The orb darted away the moment the boy shifted, tracing an erratic path through the air. Adrian watched intently, noting the contrast between the boy’s measured breaths and the lightning-fast reactions that followed.

His bare feet barely disturbed the sand beneath him. The orb twisted away, but the boy’s body followed like water finding its path. There was no excess movement of any kind.

The murmurs around the training grounds ceased, replaced by stunned silence. The examinees who had mocked him before watched, jaws slack, as the boy closed the gap between himself and the orb.

When the orb zipped upward, attempting to escape into the sky, the boy sprang into the air. His hand shot out, and for a split second, it appeared as if the orb would escape once more.

Then, the boy’s fingertips brushed its surface. The light flickered, dimmed, and vanished.

The crowd erupted in whispers. Many stared with wide eyes, unable to process what they had just witnessed. The instructor allowed a small, approving smile to cross his face as he nodded at the boy. “Well done. You may return to the sidelines.”

The boy nodded, seemingly oblivious to the shock and awe surrounding him. He yawned again before walking calmly back to his place along the edge of the training grounds.

The instructor called on the next few participants. Most of the examinees managed to complete the test successfully, some with careful planning, others with bursts of agility and skill. A few, however, struggled, and they were assigned the same E rank as the first examinee, leaving them looking dejected and frustrated.

Finally, the instructor’s gaze settled on the silent figure in black armor. “You there, step forward.”

The knight didn’t respond verbally; he only moved forward and came to a stop at the center of the grounds. The crowd watched him in silence, many visibly curious as to who he might actually be.

“Are you ready?” the instructor asked.

The knight gave a single, slow nod. "Yes."

Without another word, the instructor released the orb of light, which floated in the air unpredictably. But the knight reached for his sword: a long, black blade that seemed to absorb the light rather than reflect it, and sliced through the air in a fluid motion.

The blade cut through the orb of light, causing it to fade instantly as if it had been snuffed out. The knight sheathed his sword, then turned his helmeted gaze toward the instructor. “Did I pass?”

The instructor paused for a moment, then nodded. “You passed."

The knight stepped away, retreating back to his place along the sidelines, his movements silent despite the weight of his armor. Adrian watched him carefully, his curiosity piqued. He's definitely hiding something, but I suppose I won't be able to find out what for the forseeable future.

When the instructor called his name, Adrian snapped back to attention. Taking a steadying breath, he stepped forward, feeling the weight of the other examinees’ gazes on him. Just stay calm, this is easy.

“Ready?” the instructor asked.

“I'm ready,” Adrian replied.

The instructor released the orb, and Adrian’s gaze followed its unpredictable movements. He could feel his heart beating faster, but he forced himself to stay focused. Patience.

He extended his hand, conjuring a small flame that flickered to life in his palm. He focused, willing the flame to grow, feeding it with just enough magic until it became a small but fierce fireball. The orb doesn't seem to react adversely to my fire magic. This should do it then.

With a flick of his wrist, he sent the fireball forward, guiding it toward the orb with careful control.The fireball traced a clean arc through the air, trailing a faint line of smoke as it homed in on the light.

For a tense second, Adrian worried he’d miscalculated, but just as the orb swooped back toward him, his fireball collided with it, engulfing it in a brief flash before both the flame and the light dissipated in a wisp of smoke.

Adrian let out a quiet breath, allowing himself a small smile as he looked to the instructor. Surely that's a pass.

The instructor gave a single nod of approval. “Well done. You pass.”

Adrian stepped back and returned to his place along the sidelines, his expression calm as he took in the reactions of the other examinees. Some looked surprised, a few impressed, but most were simply focused on their own upcoming trials.

When the last participant had either passed or received their rank, the instructor addressed the group again. “Those of you who completed the task successfully. You may now proceed to the next testing area. Follow the path ahead and await further instructions."

The examinees who had passed gathered themselves, falling into line and moving toward the path that led deeper into the guild’s training grounds. Adrian walked alongside them, glancing once more at the black-armored knight and the blindfolded boy. Hopefully I get to see more of what they can do.

The examinees followed the path through the training grounds, eventually coming to an indoor arena. Torches lined the walls, casting a warm, steady glow that illuminated the ring at the center. A handful of guild members were scattered around, observing as the newcomers arrived.

In the center of the arena stood an elderly woman, cloaked in layered robes embroidered with ancient symbols. Her silver hair was tied back in a loose bun, and she leaned casually on a gnarled staff despite the many expectant faces before her.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Ah, so you’re the new hopefuls, I hope you enjoyed meeting my husband outside. He can be a bit… dramatic.”

A few examinees chuckled, exchanging glances. One man near the back smirked. “Dramatic is right. Knocked a guy halfway across the grounds just for talking back,” he said with a laugh.

Another added, “Yeah, he doesn’t mess around. Guess we shouldn’t expect any different from you, then?”

The woman’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Smart observation. Though I won’t be knocking anyone against the wall… unless, of course, you give me reason to.”

The examinees straightened slightly, the lighthearted mood tempered by a flicker of nervous anticipation. Adrian, however, was excited. This is more fun than I thought.

Clearing her throat, the instructor tapped her staff on the ground, calling for silence. “Listen up. The next test is straightforward. Each of you will spar with me, one at a time, and I’ll assess your skill and assign a grade based on your performance.”

She gestured to a guild staff member at the edge of the arena, who walked around the group, handing each examinee a small amulet on a leather cord. “These amulets are enchanted to protect you from serious injuries. They’ll absorb the brunt of any excessive damage during the spar. However, you’ll still feel the impact and pain, so don’t expect an easy fight.”

The examinees exchanged uncertain looks, fingering the amulets with a mix of relief and wariness. Adrian slipped it over his head, feeling the weight of it settle against his chest. A rather ingenious invention, I wish I had these in my time.

The instructor wasted no time, calling out names at random, and one by one, the examinees stepped forward to face her. Each match followed a similar pattern: she would summon simple spells such as blasts of wind and small bursts of fire.

Each examinee would try, often in vain, to dodge or counter her attacks. Despite her age, she never broke a sweat as she dispatched each participant with an effortless flick of her wrist or a well-timed spell. By the time they were finished, most of them looked disheveled and exhausted, the amulets pulsing faintly from the force they had absorbed.

After each match, she issued a grade, ranging mostly from D to C. Some examinees received brief advice, a nod, or a reassuring smile, though none had managed to truly impress her.

But finally, she called for the knight in black armor. Here it comes.

He stepped forward with the same quiet composure, then unsheathed his dark sword. The other examinees watched with bated breath, sensing that this match would be different.

The instructor tilted her head, lips curling into a slight smile. “Ready?”

The knight gave a small nod. "Yes."

With a swift flick of her hand, she sent a bolt of fire hurtling toward him. The knight sidestepped gracefully, flames grazing past him without even touching his armor. She followed up with a blast of wind, intending to unbalance him, but he braced himself and barely moved.

Adrian watched, fascinated. It’s like magic barely affects him. What is he? Or what is that armor?

The instructor’s amusement faded slightly, replaced by a look of concentration. She intensified her efforts, summoning sharp icicles that flew through the air and cracked against his armor, streams of water that wrapped around his legs and tried to pull him down. But the knight broke free each time, sword slicing through the spells with quick efficiency.

The examinees murmured in amazement as the battle grew fiercer. The knight closed the distance between them, moving with surprising speed. His black blade glinted as he raised it, aiming a controlled, deadly arc toward her neck.

At the last possible moment, the instructor’s eyes narrowed, and with a powerful sweep of her staff, a torrent of water erupted between them. The wave struck the knight squarely in the chest, sending him flying backward across the arena. He landed hard but rose immediately, breathing heavily but otherwise unharmed.

The instructor smiled, nodding in approval. “Impressive. Very few have managed to keep up with me like that.”

She tapped her staff on the ground, glancing over at him. “I’ll assign you a B rank. I look forward to seeing what you’re capable of in the future.”

The knight sheathed his sword, giving her a single respectful nod before stepping back. The rest of the examinees were left murmuring.

The instructor’s eyes shifted to the blindfolded boy next. “You’re up, kiddo."

The boy stepped forward calmly, his face still and focused beneath the blindfold. The room fell quiet as he took his stance, and the instructor’s gaze sharpened, watching him closely.

Without a word, the boy launched himself toward her. Adrian watched as he aimed directly for the instructor, perhaps aiming to hit her shoulder or disrupt her balance. But with a flick of her wrist, a strong gust of wind shot forward, halting the boy mid-step and pushing him back several paces.

Undeterred, the boy straightened, and advanced again. This time, his approach was even faster as he wove around the arena. But each time he drew close, a blast of wind met him, deflecting his strikes just enough to keep him from closing in. The instructor’s eyes glinted with approval, yet she never let her guard down.

Then, as the boy prepared for another attack, something changed in his stance. Adrian recognized the shift immediately, a subtle but unmistakable tightening of the boy’s posture and the controlled, deep breath he drew in. Is he about to use the wind step?

The wind step was a technique that harnessed the wind’s energy to propel oneself forward in a burst of almost supernatural swiftness. Only those with a deep attunement to wind magic or exceptional training could perform it.

The boy’s feet shifted, toes barely brushing the ground as he gathered energy around him. For a split second, the air seemed to still. And in an instant he lifted his foot and closed the distance between himself and the instructor.

The instructor’s expression shifted, her eyes narrowing as she noticed the difference in his movement. She stepped back, bracing herself, but it was already too late; the boy’s momentum brought him within striking range, and his fingertips grazed her shoulder.

Her eyes flashed with recognition and perhaps a hint of respect before she unleashed another powerful gust of wind that struck the boy and sent him flying. He soared several feet backward, but unlike before, he managed to twist his body in midair, angling himself to land on his feet. The impact sent a small cloud of dust skittering across the arena floor as he slid back slightly, sweat trickling down his face,

The instructor nodded approvingly, tapping her staff on the ground. “You’ve got skill, and your speed is exceptional. I’m assigning you a B rank.”

The boy gave her a respectful nod and retreated to his place along the sidelines. Adrian noted the faint trace of satisfaction in his posture. Things are shaping up to be very interesting.

The instructor continued calling out names, one by one, as examinees stepped forward, each trying to match her skill. Some managed to hold their ground for a time, but most were dispatched with a few deft spells. A few received D grades, others managed C, but none had achieved anything higher than the blindfolded boy and the black knight.

Finally, as the crowd thinned, Adrian heard his own name. Of course, I’m last again, he thought with a small sigh, stepping forward. He adjusted the amulet around his neck, feeling its slight weight, and braced himself for the spar.

The instructor watched him with an appraising look. “Are you ready?"

Adrian nodded. “I am."