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Chapter 1.4
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Igarian Calendar, Year 10012
Today’s the day! I’m so worried! What if I don’t do well? I think I’m ready, but I’m still so nervous! Hah… deep breaths Cael… deep breaths. You’ll be fine. You’ve been preparing for three years now, you’ll be fine. Ahhhhhh! That didn’t help at all!
“You alright there Cael? You’re looking a bit nervous. Well actually nervous is an understatement, you’re starting to sweat through your shirt.”
“Ahhhh, I’m sorry grandpa. I’m just scared that I’ll fail and all that effort would be for nothing.”
“Hey don’t worry too much, you’re still young Cael. If worst comes to worst, you could always become a gardener like your old man! It pays pretty well nowadays or so I hear.”
“Auuuugh! That doesn’t calm my nerves at all, grandpa!”
“Hah… honestly Cael, if you’re this worried before you’ve even entered an academy, you’ll never be able to handle the pressure of being a full fledged mage. I believe in you Cael, I’ve seen you working very hard these past few years. Believe in yourself. Estel and I both know you’re talented, so believe in us if you still can’t find it to believe in yourself. If anything, the only thing I’m worried about is if you’ll get first on the exams.”
…
…
“Thanks for believing in me… grandpa. I feel a bit more confident now.”
“No problem kiddo. Go knock em out.”
“Don’t worry! I got this for sure now!”
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Later…
“What’s wrong with that kid writing over there? Why are his eyes closed?”
“Ah, he seems to be blind, ser.”
“Blind, huh? Interesting…”
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Huh... let’s see. Name. Cael Ver. Grandpa told me to take his family name to make things easier. I don’t understand though, Why would having a last name even matter?
Well whatever, let’s take a look at this exam…
(AN: Not actually ‘looking’, obviously.)
What are the three basic requirements for a spell?
Hmm, this is easy.
An incantation, a medium, and an energy source.
What is strongest type of magic?
Hmm… this a bit more difficult. They each have their strengths and weaknesses.
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None. All types of magic are equally useful.
…
…
…
Let’s see, this seems to be the last question on the exam. Using my improved sense of time, I believe it’s been approximately an hour. So I have about thirty minutes left. Plenty of time. Well let’s try to finish it off quick.
Why do you want to become a mage?
Hmm. A subjective question, huh? Well I don’t really know at the moment. Do you really need a definitive reason?
...
I don’t really know why I want to become a mage right now. I think learning about magic would help me understand why. Plus I think magic is beautiful and amazing.
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Thirty minutes later…
“Alright! Hand in your exams! TIme’s up!”
“Auuugh…!”
I hear a collective sigh from everyone as if there wasn’t enough time. Were they stuck on the last question? I believe it was worth the most marks, given the amount of space they left for you to write.
“Hey, wasn’t that last question really hard? What’d you write for it?”
“Shucks man. I don’t even know honestly. I just tried extending the page for as long as possible. Hopefully I get in to one of the academies, I crammed all night for this.”
“I feel you. Just what did the instructors want to see with that last question? Guess we’ll never know.”
Well… that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable with only writing three sentences. But those were my true feelings. What’s the point in writing rubbish just to extend your thoughts? Ehh... it’s pointless crying over spilt milk, I’ll just wait for the results now... whether they’re good or bad.
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Regalus Library, Floor 1...
“So how’d you do Cael?”
“Uhhhhhhh… I’m not too sure, grandma. The last question was really hard.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll do fine. I’m the one who taught you after all.”
“Geez, you never miss a chance to praise yourself, do you grandma?”
“Hahaha… of course. If I didn’t then who would?”
“I’m sure grandpa would...”
“Y-you! You little...!
“Ack, i'm sorry! It's as you say, just a slip of the tongue!"
“Auugh! Hah… so this is what they mean the student takes after the teacher... ”
“Haha… I’m sorry grandma."
I’m laughing myself to death as I hear the door open again.
“Oh Cael. How were the exams? And why are you laughing so hard?”
“Hahaha! Well grandpa, it’s beca----mmmmmmmhhmmm.”
I feel grandma blocking my mouth as she begins to whisper in my ear.
“Never speak of this to anyone ever or you’re dead, got it?!”
I nod my head slowly as I try to hold in my laughter. Grandma releases my mouth after she sees that I’ve calmed down a bit.
“Hah... anyways grandpa, it was nothing... I just remembered a really good joke that I read in a book.”
“Huh, must of been pretty funny to get you rolling on the floor like that. Anyways who’s down for dinner? I’m starving.”
“Sure, grandpa.”
...
...
“Sure.”
“Alright, let’s go and celebrate for Cael’s success. Oh and Estel, are you drunk already? You’re looking fairly red there.”
Sol! How could you be this oblivious, grandpa? I couldn’t help but quietly chuckle to myself as he said that. Moments later, I hear a loud smack as grandma Estel pulled me out the door by the hand.
“Geez! Someone’s moody today.”
“Hahhaha! Oh you have no idea, gramps.”
Before I even realized it, all my worries about exams had disappeared...
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