The day of the test.

(Damalis): It seems everything is taken care of this morning. You are finally getting your choirs done.

Sophia: yyess thank you, when do we leave for the test !

(Lillian): someone is very excited I see

*Sophia blushes a little*

Sophia: yyyes, magicians are sooo cool I really hope I can be one

(Fabiano): good luck, little sister

Omero: I hope you pass the exam

Wow my older brother spoke to me, this is the first time he has spoken to me in such a soft tone. Maybe if I become a magician my family will love me.

***************************************

The magical exam is held in a large church on the east side of the city. With the test open to everyone

aged 10-16 the line is already more than 500 people long even though it’s so early in the morning.

Everyone is clamoring for their child to hopefully show talent in magic.

Sophia dressed in slightly better rags than yesterday standing next to her father dressed in finer clothing than usual.

A well-dressed middle aged male and a well-dressed young man are standing off to the side watching people take the magical exam.

A young boy steps up to the orb and places his hand on it, after a few seconds it doesn't light up signaling he failed. The boy being told he failed start to cry while his mother drags him off.

The next 50 or so children with varying degrees of emotions all have failed the exam. Some parents in the line start to get worried that none of their children will pass the test.

A young girl steps up and places her hand on the large orb on the table. This time it lights up red, a priest in a shining white robe announces she has a fire affinity and she can take the 2nd half of the exam.

The crowd starts to get noisy seeing her walk over to an engraved circle on the floor that lights up when she steps into it.

A priest in a bright yellow robe, off to the side mumbles a few words and the circle start to brighten up little by little. While the young girl's face starts to flush red before she falls to her knees.

Priest: fire affinity average, soul space of 12. Qualified to be a magician.

(well dressed man): what do you think of her?

(young male): she looks ok, but she is only the first person to pass. Let’s wait to see if there is someone better.

(well dressed man): very true today is only the 2nd day, we still have 4 more days to find somebody for you.

2 hours pass and only 3 more people pass, 11 year old boy with a high earth affinity and a soul space of 10, a 14 year old boy with average wind affinity and a soul space of 13, and a 12 year old girl with an average darkness affinity soul space of 10.

(well dressed man): it seems like there is not much to choose from today

(young man): there are still a few more people in line

(well dressed man) well we have waited all day, we mine as well stick around for the last 10 children to take the exam

(young man): the next one in line looks like a homeless girl, she will probably fail

(well dressed man): magic affinity can show up in anyone, let’s see what her outcome is

While these two are talking Sophia is nudged to place her hand on a cloudy orb in front of her. As she does this she feels a strange sensation in her body and the orb in front of her glows very bright blinding not only herself but also the priest in front of her administrating the test

Priest: high affinity to both water and light, this is truly rare. If you can pass the soul test you can be a truly great magician in your future

Everyone in the room quiets down to watch the little girl walk into the magic circle

Sophia's legs are shaking in a mixture of excitement and nervousness while the priest starts the test

(well dressed man): what do you think of her?

(young male): Let’s see if she passes the test or not. She could end up being worthless still

(well dressed man): perfect if she passes I will obtain her for you

The priest slowly increases the pressure on Sophia, while her face flushes red under the pressure.10,11, 12, 13,14 Sophia's weak body passes out under the pressure exerted on her body and soul.

Priest: high affinity for water and light, soul is 14 she is qualified to be a magician.

A man who is dressed in slightly fine clothing for a commoner walks over to the passed out girl and with one hand picks her up by her hair. Seeing her not awaken from this he tosses her over his shoulder with no care for her body. Looking around the room with a large smile across his face, he starts to walk out of the church.

//(well dressed man): this person must be her owner

*taking a quickened pace to catch up to this man*

(well dressed man): Sir, I am wondering what your relationship with that young girl over your shoulder is.

(Damalis): she happens to be my daughter

//(well dressed man): DAUGHTER?? but the difference between the man and this young girl are so vast.

He is dressed semi nicely, looks well fed and looks like he does warrior training, but she looks like she is starving on the streets

(young male): Good sir may we get your name? We would like to talk about the your Umm daughter there

(Damalis): my name is Damalis Kosta. What do you wish to know about her?

(well dressed man): I do not believe this is the correct place to talk about this matter, would you like to follow me to my hotel ? I believe we can have a better formal conversation there, Damalis.

well-dressed man and the young man, lead out Damalis onto the streets of the city for their short walk to the hotel.

//(well dressed man): the way she is just hanging off his shoulder without care shows he must abuse her to no end, what kind of man does this to his own child ? O well this will only help in our favor

The hotel they are staying at is named the Gentle Dream Hotel, it is a slightly better than average hotel that caters to low nobility and semi rich merchants visiting the city center of Halalem. The price to stay in a regular room is 50 coppers this keeps the lower class out. The Gentle Dream is also very cleanly and does not ask questions, so when these three men walked in with a passed out little girl nobody raised any flags.

(well dressed man): can you place her on the bed, I would like to check for scars on her body if that is ok with you?

(Damalis): yes that is fine, she should be scar free. I made sure not to damage her to much

Damalis starts to laugh while the young man gives him a cold stare for a reply

Luckly for Sophia she is still passed out, otherwise the emotional damage from 2 men strip searching her while her father laughs might cause issues.

//(well dressed man): it looks like besides not being fed very well she is in good shape, no visible scars, cuts or bruises. Though if she doesn't start eating more food she might actually starve to death. This Damalis doesn't even seem to care instead he seems happy we have taken interest in his daughter

(well dressed man): Damalis, let’s have a little talk down stairs. We can leave your daughter here to rest while we talk business. Isaak, you stay up here and keep an eye on her in case she wakes up

(Isaak): Okay, can you send some food up for her though?

(well dressed man): sure

(Damalis): Are we going to talk business or are you two just going to chat all day. I do have things to do besides wait around.

//Isaak: I just can't take this anymore, if I come across this man ever again I will kill him as slow as possible just to make him feel what this girl has felt

(well dressed man): please this way, Damalis, we will chat in the lounge area

(Damalis): very well

walking down the stairs, on the way to the lounge area, the well-dressed man passes a young hotel staff lady.

(well dressed man): miss, if you will please bring two mugs of beer to our table and send up some food for two people to my room.

(waitress): yes sir

The well dressed man drops a silver coin into her hand and continues down the stairs. Damalis sharp eyes catches this expensive tip to the waitress and grins with excitement.

The two men sit down at a table far away from any regulars and wait for their beers before beginning to speak.

(Damalis): so let’s talk business, how much are you going to offer for my daughter?

(well dressed man): well a girl of her age is worth about 5 gold in healthy condition, though there are no scars she is very under nourished so she is worth closer to 4 gold.

(Damalis): she is a dual magician; the priest clearly said she is rare she is worth much more than a few gold coins. If you will not offer more I will be taking her back with me.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

(well dressed man): With the way she is treated, and from what I can tell you cannot afford to send her to magic school to train.

(Damalis): it doesn't matter she is just a worthless daughter to me, but she seems valuable to you. So if we are done here I will be taking my daughter and leaving now

Damalis downs his whole beer in one gulp and stands up from his chair

(well dressed man) : 30 gold coins

(Damalis): 50 gold

(well dressed man): 35, that’s more than a commoner can spend in 10 years.

(Damalis): 35 gold, new sword and shield

(well dressed man): fine, it’s a deal. Give me a day for your weapons

(Damalis): I want a steel long sword, and a mirror shield

(well dressed man): that can be arranged

The well-dressed man drops a bag on the table, and takes out a few gold coins

(well dressed man): this bag has 35 gold in it, tell me where you live and tomorrow morning I will have a new sword and shield delivered to you

(Damalis): thank you for doing business good sir

//(well dressed man): I can't believe he never asked for my name, or what I plan on doing with his daughter. commoners are truly scum

**************************

While this exchange is occurring upstairs in the hotel room something else is going on.

What happened, I was taking the magical test then...?

Sophia: AHHH I must have failed the exam

A voice from the side: No, you passed

Sophia: eeep

A quick snap of her neck

Sophia: umm who are you? and where am I ?

boy: well first I would cover your body up

Cover my body? *looks down*

As fast as she can humanly move throws the covers over her whole body

Sophia: WHY AM I NAKED ????

*her eyes start watering*

boy: well we had to check your body for infections and scars. Those rags you had on had to be tossed.

Sophia: wwwhere ammm I? what is going on? who are you? wha..

boy: WOW you do not shut up

Sophia: Iii am sorry ( in a soft voice )

Boy: uggh, well whatever. I have left something for you to change into at the end of the bed. Please get dressed and tell me when you finish

*slam*

Seeing how father isn't here, and how that boy talked to me. Father must have sold me off to slavery. How come he sold me to slavery? I have talent as a magician he should have loved me more and treated me like my brothers. Why?? Well I can only hope my master isn't to mean, I don’t think I am strong enough to take many beatings

Well I should put on the cloths he left behind for me, before he gets mad.

*slowly gets out of bed*

*wobbly walks to end of bed still weak from the test and her abusive carrying to the hotel, and picks up the dress and underwear left behind for her*

Wow these cloths are so pretty, I don’t think I have ever seen a blue dress this cute.

*she quickly changes into these fresh clothes, and starts admiring herself in the mirror*

*knock knock*

muffled voice: are you finished changing?

Sophia: uh, YES

*he walks in holding two trays full of food*

OMG that smells so good

*Grumbling tummy followed her cheeks turning a light shade of pink*

The food smells so good, and I didn't get to eat much this morning

Sophia: Umm I am sorry

boy: come sit down

Sophia: O-okay

*She watches as this boy drops both trays on the small table and begins to stuff his face like a starving animal*

boy: Why aren't you eating?

Sophia: I can eat this food?

boy: Ugh, why would someone bring so much food into a hotel room if not to eat?

Sophia: Ttt-hank yyou

*boy returns to stuffing his face*

boy: Why aren't you eating still?

Sophia: Wwwelll umm, don't I have to wait for you to finish eeattin?

boy: If you do not start eating on your own, I will force feed you

Sophia: OKAY!

*wam, the door flies open*

An older man: Isaak, did she wake up yet?

Isaak: yes, she awoke just after you left

older man laughing: he practically gave her away to me, it only cost us 35 gold and some cheap weapons

I am worth 35 gold? I have never even seen a gold coin before. How is that cheap that’s enough money to never work a day in my life.

Isaak: wow that is pretty cheap, Father should be very happy with us

older man now grinning: We have enough money left over to buy another mage or enjoy ourselves plenty on the ride home.

Isaak: Dominic, we shouldn't play around. We need to get this one back home for her training, but if you like we can spend another long day standing around watching petty commoners checking there magical talent

Dominic: Yeah, let’s not do that again. Two days of standing around is not enjoyable.

Isaak: By the way, we need to have the staff send up a bath. If I have to share a carriage with this smell I will probably throw her off a bridge.

Dominic: I will have the staff prepare the bath

Isaak: It is starting to get late. Take this girl to her room and let’s head out

*The man named Dominic grabs my arm and drags me out of the room*

I don’t understand if my new masters will be nice or not, but that is the most food I have ever eaten. It feels so good to have a full stomach. I wonder if I will be able to eat this good every day.

This man named Dominic leads me into a much smaller room down the hall, but still much larger than the bedroom at my former home.

Dominic: So this is how it’s going to go little miss. We will be leaving tomorrow morning to head to the capital of the Beamonait Kingdom. This trip should take between 6 and 7 days to accomplish. Seeing the condition you are in, we will have to put some weight on you. Otherwise you will not survive what awaits you in the capital.

Sophia saying shyly: Uhh... okay .... so um what do I call you?

Dominic: you will address me as Sir Dominic, the young master you will address as Master

Sophia: yyess

Dominic: I will have the staff prep your bath and bring some more food. Go to bed early the trip to the capital will be harsh for someone who has never traveled before.

*Sir Dominic quickly leaves the room after his statement and slams the door behind him*

He doesn't seem bad. They are going to feed me lots of food, but what will happen to me when I get to the capital. Did master and my father speak, is it because I am used to beatings he will beat me for fun?

*knock knock*

muffled voice: may I come in?

Sophia waking up from her thoughts jumped: Umm Yes Please Do

*door opens with a woman in her early 20's*

*woman walks into a door on the side of the hotel room revealing a room with a large barrel on top of a metal table*

I wonder what a large barrel is doing inside here? It seems to be full of water.

*woman places some charcoal under the barrel and ignites the charcoal*

Woman: The bath is ready miss; I will bring your food up while you bath

Sophia: Thank you ?

*woman leaves with a quickened walk*

So I am I meant to get inside the barrel? It won’t cook me alive? Maybe this is how I am to die, master must be watching from somewhere and wishes to see someone boil alive ?

*slowly undresses*

*starts to cry a bit while shaking at the thought of boiling alive*

*enters the large barrel*

5 minutes pass

*still crying*

This water feels really good right now

10 minutes pass

*starts to sniffle as there are no more tears to be made*

The water hasn't gotten hot enough to burn me yet, why hasn't this happened?

15 minutes pass

*has the just finished crying face, but has stopped crying*

The water still feels good, what is going on?

20 minutes pass

Is this the bath Sir Dominic was talking about? It feels so great

*Sophia leaves the barrel after 30 minutes of her mind changing between why haven't I died yet and why does it feel so

good*

That felt really good; maybe they will be good to me?

*slips out from the water not knowing to dry herself off, puts on the blue dress that was given to her earlier*

That woman really did bring more food for me too. These last two meals are more than I have eaten in the past week at least.

*She starts to eat the food like it will be her last meal on earth, leaving nothing behind.*

I guess I will head to bed then and await my fate tomorrow.