Belvan had divided the path of divine creation into seven ranks, with each rank corresponding to different stages of the same path. He crudely attributed the mere comprehension of the Ancient Language to the First Rank, whereas advancing from the First Rank to the Second required the Ascension Ceremony.
The division of ranks was modeled after the Gods who had apportioned their mighty powers into seven ranks. Although it was an imitation, it did not imply that Belvan's divisions could correspond directly to the Gods' powers. According to that Alchemist's conjecture, the Third Rank of the path might be equivalent to a First Rank Divine being. With every subsequent ascension, the mastery of the Ancient Language's power was to grow exponentially.
Strictly speaking, the Ascension Ceremony was not entirely Belvan's own creation.
