"Ew, ew, ew!"
Immediately as the flies flew in, our group of Sorcerer Soldier prospects began to run around wildly and flail their arms in disgust while yelling obscenities.
"U-Ugh, I don't even want to open my mouth in case they-BLEGH!" Joel can't even finish his sentence before flies threaten to enter his mouth, buzzing in his ears loudly.
"This is so gross…" Aim complains, shielding her face in a desperate attempt to have it untouched by the flies.
Everyone expresses similar reactions before one finally shakes his head, whipping out his grimoire.
"I've had enough of this," Pollo sighs, flipping through the pages of his sparkly silver grimoire. "Watch out everyone!"
"Wait, you're not going to use magic are you?" Aurora frowns. "It'd be way too dangerous in this tight of an environment!"
Pollo grins. "You underestimate my abilities! I'll show you the power of a Maniwa!"
He holds out a hand, bright silver light emanating from it, slightly blinding everyone in the room.
"Moon Magic: Rings of Rhea!" Pollo casts, a brilliant flurry of bright silver arc slashes shooting forth at all of the flies, ignoring his allies completely. The flies immediately disintegrate, the buzzing ceasing, and after the spell is over, the Ace Kingdom peasant triumphantly cheers. "This is the power of a determined and incredibly talented wizard!"
"Moon magic, huh…" Joel frowns, looking slightly ticked. "Interesting."
Glynis claps her hands excitedly and smiles. "Wow! It's so cool how we are the same age but the moment you cast that spell I could feel how extraordinarily weak your magic power is in comparison to mine, Admetus, and pretty much everyone in this room! Ah, I LOVE magic!"
"You have a very pretty grimoire, Pollo." Ru compliments with a thumbs up. "It is very...sparkly!"
Admetus burst out laughing. "That was the weakest shit I've seen in my entire life and that's saying something considering how many shitty people I've worked with!"
"I do hope I'm matched against you during the exams - I feel like I might actually stand a chance." Jasper says with an innocent grin.
Pollo's smirk drops into a sad expression. "B-B-But I thought it was cool!"
"Flashy and cool for sure, but powerful…" Atlas trails off with a chuckle. "You'll get 'em next time buddy!"
"HUH? What do you mean? I just killed all of those flies!" Pollo argues, motioning to the disintegrated ashes of flies on the floor.
"Big deal, you managed to kill a few measly flies." Aim laughs.
"The real test is how your magic stacks up against an actual opponent." Aurora adds.
As Pollo pouts and the others continue to pick on him, Matsu is the only one not laughing. He isn't impressed with Pollo's performance, but rather, intrigued.
He managed to kill every one of the flies, while leaving us completely untouched and unharmed… He thinks. That takes an extreme level of concentration most people, including brother and sister can't muster...
Before he can continue to think on the matter, footsteps are heard approaching the door. Everyone grows silent, turning to the door in anticipation.
"I wonder who it could be…" Sherry whispers, nervously grabbing hold of the person closest to her - which just so happens to be Matsu who simply shrugs at the sudden feeling of her touch.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"
A masculine voice kills the silence and a figure slowly comes into view.
And almost everyone gasps in shock.
"No way!"
"It can't be!"
"I think I'm going to faint!"
"I can't see anything."
Standing in front of them is a person everyone has heard about at least once or twice…
"What is UP, you guys?" The man grins. "My name is Magna SWING, and I'm going to be your freaking escort to THE SORCERER SOLDIER TOURNAMENT!" He yells, holding a peace sign in the air.
"Magna! A very close friend of the Wizard King!" Atlas says in awe.
"What are you doing out here in the Ace Kingdom?" Joel questions, his mouth agape.
Magna sighs, his smile dropping and a look of annoyance sprouting on his face. "Well, Mr. Big shot Zora Ide-what's-his-face asked me to come help with some things regarding the exam. I tried to bow out of it but he reminded me of a favor he did for me in the past so I couldn't really pass him up. Gah, ever since he's become that Military Commander he thinks he's sooo cool and can boss everyone around even though I'M STILL HIS SENIOR!"
Aim raises a brow. "Sounds like someone still has unresolved issues from his younger years…"
Magna frowns. "What did ya say?!"
Aim smiles. "Nothing."
Magna huffs. "ANYWAYS! I'll be escorting all of you to the opening ceremony! From there the tournament will begin, yada yada yada. We'll be taking a carriage to the arena! Any questions?"
Jasper sadly frowns. "So does that mean we don't get to ride Crazy Cyclone?"
Magna laughs. "You wouldn't all fit on it anyway! Besides I left CRAZY CYCLONEEE back home; she needs to be repaired after little asshole Charmy used her to STIR A STEW! How messed up is that?"
"Very. Very messed up." Ru nods.
"ANYWAYS, let's hit the road before Zora yells at me for being late even though I'M DOING HIM A FAVOR!" Magna yells, turning around and storming down the hall.
The others awkwardly look at each other before hurrying out of the door to follow him.
The group loads up their belongings and enters the carriage with Magna, all starting to feel the nerves of being the first participants of the Sorcerer Soldier exams. They were not only shaping their own history, but the history of the Ace Kingdom.
Magna nonchalantly flips through a magazine with a picture of a familiar blue haired girl in a swimsuit.
Matsu is sat down next to Aurora, who is nervously twiddling her fingers.
"You are nervous?" He questions. "I can feel your body shake."
Aurora nervously laughs. "...Yes, a little. It's just really overwhelming thinking about being in the military, you know? I know that I'm ready for it but it's still kind of terrifying."
"Well...You have been preparing for this for your entire life." Matsu notes. "There is no need to be nervous when you could be excited…"
"Ah, I am definitely excited." Aurora nods. "But that still doesn't change the fact that I'm nervous. I know it is a little hard for you to understand emotions...think of it like when you first met Atlas and I. You were excited to see humans for the first time in years. But wasn't it also scary?"
Matsu looks downwards, thinking for a moment. "I suppose I see what you mean. It took me a while to feel comfortable around you."
"Exactly." Aurora smiles. "Just like it's going to take me and the others a while to get used to being Sorcerer Soldiers. Er, if we make it in…"
Atlas turns around from the seat he's sharing with a sleeping Ru. "Hey! Don't jinx us, we're totally making it in!"
Aurora laughs. "Oh Atlas…"
The twins continue to bicker while a pair of cousins struggle to come to an understanding.
"No, Glynis, you aren't just going to get in cause you're a princess." Admetus groans, rolling his eyes at his shocked cousin.
"But why?" Glynis questions, tilting her head. "I thought princesses got everything they wanted, and more!"
"Back in the Heart Kingdom that's true, but here your title as a princess is merely just that: a title. Your equal with the rest of us lowlives, whether you like it or not."
"Oh…" Glynis says, twirling her hair. Then she smiles. "Well. At least I am pretty!"
Admetus digs his fingers into his temples and closes his eyes. "Why am I related to such a dumbass?"
Jasper and Aim are squeezed together on a seat, each feeling uncomfortably nervous.
Jasper looks at Aim and nervously smiles. "Say, do you happen to have any info on the exams? I think knowing some more information might make me feel a little more relaxed."
Aim sighs, shaking her head. "No, I am not privy to anymore information than you are. The only thing I'd like to remind you of is this is a test unique to anything you or I have taken in the past...it will test not only our physical strength, but mental prowess as well. As such, I suspect there might be more to the exams than it seems…"
"How do you mean?" Jasper questions with a nervous frown.
"Well, it is just a theory," Aim starts, gulping. "However. The exams required to get into the Magic Knights of the Clover Kingdom are fairly simple yes? A test of magical power and strength. However, I think that the officials behind the Ace Kingdom exams are really wanting to focus on our mentality. They may do things to mess with our head…"
"Oh dear heavens," Jasper cries slightly. "What did I get myself into?"
Sherry is trying to gather herself, but a certain chattermouth is making it rather difficult, giving his close proximity to another chatter mouth.
"So, Joel, what did ya think of my magic?" Pollo grins.
"It was...interesting…" Joel smiles, laughing nervously. "Almost a little too interesting for my liking…"
"What was that?" Pollo questions, tilting his head.
"Nothing!" Joel quickly answers with a hearty laugh. "W-what about you, Sherry? What did you think of Pollo's magic?"
Sherry blushes. "U-Um, well, as you said, I thought it was certainly interesting! I am curious to see how you will fair in a fight against a human opponent."
"Ah, I think I'll be fine!" Pollo nods. "Say, how about I go toe to toe with you one day, Princess?"
Sherry's face reddens even deeper and she averts her eyes from Pollo's gaze. "I, um, don't think that's the best idea..?"
"Afraid I'll hurt you? Don't worry, I know how to control my magic power in a sparring match!" Pollo reassures.
"I think she's afraid she'll hurt you." Joel chuckles.
Pollo immediately pouts.
As the prospects converse, fanfare and cheers are suddenly heard.
Atlas looks out of the carriage's window and smiles in excitement as he realizes that they've reached their destination at last: The Tyrian Arena.
The Tyrian Arena is an extremely large coliseum like building, that serves as a major point of interest in the Ace Kingdom as a whole. Expertly designed with bronze beams and white marble stone, and featuring the emblems of all the squads near the entrance.
The arena serves as a multipurpose facility. Day to day, it is used by Sorcerer Soldier squads to practice battle tactics and sparring. It's mostly used by the Tyrian Dragons squad, its namesake. Additionally, there are mass meetings held whenever a crisis is afoot. And last but certainly not least of course is the most recent use of the arena: the holding place for the Sorcerer Soldier games.
"Ah, this is all so exciting!" Atlas cheers, turning to his sister. "Are ya ready sis?"
Aurora nervously twiddles her finger, her face slightly pale. "Y-yes, ready as I'll ever be!"
Atlas smiles softens and he puts a hand on her shoulder. "Aw, c'mon. I know it's nerve wracking but this is the first day of the rest of our lives!"
Aurora takes a deep breath. "You're right, you're right...We can do this!"
Matsu listens to the two of them, and the rapid heart beats of everyone else in the carriage. He puts his hand to the window, feeling the warmth outside and feeling the intense magical energies coming from inside the arena grow stronger and stronger as the carriage grows closer and closer.
A magical exam in a place he and his siblings have never been before...will things go as planned or does fate have something different in mind…?
A/N: Hey guys sorry it's been a longggggg time! I have been busy with life and things, and have admittedly felt a bit uninspired following Black Clover's anime hiatus (still sadge about it), but I'm back on my grind and am hoping to get out a chapter once a month.
This chapter is a bit short just to get it out of the way, the juicy stuff will be starting in the next!