1 The First Years

What does it mean to be a Mage? Is it to selflessly spend your life perfecting spells, the split second decision that decides the battle, or was it having overwhelming strength that shields the weak? I honestly had no clue which one it was but somehow, I knew anyone who attended King Academy had all of them.

King Academy was one of two Major Magic Academies in all of Maximus, the realm of Magic. A place were all hearts look toward these two Academies, King and Queen, as the future of Maximus and the protectors who will shield those who cannot fight. This was the ultimate goal that every Mage could imagine and it all started with these two schools.

My name was Aaron Sky and I am starting my first year out of five at King Academy, like right now.

I stepped on the greenest grass I have ever seen, almost like a blanket was smoothed out across the rolling hills. Just a half mile away from where I stood, I saw it, my future. Four huge stone and marble pillars that easily split the clouds in half. Building's rooftops edging over the one hundred foot wall that encased the Academy. I wanted to jump for joy, just the shear monstrous size of the place made me giddy. Thousands of figures started to enclose on a single gold Archway, a banner streamed across.

"Welcome First Years!"

In bold Red letters, very fitting for how I felt. The banner was easily stretched over a counter couple hundred feet and I was sure the wall was miles upon miles long.

"Woah,"

Just saying the words aloud could not do justice to the luck I have. I almost forgot the reason I was even able to attend such a prestigious school. It was because of my Father Marcus Sky, the Phoenix Mage. He was ranked the number one Wizard for three entire years at this school, rumors said he even peaked above 1,000,000 mana, a feat that only very few could achieve. Just thinking of the mana pool he had at his will made my heart drop, my mana was only 400, just slightly below the first year average, which was 450. Apparently my dad started off at 20,000 when he got here, something I did not even know was possible until I literally read it in my school textbook. I shivered as I thought of the Father I knew. The one who laughed with me and teased me about virtually everything. It was crazy to think my Father was somehow a legend.

BEEP

I snapped out of my daze and looked down at my Codex Watch, issued technology for every Mage that would attend any Academy. I have only had it for a day or two and I knew it was quite expensive. The instructions said it could take a blast of 90,000 Mana repeatedly before it would even falter, I honestly could not tell if it was marketing or really that durable. Only time would tell.

I glanced down at the Codex, it read 7:45 a.m., meaning the assembly ceremony would be in fifteen minutes. I quickly looked back at the portal that closed behind me, a weird blue smog staying behind.

After glancing back, I realized just how far up I was, I mean King Academy did sit on a floating Island.

Not taking anymore time to stare down at the mountains below, I kept my pace toward the Archway. As I made my way a few other students in the same black school uniforms were also making their way there. A white tie indicated one was a first year, and as I surveyed the few who started to gather, I noticed they all had white ties. I guessed upperclassmen either got here early or got the day off, because not a single different color tie was in sight.

My stomach lurched in my body as I grew near the entrance, a weird uncanny feeling coming form the arch. I looked side to side to notice that there was at least a few hundred first years piling toward the arch. It was odd that no one exactly was already entering, the archway still unoccupied. Very interesting how we were all aligned, not a single student was ahead of the pack.

As I grew near I group, I could hear the first day yawns and idle chatter. I was truly going to be part of something as great as King Academy, then it hit me.

Something physically hit my entire front side and sent me to my back. It felt like I ran straight into a brick wall.

"Owwww,"

I could of sworn my nose was broken. Through the pain I looked up to see nothing there, the archway still a hundred feet away. I glanced to my side and my mouth fell open, every other first year was either standing still or was in the same position as me. I glanced back at what I might of hit and I finally saw it. The way the sun refracted oddly gave me the slightest idea, it was a magic barrier.

"Hello first years!"

A booming male voice came from the archway. All eyes locked onto a single boy standing in the middle. He had flowing blonde hair, fare skin, and glistening blue eyes. Even from this distance one could tell he was amazingly handsome. I had to tear my eyes away from his face to see what was around his neck, a red tie. If I was not mistaken, that meant he was a Fifth Year. I swallowed hard at the sight of it.

"I see some of you have been acquainted with my Magical powers, Barrier. My name is Anzel And I am in charge of the First Year initiation. This year I have a special one for you indeed."

A few looks were exchanged with first years, ones of fear being the most prominent.

"Every year on August Fifth, the First Years are to complete a task or to be trialed so they can be officially announced as a student at such a prestigious school. This Year it will be a game I use to play as a young boy, Tag"

Even if he just said something as innocent as tag, I knew something much bigger was happening.

"Or at least as close as it can get. Also, before we begin I would like all of you to point at me with the hand your Codex is on."

Awkwardly, a mass of index fingers pointed directly at him, I followed.

A robotic female voice rang out in my head,

"Reading Mana Level..."

"Mana Level successfully registered..."

My mouth dropped open, just above Anzel, white numbers appeared.

600,000

I swallowed hard, a lump in my throat forming.

Extra gasps and "ahh's" not really helping.

"Hard Work always pays off my young ones and under the teachers tutelage, you will soon be were I stand."

I guess you could call it inspiration, it felt more like peer pressure to me.

"Now that I have done my job, its time for a little game. It is simple actually, all you have to do is make it to the Archway and you are officially a student at King Academy, but.."

But? Oh there just had to be a but, just great.

"There are Second Years who will do everything in their power to take the tie of your neck, if they succeed, a portal is prepared for you to go back home, if more then half of you make it, The Second years have animal and bathroom cleanup duty for a month. If less then half make it, First Years have it for the first semester."

...

"Good luck and remember!"

Anzel smiled wickedly as he rose his right arm to the sky,

"FOR THE KING!"

As if the world in front of us was wiped away, hundreds of black uniformed students with bronze colored ties appeared as the glass like barrier dissipated. There was already three of them ten feet away from me.

Unworldly and unfriendly smiles and stares aimed at me and probably many others. One of the males in front of me literally burst into flames, his humanoid form still visible.

"Fire Form!" He yelled as he took a heavy step in my direction.

In fear, I pointed my finger at him.

10,000