This will be a bit of a small post more focused on explaining a bit about the world, how strength is measured in it and a bit on the various forms of teaching that exist. Of course I'll try not to reveal much as I would prefer most to be revealed as the story progresses, but I felt that some of the simpler terms and ideas should be explained ahead of time.

In the world of Alurgaia, life is hard almost everywhere, but only a handful of places can be considered as dangerous, or inhospitable to the people who live on this continent (the place Rahkim is being one of them obviously).

Due to the relative safety of the rest of the world strength isn't something that is sought after with one's full concentration for the most part. Most people would be fine with simply having enough to fill their stomachs and keep them warm, but this wasn't always the case. There was a time on Alurgaia when the sentient races were constantly at war with the beasts that lived in its wilderness, and back then all sentient beings had to strive to become stronger simply to live.

During that time the sentient races founded what are now known as Orders which relied of techniques and methods that utilized the Life Energy within every being to bring forth great strength. Among those Orders there are three different kinds; Martial Branches, Magic Schools, and Mystique Arts each of which were created to allow their users to fight back against the fearsome beasts that once ruled.

Martial Branches concern themselves with using Life Energy to reinforce the body allowing its users to far surpass their limits, or to project raw Life Energy out as a form of attack allowing them shatter through materials that normal weapons could not. The Martial Branches are considered the easiest of Orders to follow due the fact that they can progress through training, and sheer willpower alone.

Magic Schools are focused more on the manipulation of Life Energy to effect or change the world around the user to perform what one could only consider miracles. Those who train under one of the Magic Schools are believed to have the most potential for pure, unbridled destruction as those who have progressed far enough could be capable of wielding a strength that could demolish entire cities. However this comes with many downsides, not only is the chance of death for Magic practitioners higher, but to progress down the path of Magic requires one to be of exceptional intellect.

Finally there are the Mystique Arts under which all of the Orders that cannot be classified under the other two fall. Mystique Arts practitioners are generally isolationist, and most are part of ancient clans, sects, or factions who have existed since before the Gaia Empire was founded. The uniqueness, and unpredictability of Mystique Arts practitioners makes them somewhat feared by other practitioners as you can never be sure if their Art doesn't rely on blood shed to progress …

Alongside that all Orders have internal rankings that are almost always split into eight ranks which are there to measure the strength, and progress of a practitioner. Due to the various names Orders have for each their own ranks people from outside of that branch of study will generally refer to someone as being of a practitioner of the X Order (where X is the number of the ranking instead of the name).

Example: A Novice Fighter would be called a First Order Fighter by an Archer practitioner.

If you guys have any questions about the world, story, or anything like that feel free to ask me and I'll try my best to answer if I feel it won't spoil some of the story :)