“My name is Elder Maston, and I have the honor of being the evaluator for this year’s crop of prospective students,” the instructor began. The aged man was standing on a stage in a grand lecture hall, hundreds of students seated listening with rapt attention. His voice, deep and rasping with centuries of knowledge, boomed with the magnificence of mana - the only reason everyone was able to hear him at such a distance.
Shiara Sterling sat in the front row, watching intently and fixing her posture as the school’s Elder began making his introduction. She needed to get into Mytheris. Her survival depended on it.
Well, she probably wouldn’t literally die, but any hopes of ascension and being the Wielder she longed to be turned to smoke should she fail to pass the entrance exam. She had waited twenty years for the chance to prove herself and claim a spot at the famed academy.
Mytheris Academy for Wielders was the best school for the Arcanis Arts in all of Galencia. It had been founded by the first four Divine Wielders, with a prestigious record of both performance and alumni. Her parents had met and fell in love at Mytheris - discovered themselves. Their memory ached in her heart, and she pushed down the wave of grief.
"We want to know what sets you apart from family name, title, or legacy. Mytheris only accepts students that are truly worthy of our time, attention, and the heavy burden associated with instructing so many young souls. Those things may have brought you here, either recommendation, lineage or any number of other calls to rise, but this institution craves innovation and dedication. Prove to us you belong among our ranks.
“The entrance exam will be conducted in two parts,” Elder Maston continued, “The first part is a written question and answer essay designed to test your knowledge on the basics of the Arcanic Arts. This part merely tests your foundation. We are well aware that not every student who received an invitation to the entrance exam came to us with a thorough education, so the written portion is not black and white, so to speak.
“The second half is more practical in nature with the aim to assess you as individuals. We want to know what drives you, how you think, how you see the world, and what your plans are once we have awakened your core and begun shepherding you on the path of the Arcanic Arts. Though a great many of you will pass the written portion, less than half will pass the final portion.
“Once you have finished the written portion of the entrance exam, it will be automatically appraised by the scripted paper after your sign your name at the bottom. If your paper bursts into flames, you did not pass and are therefore excused from the remainder of the testing session. If your paper glows yellow, it indicates a passing score, and you will be provided further instruction at that time. Silencing techniques have been deployed around every desk individually, so there is no need to be quiet. You may begin now.” he finished.
Shiara worried her lip and picked her nails. She knew the basics of the Arcanic Arts: breathing techniques, meditation, and aura - the raw energy of the earth that all things possessed. Gods, did she know Aura. Shiara Sterling had been born with the gift of Aura Sight. It was a rare gift that not many Wielders were graced with.
Shiara's vision constantly swam with the flow of aura, different colors painted as the world cycled and turned. Aura danced above hot candles, whistled in the breeze of the wind, and bubbled around others as they practiced their arts. It had taken years to feel like she wasn’t drowning in her own senses every time she opened her eyes.
Out of habit, she rubbed her forehead and smoothed the skin there, small circles drawing out the tension between her brows. Lingering headaches and sensory overload caused her to second guess the status of “gift” when she thought about her Aura Sight. With practiced grace, she started her breathing technique to quell her visions.
In through the nose, down through the belly, then filling the chest. Out through the mouth. Repeat.
Turning back to the present, her eyes opened wide at the sudden appearance of the testing material on her desk. The written test did not worry her, she had studied relentlessly and her uncle paid for the greatest tutors a Viscount’s money could buy. She had spent hours recounting the applications for mana, the common paths and runes used, and the different realms of power. She knew the basics.
She opened the pages of the test and began her exam.
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Shiara read and reread her test answers, praying she had given enough detail. She ran out of room in some areas and tried to scrawl her remaining thoughts as small as possible. It should be good enough. She signed her name at the bottom with a flourish of her pen, confident in her answers.
Please don’t burst into flame. Please don’t burst into flame. Please don’t burst into flame.
Her paper began to glow a sunshine yellow. Sighing in relief, she smiled to herself as her chest glowed with pride.
Looking around, Shiara caught eyes with her friend Mei a few desks over, her paper also glowing yellow. Mei's glossy black hair was draped over her chair, her delicate dark eyes shining with pride at her having passed the test as well. Mei waved and shrugged her shoulders as if saying “I don’t know what we do either.” They were among the first few to finish the test, given the state of the other taker’s exams.
Not wanting to draw attention to herself, Shiara closed her eyes and centered her breathing. In through the nose, down through the belly, then filling the chest. Out through the mouth. Repeat.
Her vision still swam with her Aura Sight, but the silencing technique placed around her desk had some sort of dampening effect on it. I need to learn this technique, Shiara noted to herself. Her anxiety was somewhat alleviated with her passing of the written portion, but there was still the practical test to consider. The entrance exam was forbidden to talk about for former attendees, so she would be going in blind. She fiddled with the ends of her hair, the wavy dark brown locks coiling around her fingers as her mind wondered with possibilities of what lay in the practical test.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Would it be some sort of battle? No, she thought. She doubted they would have them physically fight one another given none of them had their cores awakened yet. A puzzle then? Maybe they’d get to work in groups and she could work with Mei.
A bright bang flashed in her vision, drawing her to her surroundings. Her neighbor’s paper had burst into flame, the horrified face of her would-be classmate contorting in shame and surprise. The young man cried out, though no one heard his wails from the enclosure of the silencing technique.
Bless her soul she was glad that wasn’t her.
Time passed, and more and more of the gathered students either saw their tests burst into flame, or glow vibrantly yellow. The size of the class slowly dwindled, Shiara watching in silence as she twirled her hair anxiously.
Three hundred and fifty-six.
Three hundred and fifty-seven.
Three hundred and fifty-eight.
Shiara counted the empty seats around her, noting how many had failed the written exam. It seemed like the last of the prospective students had finally finished.
Five hundred and ninety-two. That was all that remained.
She had to pass the practical test, lest she bring shame and dishonor to her uncle and their noble house. She came from a long line of Sword Wielders, her great grandfather being one of them. Her family’s expectations swam in her mind, but a small voice inside her acknowledged she wanted this for herself, too. Not just for the glory and power of her family. Her attention was brought to the front of the lecture hall again as Elder Maston made his way to the stage, ready to begin his address anew.
His raspy but powerful voice rang out, their silencing techniques now extinguished.
“Congratulations to you all for passing the first portion of the Mytheris Entrance Exam.” he began.
Cheers rang out, interrupting him, the rowdier students wishing to celebrate their accomplishment.
“Yes, yes,” Elder Maston continued, “A feat worthy of praise indeed. Now, let us not idle any further. It is time to awaken your cores.”
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The sub-evaluators and Elder Maston lead all five hundred-odd students to another grand room, this one they called the Chamber of Crystalis. It was almost like a large cave, the walls natural and unstructured, with glowing mana crystals covering the walls in soft greens and blues. Skylights and torches lit the chamber, along with glowing enchanter’s runes along the floor. Their patterned arrays were displayed in concentric circles, the students instructed to stand atop them.
Shiara stood next to Mei, holding hands among the throng of students. She was a head taller than her oldest friend, and had guided them to the front of the crowd. Her confidence in squeezing in and out of the crush of students made it easy to convince the others she was meant to be in the center of the circle without need for words. Shiara's sight swam in the colors of aura, her gift telling her this was a naturally rich spiritual area, likely why whatever they were doing was held here.
Elder Maston cleared his throat. “Though not all before me will pass, as a gift from Mytheris, we awaken the cores of all prospective students who successfully complete the written examination. Many students who have awakened their cores but do not end up attending the academy ultimately lead successful lives as independent Arcanic Artists, or go on to study at another school. For a select few of you, the gates of our University will be opened to you, the richest knowledge of the Arcanic Arts yours to take.”
Shiara buzzed with excitement, squeezing Mei's hand almost to the point of pain. Mei hardly noticed however, as she too was buzzing, her body tense with expectation.
“Upon the awakening of your cores, you will be immediately teleported to the second test. The Maze of Crystalis, our school’s labyrinth.”
Whispers of awe rang out among the gathered students, many of them having heard tales of the magical riches and riddles that labyrinths typically held. Labyrinths were closely guarded, free access rarely granted.
Elder Maston continued, a hush falling over the students once more, “Another reason we open the cores of all students partaking in the second trial is that only those who have mana in their body may venture into the Maze of Crystalis unharmed. As you all know, the simple act of awakening your cores will, for the first time, fill your body with mana. The mana will begin refining your mind, body, and soul. It is this basic protection that will allow you to exist in the aura rich environment of the maze. Non-Wielders, Novas as you may call them, as well as unawakened Wielders would be crushed under the magical weight of the maze’s atmosphere.
“The labyrinth is full of varied tests and trials - the manifestation of the maze differs each time it is opened. Arcanic Beasts, spirits, puzzles, and any number of tricks will be presented to you. It is your job to navigate the maze as swiftly as possible, and obtain a mana gem. Upon capturing the gem, you will be teleported back to this chamber. The order in which you return will be your class ranking. For the sake of this exam, all grades and sizes of mana gems will be considered equal. The first two hundred students to return to this chamber will be granted acceptance to Mytheris Academy for Wielders.”
Two hundred students. She could do this. She deployed her breathing technique, centering her focus and quelling her anxiety and excitement. In through the nose, down through the belly, then filling the chest. Out through the mouth. Repeat.
“It is important to note that while in the maze, you will be under the protection of the school, and thus cannot be grievously injured. Any who become incapacitated will be teleported to the infirmary and will forfeit their place at the Academy.”
Okay, can’t die. Got it. That doesn’t mean I can’t be injured.
“The labyrinth brings blessings as well as ordeals. Should the labyrinth grant you such luck in the form of treasures, you will be allowed to keep them and use them to your aid. Each of you will begin in your own section of the Maze. Should you encounter another student in the course of your quest, you can choose to aid one another, or continue separately. The choice is yours.”
Students began looking at one another, assessing potential allies as well as enemies.
“Let us begin.” He declared with finality.
Elder Maston and the gathered sub-evaluators began moving their arms in sync, almost like a dance, circling around the students in a clockwise manner. Instinctually, Shiara closed her eyes. Breathing in and out with her technique once more, she felt a growing heat inside her expanding. It was as if there was a string between her heart and her belly, pulling her towards her center. The ember of power inside of her was growing, making her cheeks flush with the warmth of mana.. She felt whole, healthy, invigorated like she’d never felt before in her life. Her shoulders relaxed and the crease between her brows lifted. She was made for this feeling. She was made to be a Wielder.
She heard a hum in the air around her, the Mytheris evaluators completing their technique and coming to a halt. She opened her eyes and looked around, Mei and the other students obviously having a similar feeling of indescribable rightness at their new cores.
Instantly, light began to glow from the runes at her feet, her Aura Sight drowning from the onslaught of the spell. The sensation was more powerful than before, but she found her Aura Sight was clearer, her breathing technique more effective at controlling it. She felt herself being lifted through space, teleported to the opening of the Maze of Crystalis.