The physical exam took place in a hall similar to the one they started off in but was smaller and in the centre was a large blue mat. Caution and the five other examinees stood in a horizontal line. Behind them were tables with a variety of weapons on them which included swords, bows, arrows, axes and knives.

The exam tester cleared her throat before speaking. “The physical exam is very simple. You will each be put into pairs and duel against each other until one is unconscious or submits. Magic and weapons are permitted. Healing spells are not allowed.”

No clear emotions were given away but the thoughts going on inside Caution’s head were akin to a hysterical fan meeting their idol for the first time.

“Before we begin the selection process, I would like to stress that losing your fight does not necessarily mean you have failed. The purpose of this practical test is solely for me to assess your capabilities. Does anyone have any questions?”

Caution raised his arm.

“Yes?”

“Can I go first, Ma’am?”

The exam tester shook a hat filled with folded pieces of paper. “That is not for me to decide. I have all of your names in here. Now let us begin. The first fight will be between… Yolga Hunt and…”

Caution glanced at his younger brother to see him cross his fingers and close his eyes. He was probably praying to not pair up with the person who had whooped his ass every morning for the past five years which made perfect sense.

“…Lilly Hunt.”

The twins smirked at each other. They walked towards the centre of the blue mat and raised their arms in an orthodox boxing stance.

“Who do you think is going to win?”

Caution flinched. The voice was too close. A blond-haired girl with pale skin and tired eyes was standing next to him.

Had she always been there? For some reason, he only just acknowledged her presence. Something like that had never happened to him before, not even in his previous life. It was unsettling.

“I don’t know,” Caution replied. “They’re both competent. In terms of close combat, Yolga is better but Lilly excels in magic ability and is more creative. It’s going to be a close one.”

“Interesting…"

“You’re too close,” Caution replied bluntly. “Personal space exists, you know.”

“Whoops. Bad habit, sorry.” The girl shuffled to the right. “They’re not going to use swords or any other weapon?”

“No.”

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“Why?”

“They’re more comfortable without.”

“Why?

“We never used them.”

“Why?

Caution’s eyes narrowed, desperate to close the conversation. “How about we watch and see what happens.”

“On three,” the exam tester said. “One, two, three!”

Yolga closed the gap. He threw a punch to the body. Lilly’s guard was solid, blocking the attack with her elbow. Yolga threw an uppercut followed by a several jab but they were all were evaded.

Lilly leapt back while letting out an incantation almost too quick to register. She hurled a pebble sized rock and as it spun in the air, it rapidly grew to the size of a bowling ball. Yolga dived to one side, evading the projectile. By the time he had scrambled back to his feet, his sister was already a great distance away.

She tossed a group of pebbles up and down and smiled.

There was a brief silence. Yolga snorted. “What are you waiting for? Just do it already.”

“It’s funny watching you squirm,” Lilly said before throwing a cluster of pebbles in her right hand which all expanded in size.

Yolga spoke an incantation and a strong gust of air expelled from both his hands. The projectiles were blown away but another gust of air blew them right back at him.

“Argh!” A small but fast rock caught his shoulder and a larger earthy bowling ball slammed into his right shin with such force that he face planted onto the mat.

Lilly shook her head and cackled. “Predictable.”

Yolga rose to his feet and limped forwards. He rose his arms in a fighting stance and punched the air.

Immediately, Lilly stopped laughing and shot a glare that matched her brother’s. Multiple pebbles formed in both her hands.

Yolga experienced an attack that could best be described as a localised hailstorm. Rocks of various sizes flung and spun in his direction. Lilly repeated the incantation and her arms dramatically swiped left and right as if she was a conductor of an orchestra.

The other examinees gasped but Caution’s face remained neutral. He wished he had a phone so he could record the fight and replay it later.

Even with an injured shoulder and leg, Yolga trudged through the chaotic series of attacks. He got hit several times but also evaded several times and was able to avoid all of the larger, more dangerous projectiles by weaving and ducking continuously.

Avoid getting hit, little bro.

It was a fundamental skill Caution had drummed into his brother many times throughout their training sessions. Yolga was implementing it well but it was pointless if he didn’t retaliate with an attack.

With each passing second, Yolga got closer but the intensity of the storm did not seize. Lilly gritted her teeth and a vein bulged from her neck. Her dark brown skin glowed a bright purple, an indication that her body was overloaded with mana. The magical substance was dangerously competing with the oxygen binding to her red blood cells. She was almost at her limit.

The brutal one sided attack continued until Yolga yelled an incantation, abandoning any attempt to defend. A gust of air tossed his body forwards through the hailstorm. Yolga spun in the air like a tornado and crashed into Lilly. They both laid on the mat unconscious.

“The first fight is a draw!” the exam tester announced.

Caution whistled. He had seen them fight many times but even he was surprised. Yolga had used advanced level air magic on himself, something he’d never done before. His thirst to win against his sister had allowed him to improve somewhat.

Moments later, after casting a powerful healing spell on Lilly and Yolga, the magic tester shook the hat again. Caution scratched his neck before rubbing his hands with glee.

“The second fight will be between… Astel and...”

Caution turned to his rival as soon as he heard the name. Already, his body was ready for an intense fight. Adrenaline spiked in his blood stream and mana from the nearby atmosphere flowed into his tissue cells like a sponge. At first, only his widened eyes showed emotion, but soon a shark’s grin followed.

Pick me. Please pick me.

“… and Lara.”

Caution let out a long aggravated sigh. His eyes reverted back to normal, and he watched with jealously as the girl next to him walked towards the mat.

Words could not describe his disappointment.