6 Compassion and Betrayal

The test for magic potential was just as easy to cheat than I had hoped. I just had to close my eyes and pretended to relax while making sure my arm was as dry as a desert when it came to mana. Naturally, the stone didn't glow, not even faintly.



«Sorry, teacher, Alkon has to be enough for now.»



After waiting for about half a minute, the stone was picked out of my hand. I opened my eyes to find a precious 'F' written on my result paper. I couldn't help but smile a little.

The letter was smaller then the 'C' Alkon had received and was hurriedly written to, making it look as if the teacher didn't even want to waste a single moment of time on those who wouldn't even be able to summon a tiny ball of light after training for many months or even years.

The rest of the boys and girls were as lucky or unlucky than me, with only the upstart girl receiving a 'B' for light magic. The prince was slightly off with a 'D' instead, but that, too, would be enough to heal small wounds if only he learned probably. At least that was what the teacher had repeated every single time the stone had lighted up.

After the light attribute was tested, a new stone was placed in our hands. This time, it carried the attribute for water, which was considered to be the second purest magic right after light magic, as it, too, could be used for healing purposes.

This time, roughly one-third of all boys and girls surrounding me had at least a slight potential to become water magicians. Alkon wasn't among them, but the teacher made sure to cheer him up as having both elements was only a bonus, not a requirement. The upstart girl was luckier. She was ranked 'C' which meant that a bright future was laying in wait for her.

And I? Obviously, I ranked 'F'! I ranked 'F' for water, 'F' for earth and even for all three attributes associated with death: wind, fire and darkness.

By now not only the teacher but Alkon, too, was looking at me in pity while I desperately tried to not grin like a little girl that had just pranked her parents.



"That has to be a mistake, teacher," Alkon protested as soon as the woman took away the darkness attribute detection stone out of my hand. "Sera has magic potential! I am sure he has!"

"I'm sorry. Your friend will never become a magician."

"But-" He hesitated for a second. "That's it! He has never learned how to control his mana! He doesn't even know how to gather it in his hand! Sera's father never thought him how to do it! He doesn't want him to become a magician!"

A sigh slipped my lips. "... I have no father, Alkon."



All color left his face. Alkon looked at me, first in disbelief, then with pity. His eyes were even getting slightly wet!



"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't know!"

"So it is true," the teacher mumbled to herself. "I guess I can do something about that. Wait for a moment."



«What?!»



Before I could find an excuse, something I could tell her to get out of this mess, the teacher had already turned around. She approached the same cupboard the detection stones had been stored in, kneeled down and lifted up a small bag made from pale beige fabric. Aside from its blood-red, shimmering drawstring, there was nothing about it that seemed special in any way.



«What is that?! What is she going to do?!»



The answer came soon enough as the teacher emptied out the bag right on the desk I was sitting at. Dozens of crystals spilled out of it, some were reddish in color, others black, yet others bluish, green or milky grey. The most of them, however, were white in color, much like the magic orbs that lightened the room.



"Don't touch them until I tell you to."

"What are those," I heard myself ask.

"Storage crystals."

"Storage crystals?"

"They can be used for a huge variety of tools. You can also use them in emergencies, should you run out of mana."



A cold shiver went over my skin. I knew those stones were bad news, but there was no idea crossing my mind, nothing that would get me out of this trap. I was doomed to watch as the teacher sorted the crystals by color using a pair of tongs.



"... what do they do," Alkon asked her. "Can they detect his magic potential?"

"Essentially, yes. They will absorb mana that matches their attribute. You shouldn't touch them with bare hands."



«I don't like this. I don't like this at all!»



"Open your hand," she demanded. "Don't worry, it isn't dangerous."

"Not dangerous..."



I didn't even think of opening it. Instead, I hid my hands under the desk, as far away from the crystals as possible. But this retreat, too, was in vain as Alkon suddenly grabbed my left hand. Before I could even overcome my surprise, he had already placed it back to were it had been before.



"This is your chance, pal! Don't be afraid!"

"Leave me alone!"



I tried to pull my hand away, but his grasp was far too strong. I couldn't even hope to free myself!



«Why is he so strong?! Did he eat something weird?!»



Seeing me struggle this, the teacher sighed, before placing a small, milky white crystal on to the palm of my hand. She obviously wanted to get it over with.

The storage crystal reacted immediately. It began to glow in a snow-white color, first faintly then brighter and ever brighter. It wasn't just the crystal itself that changed, but my own body, too!

I felt a familiar warmth slowly crawling towards my hand: mana. Of course I fought against it. I tried to keep it back, but after a rather short struggle, my whole arm was conquered by a both soothing and disturbing heat. I had lost. There was no chance I could fight against the cursed crystal forcing out my secret.



«This damn thing! I should have crushed them! All of them!»



Alkon was too stupid to read the mood. While I was close to crying or screaming out loud he smiled instead as if he had just won a bet.



"See?" He shouted. "I told you! He has magic!"

"It is light magic," the teacher stammered, "a strong potential even! That got to be 'A' rank! Maybe even above!"

 

All color had left her face. The teacher looked surprised or rather shocked instead, but this soon changed into something very different. Within a few seconds, a wide smile grew on her lips. It was as if she had just received a room full of treasure, a grandchild or a marriage proposal by a life-long crush.



"I have to tell Marcis- no! The principal! He has to know this!"



After suddenly dropping this bomb, she ran out of the room, leaving me behind with a bunch of speechless strangers that very soon grew as noisy as she had been.



"You are the best Sera," Alkon's voice rang in my ears, "I knew it!"

 

I couldn't even answer. My mind was in a state of chaos as disbelief, despair and rage struggled for supremacy. While around me, countless voices gratulated me, taunted me or asked me a bunch of questions, I just sat there in front of the brightly glowing piece of filth that had just stolen my freedom.



«Damn it!»