Ok after this two more to go, next couple chapters too short for my liking but I couldn't lump them together. It just didn't read right. Well thanks for reading, should anyone come across this.

Chapter 9

I snap back into consciousness to find myself no longer on the hill but inside the reception. Sitting up on the chair with Zan on my lap and Raul to my side.

“Did you sleep well?” Raul asks with toothy smile, not restraining his less draconic features. Sharper teeth and spikes on his body, hardly hidden at all by his robes. The reception is full of people of all walks of life as well as ages. The prospective students mostly looking older than me. A wide berth is given by the crowd, very much because of the dragon priest by my side.

“Clear the way!” The murmur of the crowd is broken by the sound of what seems to be a guard. A familiar face walks in, Tyrell. The young prince is dressed in his royal regalia, for probably the last time considering his family situation. He described to me how… pompous he'd look, with all the gold and all but I don't want to laugh. As he walks by he acknowledges the priest, who returns with a nod before going to the desk where he is welcomed by some senior of the school.

The crowd returns to its own devices and the prince disappears up a set of stairs.

“How long was I out?” I ask Raul while looking the scaly lump on my lap. Zan tosses and turns a little but remains uncaring while lazing about on my lap. “They've already started the first round of tests, we are booked for the second. Alongside Tyrell it seems. That's only the first two tests however, the third and fourth will be later on.” He hands me a handwritten notice on today's events. It all adds up so I wait.

My wait however does not last long, a short bearded man walks out into the reception and announces. “Second period examinees please follow me.” People from outside the reception as well as those sitting down begin to crowd up and form a mob behind the man. Who sighs as he leads the disordered rabble up the stairs. Raul beside me and Zan walking on the ground in front leads to everyone keeping distance as to be respectful. We ascend three stories before we exit on the fourth level into a wide cavernous room.

The space is lit as if it is daytime and the floor is a grassy field stretching out to cover the entirety of this floor. Small wisps of light circle about the room and it's flowers as well as a couple prone beasts. A white tiger with almost translucent fur lazily watches us as we walk a cobblestone path to the heart of this floor. It glistens in the light, revealing its nature as a crystal beast. Nesting on the only mound is a red bird, a large crow. It ignores our presence.

The mana in the air is thick. It gathers near the centre around a collection of stone pillars, ten in all. Around a raised platform with flat sides facing in and giving a strange golden glow.

Our escort stops just before the platform and turns to face us. “If you are not an examinee please wait near the door, the residents of this floor are not fond of visitors.” He looks towards the large tiger, even lying down its height is greater than he is tall. I feel the egg in my bag shudder a little, as if the gaze of the beast had passed over it. Raul has retreated back to the entrance, nearly out of sight. This place… it feels larger than it should.

“Now I shall call the names of each of you in turn. Record your results and then move on to the next. After you are done please wait to be guided to the next test.” A small stone pillar rises from the ground before a panel is illuminated upon it. He looks at it before calling for the first person.

“Han Ferrick, please step onto the platform.” The crowd parts as Han walks through and up onto the platform. Breathing heavily in either excitement or trepidation. “Now please, inject some mana into the ground.” The old man, who I guess is a proctor, instructs him.

Waves of golden light wash over the platform before being absorbed by the pillars. Three of which light up o e the colour red, one a mellow gray and the final a light blue.

“Greater fire. Earthly death. Earthly water. You Pass the first test.” The man pauses a second to look down at the glowing stone panel. “Middle sixth rank spiritual potential, second test passed as well. Come down.” The boy lets out a sigh of relief and walks back into the crowd, ‘congratulations’ and 'good job's from all around. A hand touches my shoulder.

“You ready Kad?” Tyrell asks me, no longer wearing his fancy robes. Just his undershirt and some trousers. “I'm fine. You already know your attributes?” I ask him quietly so not to interfere with the testing. He smiles, “Divine fire, greater wind and greater fire. So I'm passing easily.” Everyone already knows their attributes, the first test is just a screening. It's the second test everyone is worried about.

People filter on through the first two tests and before even half an hour my time had come. “Kadimae… no second name.” He looks right at me, already knowing who to look for. Tyrell pushes me forward and the crowd parts so I can reach the platform.

“Haaar!” The roar of the tiger shocks me as he jumps beside the pillars, screams erupt from the crowd but the old man stays calm. Seeing that, I steel my resolve. “Yes Haruman is right, leave the crystal beast outside the testing area. It will interfere with the test.” Tyrell runs up to the steps to grab my bag from me and I return to the platform.

“Having the prince hold his bag?-” Among other exclamations come from the crowd, it seems his fanclub is here in full force. Unwittingly having already made an enemy I stand in the center of the platform and force mana into the floor. Gray mana pulsates from one pillar before me while glows of dark blue and gold radiate from the sides.

“Interesting, one divine blessing. Filtering that out…. And done. Attributes are Divine Death…” The mana voice grows eeriely quiet as if he is being choked. Some murmurs escape the crowd but the old man continues. “-Divine death, twice and then divine lightning.” The crowd erupts in sound at hearing of someone with three divine attributes but then. “-Spatial.” The proctor finishes.

No one says anything. A couple dozen pairs of eyes stare at me in a restrained anger, no one daring to act but no one seems to believe what they’ve heard. The proctor clears his throat and continues with announcing the second result. “Peak seventh rank spiritual potential, very very nice. The old man looks at me with watery eyes, a fine future ahead of you. Work hard.” I turn back towards the crowd, many of which were going in wonder or some other emotion. A couple clapped in congratulations but most stayed silent, I returned to Tyrell's side to see him chuckling.

“Oh the looks on their faces.” He chucks my bag at me and holds himself while laughing. “Like someone died in there! You know the boy before you was gloating? For having a divine water attribute.” Even the prince got a couple glares of contempt from the crowd, who previously doted on him.

The crowd does soon settle down though, as we near the end of the group neither Zan or Tyrell has been called.

“Zan Cecil.” The murmurs start again at the calling of the name of the dragon priest candidate. The only known candidate as well. The blue lizard scurries up the steps and sits on the platform before a golden light seeps out.

Blue. Blue. Lots and lots of blue emanates from a single pillar as lightning forms on it's surface, from the lightning mana saturating the air. No one sounds surprised, lightning attributes for the priest of lightning. Makes sense. “Divine blessing, filtered of course.” The man coughs and the crowd goes silent. “Triple divine lightning.” The sound isn't silent but… it's not what I'd expect.

Pity? It's only an undertone but they actually seem to have pity for Zan. I understand it, an imperial dragon with three divine attributes isn't normal. It's no coincidence. But as far as they know he must have been born to be the dragon priest, with no other choice or meaning in life. Sure who doesn't want power, but in exchange for freedom? A choice made before you're even born.

After the moment of uncertainty Tyrell starts clapping with enthusiasm. Leading a few others to follow his direction. “Now quiet down. And I'll read the results of the second.” After giving his panel a look he announces, “Low seventh rank spiritual potential.” No one sounds surprised and many politely clap Zan off the platform. After which he returns to my side.

Only two people remain to be tested, after the next person leaves the platform the proctor calls Tyrell's name. His attributes cause little drama but a mid seventh rank potential gets him applause from the crowd. With some pride showing for their prince who beat out the dragon priest candidate.

“A very promising batch! For sure, now everyone. I shall lead you to the next level so that the written test may commence. We've kept group one waiting for awhile now.” He claps his hands ,”Come on now.” He urges us on, then dismissing those watching at the end of the floor down to the reception. Then leading our group up two floors.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

The staircase exits on a large corridor leading to the other side of the tower, from here I can see passages I intersecting those. Dividing this floor into many rooms. As he leads us through my assumptions are proved correct as we weave through corridors to reach a secluded room.

“Please, each of you. Take a seat.” We filter into a large auditorium-like room, with rows of seats higher the further from the front. One side of rows are already filled with the bored looking first group, as well as their straight-laced looking women. Who only looks sullen at her group.

“Ah Zan, we've found an upperclassmen who can act as a scribe. You'll be taken to another room as to not disturb the rest.” Our group's proctor bends down to talk to Zan before leading him off as the rest of us take our seats. Tyrell heads towards the back while I take a seat on the second row near the aisle.

“Now, professor Sait will return after dealing with the little dragon. We starting ten minutes, in the meantime i shall introduce myself.” Says a man standing at the front of the room, with a head of messy brown hair and a set of dirty brown robes he looks nothing like the two proctors. Previously leaning against the blackboard he steps forward to take center stage and speaks. “I am Willard Nostrad, of the minor house Nostrad and a professor of this academy. I am a peak fifth rank magician who specializes in artifact crafting and grand magic. I am also the man who created the written test for this year, at the behest of old man Castor.” His gaze sweeps across the group, settling on no one for too long. “This test could be meaningless to you, or the most important in your life. Please try your best.” And with that Professor Nostrad returns to his seat near the front, leading to the two groups to break out in conversation.

“Hey… Kadimae is it?” Asks a tall boy beside me, probably fourteen considering his size. He extends his hand and we shake “Name’s Isaac, Isaac Bawn. I'm no noble but nice to meet ya.” I reply to him, “Same, how did you do before?” Isaac gives a self deprecating laugh, “Didn't pay attention? Well I didn't do as good as you I mean. Fire, fire and greater fire. With peak fifth potential.” He puffs his chest out and points his thumb flat towards it. “Future firestarter at your service, from your hearth to your village. Warmth guaranteed until you die!”

His humour isn't the best… Issac gives off a warm glow and we talk for the next couple minutes as we await our tests. I look back at Tyrell to see him lazing around as everyone else keeps distance from him. Sad fate of a prince. Although he's rich and has a powerful family… who might want to kill him. After some more mental deliberation i settle on his fate being 'sad’ for now.

Then the door swings open as the old man, who I now know is professor Sait, enters holding a stack of papers. “Why it seems we are about to begin.” Says professor Nostrad before turning to the women. “Miss Talor, hand out the quills. They are enchanted to not require ink.” She complies and we soon all possess a set of papers and quill.

“Now, you may begin.” Nostrad says not leaving his seat and without even mentioning rules. I open the first page and start reading.

Most of this looks like common knowledge… calender system, god's and their domains. A little on noble houses and the odd strange question about things like smithing or other production skills. Skimming through the next couple pages I see most of the first section seem to be one line questions. Apart from a couple outliers like a question on how to skin a cat, which is kind of disturbing, they seem straightforward.

No one talks during the test, and the sound of tapping quills pervades the room. No one seems frustrated yet… I flip over the page and look at the next section.

Finally magic? I look down this page and see more one line questions, however while the first were general knowledge these are magic related instead. Applications of heat dissipating magic, the effects of nature mana on wild animals and an advantage of divine magic. Looking at the questions listed I think I can answer maybe half? The next dozen questions relate to things like pyromancy and other elemental magics. Which isn't too hard.

Yeah maybe half of those… About this time I hear sounds of frustration coming from the room, they might just be ahead of me though. The questions seem to be getting harder. I don't even know what the last couple were about, one referred to 'racial phylogeny’ and the other to 'rooms’ or 'fields’ as if they mean the same thing.

Feeling a little unnerved I continue, I'm not sure how much time I left but I turn to the next section. Of which there appears to be four. To my surprise this part is multiple choice… four options and fifteen questions.

The first five were simple enough but afterwards the questions grew difficult. ‘Can familiars provide mana to their master?’ is one I think I know, since that egg is just eating my extra mana it shouldn't produce it's own. But it's still only an egg… perhaps it can later? I tick that yes even if it's wishful thinking. The next few questions pose similar questions about mana and it's properties. Soon enough that section ends and I turn to the last page.

The page reads that. ‘This fourth section is entirely optional, however it offers the chance for extra credit if the subject is deemed significant.’

‘Name a mystery you have obtained and the method by which you obtained it. You may be asked to perform said magic if it's deemed to be relevant.’

My first thought after reading that is. Really? Aren't mysteries meant to be important secrets… Maybe that is the case? But children should only know the most mundane of- Maybe this is related to Castor? I don't know what to write. The section is optional anyway, why bother. Despite saying that I do not put down the quill as my eyes lock on to the page.

It might seem stupid, but I'm going to write. It's not like they can learn time compression if it say it was from a dream… so spreading the knowledge shouldn't be bad. My quill touches the page and I begin, not a few words after writing 'time compression.’ I hear the words. “And stop, we are done for now.” The sounds of unrestrained groans and moaning cones across the group and people start to compare answers.

“Now, now. That wasn't so hard, we need to mark it before tomorrow after all. Now please return to the reception, the final test is done in the afternoon with all four groups.” I make a detour to Tyrell and we make our way down together.

-------------------------------------

Some more author stuff

I don't remember when I exactly meant to explain what crystal beasts were. It'll probably come as background information or a stray infodump but I may as well add it here, this isn't important at all so feel free to skip.

In short, a crystal beast is a sentient mass of living mana without a soul. This lack of a soul is rather distressing to them, they are born into the world with little to no emotions and see a world through rather sterile eyes. But as they interact with the mortal races and other lifeforms they with greater and greater intensity feel a gaping hole where a soul should reside. Now emotions can be learned by a living beast and it's not uncommon for well lived ones to be as animate as you or I. Their descendents however will be as emotionless unless they obtain for themselves a soul. Ultimately the aim of a crystal beast is to advance to the sixth rank, at which a soul will sublime within their core and grant them a form of pseudo-immortality.

This isn't some kind of invulnerability but closer to reincarnation. Crystal beasts reproduce by partially shattering their cores (at great risk to their life.) and any progeny will be a viable host for a dispossed soul. Finally should no descendents exist if a soul can locate an empty core, typically this requires a ritual because souls have no method of locating a free core. Lacking eyes and possessing weak spirits.

Now there's probably more I could say, but that'd be taking it too far.