Ken walked up to the orb. Like the others before him, he placed his right hand on the orb and released his mana.
“So warn…” he said as the orb started to glow.
Ken continued to release his mana and the orb only lit up brighter and brighter and became warmer and warmer. Everyone watched as the light radiating from the orb was nearly blinding.
“Oi, you're overdoing it!” Tai called.
“Kid, remove your hand!” Ian called out.
“Not yet, I want to see–”
Before Ken could finish his sentence, the orb began to crack –*Boom!”– the crystal orb exploded into bits and pieces. Seeing this happen shocked all the other examinees.
“Th-that was an expert-level orb…” One of the examinees stuttered.
“A-a-and…h-he, destroyed it,” Another examinee stammered.
“Oops?” Ken nervously chuckled.
“That makes this the second measuring orb destroyed today” Ian sighed. “Well anyways, congratulations, now please step aside and wait with the others.
”Think you went a little too overboard there buddy,” Said Tai as Ken stood next to him.
“Yeah, my bad. So, what would my score be?”
"Well, the current magic level for an expert orb is around 60,000. Since you destroyed the orb, your level should range higher than that.”
“60,000 huh? That sure is a lot. Anyways, why did you hold back when it was your turn?”
“You realized huh? Well, my mother told me to hold back during the exams.”
“Oh, I see. My Grandmother told me the same thing, but my Grandpa told me the opposite.”
Ian, twirled his finger, causing all the orb shards to disappear. He then clicked his finger once more, making a new measuring orb appear.
Soon all the other examinees had their turn. Out of the 100 that arrived, only 50 had passed the first round.
“Congrats on passing,” Ian said looking at the examinees “Now, can you all make your way into the next room for your next exam.”
Following Ian’s instructions, everyone made their way through a nearby door into the next stage where they were met by a female examiner. On the examiner's far right, was a giant magic cube.
“Wonder what this trial is going to be about?’ Ken wondered.
“I don't know, but I do know we will be able to pass'' Tai replied with a smile.
Returning the smile, Ken nodded, “Yeah.”
"My name is Sophia, and I'll be your second examiner” she introduced herself
"Listen up you whippersnappers, this stage is going to test your defense and durability. One at a time you kids will stand inside this cube, and I'll cast a destructive spell at you, all you have to do is just put up a barrier strong enough to defend against it or find a way to survive it.”
“The cube is made so that only what's outside can get in and what's inside can't get out. So you will be trapped to deal with whatever spell I cast" Sophia explained.
Hearing the terms of this trial, worried some of the examinees, as they were about to face an attack from an examiner.
“Wonder what kind of spell she’ll use?”-Ken.
“I don't know, but I'm going first this time”-Tai.
Tai walked out of the crowd and entered the cube facing their examiner. He carried a calm demeanor.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“At any time you feel scared, just yell out. In doing so, that’ll mean you forfeit and you will be disqualified.”
“Understood,” Tai replied.
Raising her hand, three big magic circles formed in front of Sophia’s palm. The first circle was light green, the second was red and the third was yellow.
"Are you ready!?". Tai nodded yes in return.
The light green magic circle erupted with wind magic, the red burned with blazing flames, and the third one sparked with yellow electricity.
“Is she going to cast a Fusion Spell with no incantations…?”
From the first magic circle, a spiraling wind drill was conjured, passing through the second magic circle it gained the fire attribute, and passing through the final circle, it was struck with the lightning attribute. Like a rocket being launched, the magic drill fused with three destructive elements was fired at Tai.
Seeing the mighty Spell shoot across the room with such intensity baffled the other candidates watching from a safe location. The spell was magnificent, but the thought of having to defend against such powerful magic brought fear amongst them.
Tai took a steady stance, raising his left hand towards the incoming spell with his right hand clutched onto his left wrist. His left hand was bandaged from the tip of his finger up to his shoulder.
Once the spell came into contact with Tai, the heavy impact pushed him back several inches, but he fought back and held his own against the destructive drill, slowly pushing it back with each step he took forward.
Everyone watched in awe, as Tai held such an extreme spell at bay. Ken’s eyes sparked from how impressed he was by Tai, the Examiner’s spell radiated with high levels of magic level, but Tai was holding it off with one hand.
“So strong!...”
Tensing up his arm, Tai caused the spell to disappear completely. Tai was panting a little as smoke flew off of his hands. Everyone was confused and began to chat amongst themselves about what happened to the spell.
Such a powerful spell abruptly vanishing like it was never there would confuse anyone, especially when the rules of the cube won't allow the spell to leave it.
“Great Job kid” Sophia called out, her tone was more upbeat and encouraging, unlike Ian.
“It's impressive that you were able to nullify such a destructive spell with little effort” She praised him.
“Thank You.”
“Next!”
“I guess I'll go next”-Ken
Ken made his way into the cube, facing Sophia. Looking at the cube from within, he realized something, a way for him to pass, using minimum effort… unlike last time.
“Are you ready young man?”
Ken placed his hand on the face of the cube. From under his palm, he conjured a small magic circle.”Yeah, I'm ready.”
“What's he planning?”-Tai
Just like before, Sophia brought forth 3 magic circles, launching the same destructive spell as before. Now that Ken was at the receiving end of this spell, he could feel just how powerful her spell was. Standing in front of such a mighty spell sent chills throughout his body, if one looked closely they could see goosebumps.
He stood firm, keeping his hand on the cube. The fusion spell hit the cube causing a huge explosion that engulfed the entire cube, sending a fury of wind to disperse throughout the exam room.
“Wait a minute, isn't the explosion meant to be inside the cube!?” One of the examinees pointed out.
“Yeah, the rules of the cube should have trapped the spell inside” another examinee pointed out.
“What the hell is going on!” Another shouted.
“He's quite the crafty one”-Tai.
After a few seconds, everything cleared out and Ken was standing in the cube without so much as a scratch on him. The ground around the cube was destroyed.
"Care to explain what you did kid?" Sophia called out.
"I simply modified the original rules that were placed on the cube. I reversed the rules so that what's outside can't get inside, making it into a type of barrier" Ken explained.
"That's a pretty impressive kid," Sophia praised him, “Now stand over there and wait for everyone else to finish.”
Ken changed the cube back to how it originally was, before walking out and making his way over to where Tai was standing.
“That was a pretty neat way of defending yourself against the spell,” said Tai.
“Nowhere as cool as you nullifying it!” Ken replied, “Say, why is your left hand all bandaged up? It's the reason you were able to cancel out her spell right?”
“Correct, my left arm is cursed, these bandages are a seal for it.”
“A curse? What kind of curse?”
“You sure don't hold back on sensitive questions, do you?” Tai let out a chuckle. “But to satisfy your curiosity, my left arm is… hated by magic, without this seal, I'm unable to generate mana.”
“That does defeat the whole purpose of being a mage.”
“Yeah, it's made growing up a pain.”
“That's understandable, in the magic community, those who are rejected by magic are looked down upon and feared. So you must be here to find a way to lift the curse?”
“No, I'm here to find the person who helped me to live with it.”
“So that's your goal? Well Tai, good luck on that.”
“And for what it's worth, I think your left arm is amazing.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
Soon the rest of the contestants had their turn, but only a small handful passed. As usual, those that didn't were sent back. Sophia then sent those that passed to the next stage, located outside in another courtyard. They were met by the final examiner who stood in front of a huge crystal orb. The Orb was just floating in the air, unlike the first one which was sitting on some kind of stand.