They left for the capital early the next morning, though it had been a long night. Tidus had spent it all ‘sculpting’ the energy while his parents and sister had managed a few hours of sleep after watching him play with the energy.
He had discovered little uses for his magic, such as that while it was capable of passing through objects it required much more force and without being able to see what was around it on the other side he had issues moving it without running into unseen obstacles. However, if the energy were to stay out in the air and away from his body for three minutes, though returning and releasing it out once more would reset the time he had.
Thus the night passed with him excitedly altering and manipulating the iridescent energy and though it leads to little results he believed that it would only be a matter of time...
Naturally, come the next morning he was severely exhausting, leading to him spreading a blanket across the carriage floor and napping through the rest of the ride to the capital, despite the shaking carriage he managed to sleep like a log.
The children he had taken under his wing had spent a fair amount of time the night prior learning a bit about how to read, enthused at the chance of potentially becoming a mage if they perform well enough in their studies. They continued to learn throughout the entire ride to the capital in one of the servant's carriages.
It took several hours before they eventually arrived at the capital, where Sarah woke Tidus from his deep sleep.
“Tidus! Quick, look outside. Those walls are huuge!” Sarah exclaimed in pure excitement.
He wearily rubbed his eyes as he climbed up from the floor of the carriage and onto the bench near the window beside his sister, swiftly unruffling out his clothing in the process, sticking his head out the window, he gasped in astonishment at the massive walls, extending a hundred-twenty feet up and spread as far as the eye could see. Surrounding the massive walls were expansive farmlands.
Edward chuckled at his children's excitement, happy that while his son was bright-minded he still had a childishness within him.
Tidus had read about the walls of Souva, one of the points of pride for the kingdom. It was raised and extended through the group effort of several earth mages for over the course of several months. While prior to the gates opening the capital had been large, with the sudden benefit of magic the already large city quickly expanded. While twenty years ago there was a population of 400,000, throughout these short twenty years the city has grown astronomically to hold more than a million and a half inhabitants. The rapid growth partially attributed to the massive academy and research center for all educational, martial, and magical training.
Naturally, the line that spread out for this monster of a city was substantial, even with the eight other gates spread along the city wall. Luckily as nobles, they had a much shorter line, despite a few other nobles that were in line before them. They made their way to the gate, where his father showed the gate guards their papers for their stay in the temporary manor. They all dismounted the carriage as the city guards would inspect them thoroughly for contraband and then have the contents of the where they were quickly immersed within the crowd of those going about their business.
The families guards walked around the family and servants, the noble emblems on their armor quickly caused the crowd to split, as the population of the outer area of the city was mostly commoners and soldiers.
As they traveled deeper into the city they shortly reached their temporary estate in the noble district, it was surrounded by brick walls like many other noble manors and a single gate at the front. As the guards at the gate had yet to deliver their things to them there was little they could do in the form of unpacking, therefore Edward decided to bring his son to the Academy, located a between the noble district and the King’s castle. Sarah and Danielle, on the other hand, had no reason join them as the entrance assessment was not for two days. Instead, they chose to explore the market district, known for the extensive stores and restaurants. There are even a few stores specialized in objects from the other world.
The academy was surrounded by tall fences with a massive gate at the front, surrounded by several guards.
Edward approached the man who appeared to be in charge, he was the only one without a helmet. “Hello, My name is Edward Aenward and this is my son Tidus Aenward and we have something important for the council.” He held out the family seal, though it brought little effect.
“Sir, you must understand that the council are very busy people and they can not appear for any nobles whims. I must know what is that may be so important before sending a messenger to request a visit with the council.
Without any prompting, Tidus released the iridescent energy from his fingertips, forming it into a cat which leaped towards the man’s face. Reflexively he swung out his sword to slice the energy in half only to have it disperse and return to Tidus’s body.
“Will that do?” He tilted his head slightly as he made eye contact with the gate guard, the colors in his pupils swirling.
The man stared at the child's eyes in confusion and shock, as he appeared to be extremely young but displayed an oddly suppressing aura. “... Yeah, I mean Yes. I will lead you to the main building. Please follow me.” The guard captain gestured for the others to open the gate as he led them through. there was much more open space within the walls compared to the rest of the city, Trees and shrubbery grew freely along the paths and large buildings spread haphazardly around the extensive grounds. Students could be seen scurrying along to their own destinations or playing games, the occasional teacher would pass by. The School had several maps along the paths so that new students would not lose their way.
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“The main office buildings are focused around the central courtyard while the class and research buildings are spread along the east and the dormitories along the west. As you have seen the is mostly unused woods. The designers of the academy decided that being surrounded by nature would lower stress. Personally, I think finding your way around this place is more stressful than it all being clumped together but that is not what I am paid for.” The man explained as he leads them through the woods and into the extensive plaza surrounded by polished stone buildings and one large central building.
“The surrounding buildings here are the teachers and staffs homes, as well as business offices that are mostly staff only. Lots of documents and boring paperwork. Anyway this up ahead is the main office, The council meeting room is inside.” They entered the building to find themselves in a reception area with four people situated around a circular desk, a few students could be seen waiting for their appointments with staff.
Tidus and his father were lead passed the reception area and down the halls, to a large set of marble doors.
The guard knocked on the door for a brief moment before a voice called for him to enter. “Wait out here for a moment.” He said before opening the door and stepping inside, closing it behind him.
“Anything specific you want me to mention dad?” Tidus looked up at his father.
“No, no. Just do what you think is best. You’ve done well so far and I have faith in what you will do.” Edward rubbed his son's hair.
The door opened as the guard stepped out to face the father and son duo. They wish to see the child, but sir Edward must wait outside.
He nodded his head as he expected such a situation and the guard held the door open for Tidus to enter.
Inside the room was a semi-circular table with expensive looking chairs and nine men and women sitting on them. He recognized none of them and all of their eyes were on him.
“Young Tidus, was it? Step forward.” One of them spoke and Tidus moved to the center of the room.
“Please demonstrate your.. Lightshow was it?” An elderly man spoke in a condescending manner.
Tidus twitched in annoyance before complying, iridescent light cascading from his fingertips. “I am not sure what it may be used for but I have yet to hear of a useless magic type.” The light morphed itself into a horse at Tidus’ will.
“Mm... It is certainly unique but that does not determine that it is of any use. Though it is ‘pretty’” An elderly woman spoke.
“Does it have any relation to your eyes?” A bearded man questioned.
Tidus blinked momentarily in surprise as oddly enough he had yet to consider that relation. “When not in active use I sense it stored in the center of my chest. But since I can move it at will perhaps if I directed it into my eyes.” He spoke as he acted, sending strands of energy into his eyes as they begin to sting, slowly the iridescent colors spread to the whites of his eyes as the air around him felt heavier.
Blinking away the pain he looked at those in the room with shock, within each of them he could see lights, He focused on one of them, gray lines spread through his body as well as a violent and restless red energy in his chest, which summoned thoughts of flames, energy, and infernos. In another he saw a calm blue orb, the energy swaying calmingly, summoning visions of a vast ocean and heavy rainfall.
Looking down at his own arm he found the same gray lines and in his own chest, he saw creation, knowledge, control, and dominance. Massive creatures of stone, but there was something more, deeper. As he focused more energy into his eyes blood began to flow down his face like tears as a massive headache overtook his consciousness. Swiftly he removed the energy from his eyes as he wiped away the blood, the light in them returning to his pupils and the visions were gone.
He shook his mind clear as he gazed at the disturbed and intrigued faces of the council around him.
“Well? Do tell us what happened.” The one in the center spoke, he was the head of the council and was an elderly bearded male.
‘Right, no worry for the kid with bleeding eyes’ Tidus thought to himself as he decided to have a bit of fun. He directed the minimum of energy required to his eyes for them to ‘activate’.
Tidus raised his hand and pointed to the one who sat to his far left. “Earth.” He pointed to the next. “Lightning.” The next. “Metal.” In the next, he found two. “Water and wind.” In the head of the council, he found two as well. “Wind and Lightning.” And so he continued pointing out every last on of their affinities.
At first, they thought that the child had perhaps only researched their elements prior, that is until he reached the one he claimed to have water and wind, while to their knowledge the woman had water. Never before had there been a way to know a person's element without them willingly using magic, unless they were new to their gems and unconsciously emitted it.
Collectively they looked to the woman who was frozen in shock. “I had successfully absorbed a wind gem this morning and had planned to bring it up later.”
“Incredible. This would be a superb ability at detecting magician assassins.” One claimed.
Tidus ‘deactivated’ his eyes once more before speaking up. “The energy within my eyes allow me to see both your elements and some other form of lines that spread throughout everyone it seems. However, if this were all my magic has to offer then wouldn’t the magic simply be contained in my body and not be able to be removed like most other magic’s?”
They all looked to the head councilor, who stared at Tidus in silence for several moments before speaking up. “Very well, we will admit you early entrance to the academy, despite your age, and the right to join the ‘Special magics’ class. This class has rights to request reasonable professional assistance from any available staff and access to resources through filing a claim to the council. Naturally, there will be no need for you to participate in the entrance exam.” He finished with a cough.
As he spoke Tidus was all smiles until they spoke of him not taking the entrance exam, to which he revealed a heavy frown. He had studied years for that exam! Quickly he thought to himself before speaking.
“With all due respect sirs, I would request to take the exam, as my age is so young if I were to not take it then it and still gain entry early then it would put me in a disdainful position with my future peers.”
“What is it that you are proposing?” The man spoke in mild surprise at the six year old's words.
“I am proposing that you allow me to take the test, and score full marks as to produce respect and envy rather than scorn.” Tidus smiled cheerfully at the thought.
“You want us to help you cheat?” One of the council misunderstood.
Tidus could not resist the urge to laugh. “I-I am sorry for the confusion, no, no. I will thoroughly crush them on my own.” He gave a predatory grin at the thought.
Shivers spread down their spines.