon and Amelia to their own devices.
Amelia's hand hovered gently over his wrist, her fingers lightly tracing the bruises beneath the fabric.
Brandon had been wearing gloves—not to hide the swelling, but to conceal the missing nails underneath.
Her touch was gentle, but the concern in her eyes was hard to miss.
Brandon gently turned his hand over, intertwining his fingers with hers, locking their hands together.
"....I told you, it's not so bad. It'll heal quickly."
"Yeah, yeah."
Brandon merely shrugged nonchalantly and walked towards the mana crystal, arms hanging around Amelia's shoulder.
"Just place your hand here and pour a miniscule amount of mana. You're probably aware it would consume your entire capacity. But don't worry, we've got that covered."
"Hm?"
Brandon tilted his head in confusion. Covered? What did they mean by that?
"As a reward for putting up with us, you get to try one of the guild's newest products. We're still in the manufacturing phase, but it'll be released to the public soon."
Brandon peered into his memories. Mostly, about the guild's endeavors that hadn't happened yet in this timeline.
'Could it be?'
The inventions of—
"Here. We decided to call this product the mana elixir. Drinking this substance will replenish your mana to a certain degree. At the moment, it can only recover about twenty percent of it."
He was far off. But mana elixirs were also one of his conjectures.
'Not bad.'
"I can see the look of disapproval on your face, General Constantine."
The instructor continued, looking at Amelia. The words continued to flow out of his mouth seamlessly.
Was he really a ranker from the guild, or a salesman?
Maybe even a scammer?
"It's completely safe as long as prescriptions are followed."
"Still, isn't this basically a drug—"
"It's fine, Amelia. The guild wouldn't do anything to harm me."
"Alright."
"If they did...."
Brandon's blue eyes flickered, his face darkening as he glared at the instructor. His eyes seemed to glow, focusing his intent on him.
"Then they'll get what's coming for them."
"Ah.... Of course, of course. We wouldn't want to mess with this country's future."
Cold sweat seemed to trickle down the instructor, intimidated by Brandon.
Shortly after, Brandon's hand outstretched. Feeling the cool touch of the mana crystal, his mana began to siphon out of his core.
Brandon felt his strength loosen as the mana crystal started glowing.
A few minutes passed, and the process was finished. At the end of it, Brandon felt his body grow heavy, as if a heavy weight pressed down on him.
The instructor quickly offered the blue liquid—the mana elixir—which Brandon grabbed with disregard to his decorum.
Quickly chugging down the elixir as if this wasn't the first time, he felt his core begin to refill.
The tension around his shoulder eased slightly, but not to the point where he could say it was normal.
"Haaa...."
Brandon drew a heavy breath in and wiped the bluish liquid smeared on his lips.
",,,,Are we good now? Haaa....."
He hoarsely spoke.
"Didn't you just.... fight the wyvern a few hours ago?"
The instructor's brows knitted in disbelief.
"How did you fill the mana core to this extent!? In fact, what is your mana capacity even!?"
He looked astonished as he scrutinized the mana crystal.
"Two months..... it'll only take a day to evaluate your rank with this much mana!"
The instructor exclaimed.
"Yeah, yeah. See you."
Before the instructor realized it, Brandon and Amelia had already left the tent.
The two quickly returned to the tent Brandon had been resting in. On their way, cadets stared at them with a look of awe and admiration.
However, Brandon didn't have the luxury to entertain any of them. Nor did he realize his friends weren't around.
Amelia gently laid him down on the camping cot.
"Close your eyes, I'll come back later to check up on you."
However, just as she was about to leave, Brandon grabbed her wrist, urging for her not to go.
"Stay with me."
Amelia glanced back at him and smiled.
"I know. I just wanted to hear you say it."
It seemed like she was teasing him.
With that, Amelia sat down on the chair beside him.
"On the bed."
"Oh."