"Mom, why are we moving out of the Capital?"
"Well, I found a new job there and Chloe found the perfect school for herself outside the Capital."
"What school? A school sis chose to attend is outside the Capital? But I thought she always wanted to join the Royal Elite School of Magics?"
Patting Rey gently, Mrs. Kiyara looked out the carriage window as they transported their furniture out from their old estate into a new one.
Why did Sis give up on her dream? Do people really change their mind so easily?
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"And the award for the most outstanding mage of Year 1 goes to, Chloe Kiyara of House Athena!"
Attending the ceremony with my mother, a certain sense of happiness and joy filled my heart as my sister stepped onto the stage to receive the award. Spotting us, Chloe waved before pumping out a 'V' with her fingers. After the ceremony, we were invited to a chat with the Head Dean Alistar of Sora Academy.
"Mrs. Kiyara, we are greatly pleased to say that Ms. Chloe has been given an invitation to go for a trail with the esteemed Royal Elite School in the Capital. If all goes well, Ms. Chloe will be given a place at the school and be placed under the greatest Mage programme in the country."
"Sorry, sir but I have already made up my mind to stay in Sora Academy. In the future, my brother will be joining Sora too, and together we will become the strongest pair of Cryomancers in the realm! Isn't that right Rey?"
Hearing my sister's excitement for our future, I couldn't help but nod my head as the Dean looked at us with a pleased expression across his face.
"Very well then, seems like Ms. Chloe here has already made up her mind. Sora Academy will do its best to provide her with the most excellent of materials and support to allow her to blossom into the mage she dreams of becoming. As for you, young Rey, I look forward to seeing you alongside your sister at Sora Academy."
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The day was finally here. I was 13. I was of age to attend Magic Schools across the nation. I was ready to make my mark in this world.
"Rey! Have you packed everything you need? Chloe help your brother out too!"
"Yes mum!"
As I frantically packed up and double checked all the materials had been placed in my bag, Chloe gently pat my back and told me in a reassuring voice.
"You can do it Rey! Go get em!"
"Of course! I won't let you down sis!"
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"Line up in a straight file number 56 to 60."
Upon hearing my number being called, I stepped forward onto the marked spot on the floor. A target appeared in front of me as I held my breath waiting for the instructor to give the word to attack it.
"Ready? Give it your best shot! Now go!"
The four other students beside me all unleashed attacks of different elements. Number 56 incinerated the target with ease, burning it into nothing but ashes. Number 57 summoned tendrils beneath the earth, wrapping around the target, crushing and bending it into a distorted shape. Number 58 sent gusts of wind so fast the camera couldn't even catch up to its speed as it sliced the target into shreds. Lastly, number 60 formed a stone wall in front of the target, sending it crashing down, obliterating the target in an instant. However, the target that stood in front of me was cut and slightly torn apart, but most of it was still intact, in fact, there was really hardly any damage sustained by it. I could hear the other prospects laughing behind my back and the instructor shook his head as he past by my station.
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"The endurance test is comprised of three sections! The first being a straight forward sprint course, with the second being an elemental weight course. In this course, you will need to lift up an elemental sphere that contains a certain amount of magical energy, this is designed to suck away at your own mana reserves to test your own magical endurance. To pass the course, you will have to hold the ball for at least 60 seconds. The last course will be a magic seal removal course. There will be five objects laid in front of you, you will use your own magic to break each of the seal on them. Did I make myself clear?"
"YES MA'AM!"
Taking in a deep breath, I lined myself up at the starting line along with the same prospects from before.
"Isn't he the weakling from just now? Number 59?"
"Yea dude, why is he even here?"
"Beats me man, but with him being this weak, it just means one less competitor."
Ignore them. Just do your best, for sis...
Upon hearing the sound to go, I dashed with all my strength towards the second course, leading the pack as the others trailed behind, astonished at my speed.
That's right Rey, show them your true strength, you might not be as magically gifted as the others but that doesn't make you worse than them!
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Reaching the second course first with number 57 right behind, I wrapped my fingers around the ball before me, readying myself before lifitng it off the floor. A sudden shock of pain filled my body as the ball began leeching on my mana, rendering my body weaker and weaker. Looking at my sides, I could see two other prospects had already caught up to me. Furthermore, they look like they hardly broke a sweat as number 56 surrounded his body in flames, lifting the ball with ease as the timer began counting down.
Wait, you are allowed to use your own magic on these balls? Then again, how... I'm already at my wit's end yet these guys can still pump out more magic to ease the weight? Shit...
Loosing my grip, the ball fell back down onto the floor as the timer in front let out a beep, resetting itself to zero.
"Crap!'
Immediately picking up the ball once more, my body felt weaker and I could hardly hold on any longer. As the seconds gone by, the rest of the prospects had already advanced onto the third course, leaving me behind, struggling to complete the task before me.
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Despite the failure I experienced at the entrance exam, the one thing I did ace at though was the written paper. To my surprise, one fateful morning, a letter of acceptance was dropped into our mailbox. I was accepted. I was now, a student of magic at Sora Academy.
The first day of school, this was the day students would either be nervous or in high spirits. It's a new chapter in our lives, it's a chance to start afresh, to start anew. Stepping into the school compound with Chloe by my side, I remember seeing a group of students immediately gathering around her, slowly but surely pushing me out of their way, before long, my sister was nowhere to be seen.
"Move aside kid!"
I fell onto my back, being shoved aside by two older students. The reality was, I was a nobody, while my sister was a somebody. In my mind, I thought if I walked into school with my sister, maybe, just maybe, I could become popular? Maybe people will like me? Maybe people would notice me...
"Rey! Rey? Wait! Sorry guys, please make way for me! Rey!"
That was just a fleeting thought in my mind, that was not reality, that was probably the furthest thing from a reality. Picking myself off the floor, I looked away from the crowd, escaping from the scene as I tried to locate my classroom. Walking down the hallway, I could see students looking around as well, seemingly new students like me trying to find where their classroom is. This could be my chance to spark a conversation.
"Hey...Hi... My name's Rey, Rey Kiya...ra. I'm a new student here as well, are you also trying to find your class?"
The girl looked back at me with a look of confusion on her face.
"Are you stuttering? Kiyara huh? You're number 59 aren't you? The lowest ranking prospect the school has seen in a long time. How did you even end up here? Could it be? Because of your sister, the Dean gave you leeway? That's hilarious you know that?"
What is this feeling? My eyes... No, don't cry. You're a man now...
"I... I believe I did well for the papers, maybe that's why I was..."
"Zip it weakling, move out of the way!"
Being shoved aside once again, this time by another male student with hair as white as snow and eyes as blue like the ocean.
"Ah! You must be the number one prospect in this intake! Kuroshi Reinard!"
The girl screamed at the top of her voice as heads all turned around towards the white haired student.
"A Royal studying in our school? We are so blessed!"
"I heard his cryomancy skills are unrivalled by all at his age!"
Students began gathering in groups, talking about Kuroshi who just casually walked in through a door labelled 1-Athena.
1-Athena? Isn't that my class? Better head in and grab a good seat.
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"Silence! Return to your seats at once!"
Entering the classroom was a raven-haired lady, probably around her mid thirties. She had a pair of violet heels that could be heard from outside the class before she even entered. She had a floral design pair of gloves topped off with obsidian bracelet around her left wrist. Her presence demanded the respect of all the students as they hastily returned to their seats, stopping all forms of communications, resulting in absolute silence in the room.
"Now then. I am your homeroom teacher for the next four years in Sora Academy. What a homeroom teacher means is that your performance will heavily weigh on me and my pay grade. If this class does badly, I will be negatively affected as well, you got that? So I will push each and every one of you to the maximum, to ensure that my pay check isn't affected. With that out of the way, you guys interested in doing introductions? Hmmmm, you, the kid with white hair, let's start off with you."
Getting off his seat, Kuroshi stood up tall and straight with his chest out.
"Good morning all. My name is Kuroshi of the Reinard family. I am the number one prospect and it's not even close. I will not accept anyone who would pull me down, if you are weak, do voice out to me right now. I'll make some arrangements to get you kicked out of 1-Athena. With regards to my personal ambitions, I will become the strongest cyromancer in all the realms. For that, I am fortunate to be in the House of Athena, I heard there's a powerful cryomancer held with high regards. I wish to learn from her and then defeat her to claim that title for myself. That would be all."
Sitting back down, the class remained silent, some displayed some signs of fear as they looked away unwillingly to show their faces to Kuroshi. I mean, he basically declared war against everyone weak.
Wait, why am I looking away. Is this my self-conscious acting on my behalf?
Before long, it was my turn. Nervously getting off my seat, I scanned around the classroom as all eyes were now on me. I could see some people whispering amongst themselves, though I couldn't quite make out what they were saying.
Do they know? They know who I am? Number 59...
"Good...morning everyone. It's nice to meet all of you. My name is Rey, Rey Kiyara. Ummmmm, I'm a cryomancer as well, though not as powerful as my sister, she has always been my role model, someone I..."
"Wait, you are the brother of Chloe Kiyara? This has to be a joke. Aren't you Number 59 from the selection tests? Correct me if I'm wrong Kiyara, weren't you the only one who failed to down your target?"
The class suddenly erupted into commotion. I could hear all sorts of voices all hurling insults and hate towards me.
"I knew it! He's the Kiyara dude, he only got in through special connections."
"Seriously? Name dropping his sister when he's this weak?"
"I bet his sister doesn't even want to be associated with him."
Stop. Please. Someone. Stop.
"Enough! When someone is speaking, I expect full respect towards him or her. Do I make myself clear class? Now, Rey, please continue if you have anything else to add."
"No... That would be all Ma'am."
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And so the first day of school at Sora Academy. The new life I was promised was nothing less of a hell. I became a laughing stock and probably a target too by Kuroshi. Why did it have to happen this way? What did I do wrong? Is it really because I'm weak? These were the thoughts racing through my mind before I met her. The first half of the year was cold, lonely, empty. But soon with each month passing, the day she entered my life soon approached.
Alice Gaelburg. My first friend.