I decided to slightly increase the size of the chapters, nice reading =)

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Entering the crowd, Mark was surrounded by many people, and other races watched Mark with interest.

Feeling a jolt to his side, Mark noticed Reiko Tsuchikado standing next to him.

- You don't want to fight me. She said in a whisper, licking her upper lip.

From one such look at Mark's spine went cold. He seemed to be on the cutting board of this girl. Thankfully it didn't last a second.

(I decided to change the style a little. <> parentheses indicate the thoughts of the character.)

In response, Mark simply smiled politely, deciding to answer with silence. After all, he did not know how to politely refuse someone who, instead of greeting, answers with a challenge to fight.

Fortunately, Mark was almost in the tail, and by the time Reyna wanted to provoke him. The rector turned to everyone, raising his hand to indicate silence.

"Testing is over for today. Your resolve will be tested tomorrow, come at the same time. If there are dissatisfied who did not even get the right to pass the talent test, then you can earn it by winning tomorrow. He told the poor man that with clenched fists they could only stand and drill the rector.

When it was over, the rector called out the names: Reina Tsuchikudo, Seno Malikas, Mark Plan, please follow me.

Having said that, he headed to the passage that led to the academic city. Everyone else looked at the trio with envy. Wanting to take the place of any of them.

Passing in tense silence to the scarlet tower. Everyone stopped. It was at least a hundred-story building tall. And the logic of how it did not collapse was broken in Mark's head. The hay was no different.

Unlike them, Reyna was ecstatic at being able to enter a real magician's tower. As usual, the mage's tower was a very private place, where there is no pass for strangers, or those who are not welcome by the mage himself. If someone breaks through by force, then he will be lucky if he survives the fury of the magician.

- Stop yawning, kids follow me.

With another wave of his hand, he led the trio.

Entering the tower, Mark did not know how to describe what he saw. The tower was no more than forty square meters when viewed from the outside. But going inside you could be amazed to see places no less than a football field.

"Hmm, there was a cough.

Everyone turned to face the rector, remembering that they had been let into the tower. On the faces of the Trinity was read, deep interest. Seeing this for a moment on his face, the rector of Samar smiled proudly. He gave himself a couple of seconds to soak in the glow of admiration, ending up notifying the trio.

- Out of everyone in today's set, you got the best scores. And as Jafit's only academy, we don't have any prejudices about race. He said looking at Mark and Hay alternately.

"I brought you here to receive an award, this is not for prying eyes. By clicking around, everything changed, and the workroom was replaced by the beach.

– As you can see, this is the beach and the only way to get to the Rikan capital. At the end of the year, you three will go there, along with the best students from your first year. You will need to take part in a tournament organized by all monster kings. Of course, the rewards will not disappoint you, but you can't do without risks either. So get ready, and here's a gift for you.

- There is a gold rank health replenishment potion (level 3), a one-time teleportation stone - it will transfer to a random place within a radius of 15 kilometers, and a whistle that scares away monsters from 0 to rank 3, unfortunately it can only last three times, so use everything wisely.

- Free. With a wave of the hand, everyone was at the entrance to the tower. Surprise and slight trepidation were visible on the faces of the trinity.

Silence surrounded the trio for a while. While the most impatient cried out.

– Who is with me, explore the academy.

- I'm for, with the same spirit shouted Seno, infected with unexpected enthusiasm.

- Wow, without me. Mark said yawning while answering.

- It's my own fault, then we'll go without you bae, she said, showing her tongue ..

"Oh sure, my name is Reina Tsuchikudou, take care of me." She said bowing to both of them.

- Seno Malikas, and this silent Mark Plan. Take care of us too. A radiant smile appeared on Reyna's face at those words.

- I have no desire to play your comedy, until tomorrow.

"What's wrong with him," Reyna asked. To which Seno simply grabbed the girl by the arm, taking her away, whispering something, from which the other began to laugh.

Mark said as he walked through the streets. Looking around, he slowly read the signs everywhere. From this he began to notice how slowly but surely his understanding of his surroundings was increasing.

Finally, when he saw the sign of the blue circle, in which the gray pentagon was drawn, he perked up. From his memory, such markings were recognized as an indication of the stores of the association of seal magicians.

Thanks to this, one could always find such a place faster than before when they simply wrote "Seal Magic Association".

Upon entering Mark's face, the smell of paper and leather hit him. Although he expected this, but to know and feel different things.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"I can help you with something. Asked the old woman who was sitting at the counter.

"I want to join the Seal Mage Association!"

- Oh, so young. Tell me if you have already passed the receipt of the seal. Or maybe you want to sign a receiving contract with us. The woman said matter-of-factly, having changed in an instant when she heard about the entry.

I have already received the stamp. Mark said rolling up his sleeve and showing the old woman. To which she stared at her with her mouth open.

"I haven't been so surprised in a long time. I know almost all the seals that go around in the present world. But yours I do not know what to call your mentor.

- Amador.

– Amador speak, then understandable. So you're lucky, I understand. Then welcome, my name is Anasta Mern, but for you it's just Anasta. Please wait. The old woman said.

While Mark waited, he looked around the store with interest. He was surrounded by many books, scrolls. The books themselves were made of paper, while the scrolls were made of leather. After all, the better the leather, the more it can withstand manno. And it is also in high demand with seal mages.

- Here I am. Anastasa said leaving the closet with a scroll.

- I ask you to shed a drop of blood and put your hand on it.

Mark looked at her strangely, asking with his eyes

- After reading the look, Anastasia shrugged her shoulders and said, - such are the rules of the child. This is the surest way to find out who, and check if you are wanted. We already have precedents.

With a sigh from this, Mark could only obey.

I did as the old woman said. He bit his finger, squeezing out a drop of blood, placing his palm on it. The scroll was dyed crimson. And the words appeared on it.

Name: Mark Plan

Race: Human

Age: 22

Wanted: not found

Owner: Amador (Status: Deceased)

Seal Mage Rank: 1

- It's weird, that's all. Today I will take it to the association. And tomorrow you can get your badge. But since you're already an official seal magician. I can open for you the right to buy in my shop.

- And so the client, what do you want?

– Do you have seals for creating spatial vaults?

"Of course, it's one of my top sellers. True, it's not easy. To feel the space you need to try very hard. But the benefit is that this does not need anything below the first rank. And what if you are higher, then of course the quality will be higher.

- So.. a second. Starting to rummage through the drawer, she pulled out a small magazine with a chest painted on it.

- With you one gold.

- Oh, how. As for the price, not too much.

"Hmph, that's still cheap. It's just that every first one sells such a magazine, otherwise the prices are no less than ten times more expensive. Well, you take it. She said in dissatisfaction with the market situation.

- Yes Yes. He said in his heart crying from the speed of wasting money.

Leaving the store with a lighter wallet, Mark returned to his room. Until the end of the day, he sat studying the records of spatial seals.

If you try to briefly retell it, it sounds like this, ~ spatial seals do not qualify for rank. The only way to evaluate them is to compare the print rank. Breaking each rank can give the Spatial Seal many improvements: larger volume, increased range, speed of use, and many other improvements. Which directly depend on the original print. Each seal mage can only have one spatial seal. Because of the limitations of the world.

After receiving it, only you can advance it in your path. And you should not use it until you get the first rank of the seal magician. Everyone who tried to replace the main seal with a spatial seal died a terrible death.

- Well, pain.

Having decided to start the first step, Mark sat down at the head of the bed and began to meditate, repeating the mantra that he received, the mantra itself, although directed at the sword, has one bonus.

The essence is simple, the mantra comes from the world itself, and partly helps to inspire in secondary tasks. Slowly but surely, Mark began to temper his will, begins to sharpen it. It was not noticeable, but during the process itself, the air in Mark's room became sharper and sharper.

Night turned into morning.

Knock Knock.

There was a sound that brought Mark out of his meditation.

Knock Knock

The knock sounded again, only louder.

- I'm coming, wait.

Opening the door, Mark saw Hay in new clothes. She looked more well-groomed now, and there was a slight sense of nobility from the way she simply stood at the door.

Previously, she was constantly in torn, dirty clothes. And only now, having changed the image, she has completely changed.

Of course Mark was also affected. Seeing her, he lost all the words that were at that time in his head. Seno expected this, and did not lose the opportunity.

Covered Mark's mouth, patting him on the cheek, running away after badly suppressing laughter.

As soon as she was out of sight, Mark came to his senses. Awkwardness, self-criticism, and easy anger. In an instant, those emotions raced through Mark's nervous system like a train, resetting it.

Shaking his head to the side, he took a short breath as he closed the door. And went down. There, Seno was already waiting for him, retelling the past story to Reina, who seemed to be suffering from badly suppressed laughter that forced her tanned face to flush from suppression.

- I think it's time for us to go. Mark said interrupting Hay, knowing that now she would not miss the moment for causticity.

Reyna, who trudged along behind them, watched with interest as Seno tried to take Mark out, and the other simply pretended to have selective sclerosis.

Having reached the breath in the academy, everyone was in the crowd. Mark now saw more people. As it turned out, most of them looked like the poor. And it was true.

Only a smaller part of the lower caste of the population comes to the first round, in the hope that this exam will be different from the others.

While everyone was making noise chatting with friends, a bird's cawing was heard from the sky.

In an instant, the sky was covered with green birds. They quickly created a whirlpool from which the man emerged. In a white robe with a warm smile on his face, which was the only thing that could be seen because the hood even covered his nose. The man's arms were hidden by long arms. And it was difficult to even see the legs, as the mantle reached all the way to the ground. .

From this appearance there was silence, which the man was glad judging by his smile on his face.

- I greet everyone. This is the second stage of the exam. It will test your strength. Unlike talent, power is more clear and direct. On this without further ado, I ask for me.

Everyone walked together, trying to predict what awaits everyone.

Slowly everyone came to the wasteland. It was large and full of cut furrows.

So, the test is simple. The more you go the higher you rise. I will be approached by fifty people in groups.

- So, I'm waiting. Reluctantly, but the first group gathered. Mark with Hay and Reyna entered the group. Since such fear seemed ridiculous to them.

- You will need to defeat the golem and take the core from it. Once you receive it, you will no longer be designated as a target for extermination. Having said that, he took out a handful of seeds and threw them on the ground.

Almost instantly, they seeped underground. Moments later, explosions began to occur. And out of the ground appeared hands that began to pull their bodies up.

As it turned out, they were golems. Simple humanoid figures a little less than two meters without a face, having a streamlined shape. Completely grey.

The first group of participants took up a fighting position.

When the golems attacked, Mark noticed that their speed was terribly slow. And with a simple movement, he summoned the knife by pressing on the wound on his finger. The doll that previously rushed at the guy lost his head, but this did not stop her. She tried to stab Mark in the face, but that he grunted and made a hole in the doll's chest.

As it turned out, there was a green ball in the chest, which Mark, having pulled out, completed his first stage. The two puppets that were previously ready to attack Mark changed their targets to others.

"All right, young man, come and stand behind me. Your first step is over.

Standing behind the man, Mark noticed that everyone else began to follow his example. Seno and Reina joined next.

After some time, when the last doll fell, the man shouted to the others that they had not received theirs.

- Everyone who could not get the core, get out of here. Such rubbish of our academy. Not needed.

- Yes, we were just careful, someone shouted instinctively, but regretted it right away. Many birds flew at him from the sleeves of the man in an instant, turning the young man into ashes in front of everyone.

Are there still dissatisfied?