Greetings,

In the screenshots you posted, I see that you leveled up two rank 2 guardians to level 20 (max level).  Your goal seems to be wanting to upgrade a rank 2 guardian to rank 3.  In order to upgrade a guardian from rank 2 to rank 3, the rank 2 guardian you wish to upgrade must be max level.  Therefore, it must be a rank 2, level 20 guardian.  If you try to upgrade the rank of a guardian that is not at max level, instead of increasing the rank of the guardian, it will instead increase their current level.

In the screenshot you posted of your guardians that you took after retiring your two rank 2 level 20 guardians... I don't see a rank 2 guardian that is at max level (20) which you could have tried to upgrade to rank 3.

Which guardian in the screenshot were you attempting to upgrade from rank 2 to rank 3?  Of course it is possibly a bug you are a victim of, but it could also be a simple mistake on your part.  If you write back with further details I'll gladly try to help you troubleshoot if it may be something on your end.

Respectfully,

Videre

Also, seeing as your lead javelineer is not yet enlightened, there are likely still some quests relating to guardians in your quests panel.

Like VIDERE said...

You have retired two Guardians versus XP instead of... versus rank up.

Why didnt you rank up?

Because the one you tried to rank up, was not at max level.