The battle against the final troll ended a minute after the boss died. Derek and Naomi had whittled it down enough with injuries that Ian was able to grab its fur from behind and finish it off with fire.

“Where are you going?” Ian asked James.

James stood on the steps leading to floor 23.

“The next floor. Are you not joining me?”

“Of course, we are. It is freezing here, and it is not like there is anything left for us here except a few wandering frost giants. But aren’t you going to tell us about the floor? Anything at all.”

“I would have thought your inside information about the first 25 floors would have included a bit about this one as well. Because they didn’t add anything then your choice of informant was a good one. All I have to say is that this next one is perhaps the hardest of the early floors because the first part is individual by nature. No one can help you with it. If you fail the floor there is a likely hood that you and we will die.”

James returned to the portal waiting for him and stepped through. The novices looked to themselves before Ian dared to be the second one through the portal to the 23rd floor.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

James didn’t immediately return to the 17th floor which was a good sign.

The heat was getting uncomfortable. People were packed in on all sides of him as the line moved sluggishly. James was given some relief thanks to an arching walkway above him in the small walkway. He had stood around since the morning, but the hours had stretched into what felt like days. A small sandwich had been a reprieve for an hour, but the heat continued to berate his small, cloaked body.

The stone steps were worn and slippery under his feet. The people in front of him moved forward to fill the space in front of them and James did the same.

“How much longer?” asked one of the strangers nearby.

James knew the answer but didn’t speak up. The line had sped up a bit since its start in the early morning hours. He had chosen to walk up an hour before dawn and arrive as soon as possible with Sam. They had arrived at an already massive line, and it took an hour just to find the end.

James adjusted his cloak and jumped up to get a look and the front of the line. As the mass of people moved forward, he was able to see a bit of the courtyard.

“Which line should we try and go in?” Sam asked.

James took another look at the other kids near the front. The groups split up at the front into three different lines.

“There is no signage differentiating the lines. Let’s just make our way to the right and get into the closest line. Stay close to me.”

As those in line moved forward they were processed and sent to different groups. James followed behind Sam until he was finally brought in front of a mage. He held a clipboard and looked down at James. James eyed the mage’s armband. There were three stars indicating a third-year student in the program.

“Name please,” said the mage dryly.

“James Wells.”

“Have you taken this test before and what is your age?”

“Thirteen and no I have not.”

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“Then I will do my best to explain this test and the steps. I am Dustin Gallagher. To qualify for the mage academy here in Westbrook you will need to hit our standards by 120 percent for immediate entry. If not you will be put on a wait list and will hear back later. If you pass certain barriers though it is also possible for you to gain a scholarship. This could reduce your debts to the academy but that is a discussion for another time.”

Dustin brought out a clear crystal ball.

“You know how to draw in mana and release it?”

James nodded.

“Release your mana into this.”

James started to push the mana within him into the ball. There was a slight resistance and then it started pulling the mana from him before pushing it away a few moments later.

“Main mana types of lightning, air, and water. Mana's capacity is about average. Energy output is high. Input capacity is low.” Dustin looked up from the crystal ball that reported James’s results.

James broke the silence between them.

“So, what does that all mean? I already knew my affinity for the storm, but that crystal describes so much more about me.”

“The storm affinity is uncommon. I suppose you wish to be a manipulator of tsunamis with your magic?”

“I suppose. Maybe. I have also seen the yellowing fields around my town and my magic might be able to help them. I can cast spells to grow the fields and defend my home.”

“Of course, a noble goal. A weather mage of a town. One of the older professors used to be in the agricultural industry. I learned a few interesting spells from him in the field of ice magic.”

“Really! That is awesome.”

“It very much was. You know what let me show you something. This is a water element exercise that he once showed me. It is for the water element and will help your control. Master this and you will be ahead of your class in techniques by weeks at least as long as you practice it well.”

James eagerly agreed and watched the mana flow out of Dustin. Water coalesced in his hands and then swirled together until it looked like a snake. It followed a path between his fingers and looped around seamlessly before it returned to his palm. It looked like a dance as the movements looked fluid and unpredictable before becoming obvious after watching.

“That was amazing!”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it because it is even harder to replicate it yourself. Now here is your ticket,” said Dustin. He finished writing something on a piece of paper and handed it to James. “Take this to one of the attendants on your way out. I have taken a bit more time than I should have with you. May fate lead you to the mage academy again. Have a good day.”

James was pushed to the side with the receipt to his future clutched in his hands. He followed the line and new path that led to the exit of the courtyard. Around him, some kids were excited others more neutral or saddened. James looked down at the paper he received. It stated plainly all that he was to the school of magic.

Name: James Wells. Age 13. Affinity(s): Lightning, Water, Wind. IO: Low. EO: High. MC: Medium. Recommendation: Submission to Waitlist.

James’s hand tensed. The results he had been waiting for hours to receive were scribbled so simply on the page. The practice and time he had put into the basic mana manipulation exercises could be for naught.

James walked up to an attendant as he was exiting the courtyard. The old man took his paper without looking and put it in a pile among many others in a box.

“You will receive a letter within a month’s time informing you of your status within the academy. If you cannot read for whatever reason put a little mana into the paper once you have received it. It will glow yellow for admittance, or it will not in which case you will be free to reapply next year. If it glows red then reapplying will not be permitted. Is that clear?”

“Yes. I understand what has been expected of me.”

James left the courtyard and hurried out the exit where people were less congealed than before. Some huddled in groups discussing their results. James kept his head down and turned towards a less populated street. Sam had indicated their meeting place once the testing was over. There was no reason to stay around any longer, especially with more people trickling out of the block in singles and groups.

“I realize now the alteration,” said the voice of a much older James from the body of his younger self. “I should have realized much earlier that I never learned Dustin’s last name during the test. It wasn’t until I saw him with his father that the connection was made.”

The scene started to blur, and James’s senses went numb. He was forced to close his eyes as the world of his memories faded.

James’s eyes fluttered as he awoke from the memory. He took a few steps forward instinctively to balance himself. He thought back to the memory and raised his hand. James summoned water to his hand drinking a quarter of his mana. A snake rose from the water and wrapped around his wrist until it was fully formed. Once it was fully in place on his wrist it started to move. To dance. At first, he held his hand still and it glided between his fingers easily. Then as he moved his fingers the snake adjusted its dance subconsciously.