Chapter 2.

Again probably a little short. Don't know why I named this "Arthur's Quest" when no one is named Arthur. 

That'll work itself out eventually. Maybe I'll plug it in somewhere the way the names of movies are

plugged in.

I'll make the font bigger from now on. Thanks for sticking it out with me in my attempt at writing.

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

Chapter 2

            A month ago, I left the orphanage I spent my entire life in to pursue my dreams in magic. I left without a penny to my name and attempted to hitchhike from Seattle to DC. I earned some money performing some odd jobs here and there, did some things I was ok with, did some things that I wasn’t too ok with. Across the street was a holographic ad about some facial cream to turn back aging skin. I hate those ads. 

            I had arrived at the Academy’s campus in DC recently. It had been built around the Tower as a guard from potential dangers. To the rest of the world, it was still a big unknown as to what it could do. The Academy began at first to protect the rest of the world but now has turned into a school for those gifted in magic. The entrance exams were to be held at the beginning of every year. Luckily, I had arrived a couple of days ago.

Thousands of people from around the world flocked to the Academy every year to take the entrance exam. Being in the crowd felt so surreal.

“This is so cool isn’t it?”

I turned my head to look at who was talking to me and saw a girl fidgeting beside me.

            “Yeah,” I said, “this is pretty amazing”

The girl was smiling and gave me her hand to shake.

            “Hi, my name is Mia”

I shook it.

            “My name is Jacob”

At that moment, someone at the front of the crowd announced to us to quiet down.

            “It’s starting Jake,” she giggled.

An old man floated up into view above the crowd.

            “Welcome everyone, my name is Asad Al-amir and I am one of headmasters of this fine establishment. Today, all of you are gathered here because we all share a common trait. We see the world in wonder and amazement the way children do. In just a little bit, we’ll begin the tests. Please, I know there are a lot of you but would everyone get into lines behind one of these fine teachers standing here today. Thank you, and I wish everyone here the best of luck.”

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

            The old man finished his speech and disappeared. The crowd began to line up behind each other. “It was nice to meet you, I hope we’ll be able to see each other again on the other side, ” Mia said as we parted ways and got into separate lines.

            It was an hour before I arrived at the head of the line. My turn was up next and I could feel my heart beating loudly in my chest. When they called me up, my legs shook as I imagined myself reaching my goal. I walked up to the teacher assigned to my line. He seemed like a gruff old man you’d see as the tough but loving teacher that put his students through hardship so they could succeed in some end of the year tournament. Maybe he’ll be my best friend when all is said and done. Maybe he’ll die protecting me from some big baddie and I’ll finally overcome some barrier to defeat the evil monster but afterwards as I hold his dying body, he’ll tell me he thought of me as his son and that he loved me like family and as his last breath escapes his cold body, I’ll cry into his chest one last time. He’ll be like the father -

“Kid?” I heard, “You alright?”

I snapped back from my fantasy. “Nah, yeah. I’m fine.”

            “Thought we lost you for a second there. Alright, I want you to give me your hand.” I complied. “Now this might feel a little strange.”

            I closed my eyes and prepared for what was going to happen next, ready for anything. “Hmm…” he let out. “Sorry kid,” he said as he let go of my hands, “but I don’t think you’re suited out for this.”

            “What do you mean?” I was pretty bewildered by what he was saying.

            “Well I mean, this test was to gauge your potential with magic by testing out your ability to contain and hold onto mana. But I’m getting no reaction with you. Usually, even with the people with no ability to contain mana, there is still some reaction. I’m sorry kid but you're just not cut out for this. NEXT.”

            I was still processing this entire new dream crushing information when I was carried away on somebody’s shoulder. When I came to and realized what had just happened, I started to laugh. I was placed back in front of the stupid holographic ad for that new skin cream. God I hate that ad. The crowd behind me was dwindling as the rejected left and the accepted stayed. I turned around just to get away from seeing that stupid ad. Off in the center of the campus was the dark watchful tower.