Syndra hearing the male professor’s polite and kind greeted returned him a smile as she replied.

-Yes professor Anton I am well, thank you, are you perhaps doing a query on the student’s abilities today?

-Oh yes! Though this is merely a sample run and not the real thing, you know how it goes we need to pay attention to every student and their talents every year if we want to continue advancing our wizarding technology, humans change and that change can be extremely drastic at time so we have to be prepared at all times to adjust, but I don’t want to bore you with my incessant chatter…now who may this young man next to you be my lady?

Finally being mentioned by this new professor, David slightly straightened his back in front of him, from the very beginning David had been observing this professor as soon as he saw him.

Out of all the professors David had seen which was really only 2 who lived in his dorm, Anton looked to be the oldest as he looked slightly aged with a few wrinkles on his face and gray hair coloring his head.

His attire also looked a bit old school, it reminded him of someone from the Victorian England era as the old professor wore a gray trench coat with a brown scarf, his hair was styled quite neatly, but his most eye catching features was his sharp moustache and the monocle he wore on his left eye, David could even spot a walking cane leaning on his chair, this professor simply screamed the word class, from his attire, the way he looked and acted to the way he spoke.

Plus, David didn’t feel an elderly aura coming from this professor even though it was clear that he was old, his eyes in fact made him look younger as they seemed full of energy and not as faint as most old people’s.

-My name is David…I am a freshman and a commoner who just started living in the same dorm as senior Syndra, senior Syndra had been guiding me until now, it’s nice to meet you professor!

David gave a respectful bow; the professor gave a nod in return as he seemed pleased with David’s respectful introduction he even looked slightly ponderous as he seemed to remember something before exclaiming.

-Ah! I think I remember you, but first I have to introduce myself as well, my name is Anton Éclair I am mainly a researcher in this academy who researches magic items, but I also am a professor who teaches the second year students, Lady Syndra here in fact is one of my students a quite excellent one at that so I hope you continue to support her as her junior, going back to what I remember, this morning when we professor’s had our daily meeting your name came up in one of our topics, don’t worry it wasn’t anything bad, we talked about how special your circumstance’s were as it had been a long time now since we had a student with a scholarship for our academy arrive, usually these scholarships are rarely ever given out as the only person who can give such scholarship is the headmaster, but because of this it seems as if there was a small dispute between the council of directors and the headmaster regarding this issue, it went even as far as to come to our circle so I apology if your experience here hadn’t been the best, and again I assure you not to worry as it isn’t your fault for any of this happening.

-I understand, don’t worry professor I honestly don’t mind, everyone who I met so far in my dorm was very amiable and kind to me, Syndra especially which makes me already like this place a lot.

David, smiling as he found professor Anton to be a very good person who cared about his students, he didn’t look to care about appearance much either as he faced Syndra just the same as he did everyone else, Syndra herself also seemed to have a very good impression of the professor as she continued smiling at him.

-Alright, I imagine that you two didn’t just approach me to chat now did you?

-Yes, actually we came because we wanted to see David’s soul star rating and his affinity, as you said before because of his special circumstances David didn’t get to take a magic test before being immediately send to the academy, we would like to take one right now to see.

As soon as Syndra finished explaining her reason to the professors, our surroundings suddenly became more noisy as the people around us started to whisper also listening into our conversation, from the very beginning people stopped approaching as soon as Syndra and David came forward to the professor, they looked at the two of them look zoo animals, David had momentarily forgot about them since he cared more about the new professor, but now that he was hearing them whisper he couldn’t help but become a bit self-conscious especially since he was about to take a magic test in public, he didn’t know how these tests usually went and whether or not they were public, but since Syndra seemed to think It was fine he chose to trust her since she knew better then him.

Professor Anton wasn’t swayed by the crowd’s shock either, he too was surprised, for a good reason as well since even if a person was given a scholarship, giving one out without a magic test was a first as it violated almost every code of wizarding recruitment, magic tests by nature weren’t things that needed to be kept secret or anything, while it was rude asking someone about their soul star rating and affinity, there were loads of ways to get such information by other means one of which was simply observing the wizard and seeing what spells he or she cast and how intense those spell waves were which usually told most mages everything they needed to know instantly.

If this was David’s first magic test, and if it turned out that he didn’t have required amount of talent for the academy, Anton didn’t know what would happen to David as such thing never happened before, he assumed that the young man would just be send back, and if that would happen it would not look good on the current headmistress as it was her who gave David his scholarship, the fact that she didn’t even conduct a simple test on him mind boggled the old professor, but he kept cool, being very experienced he simply decided to let things be before motioning towards the crystal ball before him.

-Very well, I welcome all first year freshman students, this being your first magic test I can imagine how excited you are, you are also fortunate as the magic item you see before you is one the most latest line of magic items that measures magic power, it is called the Element Orb, you only need to touch the orb with both your hands and the rest the orb will do by itself.

The professor explained, David was delighted as he finally got the chance to know what he got, magic was a fantasy any person in their imagined, up until now David could only do minor things with his mana which he at the beginning found amazing but quickly got bored off, all David wanted know was gain new knowledge to use his power, and through that orb he would finally be able to see where his path lied.

Not being able to hold himself, David was about to touch the orb but just before he did so, someone suddenly grabbed his shoulder stopping him in place.

-Not so fast!

That person turned out to be Valentia, mind you this conversation only lasted for about 2 minutes or so and since there was a crowd surrounding both Syndra and David it became difficult for Valentia and Olga to pass through, after all they didn’t possess Syndra’s ability to cause people to part like the sea, people still normally avoided them, but Syndra was a special case as she had a quiet notorious reputation amongst the students that made them stay out of her way.

Because of this Valentia and Olga unfortunately had to push through the crowd fortunately being able to make it in time before David touched the orb.

-Huh? Whats the matter, is anything wrong?

David asked, slightly confused as he didn’t understand Valentia’s sudden interruption, behind her also stood Olga who took Syndra to the side for another talk, David for a moment wondered what they were talking about, but he returned his gaze back to Valentia who seemed slightly troubled or conflicted so to say.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

-Well, actually, there is something that we should talk about before you do this magic test, or rather maybe doing this magic test in front of the entire crowd isn’t such a good idea? We could always return back to the dorm and make our own makeshift magic test, it’ll take a bit longer, but it’s not going to be any different, plus the privacy would be more comfortable don’t you think?

She said, David momentarily agreeing with her as he wasn’t too keen doing it here out in the open for everyone to see, but still the only reason he came here was because of Syndra who dragged him here, if he suddenly said that he wanted to go back to the dormitory to conduct a private magic test he knew that Syndra wouldn’t disagree, but then again he felt bad since Syndra took the opportunity to introduce him to the nice professor.

While David was thinking about this, it seemed as if Olga’s and Syndra’s conversation quickly came to an end as well as they whispered to each other.

-David isn’t a chosen one.

-What? How canz you be zo zure? What if you’re wrong and he iz a Chozen one? I am telling you there iz no point in rizking thiz if we can just go back to our dorm and make our own magic tezt, zince he has been already enrolled no one is going to azk him to do a magic tezt, what I am zaying iz thiz iz pointlezz!

Syndra didn’t agree and in the first place, she didn’t come here just because she wanted David to undergo the magic test as fast as possible, she understood David to a certain degree and knew that he preferred privacy when it came to most things just like her, from the very beginning she thought she would just make him undergo a private magic test amongst them, but when she professor Anton she couldn’t help but see a very good opportunity for David to get something.

In the first place there was no risk of David being exposed as a chosen one because from the very beginning Syndra knew with absolute certainty that he wasn’t a chosen one as his soul simply didn’t release such powerful pressure, but this didn’t mean he was ordinary either as his soul instead was very different from what she normally felt though she didn’t know what it was.

Walking away from Olga Syndra turned towards the professor who was still watching patiently, 4 students of that infamous troublemaker dorm had at this point taken over this stand most people simply gave way to them as they didn’t want to get involved with these crazies and bad luck charms, but everyone had their limit and everyone was here for a reason as well as they didn’t just come here for the good of their head to contribute for the professor’s research.

-C’mon! Hurry upI want to see who will win already!

-Yeah!  People are still waiting to be tested can’t you just do your test and get it over with!

-So its true that the people from that Dorm are all troublemakers! Don’t think you can get away with stalling for so long and expect to get the prize all for yourselves!

The crowd was in full swing as they shouted out one after another, at this point David completely didn’t know what they were on about and why they were so angry all of a sudden, Olga and Valentia also looked the same as they didn’t understand what they got themselves into, only Syndra seemed to really know what was going on as she swept her eyes over everyone all of a sudden.

Her cold glare oozed an icy atmosphere as everyone suddenly shivered in fear, Syndra never usually showed any reaction towards the crowd, but this time she did, and let it be a reminded for everyone for Syndra was a woman who knew how to garner control over people being taught ever since she was a child by her own mother on how to be an excellent leader.

She only needed one glare to shut everyone up, even Valentia who did something similar with her savage aura couldn’t hold a candle to what Syndra was doing before Syndra returned her gaze back to the professor who didn’t even flinch even when Syndra turned her cold gaze against him.

-Professor, if I am not mistaken are you perhaps giving out a reward for people who participate in your test?

-Unfortunately yes, nowadays young people aren’t interested in lending their time to precious research for the sake of everyone, because of this I have no choice but to give out a small incentive for the participants, truly regrettable.

The professor sighed, looking slightly beyond his years for a moment as he seemed to be thinking about the past, his words though fell deaf on most people’s ears as the people here seemed to be only be here because of the incentive the professor gave out for this test even though it seemed like they didn’t even know what the incentive was, Syndra in fact seemed to be the only one who knew exactly what this incentive was which also seemed to surprise Valentia as she had no idea about any of this or about what this incentive was about even though she attended the academy with Syndra at the same time.

Syndra didn’t care though as she simply smiled before asking again.

-Then if it’s so, can you please show us what the incentive is.

-Of course.

The professor said, suddenly bringing out a golden key from his chest breast pocket, the appearance of the key immediately astonished the crowd as no one other the Syndra expected this to come out, even Olga and Valentia weren’t immune to it because as soon as they saw the key they had extremely stunned expressions on their faces as if they didn’t believe what they were seeing.

-The prize for thiz meazly tezt iz….A VAULT KEY!?

-I’ve only seen this Vault Key once among the fifth year’s final tournament as a first place prize, in fact every fifth year student dreams of becoming the champion to get that key…I can’t believe I am seeing it now.

-A Vault key?

David muttered, still not understand the significance of the golden key compared to the rest who seemed to know all about it, it couldn’t be helped really since David was still new had little to know knowledge regarding the academy, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t aware of how valuable the key must be if everyone reacted like this.

Watching the professor holding the golden key within his hand he made a small gesture of displaying it to everyone before placing it back into his pocket making everyone go into regret as the key was gone deflating them.

Thinking that he was being a bit too cruel with his teasing, the professor smiled wryly before trying to comfort everyone.

-Now, now, everyone, while this is indeed a vault key it is merely a first level key and nothing else, once everyone here gets to the third year keys like these won’t be as attractive to you as you may think I promise you hohoho.

The old professor laughed, twirling his moustache at the same time making quite a comical display in front of everyone making the students suddenly go back to normal. And while he was doing that Olga and Valentia seemed to realize what this all was about.

-I zee whatz happening here…profezzor Anton iz thiz yearz key holder.

-Yeah, I didn’t think that this would happen so soon, almost all the professors usually do this close to the end of the year to motivate the students more, I never anticipated it would happen so soon…classes haven’t even begun yet and most of the first year students hadn’t even arrived either…

-Honestly I am really lost guys, can anyone please explain?

David said, finally getting a bit frustrated as he simply didn’t have any idea what the hell was going on, the only thing he knew for certain was that something significant was happening, which revolved around the key, he wanted to hear more about it, but everyone was too busy making dialogue with each other that David simply had no chance of asking anyone anything.

Syndra understood that David was feeling left out, but at this moment explaining this was simply going to take too much time, she wanted David to take this opportunity while he still had the chance.

Because of this she approached David and touched his shoulder making him turn to her puzzled.

-David, trust me, go take the test and do your best, I know you can do this that key is yours go take it.

She said, turning this whole thing even more bizarre, but David couldn’t care less a this point, simply nodding back to Syndra as he told her that he would do his best.

Soon enough the people who were present especially the first years who were the only ones who could participate couldn’t wait anymore as they all wanted to charge in and touch the orb to prove themselves and win the key, unfortunately for them before they got even the chance all of them collided with an invisible barrier not allow them to approach all at once isolating Valentia, Syndra, David and Olga.

Professor Anton teasing smiled at the eager students before berating them like an elder.

-Now, now everyone, please be patient and orderly, you only get one chance and one turn, everyone here will get their chance no worries!

The crowd still didn’t calm down, but they all knew that they could do nothing against the magical barrier that was cast by the powerful professor making most of the give up as they begrudging waited for their turn.

Now back to David he was about to touch the Orb but before he got the chance, again someone interrupted him from behind holding his shoulder, the hand that touched this time was slightly larger compared to Valentia’s and it was also shaking as well which was followed by a voice with a thick accent.

-If you don’t mind…can I go firzt?

It was Olga and for some reason she was shaking the moment she touched David, her face was red and steaming making David wonder for a moment whether or not she okay or not.

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If you want to read more, over 10 chapters of this series is on my site https://kakemonoko.wordpress.com/ please check it out if you like