The snow continues to fall as several potentials take first examinations to become official students at the Five Triangle Arts Academy while their counterparts that have spent one term at the Academy take their final-term examinations. The new and the old, sweat trickles down the faces of many students. Tension high in the air, one paper crinkle here, another there; a spell-whisper here, another there. The test of the minds are on, the test of magic is also here.
Nattia sits on one of the many benches available, watching her fellow potentials succeed and fail the test of magic to join the ranks of the militant Five Triangle Arts. Some are nervous, others confident. And equal amount of nervous and confident students fail, some even becoming a fatality. One poor sod tried a spell higher than his skill, causing him to quiver into a limp sack of bone and dried flesh. Another student underestimated her power, her presence now a pile of dust on the testing grounds. Magic is truly a horrifying experience if not used correctly.
But though magic can be devastating to its user, it can likewise be devastating to anything else. Nattia is only glad for the orb spell around the testing grounds that stops any stray spells. It must be a powerful counter orb spell, Nattia thought, Surely I could achieve that skill... maybe.
"Gweavi Anhcinlles Lowborne," one of the administrators announced, "Markasdrwg Anhcinlles Lowborne, Blet Rivercold Lowborne, and Nattia Flau Lowborne, prepare for evaluation." The announcer cleared his throat. "Markasdrwg Anhcinlles, you perform in two minutes. Blet Rivercold performs two minutes after Markasdrwg. Gweavi Anhcinlles performs two minutes after Blet. Nattia Flau performs two minutes after Gweavi." The announcer stops, frustration on his face due to the complicated names. Though however complicated their names might be, their admittance into the Academy will be completely due to skill, and their ban will be completely due to incompetence.
Three students immediately started sweat profusely, their nervousness crazying the air. The Northern-native twin Anhcinlles were nervous, though Markasdrwg was nervous for his sister. Markasdrwg knew entirely his own power and skill, and was confident that he could pass any frightening test the Academy threw at him, but his sister? She wouldn't last a day! She was a mouse among lions, and her brother much implored her to stay in the tribe up north, but her persistence to stay with her brother, her best friend, forfeited Markasdrwg's lonesome travel. He and she made their way to the much-proclaimed military institute, the young man wishing to train to defend his tribe should Scentral attack the Northern rifleman and the tribes are caught between the conflict, the young woman wishing to stay with her brother until the end. The poor girl even left her new husband to travel with her brother simply because the two had been best friends since birth, quite literally.
Likewise, Nattia was nervous for herself. The weight of protecting her family and other Nigon from the cruelty of the Magon hierarchy was dealing her much stress. Too many doubts and questions ran through her head, springing like hares running from her arrows of reassuring answers. Nattia had never been trained formally in the ways of magic, and however wonderful her training with Aress, she seems no match for the students previous to her. But she will succeed, failure is not an option. Her family can't be left without her, and she can't be left without her family. This is for them
On the other hand, Blet was completely sound with his confidence. His hand did not shake, his head did not spin. Although his bravado might become the best of him, he paid the odds no mind. His walk was falsely gallant, his stupid demeanor being an annoying clot within this sea of nervous, jittering would-be students.
"Markasdrwg Anhcinlles," the announcer spoke, startling three students, "perform your evaluation now. You will start with a normal spell. You will shoot the target there. Failure will end with the termination of your examination." The target in question was a small feline, like all the other cats that were shot, killed, and mangled by the students who passed their first exams. Luckily enough, imports (not entirely legal) from the Southeast ensured that the felines were from specialized farms, out to be bought in bulk for cheap.
Sadly for Markasdrwg, this would be the first time he ended another being's life. And he did so swiftly. The young man charged a spell and let loose towards the small figure, effectively tearing its left hind leg's flesh. His accuracy was not good. The authoritative observers took note of this.
"Markasdrwg," the announcer announced again, "you will now project a death spell at the target. Your failure will result in the termination of your examination." The evaluated simply nodded in understanding.
And so the evaluated would-be student charged a new spell. He tried to calm himself, his nervousness slowly fading away. He aimed at the twisting, pained cat, ready to end its short, miserable life. With a shot, it died. The authorities, pleased, nodded. That the young man could power up a death spell was impressive, let alone actually killing the thing in one go.
"Markasdrwg, you will now shield yourself from an incoming death orb spell. If you shatter or deflect the spell, you will be submitted into the Academy. Failure will result in your death or termination from examination." Again, the man nodded in confirmation. He was ready.
However ready he was, he could not stop the spell from plummeting into his chest, not knocking him back far, but taking the color of his skin in an instant. He fell dead. His dignity as a Magon fell with him, the announcer thought. The others seemed to be thinking nearly the same, believing it a shame for a Magon with such potential to be so useless when in the face of death.
Two in the crowd did not think the same. The first was Nattia, who silently gasped at his death. If a man as powerful as he was would fail the test, how could I pass?! she screamed in her mind, Is this normal for the authorities to witness? Terrible people, they all are, to allow a death so easily...
The second was Gweavi Anhcinlles. She was not prepared for this, though she knew it was entirely possible to occur. Tears crept along her cheeks as she watched the lifeless body of her brother, murdered by the authorities of the Magon Academy, no essence in his corpse. She wasn't terrified for her life like Nattia was, but she was grieving ever so silently at the honorable brother's death. It was no loss that would be felt physically, as if some magical connection existed between the twins, but it was the most tragic loss the young lady experienced, her mind fogged with depressed emotions. Though the question wasn't on her mind, how would she ever pass with this feeling of sadness in her? No, she wouldn't, would she? The depression was drowning her, its waves crashing relentlessly to keep her under. She might not survive a day, just as her brother, her best friend, believed prior to his death.
But what are emotions in the arena of Magon? This theatre is not forgiving, and so after Blet so obviously passed the test with ease, not even a drop of sweat upon his brow, Gweavi was standing upon the stage, frightened beyond understanding.
"Gweavi," the announcer boomed, sounding several times louder to the girl than he was before, "you will perform your evaluation now. You will shoot a normal spell at the target. Your failure will result in the termination of you examination." Another cat scurried onto the stage. The tribegirl readied her spell.
After an appropriate charge, it hit the cat. A squeal of pain, and it was panting on the floor.
"Gweavi, you will use a death spell on the target. Failure will result in your termination." She took a breath.
The objective was complete shortly.
"Gweavi, you will block an incoming death spell. Should you shatter of deflect it, you will pass. Failure will result in death or termination of your examination." Another breath.
Time slowed. A red ball flew towards the girl, its ferocity coming to meet the weakness of her spell. The orb kept flying, death imminent upon Gweavi. But somehow, by stroke of luck or pity of the gods, it was shattered into pieces. The authorities were very impressed. To shatter a death spell half the strength of one of them? Indeed it is very impressive! One of them stifled a chuckle, finding it funny that a girl so weak on the outside could pass so fluently and efficiently. Her brother was no needed, but she was definitely going to stay in the Academy!
Relief washed over Gweavi. She passed against all odds, including against the tears the were still dancing on her face. Time for a rest, she thought as she entered the Academy grounds through a gate opened up for her. At least some good came of the trip, though terrible the single consequence.
But Nattia still had to try to enter the Academy. She was alone, fearful for what was to come. If felt ethereal, as if it were a dream. But this story would not end with her awaking on her neat straw bed. No, it will end with her success... or her death.
But death it will not be, the spirits around her believed. Nay, we say, even should a wave of magic come her way, we will stop it with a wall never seen to Magon before! Nay, because ours deaths were never worthless in that Freir War, for we will allow this girl into the passage of uniting the Magon people again! We will!
Word had gotten around that a new Freir was found, so obviously all of the ghosts and spirits ever-restless from their deaths in the Freir-Scentral conflict some years ago would gather to keep her alive. They were, of course, careful not to show too much activity, or tinker in any of the other student's exams, but they will wholeheartedly agree to plunge into eternal death just to save the farmer girl's life.
The girl heard nothing, saw nothing, of the spirits and ghosts spinning around her in varying radii. Instead, she was focusing her entire strength and effort into her spell-casting. The announcer said the same as he had to the previous potentials. She shot the cat, wincing internally as it writhed in pain by the orb spell to its small torso. The death spell was charged, and cast. The carcass of the poor little thing joined its fellow felines in the crematorium.
But the deflection. So much confusion on just how powerful it is. The strong man failed, the weak girl succeeded? The arrogant one even passed! So how exactly should a girl who's only success in life is farming pass this exam? The girl in question didn't know how, she only hoped to the gods that she would pass.
Readying her counter spell, using all of her knowledge in everything ever to power the spell, she stood tall and straight. The authoritative figure threw a death orb spell towards Nattia, and she cast her counter spell... only for it to miss. Damn my accuracy! she exclaimed in her mind. Thinking quickly, she cast a death spell to charge head-on at the other one.
BAM! A loud crack was heard, accompanied by a flash of light. The farmer's death spell obliterated the authority's death spell, shattering it to pieces and flying into the counter spell. Only, it even broke through the powerful counter spell that protected the observers! It hit one of the administrators square in the chest, effectively killing her.
Shock consumed the audience, including the administrators themselves. After a moment of silence, the announcer spoke, glee in his voice.
"You most definitely passed, Nattia Flau," he said, speaking the minds of all the authoritative observers, "You are now a part of the Five Triangle Arts Academy, and we are most glad to have you join us!" And no, it's not because the dead lady was necessarily a terrible person to be around, it was more because of the display of raw power that the farmer girl showed. A death spell cast by a novice should only sting to a master of magic, but to kill that master? It requires one master of magic to kill another master. Plus, the gods know that an administrator can easily be replaced by one of the older, tainted individuals in the high ranks of the Academy.
Though back to Nattia, she was terrified that she killed a person! And to allow her inside the Academy? That's absurd! Although... fret as I might, she thought, I'll accept that submission and make my way through this fancy gate... after all, I deserved it, right? Yes, I'm distressed by that... murder I just committed! But I should continue on. If not for myself, for my family. For my little brother and for my mother.
And so she continued on, meeting the rest of the newcomer students in a small courtyard. She was ready to take on the challenge of Five Triangle Arts.
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