Top 50! Thanks to all who voted, I'm not sure what the criteria is as mine is not as highly rated as some of the stories below me? Anyway, just came across it which was nice :3

Cheers for the positive and instructive things said in the last paragraph. Yes I did read all of them, but I thought it would be best to respond to them all as one here.

Sorry to those who wanted action but this one is generally explaining the new setting.

A large amount of explanation was needed here for several topics so sorry in advance to that :3

Hope you like it.

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Three years have passed since I came to live in the human city of Tesuit. Overall the experience has been enlightening. In my past life I saw humans as a subspecies. Weak; both physically and mentally, consisting of beings generally not worth my time. However upon staying in this city I have realised that they are highly inquisitive, always pondering an unknown answer to some unexplained phenomenon. Most often it was for self-gain, but none the less it led them to great discovery and understanding. Also they were obsessed with recognition for their achievements and would happily spend hours explaining their latest great discoveries and masterpieces.

This worked in my favour, as it allowed me to learn a great deal, both about the various races including the humans themselves, and also the magic they possessed. I have also picked up their terminology. The magic pool inside me was called mana, and the style of magic I used was called Force of will.

There are three kinds of “force”. Force of will, Force of voiceless incantation and the force of recitation. Will users materialised their thoughts and desires, their magic is generally the most flexible as their thoughts could at any time change the spell they were casting. Voiceless incantation users were generally the fastest. Able to shorten the steps required to cast a spell.  Lastly there are the Reciters, who chanted pre-arranged spells. Their magic was the most powerful as the words focussed their mana and mind.

I also learnt about the human way of life. Due to their short lives, responsibility was placed upon them at an early age and I found myself dragged along to both the senate meetings with my new mother who was named Celestia, and battalion training with my father who was called Victor. Most children would be bored to tears in my position, but I found it fascinating as I was shown a clash of the greatest minds with the former, and a clash of the greatest muscles with the latter. Upon seeing my eagerness to attend they stopped forcing me and instead asked if I would like to join them. I never refused however this was a courtesy that was not extended to my sister.

I imagine many of you are wondering what happened to Red. Well that can be explained easily enough. Due to his features he is unable to walk around the house without arising suspicion from the many servants or the family itself. So I had him join the ranks of the guards, patrolling the mansion. The guards were allowed to dress in full plate armour which in Red’s case included a helmet that perfectly covered his face. After a few months I brought up the idea of Red acting as my personal guard to my Mother, who agreed instantly that it would be fine. Or as instantly as it took for me to forcefully change her mind.

My two new parents generally treated me well. Both were busy and with Shirley going through some of the more important years of her life they had little time to spend with me alone, generally leaving my wellbeing to an elderly but kind maid named Diana. This gave me freedom though so I didn’t protest, also it allowed me to distance myself emotionally from them. Being in the body of an incubus I couldn’t allow my residential feelings to become too attached to them. But while my new parents faded into the background of my life, the same couldn’t be said about Shirley. Being the elder sister she loved to dote on me. Going out of her way for the simple pleasantries such as surprise hugs and sneaking extra desserts from the pantry when she thought her Father wasn’t looking. She wasn’t a great thief though, and she ended up getting caught nine times out of ten but still she never mentioned my name and just took whatever punishment she got.

I would have liked to spend the past three years improving my magic and sparing with Red though as the son of a famous senator I was expected to go to a fancy private school, reserved for the elite, or the descendants of the powerful. I won’t go into extreme detail of my school events as most of them were uninteresting and meaningless. However a few points deserve mentioning. At first I was put in a class filled with other people my age, though by the third day the teachers realised that I shouldn’t have been there. Demons are naturally more intelligent than humans, and with their extended lives, they were made to comprehend and remember things far more frequently that the average human. After the second week of moving in with my new family I had already skipped three years of schooling. I stress that I would have skipped more had my father not stopped me, saying that to leapfrog Shirley’s class would be an insult that could only breed worry and envy.

He needn’t have worried however, Shirley screamed in excitement when I was introduced to the class and the rest of the day consisted of showing me around to her friends. In hindsight however maybe staying a year below her would have been a better alternative. As Celestia often encouraged me to help Shirley complete the projects that I had finished myself in class. Coupled with Shirley’s natural laziness and her tendency to hand things in at the last minute meant that I spent a great deal of my nights towards the end of the week finishing her homework for her.

Oh, and there was also a bully at some point, a large kid who thought that me getting too close to his –and I quote- “darling Shirley” was “pretentious” of a “young brat” like me, needless to say, I didn’t take this statement too well. I’m not going to say how I resolved the issue, though a week later he was in the hospital, holding an expulsion letter from the school. Regardless of how I did it the problem was solved.

However, just because I went to school, didn’t mean that I never had time for just me and Red. We made up for the hours we spent separated by engaging in the most intense sparring of my life, armed of course, with red equipped with a halberd I stole from the Hero’s private armoury and me with a sword I received for my birthday. Nothing special as I wasn’t expected to use it in actual combat, but enough to hold its own. Red apparently had been spurred on after losing to Victor and had used his new comrades in the guard’s squad to stage great duals. Him against the entire remaining squad. The result was nothing close to a fair fight, with Red winning in a matter of seconds. He also now far outclassed me, and at the end of every practice session I was forced to fix the broken bones and torn ligaments that would inevitably blight my body.

During my visits to the senate I learned about the city as a whole. Apparently the farmland outside the walls, was only enough to feed the occupants inside. Augmented by the entire city being focussed on a military ideal there was no export at all from the city. Instead, it was funded by the capital for being on the fringe of the demon border so that in the case of the invasion it would be able to push back any army. This intrigued me. There was never such organisation in the Demon kingdom during my rule. Each city was to be self-sufficient and would rely on its own garrisoned force. I also wondered how the capital expected to populate a city funded entirely by the welfare of the capital. I asked my mother who replied that all who occupied the city were exempt from taxes and other such fund raising schemes. It made sense I thought. Those who were unable to pay the upkeep of their lives back in the capital would come here to pick up arms and start anew. An all-around solid system.

One last loose end however still lays unchecked. Lye and Tear are still missing. Seemingly they vanished from the village. Twice I have travelled back with Red to the ruins. Searching amongst the rubble of our old home for any signs of where they disappeared too. The corpses of the demons still lay untouched, rotting in the dry heat of the sun, long since becoming carrion for the birds who still feasted in the area. I recognised a few of them, and while I performed the funeral rites of for each missing member of my family I still believe they are out there somewhere. So while I know I can’t yet actively look for them I hope to come across them some day.

Jumping to the present, I was awoken to the sound of singing. The room was light, the curtains having been suddenly thrown open by an energetic Shirley. Light cascaded into the room, blinding my vision temporarily as I fought to make out my surroundings. My birthday was one of the few moments in which my family came together as one. So today I saw them all sitting at the foot of my bed, joining Shirley in a merry tune. I couldn’t say my heart wasn’t warmed by the scene but a tear still slid down my cheek as I thought back to my previous and better years.

In front of me now stood a pile of presents, each expensive enough to ease the guilt off my parents for basically leaving me to my own devices throughout the year. Though if offered I would have happily given them away to go back to the day before the demon invasion of our little village. My new parents had long since realised that I wasn’t excited by the toys that would occupy the minds of other children my age, so instead they gave me great tomes containing the magic and knowledge of the Human empire.

Most of it was garbage, filled with propaganda about how the Human race was the most righteous and strongest of all the races. However in each book there would be a hidden gem of knowledge. Whether it be a new spell, or a technique to purify my mana pool. I tried them all out of course and after a few weeks I learnt to hide the magical induced tone of my voice. It was hard but all I had to do was layer my voice with a veil of magic that flowed in the opposite direction to my natural secretion of mana. By doing so the magic would bounce of each other and dissipate, leaving a more childlike and innocent voice. Happy with the result I repeated it until it became almost natural.

In Tesuit’s Society, when a child reaches ten years of age a great number of opportunities become open to him. Firstly, the child is expected to join a local military training session at least twice a week, after a period the child would need to choose a corps within the army that they wished to join. Based on their aptitude the corps would choose whether they accepted the child or not. In my case I would do both this and attend a military academy with Shirley (normally a child would begin here at thirteen years of age, but I had skipped a few years so naturally I was going there too). Which trained children in the tactics and arts of war.

Secondly, the child would be expected to have their natural magic levels evaluated and ranked according to a human system, I will explain this later though should he rank high enough, he will be required to begin an apprenticeship with a talented mage.

Thirdly, the child would be considered old enough to become involved in the senate. Usually trusted with a section of the city’s finance for a probation period, this opportunity however was only offered to some, should they be deemed ready by the elders of the city and be taken under the wing of an already experienced senator, ready to risk their own career on the child’s success. My Mother offered to be my advisor. Another thing that Shirley was emitted from. No animosity was brought about from this however. Having never excelled in school Shirley wished to join the military core of the city far more than -what she called- “messing around in pointless politics”.

Lastly a ten year old child was considered old enough to be set up in an arranged marriage.

I can’t say I was too thrilled about the last one. I hoped that it would take a while before my mother found someone willing to marry me. Though it seemed as though many were eager to make a family alliance with the son of an influential senator. So much like Shirley, my bride to be, was decided almost instantly. However, unlike Shirley I had no intention of being “sold off” for the gain of my parents, especially parents who I had distanced myself from. I looked around for ways to avoid my fate and surprisingly enough they were everywhere. Most required me to reach the pinnacle of a certain aspect in society which allowed me to withhold my own marriage on the claim that I had other things to worry about.

For example I could become a Lieutenant Colonel of the army –leader of three thousand men- or a director of the senate, the position my mother currently held. Unfortunately I was destined to marry two weeks from now so that sort of option was unfeasible. Two ways did catch my eye though. Firstly, the specialist corps in the army forbid sexual interaction with the opposite gender and as an extension, marriage as well. The second was to become a “Possessed”. A path a mage took when looking to specialise in mental domination. A Possessed required an ethereal familiar to bond with their soul. Often leaving them with a weakened consciousness that rendered them unable to commit to marriage. As such they were exempted. To be honest I didn’t much like the idea of allowing a familiar inside my mind, though in order to avoid the chains of marriage the sacrifice would be well worth it.  

It was the next day when I surreptitiously asked my mother to take me to my magical evaluation. She glared frostily at me. She knew I had no interest in her marriage plans and was right to assume I had thought of a way to dodge them.

However with no reason not to take me she hesitantly walked me across the city to a large circular tent perhaps with a radius of fifty metres erected by two giant poles that reminded me of a circus tent. However instead of the bright inviting colours, it consisted of a dark mesmerising purple that faded between different shades as I watched.

“Aare, I’m not allowed past this point, so you’ll need to find your own way inside. Don’t disappoint me”. During the last bit her voice once again took on a frosty overtone similar to the look she had given me earlier. So without so much as a good luck, I walked through the flaps in the tents material that marked the entrance. Inside was different to how I expected it. Rows upon rows of wooden benches were uniformly lined up, each with an examiner fixed painstakingly still on a chair. All looking as though they had spent several days unmoving, their faces were illuminated by bright lights that fizzled around the room as children showed off their greatest magic in order to attempt to convince the markers to raise their estimated latent magic levels. I grimaced, for many human children this would be an important time. A time where you discovered if you could make it as a mage. It was cruel for someone to be able to take away a child’s future based purely on a number on their marking sheet.

I caught the eye of a male examiner who waved me over, pointing out a seat so that I could sit opposite him. He sat stoically in his chair, his clothes showed a military neatness while his black hair had been cropped to a one inch cut. I never really warmed to the guy as he impassively asked me if I was ready to be graded. I froze for a moment here, I wanted to appear strong enough so that I could be accepted into an apprenticeship but I didn’t want to make a scene inside the cramped tent. So I nodded after sealing about ninety five percent of my mana pool, honestly ninety five percent should put me at the lower end of the human spectrum right?

The man immediately set to work. Dipping both his index finger and middle finger on his right hand into a bowl of liquid that I couldn’t identify before pressing them coolly against my temple. Closing his eyes he started to chant, soft words that I was unable to make out, though the effect was immediate. I sat there wondering what he could see as a soft glow came from the skin at the contact point.

The two of us sat still for at least five minutes before the man withdrew his hand. Almost immediately however the hand was back reaching for mine. My first thought was to withdraw it but that would be considered foolish if this was just another part of the evaluation so I just let him take my hand. He shook it vigorously, his earlier despondency nowhere to be seen as his face lit up in excitement. “What’s your name boy”?

“Aare” I replied hesitantly. I didn’t like my newfound attention.

“Ok, Aare. Do you know how we rank ones mana pool”?

I nodded though I guess you all need an explanation. The ranks are as follows, from lowest to highest.

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D (Humans with no talent, and other non-magical races.)

DD (Average human)

DDD (Human with a large innate talent)

C (Genius human, Average Elves and Dwarves)

CC (Only a handful of Humans reach this stage)

CCC (Only two humans in history have ever reached this class, The elite Elves and Dwarves)

B (Average Heteromorphic races)

BB

BBB (Average Demon)

A  

AA (Average Celestial)

AAA

S

SS

SSS (Reserved only for the gods.)

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“Ok good, well, firstly you have ranked quite highly, with a rank of……” He paused slightly, “…….CC we will be expecting you to fully commit yourself to a magical apprenticeship.” The man said this with both an insistent and understanding tone. His pity was wasted on me. To fully commit myself would mean eight hours, six days a week. Coupled with the standard military trainings sessions, my enrolment in a military academy and my mother’s insistence that I partook in the senate, my schedule was about to become very, very crowded.

“Actually, I had hoped to join the specialist corps in the army, can I not participate in just a casual apprenticeship.” I asked hopefully but I already knew what he was about to say.

“No, someone of your level is unable to partake in anything but a fully committed apprenticeship. Also you would not have enough time to do both that and an army corps, except perhaps the arcane corps. Anyway,” he held out his hand, pushing papers and a badge that stated my rank into my open palms. “Here is the necessary paperwork, I expect to see you at the magical tribunal tomorrow morning, also wear the badge”.

I frowned, apparently my mana pool had grown even larger, and while that was in itself a good thing, I was about to lose a lot of time because of it. I thought about leaving the city then, starting my life anew somewhere else.  But the idea was thrown from my mind almost instantly. While my personal time was about to take a plunge, Red had found himself in this new city. Not long ago he had been promoted to the captain of the mansion guards. So now he led a force of perhaps twenty men. Along with his allowance to wear a helmet where ever he went, he was now able to move around where ever and whenever he wanted. Guess I had to suck it up.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Outside the tent I found my mother talking to a few other parents, some children were there passing over their own documents, to either ecstatic replies or disappointed moans that were quickly followed with consoling. My own mother saw me approaching and instantly ignored the rest of the group. Instead focussing her full attention on the papers I held nonchalantly in my hands. As I approached another unknown parent also threw me a gaze of wonder. I ignored her for the moment and held out my papers.

“What grade”? My mother said simply. I watched the other parents cringe at her lack of tact.

“CC” I replied.

She paused for a second, before looking down at my papers in her hand. Affirming that what I said was the truth she nodded. “Well done”. For the first time that day she smiled. “I expect you’ve been told to attend the tribunal tomorrow”?

“Yes, I have to fully commit”. I said, annoyance creeping into my voice.

She caught my dissatisfaction, “I know you will be busy over the next few years Aare, but think about where you will be afterwards. Your grades lead me to believe you will triumph in the senate. Your father tells me your sword play is beginning to outdo his, and with age and strength you will beat him. Today has told us you can succeed even more so as a mage, and with an acceptance into a military academy you could become a great leader of men.” She waved away my concern with a flourish of her fingers before introducing me to the parent who had watched me as I had approached.

“Aare, this is Tess, the mother of Lily”. I shivered then, Lily was the girl I was set to marry, and while she had gone to my school, she was three grades lower after I skipped through the years so I had never actually met her face to face, and so to meet her mother without so much as a warning, was a slight shock.

“Pleased to meet you Ma’am” I spoke quickly, and accompanied my greeting with a bow.

“Good to meet you as well Aare, Lily talks about you all the time”. Tess chuckled softly. I raised my eyebrow at this, this was news to me. I barely knew the girl. “Oh, don’t look so surprised, you’re quite famous even to us parents”. Tess continued. “Not many kids are able to skip entire years and you did it three times. Annnnnnddddd” She gave me a quick look over before giving me a quick wink, unseen to my mother, “I see another reason for my daughter’s attention”. I didn’t know how to respond to the praise so I felt relieved when Lily choose to exit the tent at that exact moment saving me as the subject was instantly dropped on her arrival.

As Lily ran towards us I appraised her for the first time. She had a slim figure that looked surprisingly good in her red dress. Her face wasn’t strikingly beautiful but instead brought the word “adorable” to my mind. Her high cheek bones and rounded face gave her an innocent look similar to a newborns. She had shoulder length brown hair that flew behind her as she ran. To me, who contrasted her against succubus’s like Tear and Lye she paled in comparison, but I wasn’t surprised when the male children who stood in our little group, watched mouths agape at her entrance.

“Mum, mum”! Lily shouted as she ran into her mother’s waiting arms. Obviously their relationship was better than mine was. “I got a DDD” She exclaimed happily as her mother’s face lit up, “the examiner said I had promise and I needed to go to the tribunal tomorrow”!

“That’s great dear”, Tess told her calmly while trying to prise her daughter off her. “But we have company”, indicating me and my mother, who could only watch on silently at the overbearing display of affection.

Lily turned happily, “Sorry about that, good to meet you me name is Li~” She noted my presence for the first time and her voice died away. Her cheeks went a deep beetroot red and her gaze immediately found her feet. I could have saved her, but the girls discomfort was hilarious so I just watched on as she tried for at least a minute to stutter out the rest of her name. In the end she gave up and ran away. Yes I mean literally ran away. She turned on her heels and sprinted off into the distance. Her mother sighed and apologised sincerely to us before chasing after her.

My mother just looked at me for a minute before saying, “good job, now the next meeting will be in our favour”. She said a quick goodbye to the rest of the parents before leading the way back home.  

That night was busy. My father, after hearing my magical grade gave me resounding praises. He believed I would follow in his footsteps as a warrior and so spent the night explaining my options. Shirley also gave her sincere congratulations. Shirley herself had achieved a rank of DDD but for some reason the girl found it impossible to feel jealousy. Instead she just wrapped her arms around me in a hug I never saw coming, and we sat that way for about ten minutes.

The next morning came quickly, my curtains had been deliberately left open so I awoke at first light. Finding my parents downstairs I sat down at the table, moments before a maid placed a scrambled egg in front of me. No one said anything. Nothing needed to be said. Today wasn’t a test but they still believed I would decide the direction of my life today.

I left quickly, putting the badge I had received yesterday on the inside of a brown coat, given to me by my father, who luckily had a better fashion sense than my last one. Without pausing I rushed out the door before Shirley had a chance to wake up and give me the ten minute lecture on how to choose carefully. No one came with me as Adults were not allowed in the tribunal for they would affect their child’s choices, and so I walked the few kilometres alone. To the large amphitheatre situated on the far west side of the city.

The amphitheatre was made from polished limestone that circled around a podium standing tall in the centre. The amphitheatre itself consisted of a step like structure that allowed hundreds of people to sit and watch the podium. After many trials the architects discovered that through a mixture of the limestone material itself, and the oddly shaped step pattern the sound of the speaker on the podium would resound clearly even at the edge furthest away. This was because the low frequency waves in their voice would be naturally filtered out by the limestone, minimising crowd background noise and when the high frequency waves reflected off the steps it would bounce back into the audience. Making the speaker even clearer.

I arrived around fifteen minutes early, though I was surprised to find that I was one of the last to arrive. Children littered the staggered steps, sitting and waiting expectantly. Yet even though it was the first day of their career into the magical arts there was no doubting that groups were already starting to form. Those with higher grades, indicated by their badges sat sprawled out in the front row. Shooing those who scored lower than themselves away. I thought about joining them but then decided against it. They were fools who believed in their own superiority. An encounter with a Heteromorphic would knock them down a few notches. I sighed before sitting down on my own near the top. I didn’t want to commit myself to a group at this early stage, as that group would have defined me.

Activity started to buzz on the podium. Eight influential figures stepped ceremoniously onto its heights. Draped in the flowing robes of a mage. The robes differed slightly between each of them and I realised that they depicted the wearer’s profession. Each man or women most likely represented their own way of magic. I waited eagerly for the tribunal to begin and as I sat in my excitement I barely noticed a group sitting down next to me.

There were four of them, four who earlier I had noticed being shooed away by those below. Their badges showed that they all belong to the rank of DD. Apparently my thoughts didn’t show on my face and the boy who sat next to me broke into a grin. “Thank god” he said, in an exasperated tone. “You know, you’re the first one to not at least cringe when we walked by”.

I shrugged in response. The group who had placed themselves next me consisted of two boys and two girls. The boy who sat next to me introduced himself as jack. He was a large kid, with a masculine jaw and wide shoulders. Yet his kind brown eyes belied his true character. The other boy was introduced as Oliver and he –like me- was the strong silent type with short brown hair and a freckled face, Like Lily, the word that came to mind was cute rather than handsome. He waved a greeting but besides that, sat their chewing on his thumbnail. The Girls avoided making eye contact and blushed as they said hello.

I frowned at this. It was getting annoying now. I didn’t know why, but humans placed such importance on the physical. Maybe this was why they were appalling at magic. The closest to me was named Alice, her scarlet red hair accentuated her thin but filled out figure well. At one stage she looked up and I saw her eyes, a light electric blue that darted to and fro. She was pretty. No two ways about it. The last girl was named Charlotte. She had a lithe body which was nowhere near as filled as her companion, her long black hair traced the arch in her back accentuating her features. She had a gorgeous profile with full lips, a button nose and noticeable eyelashes. If it weren’t for their badges that they had put on full display, they would have gathered far more attention.  

After I introduced myself in return I was saved from continued conversation by a horn that marked the beginning of the tribunal. Noticeably the children sat straighter.  People still filtered into the amphitheatre but all attention was now on the podium. Another mage had stepped onto the platform and while he walked to the front the others behind him bowed low. I knew him from a glance, after all, John was the head of the entire magical department of Tesuit while also being one of the two rank CCC mages. Whispering erupted in the stands. Usually he didn’t come to public events, let alone ones as insubstantial as a Child profession tribunal.

“Greetings to everyone gathered here today.” His voice rang out over the audience. Amplified not only by the amphitheatre’s structure but also by a layer of magic. “You are here because you have been deemed acceptable to continue in the studies of magical arts, one by one you will be called onto the stage. Where you will ask a single mage if you can join their ranks, if you are ranked C or above you may choose two. We will decide if you are eligible or not. You have been asked here because at least one will accept you. So please don’t be dissatisfied if your first preference is not available to you. Now, shall we begin? We will call from the lower ranks first, please be ready to come up”. With that he clapped his hands and stood back. A kind smile lay on his face though the wrinkles next to his eyes made it look fake. I was too far away so I couldn’t be sure, and I wasn’t going to use magical sight for something so mundane.

I believe an explanation is required here. Firstly with their pathetically short lives, humans often specialised in a single aspects of magic, allowing them to reach a level that one with a diverse mindset could never achieve. So they split magic into eight categories. First there was just the common “mage”. They focused entirely on materialising magical attacks. Second was the “elemental”, which is fairly self-explanatory. Third was the “necromancer”, one who specialised in raising the dead, never the consciousness of the deceased, but an autonomous corpse that would become stronger with the caster.  Forth was the “apothecary” who acted as a healer on the battlefield. They were also in charge of defensive spells such as anti-magic shields. Fifth was the “possessed”. Not many people choose this path as it was like merging oneself with a corrupting demon and was generally avoided by the young ones. None the less, the mental attacks they provided were often the only way to kill certain demons like the Nickar. Sixth was the “summoner”. People who were able to create a pact with a living creature, raising its intelligence and battle prowess with time. Seventh was the warlock. A mage who specialised in killing other mages. Often casting counter spells and blocking ones mana source. The stronger ones could even detonate another’s mana pool entirely. When I read that from one of the books I received on my birthday I became highly intrigued and decided that I would learn it one day. Eighth was the “alchemist”, who had the ability to alter the shape of metallic elements. Generally they were able to make magical tools that could be used both in and out of combat. Anyway, I have talked too much, on with the story.

Names were slowly called, and one by one a child would walk onto the stage. The four sitting next to me – being in rank DD – were called up early. Also with most of their options unattainable they all become mages. About half an hour later, the names had moved into the DDD section and briefly Lily waltzed up onto the podium. It didn’t come as a surprise to me when her bubbly personality choose to become a summoner. Often a summoner and their creature would become incredibly close. Lily no doubt was one of the hopefuls who wished to find a lifelong friend.

The sun was setting when those ranked C started being called up. Yet no one’s interest was fading. The group next to me had stared at me in amazement when rank C was being called upon and my name had yet been shouted. Apparently rank C is incredibly rare, and the ten kids who had their names called out all strutted up to the stage basking in the attention they received. Had it been my old life I would have killed them on the spot for such over displayed arrogance, though now I reigned in my emotions and could only grind my teeth as those called up put on a big display on which path to choose. As if the aspect of magic would be lucky to have them. Each rank C would choose two paths and sit down to a chorus of applause by their friends who hoped that by association they would also reach high places.

As the last rank C was called up, John once again came to the front of the stage. “Students, yesterday, for the first time in two years, a rank CC was found in Tesuit. So it is my pleasure to ask Aare to step up and choose a path”.

All eyes were on me as I stood and walked down the aisle that led to the podium. Jack stared in open amazement as I walked past him as did Alice and Charlotte. Oliver was slightly more reserved, but even his eyebrows were raised to an apex. I didn’t like this feeling, no one made a noise, no clapping like the rank C’s had gotten, no whispering like the lower ranks. Only absolute silence accompanied the stares. In hindsight I should have limited my mana pool further before being tested, but that was all in the past. So grim faced I walked on, my black hair trailing behind me.

I regretted sitting towards the back of the amphitheatre as it meant I had longer to travel but finally I began to  make my way up the stairs to the podium, making sure to plant my foot on each step to assure I didn’t fall. Even thinking about it made me cringe in embarrassment. As I rose onto the podium itself John stood right beside me to shake my hand. I took his offering however the weirdest thing happened. John leaned in until his mouth lay inches from my ear, and in a voice that could only be heard by me he whispered.

“I’m afraid we’ve been a bit untruthful with you Aare. In fact, you scored a little higher on the test that we told you. You see I didn’t want to make a commotion so the examiner and myself are the only ones who know for now, but welcome to class CCC. As such I will be your personal Guide in the coming years. Feel free to ask for your two chosen paths, though know that no matter what you choose I will be overlooking your growth”.

He pulled back and smiled letting go of my hand which I let fall limply to my side. I was stupefied, I had held back ninety five percent of my power yet still I was being judged so highly. The face I made apparently matched the emotion I should have been feeling at such an announcement and John chuckled before nudging me towards the eight mages standing in a line.

I tore my mind back to reality. I had already long chosen my paths but still the finality of it made me hesitate. I stole my heart before making my decision. “I would like to become a Warlock and a Possessed, if you would be happy to accept me”. A collective gasp came from behind me, though after the initial excitement the crowd once again lapsed into silence, they were hard to ignore. I was worried that for some unknown reason I would be declined. But both of the mages in question just nodded in response. Before I could leave the stage however john called out to the audience.

“To those who have been waiting, thank you for your patience, however, with the tribunal concluded you are welcome to leave. We will contact you within the week about the location and time for your first appointment. Do not be late”. He then turned to me, and once again in a voice only I could hear, he said “Oh, and I've already told your parents about your…… talents”. He smiled again, a genuine one this time and left the amphitheatre. The other children followed his example and noise once again filled the area as people excitedly talked about their future.

I tried to leave unnoticed but I drew stares and questions from everyone I passed. I was beginning to feel overwhelmed when I caught the eyes of Jack’s group. One look at my discomfort and he went out of his way to push through the crowd to get to me.

“Wow man, why didn’t you tell us your rank, that’s so cool”!

Trying not to seem conceited I cocked my head slightly and put on what I hoped was an embarrassed smile. “Thanks, but you say people look at you differently because of your rank” I said, indicating his badge, “and it’s the same for me”. I grimaced slightly before continuing. “To be honest, most aren’t as accepting as you are”.

Jack mealy laughed in response wrapping his arm around my neck. With the difference in build it seemed almost natural. “Don’t you worry mate, we’re cool about it”. He then preceded to push past our spectators and eventually with the rest of his group we found some peace and quiet in a local park. We stayed there and talked for at least an hour, mainly about how I was so lucky to be allowed to choose my path from any of the options though eventually I realised it was getting late and would need to get home so I said goodbye to my saviours and promised to meet up again.

Both my parents screamed in excitement as I returned, my mother cast away her harsh parent façade and joined my father in congratulating me. In regards to Shirley she just stood there, eyes wide in amazement, and a loony grin on her face. I don’t remember much about that night except that my ego had never been stroked more.

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