The entrance exam (1)
The Royal academy was a small castle in the wealthy district. Today a long line of boys and girls gathered before the gate waiting for their turn to get into the grounds and take the exams. At that moment two would be students arrived; a dark haired handsome boy wearing all black pants and coat with silver embroidery; at his waist a decorative sword hung; and a silver haired girl wearing white pants and peach colored blouse with a white cloak atop. Those two immediately grabbed the attention of everyone. Those two were naturally me and Celestine.
"Tch, such a long line," I said. "That's why I told you to prepare early.... But you ended up delaying me... Arh!!"
"It already happened right?" Celestine said, "we can't change anything about it,"
"I'm telling you so it doesn't happen in the future again little princess, ah!"
Talking as such we joined the line. The line was quite long but it moved quickly. Looking around us we were surrounded by nobles and commoners alike. More connected nobles did not have to follow the line as we did though, they are let in immediately they arrived, looking at us with contempt. It's fine I guess since their eyes can't kill, but you guys wouldn't think you were superior to us if this was V'alkre.
At last the line came to our turn after about thirty minutes. I handed our papers to the fat guy at the table beside the small gate everyone was going through. It was the paper Viktora prepared, bearing her seal, and requesting her daughter and 'god son' to gain attendance into the Crystalis Royal magic academy. The scribe nodded and handed to us two red triangular badges we should pin to our cloths to identify us as foreign examinees, before letting us in.
What we met beyond the gate was a rectangular courtyard with trees and flowers at the sides and a low wall with a small gate opposite us. Targets that looked like tennis bats on sticks lined the field in rows and columns. A middle aged man with grayish red hair in black robes was standing by the side. "Hit the targets," he said.
I was taken aback by the bluntness of the speech. In this world of flowery speeches and class I hadn't expected such disregard and impatience. "What's the rules?" I asked.
"Just hit as much as you can for as far as you can. I'd been saying this since morning, why are some of you so stupid?!!!"
Celestine giggled and turned to the targets. She gathered low powered ice bombs and started throwing at them. Each one she hit buzzed and turned from green to red. Hmm... There are using technology? The invigilators eyes were shinning too and his mind spiking as if he's using his powers so I figured he is using some kind of reading powers. I hope it's not half as powerful as Presila's if not I'd be in trouble. After some time the middle aged man said it was enough and told Celestine to continue on through the gate at the other end.
Next it was my turn. But even if I know that I didn't know what to do. "Excuse me sir," I called.
"What?" The middle aged guy snapped.
"I don't have any physical long range attack magic,"
"What's your classification?"
"Knight, Reader, and Mind," I answered.
"Then you get no points here!"
"Hey isn't that too unfair?"
"You troublesome brat! In the first place this is a test of the ability of mages. You know those are really sort out. If you are a knight class then no one will even blame you if you skip it. But you can throw stones at it or something for more points."
"OK," I nodded in understanding and drew my sword. The middle age geezer looked at me as if wondering what this spoiled noble kid is doing. I stepped back and casually threw the sword in an arc. The weapon flew in a spin, hitting the targets and bouncing from one to another. It hit more than half of them turning them red before flying back to me. I caught it and sheathed it in one motion. The invigilator's mouth twitched. "Escuse me," I told him then went towards the gate Celestine passed through.
In this world powers are classified into six parts; Mage, Knight, Reader, Priest, Spirit, and Mind.
Mages are those with long distance attack.
Knights are those with close distance attack.
Readers are those with reading or information abilities.
Priests are those with defense, support or buff powers
Spirits are those that with transportation powers
And lastly, Mind are those with mind control like powers or illusions.
Some people like me has more than one class. My class are Knight for when I engage in close combat, Reader for my ability to locate people and read their emotions, and Mind for my mind control. I could stretch it and call myself a mage if I wanted to since my mind blitz could count as long range attack and it doesn't alter anyone's mind.
"Chose a class and we'll give you the test,"
When I passed through the gate I came into a big castle courtyard with cobblestone ground with a big circle drawn with purple light in the center, and gray walls tipped with battlements surrounding it. Celestine was facing six teachers sitting behind a long table, each representing a class of power. "I choose Mage!" Celestine said.
"Then I'll be your opponent," a middle aged woman in a green dress and wide red hat said rising from her seat. She rounded the table and walked into the circle in the center before beckoning Celestine inside. "This circle is warded with magic. Any harm we inflict on each other will be healed after the fight so don't hold back, OK?"
Celestine nodded and gathered frost in her hands.
The woman smiled kindly. "I am Faith Bridgewort, come at me," the woman didn't even finish when Celestine threw the ice bombs at her. She narrowed her eyes sharply then waved her hand. Two black smoke balls flew out of her hand, the size of basketballs, marching the ice bombs in size. The two attacks met in the air and canceled each other with a flash of smoke and water.
"What?!!" Celestine exclaimed.
"My turn," Faith Bridgewort said throwing five smoke balls at Celestine with a casual flick of her hand. Celestine's eyes widened as she tracked the balls with her eyes then made a shield wall to block the attacks. The smoke balls hit the wall before disappearing. "What did you say your name was again girl?"
"Celestine Coldfire,"
"Of V'alkre?"
Celestine nodded.
"There told us we might be getting such foreign students this year. This is just an exam so don't be nervous, just calm down and show me your power so I can grade you properly,"
"Yes lady Bridgewort,"
"Then I won't hold back much, come!" Faith Bridgewort waved both hands and sent a dozen smoke spears flying at Celestine. Celestine's eyes widened again, she took a hasty step back before conjuring three ice walls in front of her, one before the other. The smoke constructs pierced two of the walls but were stopped at the third before they vanished.
Celestine wasn't done yet though. The third ice wall suddenly broke apart too, and icicles on the ground, of the three collective ice walls, rose to the air growing sharp edges quickly. Faith Bridgewort lifted an eyebrow in question then the icicles came flying at her. But she didn't look worried; black smoke spread before her like a screen repelling the ice attack before a large hand rose out of the smoke and clapped down at Celestine. Celestine appeared outside the circle with a flash of purple light and the whole smoke and ice dissipated like it was never there.
"That's enough" Faith Bridgewort said, "you can go now and return here in one week for your result,"
"Yes lady Bridgewort, but I'll like to wait for my brother, we came here together."
Everyone's attention turned to me. "What's your class," Lady Bridgewort asked.
"Knight lady," I bowed. Seeing as I'm not of 'her class', lol, she went back to the table and took her seat. The fourth seat from the right
The silver haired guy next to her snapped his fingers to get my attention. He was younger than all the others, looking in his thirties but had the aura of a leader. "Step forward and state your name examinee," he ordered.
Here goes.