After you get rank #1 keep pestering the old hermits bout who to challenge and then the hermit will try to kill you and get you back to lowest rank. If you succeed you will be the best mage in the game.
Sorry but I know how the Greek Mythology story ends but this game is very different from it....soooo yeah why a bitter sad ending? I was kinda hoping for the woman's soul to return to her body so they could live in happiness. =) I like happy endings.