Chapter 2

It’s been over a year since I saw my first display of magic and ever since I have read every book I could to learn about magic. For my fourth birthday I begged my parents to buy me this book called introduction to magic and I have now basically memorised it. The book itself looks old with a few holes in the binding but apart from that it looks basically new, most likely because most kids just want to learn from school and don’t want to put in the extra effort.

Magic is made up of 6 basic elements fire, earth, wind, water, light and darkness. Magic is ranked in levels one to nine and each level has a low, middle and high. For example if you are able to cast one level 2 spell you are a low rank 2, if you can cast 2 rank 2 spells you are a middle rank 2 and if you can cast three or more you are a high rank 2. Magic ranks are determined from three things, firstly how powerful it is, secondly the area of effect and finally the amount of mana used. Mana is basically the fuel for magic, we channel it from the environment to cast magic it is basically a form of energy that exists in nature.

Tomorrow I turn five and am able to be tested for my magic. From what dad told me there is this crystal ball that glows a certain colour depending on what element you are it is also possible to have no elements meaning you are incapable of casting magic, that better not happen to me with all this work I have put in.

Today I am going to spend my last day as a four year old with my friends. They have all been tested already and it seems Tod has fire magic, Kevin has wind magic and Sally has earth magic. Tod’s already learnt how to create a small flame on his hand it’s really weak thought and gets blown out with a gentle breeze.

They said there going to the local magic school in the shawl province in greater malling which is only about 50Km from the village. It is possible to get a scholarship to a high standing school if you have the talents but nearly no country kids get in.

The next day dad hired a carriage to take us to grater malling, it was a bumpy ride I was worried the whole way that the carriage was going to snap in half with all the creaking and cracking it was making. The carriage was lead by these two brown horses with white spots that seemed to be related, the one on the left was bigger maybe an older brother, I always wanted a sibling.

Greater malling was the same as lesser malling except bigger with the occasional stone house and fire place. The market place was bustling like it was an everyday thing, I wanted to stop and buy some more books but we were already late said mum and that we had to get going.

When I stopped looking at the markets and instead looked in-front I saw a massive temple which seemed out of place in such a small village. It was made out of marble with huge white pillars that were at least 10 meters tall with weird looking drawings on them.

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It was late because of the travel so there aren’t many people here, there seems to be a line of about 10 people in-front of this stool. The stool is run by an older man with a goatee. A kid who just finished talking with him made his way into the temple.

“Next” he shouts

On command the next kid in the line walks up to the man. We make our way to the back of the line and are forced to wait.

While waiting many kids with their families walked out, with some being happy and others crying I really hope I’m not one of the crying ones

It is finally our turn, we walk up to the desk and the goatee man gives me a side long glance with a disappointed look, I’m already not liking the guy.

“Name please” he asks sounding like a robot who was programmed for one thing.

I answered with my name and he gave the paper he was holding a heavy stamp.

“Go on through, the priest will be waiting” he instructed.

I walked in to the temple and it was even bigger on the inside then it looked from the outside. Waiting for me was an old man with nearly no hair wearing a white dress. I wonder if I go to the capital will their be more dress people.

The priest led me through various corridors until we got to a room with a crystal ball placed on a pedestal. This was obviously the crystal ball I had read about. I suddenly got nervous, thinking about if I didn’t have magic. The priest must have noticed because he placed his hand on back and gave me a reassuring smile.

“Young man, please touch the crystal ball” said the priest

I walked up the stairs towards the pedestals, feeling more nervous with each step. The crystal ball was near clear and every now and then you could see flashes of light.

I hope I could get fire magic like dress guy, I want to be able to turn my enemies to ashes, but I also heard it’s hard to control I hope I don’t burn down a forest or two.

I also wouldn’t mind earth magic, it’s suppose to have really good defence and can give amazing body enhancements. Earth is also suppose to be rigid not leaving much room for creativity which isn’t good.

Darkness also sounds cool, it focuses more on stealth and assassination, but can cast some incredibly powerful spells. This element is also said to corrupt the mind on excessive use.

“Young man touch the crystal ball” the priest said trying you to hurry me along.

It seems I’ve been standing here for a few minutes daydreaming. I hold out my hand and in one swoop touch the crystal ball, not letting myself be turned off by fear.

I felt something drain out of me and enter the crystal ball, this must have been mana. It went through all the colours until stoping on white

White, the element of light suppose to be the weakest because it can only cast healing spells, some people who are good at light magic become saints but there are no light mages that are high ranked adventures.

I look back at the priest and he looks disappointed for some reason, you know it’s bad when even priests look down on light magic. Even though I got a “useless”element it’s still better then having no element and I also refuse to believe that the light element is so weak.

I walked out of the temple to meet my parents smiling faces, mum rushed over and hugged me and asked “so what kind of magician are you going to be”

I looked her right in the eye and said “I’m going to be the greatest light mage there ever was”. On the bright side at least the bar for best light mage is low.