"Alright. You've been practicing for a month now. It's time to see how you're doing. Sparing partners will be chosen by random draw. This is weapons only, no skills or spells." Mr. Ericson bellowed from the center of the training field. The field was large with a head height wall around the border. Training Dummies lined the wall opposite the main gate, and along the short wall to the left was a line of straw dummies used for ranged weapon training. To the right of the gate was a long brick building that housed all the school's training weapons. Across the field were circles, made of burlap sandbags. These were used as rings for melee training matches.
The two fighters faced off across the training ring. "He'll be arrogant" Thought Thomas. "He always is. If he ever had a strategy, it would be '1. Find something to hit. 2. Start hitting. 3. Repeat until problem is finished'" Chuckling to himself; Thomas continued to watch his opponent warm up before their match. "Of course, his skill may give him cause to be arrogant. Even Alex can't beat him without skills or spells. Well, not easily." Another chuckle. "Well, at least this won't take long. I hate swords." A wry grin. "So much easier to hit something hard." Waiting as Lenard approached the center of the ring, Thomas thought through his plan again. "Mobility is the key to victory. Work his flanks and he'll get frustrated and leave openings. That's my best chance. Still, it's not much of one."
The match commenced, with Lenard gaining the early advantage. Lenard's larger size pushed Thomas back on to the defensive. However, after Lenard's initial rush, Thomas was able to make use his agility to avoid many of the attacks Lenard attempted. Once the Fight had stabilized, it became apparent that Lenard's skill with a sword was superior. While Thomas was able to out maneuver Lenard, he was unable to effectively capitalize on that advantage. The match ended when Lenard landed a blow that knocked Thomas clean off his feet. Landing on his shield, his sword flew from his hand to land with a clang against the wall of the training field. Lenard, seeing an opportunity to prove his superiority over Thomas, moved in to deal more blows against his undefended opponent. Desperate, Thomas raised his free hand to ward off the blow. That is when something completely unexpected happened. A bolt of lightning shot from Thomas' hand and streaked strait into Lenard's chest, throwing him across the yard.
A stunned silence fell on the heels of the thunder that rumbled with the bolt.
Instructor Ericson was the first to recover. "Take him to the Healer's ward." Ericson identified two of the students who were watching the match. "Thomas, we're going to see the headmaster."
"Why? I didn't deliberately do that. It's not fair to expel me over something I can't control." Thomas argued as they traversed the training field.
"The violation of the rules of the match is not the issue here. Your use of magic is, but I'll let the Headmaster explain why." Ericson continued.
They continued the trip in silence. Thomas' mind was filling with thoughts of pending punishment or expulsion. Unnoticed by the instructor, Thomas' eyes, which had flashed white when the lightning was launched, were continuing to change with each step he took. Soon they stood before the Headmasters Office.
"Yes? What brings you here Mr. Ericson?" asked the headmaster, looking up from the document he was writing with a raven's feather quill.
"There was an incident during the training matches today. Mr. Walker here hit his opponent with a lightning bolt. Launched him right out of the ring." Mr. Ericson explained. "He claims this is the first time he has ever used any type of magic. I believe him, but I can't understand it. If he had the potential for magic, why was he put in the warrior class?"
"Hmm. That is the question. Mrs. Honoka!" The headmaster called loudly enough to be heard through the office door.
"Yes, Headmaster?" came the reply as Mrs. Honoka, the headmaster's Gnome secretary entered the room.
"Would you please pull Mr. Thomas Walker's enrolment exam record? And please ask Ms. Nightfrost to join us."
"Of course, Headmaster."
As Mrs. Honoka left, the Headmaster retrieved an ancient book from one of the many shelves lining the walls of the office.
Soon after, Mrs. Honoka returned with Ms. Nightfrost, the head instructor for the mage classes.
"You wanted to see me headmaster?" she asked with the peculiar accent of her hometown, the Elven village of Tree Ring.
"Yes, Aura. I need you to test Mr. Walker's potential as an elemental mage. He apparently cast a lightning bolt during his sword class today."
"An emergence? How interesting. I wonder why he was not identified during the entrance examinations. Very well, Headmaster. Mr. Walker, please come with me."
Ms. Nightfrost led Thomas to the tower room used to test applicants' aptitude for magic. Each of the magic classes was tested in different rooms, each equipped for the needs of the test. The elemental magic room had a large patch of dirt in the center of the floor, a flowing fountain on the wall to the left of the door, and a large hearth opposite. Near the ceiling, large open vents allowed wind to flow freely through the room. Suspended from the ceiling was a large crystal.
"Alright, Mr. Walker, I want you to cast a lightning bolt at the crystal."
"I don't know how. I was just trying to stop Lenard before he cracked my head open."
"That's all right. Now you have opened the pathways for magic, it will continue to flow. The more you use magic, the easier it will become to use. For now, just concentrate on releasing lightning through your hands."
Taking a deep breath, Thomas raised his hands toward the crystal. After concentrating hard for several moments, he realized that he was doing the exact opposite of what he had done earlier. Instead of concentrating hard, he relaxed his mind. Feeling the energy begin to focus in his hands, he let it gather for several seconds. When he felt enough had gathered, he released it toward the crystal. In response the crystal began to glow, ribbons of blue swirled through the pure white glow radiating from the crystal. In addition, the magic release triggered surprising reactions elsewhere in the room. The bare patch of dirt rippled like water struck by a stone, the fountain leapt and danced, the fire set in the hearth roared with the voice of a blast furnace, and wind howled through the vents with the force of a cyclone. Thomas' eyes were a kaleidoscope of colors, changing in a smooth relentless motion.
"Impossible!" exclaimed Ms. Nightfrost after the commotion, and Thomas' eyes, had calmed down. "I have been instructing here for over forty years, and I have never seen a reaction like that. We need to report this to the Headmaster immediately. Come with me."
Back in the Headmasters office, Mr. Ericson, Mrs. Honoka and the Headmaster were reviewing Thomas' entrance examinations. The antique book the Headmaster had taken from the shelf was open on his large wooden desk. Each result from the entrance exam was referred to the book. The Headmaster was compiling notes from that book as well as several more modern books when Ms. Nightfrost and Thomas returned.
"Ah, Aura. How did the test go?" asked the Headmaster.
"In forty-three years, I have never seen anything like it, Headmaster. All four elements reacted and a ribbon of pure blue swirled in the crystal. I'm at a loss. What could it mean?"
"Ms. Nightfrost, I don't understand. You seem upset. Did I screw something up?" Thomas queried while the Headmaster consulted his notes. Still unnoticed, his eyes had once again begun to display their unique ability.
"Did you say a ribbon of blue? Were there any other colors?" The Headmaster asked Ms. Nightfrost.
"None. I was watching the crystal closely. There was only blue."
"I see," said the Headmaster. "Mrs. Honoka, does the placement guide have a result for this data?"
"No, sir, I can't find one," chirped Mrs. Honoka.
"Okay, then." As the Headmaster was turning back to his notes, he caught a glimpse of Thomas' eyes. "Wait. Mr. Walker, what is happening to your eyes?" asked the Headmaster, leaning across his desk for a closer look. Thomas' eyes had once again begun to shift through the palette, this time the change was seen by both the Headmaster and Ms. Nightfrost, as she turned to see for herself what the Headmaster was talking about.
"It's nothing important, Headmaster," Said Thomas, lowering his head. Or trying to, as Ms. Nightfrost had gripped his chin in order to see the spectacle clearly. "It sometimes happens when I'm upset or angry."
As the changes faded, the Headmaster returned his attention to his notes and the antique book, and Ms. Nightfrost released Thomas. "I am sorry; that was rude of me. But like so much of today, your eyes are something out of my experience. But that does not give me the right to touch you. I apologize. And I owe you an answer. I know you are confused, so I'll try to explain why we are so upset. You see, the test I gave you is to determine your aptitude with elemental magic. When a student demonstrates an affinity for elemental magic, they are told to cast an elemental spell at the crystal, like you did. The crystal then refracts the magic and causes the element the student has affinity with to react. That is, since you had already shown that air was your element, I expected the crystal to glow white, and the air to react by blowing. Usually, the stronger the affinity is, the stronger the element reacts. As you know, your results were far different. All the elements reacted to you, and more strongly than I have ever seen from a mage. What is more, it is almost unheard of for a mage to have affinity for even two elements. No mage has ever had affinity for three, let alone four. Your result is completely out of our experience. In addition, if you had that much affinity when you were tested before enrolling, you would have been placed in the mage class immediately. As I recall, you showed no ability for arcane talents at that time." Ms. Nightfrost closed her eyes and muttered a spell under her breath. After a few moments she continued. "Nothing has changed. You still do not have the aura of a mage. So that, Mr. Walker, is why we look upset. You are currently a complete unknown to us, and we need to know what class you are if we are going to train you."
"So," said Thomas meekly, "If you don't figure it out, will I be expelled?"
"No," said Mr. Ericson looking up from the book he was perusing. "Expelling you would put innocent people at risk. You need training to control your abilities. In the worst case, we will create a temporary class for you. If enough other students arrive with similar abilities, the class could become permanent."
After several minutes, the Headmaster looked up from the ancient leather-bound book on his desk. "I've found it. According to this guide his eyes are one of the definitive markers for the class. The delayed emergence, lack of an arcane aura, and the elemental affinity test all fit the class profile as well." he said, pointing to a page in the old book. "But it's going to be hard to train him. No one has seen this class in nearly two hundred years." The headmaster looked directly at Thomas. "Mr. Walker, I am pleased to officially change your class from Warrior to Shaman."
Thomas looked around the room, noting the varied reactions of those present. Mr. Ericson looked indifferent. Ms. Nightfrost was curious, attempting to read the page the Headmaster was pointing too. The Headmaster himself looked proud, as if he had just found a precious gem. And Mrs. Honoka looked nervous. Very nervous.
Thomas gave voice to the one thought that was dominating his mind, "What is a Shaman?"