Was this some kind of psycho test? But if magic was really real? I couldn’t run. The armed guards aside, these people knew my license plate, my bank account and where I live. You do not run from the government. Intentionally fail? Pride aside, why? This cost a lot of money. They cared about the results. I did not want to end up cleaning toilets in a military hospital for the duration of this crisis for a failure to obey orders. There was no point in misrepresenting myself. At least that was how I justified doing what I was told.

» We use salt. I left the bag on the right behind the curtain. Use the wet sponge in the bucket for corrections. Cores in the little bag next to the salt bag.

They kept the name of the testing cores. Why?

He had misinterpreted my slight hesitation. I hurried across the partition looking for that bag. Wait, they’d do the medical after the test? The test that would use up the st… essence. So this was a psycho test. And they wanted me to notice. Ten years ago I’d have said something for sure. Five years ago maybe. Today I just wanted to go home. If I could get sent home just for following orders to the letter without questions and then them finding me medically unfit, all the better. I’d even not apply for a reimbursement of the fuel I used. I am not unpatriotic, just … practical.

» You have twenty minutes. Clock is on the wall.

Eight booths, about one hundred people – this will take all day. I felt better at having to go in the first wave.

--

Did I mention that I do not do well with time pressure? I wasted about half the time I was given. And quite a bit of cores for double checking. And it lit up in the right colors. This was a marvellous replication of the game mechanics. Could it be … ?

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

This was the moment I no longer expected him to stop me, even though it was the logical point in time. He waved me into the circle. Well, if you insist. The game’s appendix recommended using the incantion to start the ritual if you did it for yourself. Woud I get an extra point for remembering that?

I held the cube in my left hand and stretched it out, away from anything vital. You never know. I should have closed my eyes. Yet I wanted it to be true. Some basic rituals feature Latin spells. I’d never questioned it. Wait, isn’t „cubus“ masculine? Later ...

Spiritu culto mihi serva sis

Then and there I found religion.

The essence reacted like a melon used in a high speed crash test, that is, it ripped itself apart faster than I could comprehend. That saved my underwear. My dignity was not so spared. I squeaked as the debris staying still in the air rushed towards me, through my clothing without shredding it and into me. As a child have you ever run into a meadow full of nettles wearing short pants?

There is worse, but I am telling you it was the surprise factor.

I froze up. Magic had entered the world. Man had gotten to the point of ruling the laws of physics themselves. I had used up one of those precious new resources. If they now found me medically unfit …

Why can I never tell when to speak up and when to shut up?

» No need for alarm. Just wait for the evolution of your racial gift.

Buffoon. He had not just gotten himself into extra hot water. Or, worse, if he had, he’d blame it on me.

» Now come on. I am not responsible for you squeaking like a little girl. You passed. As far as I understand it they will not pay you the standard salary because they drafted you, but this is better than sitting at home waitng for them to come for you.

He was right. I needed to get myself under control. This guy was very good at reading people.

P: Right. I am sorry, I was just a little surprised. Let’s be calm. Will breathing deeply help?

I began to rival a lamp. In a color that should not really exist.

» OK, that’s it. Just step outside the tent across the aisle and Dr. Bruckner should already be waiting.

This was not good.