As hard as it was for one to become an Ardent Warrior, it was far easier than becoming an Ardent Mage. At least for a normal person who wasn't from a noble family.
To become an Ardent Mage, one had to display a vast amount of knowledge in the field of magic. The field of magic was one that anyone wanting to become an Ardent Mage had to have knowledge of.
Unlike a warrior who only had to use his body to fight, mages relied mostly on the manipulation of mana to conjure spells. Such mana manipulation was not easy and could only be done through specific equations and combinations.
Different elements required different equations, and the ability to perform those calculations in a heated confrontation was what made one a good Ardent Mage.
In the times of old, Ardent Mages could only learn how to manipulate mana through trial and error. They had no knowledge of these equations and could only force the mana to bend to their will, which was a very taxing method with minimal results.
However, as years passed, mages who managed to find the right method to use their skills began writing the method down, documenting it for those who would come after them.
Year after year, century after century, until finally, the method of teaching one how to wield mana correctly was formed. This method vastly revolutionized how mana was wielded, and Ardent, who were mainly comprised of warriors, were finally able to diversify and become mages.
Now, thousands of years later, the knowledge of the theory of magic and how to manipulate mana was something that individuals were able to study, paving the way for when they were to begin their journey as Ardent.
However, life was not so easy. At least for those in this kingdom. Similar to the knowledge of the Ardent Cultivation Technique, the knowledge of the theory of magic was something that was not easily accessible for normal people.
While acquiring the resources was not as hard, actually gaining any real knowledge from them was very difficult. Without an appropriate tutor, it would be very hard for any one to learn this knowledge by themselves.
Those with knowledge of magic and mana were Ardent, and who were those Ardent tied to? That's right, the nobles. At the end of the day, it all revolved back to the luck of being born into a noble family.
That was why most mages in the kingdom were from the noble families or had ties to them. As for the few that were not born nobles, they were already tied to them with loyalty contracts.
For Gareth, who was a soldier, there was only one option. That was to become a warrior. He didn't have the time nor the patience to learn the theories of magic. He was already countless steps behind other Ardent prospects, and trying to learn magic would only widen the gap further.
Besides, with his combat knowledge as a soldier, he had a higher chance of closing the gap by becoming a warrior. Besides, looking at his massive frame and toned muscles, he couldn't exactly let them go to waste by becoming a glass canon mage that could only hurl spells from afar.
Having come to a decision, he looked up and, with a confident look in his eyes, he spoke.
"I want to become a warrior, my Lady."
Hearing his response, the Countess nodded her head slightly, clearly expecting this outcome. In truth, her question had only been one of courtesy, giving Gareth the illusion that he had a choice.
If he had chosen to be a mage, she would have simply vetoed his decision, forcing him to become a warrior.
"Very well. Follow me." She said as she rose from her seat once again and began making her way out of the office. Not wasting time, Gareth followed silently behind her, not daring to take a single step ahead of her.
As they made their way through the manor, every maid and servant would bow their head when they passed by, showing their immense respect for the Countess.
Without even acknowledging them, she passed by them, her gaze focused ahead on her destination. They continued until they were finally out of the building. Making various turns, she made her way towards an open area, where various men could be seen practicing.
Gareth had come here previously when he was on his little tour, but didn't meet anyone here.
'Perhaps they were busy...' he thought as the figures in the distance became clearer and clearer. When they finally got close enough to be noticed, the men swiftly ceased their practice before turning towards the countess.
With closed fists on their chests, they bowed simultaneously while speaking.
"Greetings, Lady Virelle." Their voices, though low, thundered through the area, combining into one massive voice that would shake a normal man's heart.
However, the countess was unaffected. She was an Ardent, not one to be shaken by the shouts of many. Gareth was even less affected. He had been part of the army, where it was normal for a drill sergeant to scream their heads off at a new recruit. Mere shouting wasn't going to phase him.
However, he was strangely excited. Seeing the discipline of these men reminded him of those of his fellow troops back home, causing him to feel like he had found somewhere to belong.
These men were the knights of House Virelle. While the power of noble houses was in their Ardent, that didn't mean they had no uses for knights. Since the vast majority of their population were normal people, to maintain order and control, the knights were essential.
No one would give the work of patrolling the territory to Ardent. Such jobs were beneath them and could even be seen as an insult considering their might.
Besides when cultivating Ardents, skilled individuals were used. Few were more skilled and talented than knights. After all, becoming a knight was no easy feat.
Most Ardent warriors that weren't nobles were knights who earned the favor of their Lord. It could be said that, in a way, the knighthood were essential for cultivating talented individuals into powerful Ardent.