On the Ark Continent, under ordinary circumstances, a mage's strength was often written plainly upon the lines of their face.
The older the mage, the more dangerous they tended to be.
Warriors were different.
A young warrior only needed a sturdy body, enough perseverance to endure pain, and the guidance of a capable teacher. Bone was tempered by bone, muscle was forged through repetition, and Spiritual Energy was honed through practice. Like a sword placed again and again into the furnace, a warrior could become formidable while still young.
But the path of a mage was far more demanding.
When children reached the appropriate age, they were sent to special institutions to test whether they possessed magical talent. If they were gifted, their lives changed from that day onward. If they were not, they returned home and sought another path, usually that of a warrior.
There was, however, one strict rule known across the continent.
