Chapter 4: The Magic Knights Exam

Today was the day. The day of the magic knights exam. Shezu was dressed in a black shirt with gold hemmed cuffs, light brown pants, and leather shoes. It was his Sunday best, and hopefully his good luck charm. He was already out of the door, looking towards the capital, where the exams would take place.

"Son," he heard from behind him. Looking back, he could see his mother and father standing in the doorway. They both had looks of excitement and concern on their faces, in equal measure. Needless to say, Shezu had the same look too. Going back, he stood before both of them in a terse moment of silence. Fortunately, Eurale was willing to break it.

"Well, today's the day," he said.

"Yeah, seems like it," his son replied. It was then that, Shezu came up and hugged both of his parents for good luck.

"Show them what you got," said his father.

"No matter what happens, we'll be proud of you," said his mother.

Finally ending the hug, Shezu went off on his way to the capital, to begin the next part of his journey.

Fireworks were being set off in the sky as the young man entered the capital. The city itself was in a jovial mood, as if the excitement of all the examinees was infectious. Shezu made his way through the streets, satchel in hand, marveling at all the street vendors using magic to help sell their wares. Some were roasting meat on a stick with their fire magic, while others had knives cut up their food in the back all by themselves. Not to mention some of the citizens using their own types of magic as well, like a random passerby who held some fish in a sphere of water he created. Shezu marveled at the things he was seeing, but still focused on making his way to the examination site. As he approached his destination, he came into view of what looked like a giant coliseum with a statue of the first wizard king atop one of the rims. The place was used sometimes for circus acts or places where mages trained and dueled each other. But for now, it was going to be used as the place where potential magic knights were going to be tested. Many candidates were pouring into the testing area from the different entrances, and as Shezu followed one of the crowds into the nearest one, he was stopped by two guards lowering their spears in front of him.

"Halt," one stated, "present your grimoire please."

Doing as instructed Shezu got out his grimoire and gave it to the guard to his right. Looking it over, his right hand began to glow as he waved it over the book, and two numbers began to appear over it.

"You are candidate number seventy-eight, next."

Handing his grimoire back to him, Shezu walked forward while looking back down at his book. The number seventy-eight was stamped onto it with bright glowing mana. Going straight down the hallway, Shezu finally entered the heart of the structure, where dozens and dozens of other young aspiring mages waited. Needless to say, the competition was stiff. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain at the side of his forehead.

"AH!" he yelped.

Turning to see what caused the pain he saw a small black bird with a white belly that had a sprout of feathers come from the top of its head like a crown.

"What the heck is this?" Shezu thought to himself.

It seemed like someone read his mind, as he quickly got his answer.

"These are the famous Anti-birds of the exam venue, the less magic you have, the more they peck at you."

"Well, I guess that answers that."

From what he could tell from the clothing the candidates were wearing to the amount of birds around them, the nobles wearing fancy garb had an average of zero to one bird hovering around them. The commoners, on the other hand, had an average of two to three birds around them. Shezu looked around to see how many he got.

"Four… not good."

This realization caused a lump to form in his throat, "Already they are judging our potential."

Looking up into the rafters of the colosseum, he could feel the eyes of the examiners watching him, and everyone else there. Judging their capability. Looking out for those whose skills were wanting, so that they could be expelled. Suddenly, everyone heard a soft and elegant voice call out.

"Thanks for waiting, examinees."

Suddenly, all the Anti-birds flew away, as if called back by a master. Everyone looked to where the voice came from, and saw who would their judges would be. There stood the captains of the nine magic squad knights, and at the center of them stood the captain of the strongest magic knight squad regarded. Captain William Vangeance, leader of the Golden Dawn, and man most likely to be the next Wizard King. Taking out his grimoire with one hand, it flipped itself open as if it were alive. Settling on a page, the captain recited the spell's name.

Magic Tree, Descend!

Suddenly, the clouds darkened and grew heavy. Then a circle formed right in the middle of them, and out of it, came the roots of a giant tree. It was as if a giant plant was resting atop the clouds, while the roots grew below. Like, well...magic...all the roots sprouted down and multiplied, finding each contestant down there like a bloodhound. Then, the roots themselves contorted and changed; to form broomsticks of all things. But like the wind, the roots shrunk up back into the clouds, like it was never there in the first place. Closing his grimoire shut, William decreed, almost with jovial glee, "Now then, we shall begin the Magic Knights entrance exam!"

Shezu felt the butterflies in his stomach fly around even faster

"We're going to have you go through a multitude of tests," William continued, "the nine captains of the Magic Knights will be judging your progress. We shall then select the candidates we want in our squad. Those who are not chosen will be deemed unworthy to join the Magic Knights."

All the candidates took a large gulp.

"The first test, is to fly using those broomsticks."

As if to demonstrate, the man behind the golden dawn's captain hopped onto his own, and started to float.

"Any mage who can control his or her powers can do it instinctively," the captain continued, "it's the most basic method for moving about for a mage."

Soon, every candidate hopped onto their broomsticks and started to fly, or tried to at the very least. Some could barely float of the ground, while others shot off the ground with no control. Needless to say, Shezu was having difficulty of his own. He was getting off the ground, but it was a struggle. He kept bobbing up and down on his broomstick, almost as if any moment it would give out under him and he would plummet to the ground. Trying to steady himself, he then came to a stop in mid-air. It was only then that he could look around and get a bearing of his surroundings. Looking at the other candidates, Shezu noticed a pattern.

"Huh, it seems like most of the candidates are struggling between 'power' and 'control'"

Indeed, that was the case. Candidates with more power than control were moving, but were unable to go where they wanted to. Bobbing up and down, like they were wrestling with their own broom for where they wanted to go. On the other hand, there were others who had the exact opposite problem. Their control of their brooms were smooth as silk, practically being still in mid-air, but were as fast as a snail...that was dead. But of course, there were the nobles, who seemed to have both down pat. Sailing through the air with speed like sails on the water. Some even did a few tricks like loops. But the one who really took the cake, was a contestant that was Standing on his broom, like a surfboard! Shezu, like everyone there, obviously took notice.

"Man, who does this guy think...wait a minute?"

Shezu then recognized who that boy was. It was the same boy who received the four-leaf grimoire at the ceremony. Apparently skill was still something he had, as he sailed past all the contestants.

"Hmph, show off," Shezu muttered to himself. But then, as if on cue he heard a sudden URRGGGHHHH! As if someone was trying to give birth. Looking to the source of the noise, Shezu, along with those in the vicinity, noticed a short boy with silver hair pulling hard on the shaft...of his broomstick, trying to get into the air.

"Huh, that boy...he's the one who didn't get a grimoire at the ceremony!" Shezu exclaimed to himself, "If he doesn't have one then why did…"

But suddenly, he noticed on the boy's side that there was a grimoire, in it's holster. A black book with a dirty and tattered cover…

"Well, guess he did get one after all, must be a late bloomer…"

Unfortunately, while he was focusing on his surroundings, Shezu's concentration slipped. He started to fall out of the air, only barely being able to catch himself. Snapping his head to the captains' box, he hoped that none of the examiners saw that. Unfortunately, some did, and were not impressed with the display.

"Dammit!" Shezu cursed himself silently, "Stop focusing on others and focus on yourself!"

For the rest of the test, the boy did just that. He was able to improve, but only slightly, the best he was able to do was slowly move his broom at a controlled pace. The test soon ended, and the rest of the day played out.

The magic power test: To break a stone wall in front of you with your magic. Shezu focused, and tried to recall the feelings he felt when his power first awakened. He felt the sharp pain as the hardened blood came out of his wrist again, but it was only a smaller amount this time. A cup, at best. The boy tried harder but it was the best he could do. Putting all his might into it, he formed a ball and shot the hardened blood towards the wall as strong as he could. It smashed against the wall, but the most it could leave was a crack. The goal of the test was to see how fast you could turn the wall in front of you into rubble. To see how powerful you were. Shezu tried again and again, but the most he could do was chip away the corner and sides.

"Not good," Shezu thought

The magic control test: To shoot a flying target as many times as you can. The targets, however, were floating in mid-air, like they were trying to avoid being shot. Shezu formed his blood ball again, and shot it at the nearest target towards him. Fortunately, the boy had more control then he had power, and was able to follow the target with ease, until he was finally able to hit it. He tried to hit it again and again, even hitting the bullseye now and then.

"Alright, I just might have a chance!"

The magic creation test: To form an object out of your magic. It was to see the imagination and detail a candidate could do with their skills. Some created birds of fire while others created statues of themselves. Shezu tried his best to create something that stood out, but given the fact that he only had a cup of blood to work with. So in the end, the best he could do was make a diamond out of it. But at the very least it was perfectly shaped diamond.

The magic nurture test: To inject magic into a seed and help it grow. Magic is an energy that resides in all living things, even plants and animals. Shezu had some luck with this one, as he injected as much magic as he could into the seed. Soon, it was starting to sprout and grow larger and larger. At the end, he had a decently sized sprout, that was only second to the nobles in the group.

And then, it was finally time for the last test.

"Next, is the final test," William declared, "In this test, you will engage in actual combat. You will pick a partner and fight him or her. I'm sure you mastered one or two attack spells, right?"

Everyone there started looking around with suspicion at their fellow candidates. If someone was to lose, it would decrease their chances of getting into the magic knights exponentially. Everyone started to pair up, trying to choose a partner that would make them look strong. Needless to say, Shezu was having difficulty doing this. Every time he approached someone, they would immediately go off to partner with someone else. If there was one grace that Shezu lacked, it was social. But then he heard someone call to him from behind.

"Hey want to team up?"

Looking behind him, Shezu saw the owner of the voice belong to a boy dressed in black knee-high shoes, brown pants, A white dress shirt and blue vest. He had yellow eyes and equally yellow hair. He was a noble, a notable one based on his outfit.

"Seems like you don't have anyone to fight with, so what do you say," the noble continued with an innocent smile. Shezu, looking around, knew that his words were true. But still, he knew that his opponent was a noble, people known for there strong magical prowess. It was the magical prowess that guaranteed there noble status in the first place. However…

"Well, beggars can't be choosers…"

After about ten minutes, William continued, "Alright then, The match is over when a competitor gives up or can't fight anymore. We have a mage who can use healing magic in the wings, so fight to your heart's content. Now, would the first competitors come forward?"

Notes: Well, better late than never right? Sorry this took so long, but I've been dealing with...stuff. I promise I won't give up on this story. Well, until next time.