The rhythmic scrape of Klan's boots echoed through the polished stone halls as he led the way.

"So, Lord Arzan," Klan began his voice, a hesitant squeak. "The exam structure… Well, it's fairly straightforward. Mages can test for any level they wish, though most aim to climb one rung on the ladder at a time."

He paused, glancing at Kai over his shoulder. "For example, novices take the exam to be apprentices. And apprentices, like myself, take the exam to become adept. The difficulty of the exam depends on what you choose. Failing is a common occurrence, especially at the higher levels. It takes a lot of dedication and talent to climb the ranks quickly.”

"So, what goes down in an adept exam, then?" Kai asked.

“Usually, it's a combination of theoretical and practical assessments. The theory portion is definitely important," he stammered, ticking items off on his fingers. "There's questions on mana manipulation, that's a given. Then there's spellcraft theory, where you need to know the workings of different spells, the mana flow, the potential side effects… nasty business if you mess that up."

He took another shaky breath. "And might I not forget history and lore, especially about ancient Mages. Then, of course, there's the practical assessment. The real meat of the exam, some might say. This is where you separate the wheat from the chaff, as they say."

"So, what spells do they test you on?"

"Ah, spells! Third-circle spells, Lord Arzan. That's the benchmark for adepts. Though," he added with a sly smile, "casting a third-circle spell doesn't necessarily mean you're a third-circle mage. A lot of peak second-circle mages like myself take a shot at it too. You see, the exam doesn't only test your internal mana pool, but your ability to execute the spell itself."

This was different from the type of exam he was accustomed to, where reaching the third circle was important to become adept. The other parts were similar, at least the theoretical parts.

He absorbed the information, mulling it over in his mind.

"But it's not just about casting the spell, mind you. They test you under pressure, to see if you can keep your head under fire. Efficiency is key, Lord Arzan. The faster and cleaner you cast, the better your score."

“I see.”

Whatever Klan told him sounded easy to him, but he didn't say it out loud.

Who knew what sorts of questions he would be given?

“About the practical examination, Klan. Will there be any duels? Or perhaps monster hunting?” he asked, wondering if he should have brought armour.

"No duels, Lord Arzan. Those are reserved for Mages who take examinations to become savants. But as it's a higher-level examination, not a lot of Mages take it. Moreover, it's a small event in itself. Savants are very rare and I believe the last time someone attempted the test was three years ago and they failed. So, it's really not easy.”

This information confirmed his earlier suspicions. The Archine Tower seemed to prioritise theoretical knowledge over practical application. Apprentice mages didn't receive combat training, and only after one became adept that they get trained for it.

No wonder Actra was better than these apprentices.

"These exams are brutal, Lord Arzan. Not everyone cuts. Even some talented apprentices like myself… Well, we just keep taking the test, hoping to pass or at the very least, catch the eye of a higher-ranking Mage. A savant or even an adept who needs a promising apprentice. I desperately seek a master even if I don't pass,” Klan said in a hopeful voice.

While they were discussing amongst themselves, they continued walking towards the exam halls. More and more students lined up the corridor as they reached closer to their destination.

Klan shot another question after a brief pause. "So, what level are you aiming for, Lord Arzan?"

"The adept exam," he replied.

It was a perfect fit for his current situation. Magus Veridia considered him to be at the peak of the second circle, so he would easily qualify for the position of an adept. He had briefly considered settling for just being an apprentice, but after thinking about it, he felt like it was beneath him.

Honestly, he was pretty sure that he would even be able to pass the exam to be a savant.

But there was no need to gain so much attention.

“Ah, the adept exam,” Klan said aloud. “Well, good luck. You will need it. I hope your exam goes well, Lord Arzan.” He smiled.

"Thanks, Klan. You too."

They reached a colossal oak door, elaborately carved with esoteric symbols that pulsed with a faint magical glow. This was it— the exam hall for the Adept ascension exam.

***

Rows upon rows of aspiring adepts hunched over their desks, brows furrowed in concentration as they battled the magical theory paper before them. An invigilator stood in front of a desk, looking over everyone and Kai realised that the whole room was enchanted.

There weren't any complex enchantments. Probably just there to detect if any students were carrying any artefacts or spells to help them cheat.

After giving one last look at the room, he focused on the paper.

The first section, titled "Magical Theory Fundamentals," seemed straightforward.

There were no multichoice questions, rather they were all questions that needed a proper answer. As he read through the paper first, he realised that they were all basic questions on spell construction, the interaction of mana and the environment.

Therefore, he began writing without wasting another second.

Explain the fundamental differences between evocation and abjuration spells. How do they manipulate the energies to achieve their desired effects?

Evocation spells are all about drawing out magical energy and shaping it into a specific effect, like a fireball or a gust of wind. They tend to be direct and forceful. Abjuration spells, on the other hand, focus on manipulating the weave of magic itself, creating wards or barriers to protect against magical attacks. They're more subtle but equally powerful.

A faint smile played on Kai's lips. This was child's play compared to the materials he had glimpsed in the library, knowledge gleaned from ancient texts that he had studied, practised and used for years. He began answering the questions with extra ease, his mind simply a wellspring of formulas and theoretical constructs.

Mages throughout history have documented various 'fizzling' effects when spells go wrong. What's your take on the role of magical stability and how do you think it can be improved?

Spell stability is paramount. It hinges on a delicate balance between the caster's willpower, the clarity of the incantation, the visualisation of the desired effect and the precise execution of the structure. Even a minor misstep can cause the magic to fizzle or backfire. Personally, I believe meditation and intense focus are key to achieving greater stability.

He inked all the thoughts that danced in his mind. Next question…

On a standard healing spell, how does the amount of magical energy poured into it affect the potency of the cure? Is it a linear relationship, or something more complex?

The relationship isn't strictly linear. A base amount of magic is needed to activate the healing properties, but beyond that, the effect scales logarithmically. Doubling the magical input won't necessarily double the healing, but it will provide a significant boost. However, exceeding a certain threshold can lead to magical overload, harming the target.

As he finished half of the paper, a thought snagged at him.

He had information from beyond this era and to answer every question perfectly while adding his thoughts might just cause problems and would arouse suspicion. It might lead to Magus Veridia to try to hold him back in the tower for research or something else.

Although he wanted to stand out, he didn't want to benefit the tower.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

A new strategy formed in his mind. While his knowledge base was vast, he would temper his responses, anchoring them to his current understanding of the world.

He wrote his answers carefully, demonstrating a solid grasp of the fundamentals while leaving room for further exploration; exploration that was bound to be found in the future.

He carefully read the next question.

Mage Rutherford recently proposed a new equation for spell structure: E = (C x A) / (F x M). Denote what they stand for and simply explain what could be the significance of this equation in crafting spells with improved structure.

Mage Rutherford's equation introduces an interesting concept that, with further study and practical application, could enhance spellcasting abilities. As for the equation, E is the overall Effect of the spell, C is the complexity of the spell, A is the accuracy of the spell, F is the focus required to cast the spell, and M is the Mana expenditure. Overall, it helps a Mage to identify the spell structure.

But, the spell structure could also be easily practised by trying to break down complex spells into smaller components, ensuring clear and concise incantations, perfecting the lines of the spell structure, enhancing mental focus and control and envisioning the desired outcome.

Kai’s answer was mostly guessed since he didn’t know much about Mage Rutherford’s theory apart from the basics, but he hadn’t lied in terms of how to enhance a proper spell structure.

There were a few of these kinds of questions where he had no idea of the theory or the Mage it had come from, but he used his own understanding to write down an answer. At times, he even left it blank since he wasn't attempting to get full marks.

The final section of the paper intrigued him the most.

It asked for diagrams of various spell structures, a visual representation of the flow of mana.

Kai paused, his pen hovering over the parchment. With an inward smile, he began to sketch. He didn't copy the rudimentary diagrams from the textbooks.

Instead, he drew upon the advanced structures he had encountered and brought them down to the level of structures that he had seen from Actra and Klan.

He checked them once, noting that they would work well and then moved on.

He turned the paper over, seeing more questions in black ink. As he read a question, it made him pause.

It asked about maximising mana capacity during the awakening process. A sly smile tugged at his lips.

He dipped his quill in ink and began to write. He didn't reveal any advanced method of awakening.

He simply wrote down the method of awakening the Mages in the era that he had skimmed through in the library and added things that they had missed like the physical conditioning of the Mage and the difference in Mana hearts.

He put his quill down after writing a proper answer for the final question. He turned around the parchments and placed them in order, all the while taking second glances at the answers he gave. Quite good work for the low effort he put in.

It had only taken him half an hour and as he looked around, he saw frantic scribbling and continuous furrowed brows of the other examinees.

He didn't know if they were tense because of the pressure of the exam itself or because they thought the paper was hard, but he didn't care enough.

“I'm done!” He exclaimed.

A hush fell over the room as Kai rose. All eyes turned towards him as he strode towards the invigilator.

"Done already?" the invigilator questioned with a hint of suspicion. The skinny man frowned at him sternly.

"Indeed," he replied calmly. "I believe I have answered all the questions to the best of my ability."

"Very well," he gave a second glance at the paper in Kai’s hand. "Leave your paper on the desk and exit the hall."

Kai nodded and turned to leave, the envious and confused stares of his fellow examinees burning into his back. He felt every one of them as he walked out of the oak doors.

***

The history and lore exam followed a similar pattern.

While Kai's knowledge of magical lore was vast, the specifics of every Mage who graced the Archine Tower in the past century were beyond him.

He answered the questions with a balance of confident assertions about historical trends and educated guesses on specific names. It wasn't a flawless performance, but he was confident he'd done enough to earn a respectable score— and that was all he needed.

Once that was done, he arrived at the spellcasting exam. He would be lying if he said he hadn’t been looking forward to the practical examination.

Magical theories were good and all, but in his opinion, magic was supposed to be practical and one learnt how to cast a spell more efficiently while fighting a beast who wanted to gouge your eyes out instead of the safety of a room.

Either way, he found himself facing a stoic invigilator, a woman with sharp eyes and long ears. It wasn’t that she was an elf or any other race, but she simply had long ears and big lips.

As he had walked in, she explained the test: "Cast three distinct third-circle spells and maintain them for at least a minute each."

Easy enough.

Kai gave a short nod, taking his place in front of her. He took a deep breath and let his mind calm down.

He saw the woman had a haughty expression on her face as she watched Kai. He didn't know if it was a default expression or if she simply wanted to have a strong image in front of the examinees.

Soon after, he raised his hand, a spark of mana igniting in his palm.

He said an incarnation for a show as ten fiery arrows erupted from his palm and moved in the air. It happened almost instantly as he drew the spell structure accurately. He didn’t simply let them fall to the ground, instead, he darted them around the room.

The heat that erupted from the arrows prickled his skin a little, but he kept going.

His eyes moved from the arrows to the invigilator. Her eyebrows almost reached her hairline as she looked at the precise spell structure, efficiency and Kai’s immediate but controlled mana manipulation. To add to the list, Kai added more mana to speed up the movement of the arrows.

He saw her haughty expression breaking and noticed the transparent shield that surrounded her, probably there to save her life in case of an accident.

Getting an idea, he drew the arrows in a circle around it.

She took a step back and he barely held back the chuckle.

Diapering the arrows, he summoned his next two spells one after another.

“[Searing lance!]”

“[Infernal whip!]”

The invigilator subconsciously tightened her grip on the pen and her lips parted in a gasp making Kai almost grin.

He hadn't seen double casting from any Mage in the tower before and assumed that it was a rare skill. The expression on the invilgilator's face was enough to confirm it.

Deciding to finish it, he focused on the spells.

With a flicker of his wrist, he let the spells slam into the invigilator’s shield— a white explosion momentarily blinding the room.

The shield, designed for minor accidents, shattered with a reverberating crack, sending the surprised invigilator leaping back with a startled yelp.

Silence descended upon the room, thick with tension. The invigilator, her face pale, finally met Kai's eyes. "Are you trying to attack me, Mage Arzan?" she snapped, her voice laced with a hint of anger.

Kai blinked innocently, feigning confusion. "Attack you? No, no," he replied smoothly. "I was merely demonstrating the power of the spells as instructed. Three distinct third-circle spells, each maintained for at least a minute."

The invigilator stared at him for a long moment, a battle raging within her eyes between exasperation and grudging admiration. Finally, she sighed, muttering something under her breath.

When her legs shook, he knew he had more than just to shock her. He had managed to scare her.

She scribbled furiously on a parchment, clearly marking his performance.

"Alright, you pass," she announced finally, her voice devoid of emotion.

Kai nodded curtly, concealing his victory smile.

This exam, designed to test basic spellcasting competency, had proven ridiculously easy.

***

A shaft of afternoon sunlight speared through the shutters, illuminating a map sprawled across the mahogany table.

Edrian, the middle son of the former Duke Kellius, traced his finger along a winding trade route. His blond hair was pulled back in a simple braid as he touched his head— something he often did when he was hyper-focused.

A path was marked by him on it and he couldn't stop himself from smiling as he thought about the future.

A low cough broke him from his trance.

In the doorway stood Giles, his butler, his white starched collar and impeccable attire were different to Edrian's more relaxed attire— a simple doublet and breeches that spoke of practicality over ostentation.

"My Lord, I have an update regarding Arzan,” Giles muttered.

Edrian's head snapped up, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. “What is it, Giles?"

"His investigation with the Archine Tower has concluded, my lord," Giles reported, his eyes remaining respectfully downcast. "According to our sources, he is currently taking the ascension exam."

Edrian traced the faint scar that ran along his jawline.

He rose from his chair abruptly. The map slid off the table, scattering pins and parchment to the floor. He strode towards the window, his gaze falling to the afternoon sun.

“So, he managed to survive through the investigation?” He asked, looking back at the butler.

Giles nodded. “Yes, my lord. Apparently, the report we got said that the tower is interested in recruiting him and isn't pressing any charges over him.”

“That's interesting,” he muttered. “Seems like my brother had grown over the time we had been apart.”

Giles stood silent as Edrian talked to himself. Looking over at the map on the floor, he picked it up, giving it one last look before speaking again.

“I'm quite curious about him now. Since we are both in the capital, it seems like it's time for a brotherly reunion. Don't you think so, Giles?”

“Yes, my lord. Should I send out a message?” Giles asked in a low voice.

“Do so. Make sure to include that I will feel bad if he rejects the invitation.”

Giles nodded and left the room while Edrian went back to the map, his gaze cold.