Chapter 52: Promotion Exam

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Promotion Exam

"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat." — Sun Tzu

The two months following the ambush in the alley were among the most difficult of Riven’s life.

His wounds had been serious, and Sister Elena made certain he understood just how foolish he had been to let himself get injured so badly.

For the first several weeks, she refused to let him take any contracts.

Whenever he tried to argue, she simply pointed at his bandaged arm and told him to sit down.

Riven quickly learned that arguing with her was a waste of time.

His arm healed slowly. The deep cut left behind pale, jagged scars, while the bruising across his ribs gradually faded. The poison Vane had used was another problem. Elena had managed to treat the lingering effects, but the experience left Riven wary of anything that could enter his body without his knowledge.

Even after the wounds closed, he wasn’t allowed to return to serious training.

Instead, he focused on what he could do without risking another injury.

He practiced controlling the mana inside his core, learning to circulate it without wasting energy. He reviewed the techniques Vesper had taught him and studied the structure of his Shadow spells.

He also spent time examining the Appraisal Ocular he had taken from Vane.

The device was more complicated than he had expected. Its runes responded to mana, allowing it to reveal basic information about objects he examined. It couldn’t tell him everything, but it was useful for identifying the general quality of monster cores and magical equipment.

Once Elena finally allowed him to resume physical activity, Riven returned to the Guild’s training grounds.

Aiden was waiting for him.

"About time," the old man said, looking him over. "I was starting to think you’d decided to become a healer instead."

Riven ignored the comment and picked up a wooden practice sword.

Aiden watched him carefully.

"Don’t get carried away. Your arm might be healed, but that doesn’t mean it’s ready for everything."

"I know."

"Good. Then show me what you’ve learned."

Riven began with footwork.

He moved slowly at first, testing his balance and checking how his body responded. His injured arm still felt stiff, but it no longer interfered with his movements.

Aiden corrected him whenever his stance slipped.

The lessons were frustrating, but Riven had grown accustomed to them.

He knew better than to expect improvement without effort.

By the time he returned to taking contracts, the weather had begun to change.

The cold of winter had faded, leaving behind damp earth, muddy roads, and the occasional warm afternoon.

Riven started with simple assignments.

He hunted tunnel rats in the drainage passages beneath the settlement, cleared aggressive horned dogs from the outer roads, and tracked isolated goblins through the nearby woods.

The work was repetitive, but each hunt gave him another opportunity to improve.

He practiced using Shadow Leap in uneven terrain, learning how difficult it could be to land properly when the ground was covered in mud or loose stones.

He also worked on casting Umbral Needle while moving.

At first, he struggled to maintain the spell whenever he was forced to dodge or change direction. His mana control was improving, but his concentration still broke under pressure.

Vesper helped him correct some of those weaknesses.

She made him practice forming the spell while walking, running, and changing direction. If the needle collapsed, he had to start over.

"You’re treating the spell like it’s something separate from your body," she told him one afternoon. "It isn’t. You need to learn to control your mana while doing everything else."

Riven continued practicing.

Eventually, he became capable of forming an Umbral Needle while moving without losing his balance.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress.

His Shadow Leap improved as well. He became more careful about where he appeared, avoiding jumps that left him off balance or too close to an enemy’s weapon.

He still couldn’t use the technique endlessly. Each jump consumed mana, and repeated use left him exhausted.

But he was learning to make every movement count.

The Appraisal Ocular proved useful during his hunts.

Riven began examining the cores he collected, comparing their size, density, and mana signatures.

Most of the weaker monsters had relatively simple cores. Their value depended on the quality of the core and the demand for it.

Occasionally, he found one that was unusually dense or contained a stronger concentration of mana.

Those were worth selling to specialists.

He also used the device to examine weapons and equipment recovered from monsters and abandoned camps.

It wasn’t a perfect tool. The ocular could only provide basic information, and some magical properties were beyond its ability to identify.

Still, it helped him avoid wasting time on worthless materials.

More importantly, it gave him a better understanding of the items he was carrying.

Riven had always viewed his equipment as something necessary for survival.

Now he was beginning to understand how much difference the right equipment could make.

Somewhere during those weeks, Riven noticed something unexpected.

He had been checking his status after a particularly exhausting hunt when he saw the change.

Age: 6

He stared at the number for several seconds.

He couldn’t remember the exact day he had turned six. He rarely checked his status unless he had a reason to, and the past few months had blurred together.

Still, the realization was strange.

He had spent so much time fighting, training, and trying to survive that he had barely noticed another year passing.

He was six years old.

His body was still small, and he was nowhere near as strong as an adult adventurer. Yet he was more developed then the average six year old.

There was something almost amusing about it.

He dismissed the status window and returned to his training.

Age didn’t matter nearly as much as what he could do.

By the end of the second month, the Guild had begun paying closer attention to him.

Riven had completed every contract he accepted. His reports were consistent, his monster parts were properly collected, and he rarely returned with serious injuries.

More importantly, he had begun taking assignments that other low ranked adventurers avoided.

He wasn’t reckless, but he was willing to enter dangerous places if the reward justified the risk.

His progress had not gone unnoticed.

One morning, the receptionist summoned him to the guildmaster’s office.

Riven entered cautiously.

The guildmaster was an older man with graying hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He sat behind a large wooden desk covered in paperwork.

"Riven," he said, looking up. "Take a seat."

Riven remained standing.

The guildmaster raised an eyebrow but didn’t insist.

"I’ve been reviewing your recent contracts. Your completion record is unusual for someone of your rank."

Riven said nothing.

"You’ve also received favorable reports from the guild staff."

The guildmaster leaned back in his chair.

"Your current rank no longer reflects your abilities. I’d like you to take an accelerated ranking examination."

Riven tilted his head slightly.

"What rank?"

"F Rank."

Riven considered the offer.

He had been an E rank adventurer for some time. A promotion would give him access to better contracts and potentially higher rewards as well as letting him skip E+.

It would also mean facing more dangerous assignments.

"What does the examination involve?"

"A practical assessment, followed by a live combat trial. You’ll be tested on your ability to handle yourself under pressure."

Riven nodded.

"When?"

"Tomorrow morning."

He accepted without hesitation.

The examination took place in the training grounds behind the Guild.

High stone walls surrounded the area, keeping the noise from the nearby streets to a minimum. The ground was packed dirt, marked with several training rings and obstacle courses.

A small crowd had gathered around the perimeter.

Some were Guild officials, while others were adventurers curious to see the candidates.

Riven stood near the back, his hood drawn low and his obsidian mask hiding most of his face.

He wasn’t interested in the crowd.

He was interested in the examination.

The first part tested physical ability and practical judgment.

Applicants were required to complete a series of exercises designed to measure their balance, stamina, and ability to respond to unexpected situations.

Riven watched the other candidates carefully.

One particularly large applicant attempted to overpower a training golem. He struck it repeatedly with a heavy weapon, but his stamina quickly ran out.

Another candidate, a nervous spellcaster, struggled to maintain control of a series of basic firebolts. The examiner allowed the applicant to pass provisionally after a mediocre display.

Riven paid attention to every mistake.

He had no intention of making the same ones.

When his turn came, he completed the exercises without difficulty.

His small size gave him an advantage in the obstacle course, and his experience fighting in confined spaces helped him navigate the more awkward sections.

The examiners made a few notes.

Riven ignored them.

The final part of the examination was the live combat trial.

Each candidate would face a designated Guild member in a controlled duel. The opponent’s job was to apply enough pressure to test the applicant’s combat judgment without seriously injuring them.

Riven waited as the other candidates took their turns.

Some performed reasonably well.

Others struggled.

One applicant spent most of the duel retreating until the examiner called an end to the match. Another tried to overwhelm their opponent with magic but quickly ran out of mana.

Riven watched quietly.

He understood what the examiners wanted.

They weren’t looking for someone who could simply hit hard.

They wanted to see whether an applicant could survive a fight against someone stronger and more experienced.

Eventually, the chief examiner called his name.

"Next! Riven, step forward."

Riven walked into the ring.

His opponent was already waiting.

Bram was a broad shouldered, heavy set veteran wearing standard iron plate armor. He carried a blunt training hammer, its wooden handle reinforced with metal bands.

He looked down at Riven.

Then he sighed.

"You’re the next one?"

Riven nodded.

Bram shook his head.

"Look, kid. I’m supposed to test your survival instincts, not flatten you."

He rested the hammer against his shoulder.

"Just show me you can dodge, keep your head straight, and don’t—"

Riven moved.

Shadow Leap.

The space between them folded.

A faint ripple passed through the air as Riven disappeared from his starting position.

Bram’s eyes widened.

Riven reappeared behind him.

Before the veteran could turn, Riven swept low and drove a mana reinforced kick toward the back of his knee.

Bram’s leg buckled.

He stumbled forward, catching himself with his hammer before he could fall.

A dark needle appeared in Riven’s hand.

He held it close to the gap in Bram’s armor, stopping just short of the exposed joint.

The examiner watching the duel raised his hand.

"Point!"

Bram turned, surprise written across his face.

Riven stepped away.

The veteran straightened his leg and rolled his shoulder.

"Well, that’s one way to start."

He adjusted his grip on the hammer.

"Let’s see you do it again."

Bram moved this time.

He swung the hammer in a wide horizontal arc, using his size and reach to control the space around him.

Riven didn’t try to block.

He ducked beneath the weapon and moved backward.

The hammer passed over his head, cutting through empty air.

Bram immediately followed with another swing.

Riven used Shadow Leap.

He vanished from the hammer’s path and reappeared behind the veteran.

But Bram had anticipated the possibility.

He pivoted faster than Riven expected, bringing the hammer around in a short, controlled strike.

Riven barely managed to evade it.

The weapon passed close enough to stir his cloak.

He landed several steps away, his core already feeling the cost of the second jump.

Bram grinned.

"Not bad."

Riven didn’t answer.

He was studying the veteran’s movements.

Bram was slower than Vane, but his armor and strength made him difficult to hurt. A direct attack would accomplish little unless Riven could target a weakness.

He needed to avoid wasting mana.

Bram advanced.

Riven waited until the hammer began moving, then used Shadow Leap again.

This time, he appeared close to the veteran’s side.

He raised his hand and formed an Umbral Needle.

Bram turned toward him.

The dark projectile struck the armor near his ribs.

It broke apart against the metal plating.

Riven’s eyes narrowed.

The attack hadn’t penetrated.

Bram swung his hammer.

Riven jumped backward, barely escaping the blow.

The weapon struck the ground hard enough to send dirt scattering across the ring.

A few spectators leaned forward.

The fight was becoming more interesting.

Riven’s breathing grew heavier.

He had used several Shadow Leaps in quick succession, and his core was beginning to feel strained.

He couldn’t continue like this.

Bram, meanwhile, was still relatively fresh.

The veteran’s armor made him difficult to damage, and his hammer forced Riven to remain constantly aware of his position.

If the duel continued long enough, Bram would eventually wear him down.

Riven knew that.

He needed to end the fight before that happened.

He watched Bram carefully.

The veteran’s shoulders shifted before each swing. His hips followed a moment later, giving Riven a brief warning of the direction of the attack.

He waited.

Bram stepped forward and raised his hammer.

Riven moved toward him.

The veteran brought the weapon down.

Riven used Shadow Leap.

He reappeared close to Bram’s side, inside the weapon’s effective range.

Before Bram could turn, Riven drove a low kick into the back of his knee.

The veteran’s leg bent.

Riven immediately formed another Umbral Needle.

He held it against the exposed joint, close enough that the examiner could see the point.

Bram froze.

The duel had ended.

For a moment, the ring was silent.

Then Bram slowly lowered his hammer.

He looked down at Riven.

"Well, I’ll be damned."

A few spectators laughed.

Bram shook his head.

"All right. Point taken."

Riven stepped back and dismissed the spell.

His breathing was heavy, but he remained standing.

He had used more mana than he wanted, and his legs felt slightly unsteady.

Still, he had done what he came to do.

He had demonstrated that he could defeat an opponent who was physically stronger and far more experienced.

The examiners gathered near the edge of the ring.

They spoke quietly among themselves, occasionally glancing toward Riven.

Bram joined them after setting his hammer aside.

The chief examiner reviewed his notes.

Then he stepped forward.

"Riven."

Riven turned toward him.

"You pass."

The examiner paused, glancing at the other officials.

"Your performance was unanimously approved. Your tactical judgment and use of magic were well beyond what we typically see from applicants at your current rank."

He cleared his throat.

"Effective immediately, you are promoted to F Rank."

A few people in the crowd began whispering.

Riven gave a single nod.

He had expected to pass.

Still, hearing the result made the effort feel worthwhile.

The examiner handed him a new rank token.

It was a small piece of polished metal, marked with the Guild’s insignia and the letter F.

Riven accepted it and slipped it into his belt.

He didn’t stay to listen to the rest of the discussion.

Instead, he pulled his hood lower and walked away from the ring.

Behind him, the crowd continued talking.

Some were impressed.

Others were suspicious.

A few simply couldn’t understand how a six year old had managed to pass a combat examination against an experienced veteran.

Riven didn’t care what they thought.

He had earned his promotion.

And with it came access to better contracts, better rewards, and more opportunities to grow stronger.

That was all that mattered.

Later that afternoon, Riven returned to the training grounds.

Aiden was standing beside the practice racks, inspecting a wooden sword.

He glanced up as Riven approached.

"Well?"

Riven reached into his belt and tossed him the new rank token.

Aiden caught it.

He examined the metal, then looked back at Riven.

"F Rank, huh?"

Riven nodded.

Aiden gave a short laugh.

"Not bad."

He tossed the token back.

"Don’t let it go to your head."

Riven caught it and put it away.

"I won’t."

"Good. Because you’re still terrible at recovering your stance after a jump."

Riven frowned slightly.

Aiden grinned.

"Come on. Let’s see if your new rank has made you any smarter."

He picked up two wooden practice swords and tossed one toward Riven.

Riven caught it with his uninjured hand.

His arm had healed, but the scars remained.

He took his position across from Aiden.

The old man raised his sword.

"Show me what you’ve got."

Riven settled into his stance.

Then he moved.

The training continued until the sun began to set.