Because mages were the first to emerge, and because at the third circle there is the Flight spell, at the sixth circle there is Spell Trigger, and at the ninth circle there are numerous terrifying spells that fundamentally enhance one's power, their class ranks are divided as follows:
**Apprentice Stage:**
Novice — not counting spell buffering time, spiritual energy can cast five apprentice-level spells in succession — corresponds to novice priests, novice clerics, and Knight Squires (including swordsmen and archers).
Formal — ten apprentice-level spells, with minor changes to the soul — corresponds to formal novice priests, formal novice clerics, and formal Knight Squires.
Advanced — twenty apprentice-level spells, further minor soul alterations, faster spiritual energy recovery speed, etc. — corresponds to advanced novice priests, High-level Knight Squires, and the like.
**Formal Mages:**
Low-tier: First and second circle mages. Corresponds to formal knights (including swordsmen, archers, etc.), priests, clerics, low-tier druids, and so on. Individuals at this rank have unlocked their innate potential, and their lifespan reaches the upper limit of their race under normal conditions.
Mid-tier: Third, fourth, and fifth circle mages. Corresponds to Great Knights, bishops, high priests, mid-tier druids, and the like. At this rank, everyone except Great Knights—who overdraw their life force—can extend their lifespan by twenty percent. For humans, that means one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty years. Among mages, however, the existence of various magical transformation rituals means that some at this rank live past three hundred.
High-tier: Sixth, seventh, and eighth circle mages. Corresponds to Sky Knights, Cardinals, Grand Priests, high-tier druids, and so on. Powerhouses at this rank, without the aid of extra potions or transformation rituals, possess a natural lifespan twice that of their race.
Grand Mage: Ninth circle mages. Corresponds to Golden Knights, Cardinals—the Church's classification at this level is rather murky, since Holy Spirit Priests also serve as Cardinals—God-blessed Priests, Grand Druids, and the like.
Legendary Mage — bearing a variety of class titles such as Sun King, Elemental Dominator, Chosen of Magic, Emperor of Dominion, Storm Lord, Creator, Hand of Annihilation, Prophet, Silver Moon Scholar, Ice Witch, Lord of Air, Demi-Lich, Master of Metamorphosis, Nightmare King, and more. Due to the rarity of Legendary Mages, their class title often doubles as their alias.
Corresponding Epic Knights include many legendary titles: Holy Knight, Holy Avenger, Storm Knight, Temple Guardian, Dwarf Defender, Shadow Blade, Sacred Chant Knight, Nature Knight, Heralds Guardian Knight, and more.
Holy Spirit Priests, War Priests, Legendary Druids (Green Guardians and the like), God's Chosen, and others.
This rank enjoys a natural lifespan roughly five times that of their race or more.
Further introductions to the legendary rank will be omitted for now.