Quite a while had passed, at this point the youth category mana capacity tests were basically over despite the two earlier incidents. In a normal competition a mortally wounded participant would be a reason to stop the entire thing for prevention, alas there is no way such a thing would be allowed by the prideful mage guild. So just a while before the first rounds all came to an end two children met in a completely vacant hallway.
"Congratulations," Irwyn gave Elizabeth a cheerful smile "you dominated the preliminary round."
"Thank you," Elizabeth slightly blushed, her head lowered in embarrassment "but I think I gathered a lot of attention."
"That is hardly a problem," Irwyn just waved his hand at her worries "it was inevitable once you entered the competition."
"But didn't we come here secretly for a reason?" Elizabeth didn't doubt whether there was a reason, but was honestly at loss for what that reason was.
"Of course, there is an enormous difference between participating as Elizabeth and participating as Elizabeth Black," Irwyn explained "if you participated as someone backed by the Blackburg family people wouldn't dare cross you, but now…" that unfinished sentence made her shiver as she recalled the woeful way the Elemental lord stared at her.
"They will without a doubt try to make things harder for you now. I came here to warn you and give you advice," Irwyn's smile didn't fade
"Make things difficult… I thought the competition is impartial," at least that is what she believed before Irwyn brought doubt over that simple fact.
"You are now seriously threatening to knock out an Elemental lord's disciple. If that were to happen Amadeus would lose far too much face. He won’t let that happen," Irwyn casually explained the decision making process of Amadeus as though the man was a child.
“Then what should I do?” was the natural reaction to being targeted by one of the most powerful mages below the awakened grade.
“You don’t have to do a thing. You are still far too young to deal with the likes of him, so just do your best during the competition. I will take care of the rest,” Irwyn just gave her a meaningful wink. Most people would doubt an 8 year old claiming to ‘take care of’ an Elemental lord, but in Elizabeth’s mind this was no longer an issue to worry about. She was told to just do her best in the contest and she would follow those instructions with zest.
“You should return, it’s a long way back. Remember that I will always be watching and interfere if I think you cannot handle the situation.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth nodded her head, fighting spirit already re-entering her eyes “I will do my best.”
"Then go and show them," Irwyn gave her one last smile before they parted their ways, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.
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Second round was similar to the previous at first, except that there were only 5 participants left. Once again Amadeus escorted them out of their gathering area and made an announcement to the spectators. This time a roaring of the crowd still greeted his speech.
“Behold, all! The second round shall commence soon, it’s principle far different than the last. This time around I shall draw 3 disciplines in which the participants will attempt to earn points. The winners shall be announced immediately after this part is finished based upon the amount of individually gathered points. Without further ado allow me to draw,” the Elemental lord made the thing into a spectacle as he sunk his hand into the box and pulled his hand back out while already grasping 3 pieces of perchamen. The material was used instead of paper purely out of traditional reasons.
“Precision, destruction, pierce,” he read out loud “let me explain these for those unaware. Precision requires the participants to infuse the most basic flame invocation through increasingly thinner circles of a highly flammable material; destruction requires the participants to damage a specially constructed target dummy as hard as they can with a single spell; and pierce requires them to pierce through multiple increasingly magic resistant layers with a single cast. I will now let the participants redraw their order while we prepare the necessary instruments," he said and beckoned with his hand. Immediately lackeys of all sorts ran out and prepared the various devices while the competitors drew lots. The whole process took less than a minute, mostly thanks to the greatly reduced the number of participants.
"The order of the participants shall remain the same for all 3 disciplines. Now then, number 1, step forward," Amadeus said and this time it was Darius who stepped forward first. After a quick bow he approached the device prepared for the first competition. It was a rectangular structure atop a rod pedestal, divided into 10 layers of various gray shades. The rectangle itself had a conical cutout which at first had a 10 centimeter (3.94 inch) diameter, but quickly became thinner than hair's breadth.
“Turn to ash and amber
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burn away my anger.
Flame”
Darius voiced a quick chant. It was an unsaid rule that participants would not shorten the chant or evoke the spell voicelessly, although most participants in this category would not be able to do such thing in the first place.
Darius' eyes immediately became focused as he guided that thin dancing flame into the cone. His originally rapid pace slowed down as he reached further inside. Soon enough he was attempting to pass the wisp of flame through an impossibly thin area, and that couldn't be maintained for long. With a puff one of the rectangle's layers combusted, and was soon followed by the rest of the thing.
"Great performance! The participant obtained 7 points, his total thus reaching 12," the Elemental lord made the announcement into another small spectacle for the audience "number two please!"
Another participant stepped forward, just as Amadeus personally replaced the rectangle, and attempted the same trial, his result significantly worse as he barely got 4 points before the whole thing burned down. That was only natural, as Darius, and naturally also Crowley, practiced arduously in all the possible disciplines. They might have had an edge in the mana capacity, but the duo was undisputed in the second part of the competition. Unless of course…
"Number 3!" Amodeus announced and his eyes momentarily sharpened when Elizabeth stepped forward. He once again replaced the device and beckoned for her to begin.
“Turn to ash and amber
burn away my anger.
Flame”
She chanted, but was confident unlike in the first competition. It was no coincidence that Irwyn had her participate, and she now realised that too. When Amadeus announced and described the disciplines Elizabeth mutely gasped in amazement. She did that for a simple reason: Irwyn had specifically trained her in these 3 exercises during the past 2 years. He even called them part of basic training. It was thus no trouble for her to pass the first 5 layers in the blink of an eye.
And then something that was clearly a violation of the rules happened: the rectangle made a minute movement. It was smaller than what an eye could perceive, but in the tight space Elizabeth's spell was passing through its consequences would be fatal. However, Elizabeth skillfully moved her magic along that movement and, without a change in expression, carried on. What anyone else would assume to be a violation of the rules Elizabeth considered an intended part of the competition, a simple mistake for her to make considering she was used to it. Her lack of reaction stunned Amadeus enough to allow Elizabeth's magic to pass past the 8th layer. When another tremble occurred Elizabeth was unable to adjust in time. And the 9th layer burned down. Her focus was let loose and she realised the arena was once again quiet. The previous cheers of the audience had gone silent as they intently watched the large screens showing her progress.
"Astounding!" Amadeus still managed to feign a perfect smile as he addressed the audience "such a performance is truly deserving of 9 points!" he said before beckoning the following participants. Crowley in the 4th position matched Darius, while the last participant managed to get 5 points.
By the end of the round the scores were as follows:
5. Place - 9 points
4. Place - 10 points
3. Place - Darius - 12 points
2. Place - Crowley - 13 points
1. Place - Elizabeth - 16 points
When the second round began Elizabeth had a serious lead, while Crowley and Darius were bitterly fighting for the second place. They were well aware how much was on the line for both themselves and their teachers, only the first 2 participants could advance after all.
"Number one," Amadeus called out, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Darius nodded as he stepped forward, preparing himself to take a significant risk in order to catch up to Crowley. The second discipline was destruction. In order to succeed the participants had to do the highest possible amount of damage with a single spell. So they would naturally use their most potent magic.
"Thousand unbound stars,
Hope which combust.
Hollow and scorched scars,
Turn them all to dust.
Blazing spear."
Just as Darius finished his chant a spear of flames materialised above his head. The crowd went into a fiery uproar when they recognised a third circle spell. This was the newcomers category with the oldest children at 12 years of age. Even if he was previously outshined by Elizabeth, Darius was indisputably a genius, and that was clearer than ever when he showed everyone something far more tangible than just control of basic spells or his mana capacity.
With a beckon from the pale Darius the spear crashed into the dummy’s chest and violently exploded. Fire and dust momentarily obstructed everyone's vision over the thing, but when the dust settled the machinery was unharmed. Instead the all the screens focused at the numbers below the main frame. It clearly showed 7.001.
"Amazing, such show if superior magic is truly praiseworthy. The participant earned his 7 points!"
The next boy cast a measly second tier fireball, which earned him 4 points. Then it was Elizabeth's turn again and the crowd had immediately gone silent, perhaps expecting another miracle. She just looked up and smiled. Elizabeth was aware that she had this one in the bag and did not need to overexert herself. But inside she wanted to keep to that promise and truly do her best. Perhaps it was unadvisable, but her young self reached the decision to bring out the truly most potent magic within her arsenal. So she began her chant, a mischievous grin plastered on her face. And the eerie silence became tangible.