Gabriel raised a sixth finger, slower this time.
"Stage Six, the Sage."
"These mages are near-mythical. Some say they're the voice of magic itself. They don't just cast spells; they speak the True Words. Words that override other spells. Words that can erase a curse or rewrite a living soul. Some Sages are said to summon beings from before time. Most of us never meet one, and most wouldn't survive if we did."
Kaelith's expression didn't change, but Gabriel could sense it. He was listening deeply now.
Well, my so-called grandfather had reached the stage of a Sage.
Then came the last. Gabriel clenched his hand into a fist.
"Stage Seven, the Primordial."
He said it with reverence.
"A tier lost to history. No living mage has reached it in thousands of years. The Primordials didn't just control magic, they became it. They could change the shape of continents. Rewrite memories. And end bloodlines with a single breath."
He lowered his hand.
