The man on center stage cleared his throat after yelling out, he lifts what can only be some form of microphone to his mouth.

“Welcome to The Celestia School for Primary Education, I am superintendent Proctor and I am glad to have you all attending my beautiful school. Now I know you are all anxious to get to know each other but I would like to tell you a few things first." He took a brief pause and then continued.

“While most of you are too young to understand this, I want you to know that you are our great nation's future, and through your time here we will ensure it remains that way." the superintendent said this while his eyes swept across the auditorium, finally coming to a stop at me as we locked eyes. Right as this happened I felt a chill run down my spine, I don't like the look he is giving me. He finally looked away and continued his speech.

"But before we can help you we must know what you are capable of. That is why immediately after the assembly you all will be taking an aptitude test. This test will also be taken by returning students as well, allowing you to see the progress you have made." and with that, he gave a nod and a final "good luck".

As he was turning to leave he shot me another glance. 'I don't like where this is going, this will become a problem', somehow I have gotten the head master's attention and not in a good way.

Now that he was done, a young red-haired woman wearing a teacher's robe came up to the podium instructing us to leave in an orderly fashion and head to the examination area.

We all shuffle down the well-lit hallway like penguins during a march. The light was coming from the large windows that granted a beautiful view of the forested area that the school backed up to. Eventually, our river of students made it to the evaluation hall. We were all re-distributed by grade into five different lines.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Once I had gotten halfway through my line I looked over and saw Jacob in the next line over. I also look and see Eloise in the line farthest from me. We were all in the same spots in each respective line. Eventually, Eloise made it to the end of the line. I couldn't see what she was doing but I could see a faint red light. "Wow, Eloise! You are so talented! your affinity for fire magic has gotten even stronger!" was what I can hear one of her classmates exclaim. 'fire magic huh' I have always been curious what magic she was good at.

Next up was Jacob, this time I can see what is happening a little better. He puts his hand down on the table and a faint grey light reflects off of his face. I can hear from the faculty member at his station "good job Jacob, you have definitely improved your speed and strength. At this rate, you will make a great knight one day" a rush of joy washes over Jacob. I crack a small smile for him, seeing my brother happy makes me feel happy as well.

My line crept forward and now it was my turn on the chopping block. I walk up to the table, "If you would please place your hand in the circle" I do as I'm told and place my right hand on the pearlescent white glass. I feel something warm as the glass responds to my hand with a purple light. "Wow, that's quite a high intelligence attribute. Bummer it doesn't look like you have any magic ability to go along with it"

'I guess it makes sense I would have high intelligence because I actually can do vector calculus in my sleep'

Just when I finish that thought I start to feel the gentle warmth of the stone turn to searing heat. I let out an agonized scream and yank away my hand as the surge of pain ran up my arm.

Luckily I was able to hold back the reflex that would have sent the table through the faculty member. I looked down at my trembling hand, the skin was completely destroyed and blistering. Blood was starting to run down my arm.

Seeing this I instinctively restrict the blood flowing to my hand. I am starting to feel the rush of adrenaline as the pain dulls a bit.

I take my eyes off my hand, only to see the staff member is horrified as well as the students around me backing away in reaction to my piercing scream. One of the teachers who were there to observe rushed over immediately after he managed to come back to his senses. He grabbed my hand and after quickly examining it he shouts “Someone grab me a healing potion RIGHT NOW, this child could lose her hand!”

“Don't worry, someone will be right back with something that will hopefully fix this” he tells me trying to comfort me. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off I could feel the pain returning, but now that I could think a little more properly I started to block the bioelectricity from the nerves in my hand. The pain immediately disappeared and I was able to calm down a small amount while I waited for someone to bring the healing potion.