“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

The courtyard was in lack of a better term huge. It could fit the football field, the track and field, and the basketball court at James’s high school with room to spare. There were dozens of statues of people and animals, a few fountains, and two small lakes here or there. There was even a garden maze at the other end of the courtyard.

James’s entire class found themselves in the center of the courtyard. At the center was a manmade granite platform with several pillars surrounding the platform. At the center of the platform was a square stone altar with a crystal ball stationed on a purple pillow. The students stood before the altar with King Perceval and the old wisemen from yesterday standing on either side of the altar.

James could not help but notice there were a lot more guards and more people in gray and silver robes surrounding him and his classmates. He had a bad feeling about today, but he could not guess why. Luckily, Mr. Abbot asked the question James was dying to ask.

“Your majesty. I see there are more guards and men and women in robes than from yesterday. Is the awakening ceremony dangerous?”

Mr. Abbot was still against his students fighting in a war, but he could not stop them if there were that determined. It was the older wiseman who answered Mr. Abbot’s question.

“Forgive me for not introducing myself yesterday. I am Grand Master Walter Noir. I am of the Fourth Order and will be conducting this awakening ceremony. As for your question, the awakening ceremony normally is not dangerous. But once in a while strange things tend to happen at these ceremonies. It’s always best to be prepared.”

When Mr. Abbot and his class did not look reassured, King Perceval stepped in.

“All is well, the guards are here for your safety. And my wisemen are here just in case the students need aid to control their magic.”

Mr. Abbot sighed in resignation and motioned for Grand Master Noir to begin. Grand Master Noir faced the entire class.

“Young ones, as you can see on the altar is a crystal ball. It is called the Sphere of Awakening. All you need to do is place both hands on the sphere. By placing your hands on the sphere, it shall awaken the mana in your bodies and identify your affinity.”

Sounds simple enough. But is it? James thought there must be something the Grand Master was not telling them. Grand Master Noir waved his hand, and seven orbs of different colors appeared hovering in the air. Grand Master Noir continued.

“Each colored orb represents an affinity. The gold orb represents spirit magic. The white orb represents light magic. The orange orb represents fire magic. The green orb represents earth magic. The blue orb represents water magic. The gray orb represents wind magic. And finally, the black orb represents dark magic.”

He could have been imagining it, but James thought he heard destain as the Grand Master mentioned the black orb. Is there a stigma in using dark magic? That doesn’t make sense. If no one knows which magic affinity they have at birth. Then, it would be foolish to discriminate against dark magic users. James cursed his lack of information on the societal structures of this world. He just hoped nothing bad would happen today. Grand Master Noir scanned the class before him.

“Now, young ones. Who shall be the first to volunteer?”

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James did not have to guess who would volunteer. It was no surprise when Arthur stepped forward.

“I’ll do it. I’ll be the first.”

Some of the girls in Cara’s click sighed impressed with Arthur’s bravery. James had to admit, it was a brave thing to do. It would also give him a chance to see how this Sphere of Awakening works.

Arthur approached the sphere cautiously, as if it were a wild animal. Standing before the altar, his hands hovered inches from contact with the sphere. Arthur looked at the Grand Master and asked.

“So, I just…place my hands on the sphere? That’s all…right?”

Grand Master Noir smiled before replying.

“That is all you need to do. The Sphere of Awakening will do the rest.”

Arthur nodded in understanding, then returned his attention to the sphere. Taking a deep breath as if he were about to dive into a deep pool of water. Arthur at last placed his hands on the sphere.

The reaction was immediate. The crystal ball illuminated with bright white light. The energy coming from the orb made James’s spine tingle. He and the other students did not need the Grand Master’s pronouncement to know that Arthur’s mana identified its affinity as light magic.

“Congratulations young Arthur Prince. You possess the affinity for light magic.”

“Yeah!”

“Alright Arthur!”

“You da man!”

Everyone congratulated Arthur who received their praise with humility.

“I’m next!”

The excited tone came from Cara, who immediately approached the sphere. As soon as she placed both hands on the sphere, it immediately lit up with gold light.

“Ah, excellent young Cara Sanchez. Your mana has an affinity for spirit magic. From the feel of your mana, it is powerful indeed.”

“You go girl!”

“Awesome Cara!”

Cara did a small curtsy accepting the praises from her classmate.

“I’m up next!”

BB declared as he moved forward approaching the Sphere of Awaking. He did not waste time; his hands were already on the orb. The orb illuminated with green light.

“Young Bobby Buchanan. Your mana affinity is earth magic. Your mana is also very strong indeed. I expect great things from you, young man.”

Grand Master Noir stated with a grinning smile. Lee Chan was next; he possesses wind magic. Then, Mr. Abbot decided he would be next. His mana had an affinity for water magic. James was not in a hurry, he watched as his classmates one after the other touched the orb, awakened their mana, and identified their affinities.

Finally, it was James’s turn. He was the last to approach the Sphere of Awakening. Everyone else went and was satisfied with their new powers. He knew they were all watching and judging. Maybe I should have gone in the middle. James thought, as he placed both his hands on the surface of the orb.

For a moment, nothing happened. James waited, but the orb did not light up or unleash a wave of mana. James heard laughter from the background and someone saying.

“Of course, the convict is blank.”

That was probably BB, but James did not care. If he could not awaken his mana, then he would not be forced to fight in a war not of his making. As James thought about moving his hands, the Sphere of Awakening finally reacted.

But it was not white or gold light. Nor even the light of the elements. Instead of light, all-encompassing darkness emerged from the orb. James saw darkness, a dark void of nothing surrounded him and everyone else at the center of the courtyard. The dark void reminded James of when he was teleported and was in a dark void for brief few seconds.

The dark was cold yet familiar and comforting. James understood right away that he possesses dark magic. He was the only one in his class whose mana had an affinity for dark magic. Arthur was the only one to have light magic. Cara was the only one to possess spirit magic.

Everyone else possesses elemental magic. As the dark disappeared and everything went back to normal, James thought. People having elemental magic must be a common thing. Spirit, light, and dark magic must be rare. What is the ratio of the population of this world having been born with these rare magic affinities vs the elemental affinities? James would seriously like to know, but he would be facing problems he did not anticipate.

Before James could step away from the altar, something or more likely someone struck him on the side of his right temple from behind. James went down to the ground dazed and confused.

“What the fuck man!?

James protested in both fear and pain. When he finally recovered from his dizziness, he found the tip of a long sword at his throat. The guard holding the sword was the same guard who yelled at him for speaking his mind to the king in the dining hall. The look on the guard’s face told James that he would die if he made a wrong move. James remained completely still as he spoke.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Silence! Don’t speak! Don’t even move. Or you will lose your head.”

James decided he would remain as still and as quiet as possible. He had a feeling that his time on Elantra was fast approaching its end.