Chapter 7 – Magician

At last Redius made it to the edge of the forest, and in the distance stood a city wall. Darabas. He was back. He clenched his fist as he thought of the suffering he had withstood. He would show them as he looked down upon them now. With that he took his steps and headed towards the city.

Inside the city he immediately headed to the Magician’s headquarters in order to test and receive his rank. Every magician and knight could apply for their respective guilds to gain proper classification as to their advancements. 

Magicians are often identified by the colours of their cloaks, apprentice –grey, disciple – black and initiate – dark blue. 

Magicians are regarded highly as unlike knights, they are able to help the normal people as well. With crops as they could conjure water, heal or set up barriers to protect people. And they were very protective of both their knowledge and secrets. If you were not a part of them, they would not allow you the entry to their library of spells and notes of other magicians.

As he was nearing the headquarters, a decorated carriage came charging through the streets.

“Out of the way peasants!!” The driver yelled as the carriage sped past people who parted for the carriage. That was the way of the world, the rich and powerful ruled.

It was clear that the carriage was headed for the magicians headquarters, Redius’ eyes glinted as he saw the insignia of the carriage. A leaf with a sword resting below it. The Ip family. He was right at the entrance of the headquarters, but he wasn’t in a hurry to get in. He was going to wait, if they dared to attack him, they would feel his power.

As the carriage got nearer and nearer to the headquarters, suddenly a figure came out of the crowd opposite the magicians headquarters right in the path of the carriage heading. The carriage stopped at an erupt halt. Redius smiled as he took a glance at the person’s clothing and proceeded to walk inside the headquarters and see how it played out.

“What is going on?! Who dares block the path of the Ip family? Do you want to die?” A voice rang out from inside of the 

carriage.

Soon two people emerged from the inside, a middle aged man and a young child. It was obvious the man was bringing the child to test for magician capabilities. The man froze as soon as he saw the man standing in the middle of the street looking at them. The man in question was wearing a black cloak with an insignia of a gold wand on the chest of the cloak. 

It was a disciple magician.

He immediately realized his mistake and apologized, but before he could get his words out he was interrupted.

“Are you saying you’ll kill me?” The man asked curiously with no change in his expression.

“No..no… course not sir. It was my mistake… my mistake…” The man from the carriage replied immediately.

“heh…” The magician smirked and then glanced at the child. “Don’t bother, he has no talent.” And walked towards the headquarters.

The man from the carriage stood frozen. The Ip family had the capabilities to test sensing and channelling abilities to become knights since it was a knight family. Even though his son was tested to be a knight he had hoped that he would also be able to become a magician. That would make his standing in the family higher. To be able to introduce a new magician into the family. But what the disciple magician said shattered his dreams. But he wouldn’t give up, he wanted to see for himself as he carried his son down and led him towards the headquarters.

“Didn’t I say not to bother...?” A voice rang out with power as the father and son were on the steps. Even though the man was a 2nd stage disciple knight, he found the power to bind him. At once he realized, the owner of the voice was a 3rd stage disciple earth magician. The force was strong and absolute. It was the earth element. He could only clench his teeth as sweat pour from his face.

“Yes… yes sir…” He muttered and reluctantly led his son back to his carriage. He knew that his hope had passed. One of the worst things one can do, he angered a magician.

Redius watched from inside the headquarters and smiled. He knew the man from the Ip family. It was his uncle. Youngest brother to the head of the Ip family. He grinned as he could also tell from his diatis that the boy had no talent for becoming a magician. He glanced at the magician at the door who was also looking at him. Their eyes met quickly and disconnected just as fast. Redius headed towards the reception.

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‘Was it just my imagination?’ the magician at the door thought to himself as he headed inside. Just then he felt a diatis power that was comparable to his own. Magicians wouldn’t bother themselves to check what was going on, so it was all left to the young man who observed the whole situation. But just now, he tried to sense his power but he couldn’t see through Redius. Perhaps… he was more powerful than me? He thought. But shook his head at the absurdity of the idea. 

No young man could be that powerful at such a young age.

In fact, under normal circumstances one would be able to sense the power from someone lower or the same advancement as them. But let’s not forget that Redius controls the dark element. The element most proficient in hiding. 

That was why the magician could not detect anything traces of power even though he was two stages higher than Redius.

“How can I help you?” A receptionist said with a warm smile as Redius approached.

“I would like a magician test.” Redius replied nonchalantly.

“Of course. What is your current rank and what rank test would you like?”

“I don’t have a rank. A disciple rank test.”

“Er… No rank…” The receptionist hesitated, she took a good look at the young man, she estimated him to be about 17 or 18. That was well beyond the age of recognizing one’s abilities. If he had no rank then why now? And even a disciple rank test at that? Maybe…

“You shouldn’t mess around here. If you anger the people here, it would go really bad.” She whispered in concern for him.

“I’m not. I would like the disciple rank test.” He replied coldly.

Seeing that her warning had no effect, she gave up. “It’s your funeral. Follow me.” She finished and led the way behind the reception.

Eventually they ended up at a door to which the receptionist turned around and said

“Behind this door is one of three disciple examiners. Are you sure you want to go through with this?” To which Redius nodded.

She sighed and knocked on the door, then opened it and walked in.

Inside sat a middle aged man on a desk, he wore glasses, a grey beard, and a dark blue cloak with a gold wand insignia on the chest. An initiate magician.

“Examiner, I have brought you an examinee sir.” The receptionist said, to which the man looked up from his desk.

“Him?” The examiner said, curious as he could not sense any magic power from Redius.

“Yes sir.” The receptionist bowed slightly.

“Very well…” he finally said after a lengthy look at Redius. “Follow me.” And proceeded to walk out of the room and guided Redius down several corridors and at last enter a large open area.

There they stood in the middle, face to face, a few metres apart. Redius could tell that this man was an initiate magician. Which meant that the 3 examiners were all initiate magicians, to think that for the major families it was difficult to come up with 2 initiate advancements and here we have 3. And this is just the examiners. How powerful they are…

“I’m not sure how you hid your powers or if you have any… but if this is a joke to you… then be prepared for the consequences…” the examiner finally said after a long pause. “I will create a shield of 1st stage disciple level, you just need to penetrate it with whatever magic you use. You may begin.”

And immediately after he said so, an ice lance appeared to the side of Redius and flew straight at the examiners head. 

This happened in under 2 seconds, the examiner was caught off guard. One because he thought he would take more time casting the spell and second, that it wouldn’t be that fast.

What’s more the ice lance penetrated the barrier easily and was about to hit him when he erected another barrier, a stronger one. Only this time, it didn’t penetrate, but left a large crack on the barrier.

The examiner stood motionless, shock over his face. From that exchange and the power released when casting, he could clearly tell that Redius was a 1st stage disciple. But to penetrate his barrier so easily and crack his last barrier. Although he didn’t put in 100% of his power, it was very close to it. Sweat poured down his face as he thought of the possibilities.

“Did I pass?” Redius said calmly as if nothing occurred.

“… yes….” The examiner finally replied after regaining his composure.

Redius turned around and walked away from the stunned man.