The time came. At 12, he was about to enroll. His parents had known he would be a bit younger than his peers, but that hadn’t deterred them from sending him.
At least I’ll look symmetrical again. Sapphire had made the earring based on Suki’s design.
He hoped this academy could help him to find the right sexual spell he wanted. Being a boy wasn’t absolutely horrible. He had endured 12 years of it. At least he looked and felt feminine, but up here and down there wouldn’t change no matter what. Being a girl again was the dream. But going around telling people he was a girl on the inside and asking for help would probably make him a weirdo, and he would likely be ostracized, so he would do his own secret research on the side while attending the academy. He would use the school’s resources at his disposal. His small library at home hadn’t helped.
That damn goddess and her “gift”. If he could just see her again and give her a good smack... Sapphire would approve.
Now for the entrance exam. He stood in an assembly of new students outside who were chatting noisily around him. A formally dressed girl stood on the stage before them. She had on a similar uniform, apparently a student. Long, black hair that stopped at her butt. Red eyes. A golden, shiny armband on one arm. Neatly trimmed bangs above her eyes. About 20 pins hung around her jacket pocket by her right breast. Each of the badges probably had names of the important positions she held. It was as if she was a well-decorated employee at a company, except her intimidating face and threatening, aggressive posture made her seem like the boss instead.
“LISTEN UP, YOU WORTHLESS WORMS!” She yelled through a megaphone.
Everyone fell quiet and directed their attention to her.
“YOU’RE NOT HERE TO SOCIALIZE AND MAKE FRIENDS! YOU’RE HERE TO PROVE YOURSELVES! PROVE TO US THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE HERE! PROVE TO US THAT YOU’RE MORE THAN JUST WORMS! WE NEED TO SEE DETERMINATION AND SKILL! WE WILL NOT TOLERATE STUPIDITY AND LAZINESS! WE NEED TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO MANAGE THIS ACADEMY’S CURRICULA!”
Elly had a feeling she would be pretty loud without the megaphone. Yes, she had that type of personality. Oh boy.
“THE EXAM WILL NOW BEGIN. THERE ARE 2 PARTS: A WRITTEN COMPONENT AND A PRACTICAL ONE. FOR PART 1, YOU WILL DEMONSTRATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF MAGIC BY ANSWERING A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ON A SHEET OF PAPER. FOR PART 2, YOU WILL ALL TACKLE A 10-HEADED, VENOMOUS KING HYDRA TOGETHER.”
Everyone started mumbling to one another, worried.
Her subordinate next to her was concerned. “Prez, isn’t that too much? What if they…you know… die?”
She turned to him and yelled even louder through the megaphone. “IF THEY DIE, SO BE IT! IT WOULD ONLY MEAN THAT THEY WERE COMPLETE TRASH TO BEGIN WITH!!!!”
He grimaced and covered his ears.
The prez turned back to her audience. “QUIET! ANY QUESTIONS?”
Some students shook their heads. Most had doubt and fear in their eyes.
10-headed hydra? Now what did that look like?
“GOOD. ” She flung the megaphone high into the air. It turned into a white, glowing orb that expanded and morphed into desks and chairs.
They rained down onto everyone.
The students shrieked and danced around to avoid getting hit.
With just a spell in mind, Elly slowed the fall of a desk and chair above him so that they gently floated down in front of him. He glanced at the stage.
The prez was eyeing him suspiciously.
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Once the raining stopped, they lifted their desks and chairs upright, put them together, and sat.
Papers and pencils appeared on the upright desks.
He took his seat and the atmosphere fell quiet again.
The questions were surprisingly advanced for an entrance exam, but he could still handle most of them easily.
~~~
Name: Elliorette Enderfall ViQoné
Discipline(s) interested in: I don’t know yet.
Instructions: Answer the following to the best of your ability. NO CHEATING. (The president is watching.)
Elly glanced up. The president was glaring at him. Creepy.
1) What is the Etherum Effect?
The Etherum Effect is an unnatural phenomenon whereby the casting of magic without a conduit (which is extremely difficult to begin with due the inability to regulate the mana flow for the desired spell), such as a staff or wand, will inevitably cause the body to undergo severe pain, especially in the joints. To further explain, the improper expulsion of mana from the body creates magi particles in the bloodstream that emit M-waves and disrupt the blood flow and proper functioning of the muscular and circulatory systems.
2) Is it ever possible to circumvent the previously stated effect? If so, how?
Yes, with an anatomical adjustment. A common method is to prevent the creation of magi particles by enabling your body to secrete a substance called Valinum. One known way for secretion is by drinking certain types of potions to temporarily grant the ability, each with varying side effects. An uncommon, advanced method is by manipulating the magi particles as they form and converting them into useful and harmless chemicals.
3) What is the student council president’s middle name?
How should I know?
4) Explain the Altanian Theory.
This theory states that casting spells without saying corresponding spell-words (the words for the spell) is not possible for humans due to the lack of a biological trait called Atlan, named after a demon from the Fourth Age.
5) Name two uses of high tier enchantments on clothing.
a) To enhance the physical durability of clothing to better withstand physical attacks.
b) To give clothing extraordinary abilities, such as omni-elemental immunity (immunity to all magical damage and effects from all elements).
6) Explain archaic magic. Name some differences between archaic magic and modern magic. What is it also called?
It is also called archaic arts or ancient magic. It is an outdated form of magic. Its key characteristic is its use of magic circles. Archaic spells tend to be more powerful and effective, while modern spells tend to be weaker but easier to cast.
7) How many formulas are needed to create the simplest type of combination spell?
207.
8) How is an interdimensional portal made?
It's made by expanding a space with your magical energy. Essentially, it means tearing a hole in the material reality with an immense amount of concentrated magical energy.
9) Explain the term telekinesis. How can this ability be used?
In simple terms, it involves controlling targets from a distance. Although the ability doesn't require spellcasting, it nonetheless uses magical energy/mana. The greater the quantity and weight of the target(s), the more energy is needed to control them.
10) What color is the student council president’s underwear?
Elly paused to stare at the question. What kind of question…? Who wrote this? He glanced up. The president was busy staring at another student, but she looked serious and stiff. She likely had her guard up, so it wasn't like he could simply go and flick up her skirt. He raised his hand.
She walked down the row and stopped by his desk. “What is it?”
“What color is your underwear today?”
Students looked at him in shock.
“It’s…” She reached behind her back, pulled out another megaphone, and took a deep breath. “NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! GO AND DIE IN A HOLE!!!”
“But the question—”
She turned away and marched back to the stage.
He had nearly gone deaf. I'll just make an educated guess. Black hair. Scary personality. Black knee-high socks. Black uniform. Chances were, her underwear was black too. That seemed to be her style. He wrote it down. Surely she couldn't have made this exam herself with questions 3 and 10. It was likely that one of her subordinates had written the questions without her knowing. She doesn't seem like the perverted type.
It was too bad he wouldn't get a perfect mark that he had hoped for. But he should have a better chance on part 2.