Edited by: KenChi死

As I bowed all magicians gathered in the room became silent…. Well, there was one exception.

Daralon stood up and began to clap his hands like a kid seeing a circus performance for the first time in his life.

* “Whooo! NICE ONE! Ya saw that!? Amazing!” He shouted while still clapping his hands. “Show us something more! C’mon! You have to prepared something else in case that would fail! Show us! Everyone! Encourage him! ZA-RI! ZA-RI!”… he was the only one shouting “What is wrong with you guys! Show him some support!”

* “Mister Daralon, please respect the authority of our gathering… sit down, please.” Chairmen asked. With a really annoyed expression Daralon did as he was told whispering something like “Boring old fucker”

* “Mister Zariel, once again I would like to say a word of gratitude in the name of everyone gathered here. To be honest we were prepared to face your refusal. The main topic on the agenda was to determinate… if you are a threat. We know, that you have never shown any act of violence toward people of any nation, and this is the reason why we are talking right now. Everyone gathered in here will ask you a question, if you would answer honestly, it would be appreciated. We have our methods to determinate if you are lying… do you have anything against such method?”

* “As long as you would not ask about personal matter, I do not mind.”

* “Very well” the chairmen straightened his position on his chair “Anyone wish to ask a question?”

* “ME! ME! ASK ME!” Guess who was raising his hand?

* “Senator Arila, please ask your question.” The Chairman picked some woman who also raised her hand. Actually a few person did so.

* “Thank you, Chairman. Mister Zariel, there are rumors, not proven, that you belong to a species that is, let’s just say more than just rare, could you prove your identity?”

The main question first, huh? I was still wearing a hood, for I was prepared for this very question. I was wondering how I should answer it. I thought at first, that showing my full capabilities could build some respect for future conversation. Yet I decided against it.

* “Very well, behold – my true form.” I said, and slowly, like very slowly raised my hands to the hood. I took my time building dramatic pressure, just to in the right moment with one fluent movement take it off.

I didn’t pick any combat pose. It wasn’t what I wanted to achieve. Instead, the only things I shifted, were my ears. Instead of human ears I switched them to black panther ones. So yes, I was basically a men with cat ears. But it was not the end! I raised my hand before me, and while I slowly perform scratching movement before me I said “Rawr”.

No, I didn’t roared. I just said “Rawr” Without any emotions.

And once again everyone went silent, for they didn’t know how to act. Yet once again silence didn’t last long.

* “BWAHAH! THAT’S MY BOY! See?! He has some humor, unlike you, you boring…”

* “Mister Daralon, it is my final warning! One more time you speak without permission I will have to ask you out. For you mister Zariel, Could be humbly ask you to not joke here? We really would like to know your serious answer.”

* “Chairman, this is my serious answers. You are just judging if I am a threat. What else should I show you, to not doom myself? Unfortunately, as I was living in pretty dangerous place, I had no access to any… not violent creatures. Tell me directly what do you want, for both you and me to be satisfied. To change my hands into wings? To cover my skin with scales? To replace nails with claws? All those traits are reserved for battle, and I do not wish to threaten you by literally arming myself up in front of the Gathering. I am afraid that I have no other form that I could present here.”

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

* “So, you decided to not show your full capabilities to not offend us? Than I have to apologize, for I misunderstood your action” … IN YOUR FACE ASSHOLE! It was what I thought. Somehow I feel like you want to paint me as someone evil, yet controllable… I will not give you that satisfaction.

* “No offence was taken. It is your job to take care of the peace of the Gathering and for making all sentences spoken here to be as clear and understandable as possible.” I bowed my head with appreciation to the function he was fulfilling. Another nice gesture from me.

* “Next question… maybe…” Daralon once again raised from his sitting place and raised his hand, but said nothing as he remembered the chairman threat.

* “Very well, Mister Daralon?” Chairman said with a sigh.

* “Have you ever killed someone? I mean intelligent being? If so, how many, who exactly, and what did you feel?”

* “I did.” It made whispers spread through the room

* “Silence! Please! Brothers and sisters! You are disturbing the answer of our guest. Please restrain yourself from judging before whole answer would be said.”

* “It would be 50… no, wait 51 humans. 50 of them were hunters and inquisitors sent to kill me. And asking what I felt back then is a hard question, for I felt different in many situations, a few times I felt sadness, a few times joy, but mostly dissatisfaction, for those were pointless deaths. And a few time I felt nothing. For it was something that had to be done, so I could live.”

* “That would be 50, yet you said you killed 51… may you continue?”

I made a pause. As if gathering emotions.

* “He was.. caught by something. And it didn’t let him die. For days he was stuck in agony. When I found him, he begged me for death… He was the very first human I have ever killed. Pardon me, I don’t wish to speak about this matter any longer.”

* “That’s understandable… if anyone has any other questions..”

* “If I may, chairman” some other woman raised from her seat. She was a beastkin, some shaman, if I had to guess, and by her attitude I could tell she is not my greatest fan. “How could we know if he really killed the inquisitors and not some hunters?”

* “We have truth-crystals turned on, so if…”

* “Those could be easily fooled by speaking half-true or forcing certain emotional states!”… that’s valuable information, thanks miss.

* “If you have any complaint to the activity of crystals, than…”

* “If I may, chairman” I cut his speech politely “We can avoid this whole fuss, for I have proof.” I grabbed an amulet from my pocket “Here is one of many amulets, I took as souvenir… memento from my encounter. I am keeping by myself only a few of them, but in room the that council generously lent me , I have the rest of them. Exactly 50 amulets that I can show anytime you would require.”

* “We will believe in that, we would also take one of those to check its authenticity. Is there any more problem with honesty of our guest?”

* “No, your grace…” The woman sat displeased.

And our conversation was going on and on. They asked me about my plans and desires. What I think about certain politics and so on. They also tried to know if I had any connections with any organizations.

And I answered that I had no plans until “someone” dragged me out of forest where I was not disturbing anyone and mentioned that I was asked to join forces with already two groups (didn’t say which one… the little magician probably said already who was visiting me), yet I refused, for I wish to stay neutral on politic field. In the end they forced me to stand in front of them for over an hour. But then the grand finally arrived.

* “I think we asked enough questions, and we exhausted our dear guest mentally, and he deserved some well earned rest. But before all of us vote on the matter of today’s gathering… I would like to perform a test for the magician. As you may not know, magicians are required to study either in academy or under care of one of the already certified magicians. As their education would be over, they would take a test to determinate their power and give them adequate rank among us. Mr. Zariel, we would like to ask you to perform a battle. Here, now, as you are standing. We decided for it to check your power and ability for reacting to unexpected battles. We will cast a spell, so neither you nor your opponent shall die, no matter how much damage you would take, yet all damage taken will hurt… please prepare yourself.”

In the very moment the arena I was standing on started to change. Some smaller platforms were erected making hill, some ponds were filled with water and even a few trees appeared, mechanisms changing the arena to some random environment? Nice trick. What I noticed, was that there was a lot much water sources all around.

* “To let you know, magicians are divided into ranks depending on their abilities. We have, from lowest ranks: Beginner, Novice, Apprentice, Acolyte, Magician, Mage, Wizard, Grand Mage, Archmage, Magus, Grand Magus, Arch Magus… and Magic King… just to let you know, only one person at a time can have the title of Magic King… and none have bin elected for the past millennia… Now, we believe you know your opponent.” How predictable… Hello Ruby! (ED: Trump for Magic King. Make the council great again.)

She came from the other corridor. She wanted to say something. Definitely, yet she waited. Maybe she wanted to have a talk after our match? BUT OF COURSE MY FRIEND!... I will love to chat with you a little! But first… you will have to get out of the hospital, in which I am going to place you. Fear not. I will be gentle. At the beginning…

* “As all gathered remember, this little lady received not so long ago a title of Mage, almost Wizard, becoming one of the youngest to ever reach that title. Honoring our method of testing battlemages, she is in a possession of element stronger than that of challenger.” Here, he made a pause and grinned a little. “But I decided for small improvement. In the end we expect a little bit more from our guest, so I allowed myself for making the task a little bit harder. Ladies, please step inside.”

From same corridor two more girls step out. Blonde and brunette.

* “Both of them are also Mage rank water mages.” Oy, this is bulling, you know? “I hope no one has an objections?” I HAVE! OY! YOU CHEATING OLD FUCK! Keep it cool… keep it cool.

* “Looks like it is not going to be a fair match…” The blonde girl said with disdain.

* “Then you are free to pick two more guys as support, then you may have some chances.” Was I the one who said that? Crap it was me. The whole audience burst in laughter and the blonde girl became all red on her face. Great I made her angry.

* “There are no restriction to weapon nor magic usage. All ranks of spells are allowed. Do not fear about hurting the audience, as the barrier is about to be erected. In the name of the Council, I ask for today exam to begin. You are free to start.”

In my minds I said with my best Will Smith voice “Show time”.