Chapter 7: The Ether test

Each year, every city in the two kingdoms participated in the Ether test. It is a prerequisite for admission to the Magus Academy.

Although taking the exam is not required, there is no other way to become a magus. The ether test not only verifies that a person has ether inside of them, but also reveals their ether limit.

The amount of Ether someone owns, whether it be a tiny or large amount, is known as their Ether limit. The Ether limit does not determine a person's strength; rather, it indicates their potential.

Ether control is one of the only options for users who do not have a large Ether limit to close this gap. Ether control is a quality that enables someone to utilise Ether efficiently yet the Ether limit is something that cannot be learnt or increased.

However, having a too-low Ether limit might be harmful since it is more probable that, despite having a high level of Ether control, the individual would experience an Ether shortage because of his or her low Ether supply.

Because of this, many people believe that those with higher Ether limits are more likely to be successful.

Regarding the Ether test, a person's maximum Ether limit is shown using both technology and Ether. A significant amount of ether is released by etherium, and anybody who has ether is immediately drawn to it, much like a magnetic field.

The free Ether circling around the material must be cancelled in order to determine a person's Ether limit using etherium.

The main rule about ether is that it cannot be cancelled or destroyed; instead, it can only be regenerated into another thing, like a spell.

The technology that humans use to measure the amount of ether present in the etherium is incorrect since there was already a lot of ether present in the crystal when it was created.

Fortunately, humans were able to solve this issue by using cursed ether. The polar opposite of ether, which has a positive charge, is cursed ether, which has a negative charge. A room will have a neutral charge if it contains an equal amount of both normal and cursed ether.

The charge will shift from neutral to positive or negative upon the entry of a positive charge or negative charge of Ether. Depending on the person's Ether limit, the charge may be strongly positive, indicating a large Ether limit, or modestly positive, indicating a low Ether limit.

To do this, the humans constructed the Etherium chamber, in which they imprisoned an equal amount of both cursed and pure ether to prevent either energy from escaping and to neutralise the charge within the room.

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Young people in their 20s and under formed huge queues outside a vast arena in Tyggstral's commercial area that featured a gold statue of a magus standing with his hands on his hips and gazing up at the sky outside the arena. The main hall and reception area within the arena had an equal number of receptionists as there were rows of waiting patrons.

People would sign up for the ether test in the line that began at the front desk. They would leave their contact and identification details at the reception.

"Next please!" One of the receptionists said, and a good-looking silver-haired boy presented himself to her.

"Well good morning sir," the woman said enthusiastically.

"Do you happen to be here to sign up for the Ether test?"

"Yes ma'am," Caleb responded.

"Very well, as a starter, could I please have your full name, date of birth and blood type,"

"Caleb Lance, February 24, 2077, and blood type O+"

"Very well, and do you have a printed copy of your ID?"

Caleb nodded and handed her what she had asked for. She analysed the copy and placed it on her desk.

"You've made a wise choice Caleb, choosing this path will not only benefit you, but it will potentially benefit the whole world," The receptionist told him.

"Unlike the other participants, you do not have to go through a questionnaire concerning your motivations. or ambitions. You have completed your registrations and all you have to do is wait for tomorrow, we will be looking forward to seeing you, demon host,"

He left the place, believing that registrations had gone more quickly than he had anticipated, and it was almost dark outside. Outside, Lizz and the turquoise-haired individual that was at the meeting in Raven city were waiting for Caleb behind a black car.

"Is this the famous Caleb Lance, the host of the dark demon?" Alexa asked leaning her arm forward to Caleb for a handshake.

"Good evening ma'am," Caleb said respectfully, "I am indeed the one you are referring to,"

"Nice to meet you, Caleb, we're happy you've chosen to register of your own free will,"

She then stepped over and motioned for Caleb to sit in the backseat. When he got inside, he saw that the automobile had six rear seats, with three facing one side where there were the additional three

"If you're still unsure about who we are, please allow me to explain. Your sister and I both work at the Magus Academy as Magi. Normally, after graduating from the Magus Academy, you join a guild to execute tasks and receive a wage; however, there are certain exceptions; the Magus Academy may also recruit you if they believe you would be of use to them.

This is our situation, but it comes with the threat of a demon or someone with malicious intentions kidnapping us and gathering knowledge about the Magus Academy's actions. For this reason, the Magus Academy has decided to make all their employees anonymous.

Our purpose is to deal with situations like yours and find a solution that benefits us all. The answer we've devised for your circumstance is simply to train you so that your abilities can assist us.

I believe there is no need to describe what will happen to you if this solution fails completely...."

He felt a shudder rise through his body as a result of her happy yet frightening gaze.

The woman in front of him was obviously concealing her actual personality behind that innocent smile and attractive appearance.

'I wouldn't be surprised if she were the one to kill me..' Caleb thought.

"Give him a break, I already explained all this," Lizz said interrupting the conversation.

The Magus academy accepted the two at the same time even though they had been in the same class year. As a result, they were quite close and fully understood one another.

"If that is the case, then there is not much to add to it anymore," Alexa said

In front of Caleb's house, the car halted, and the door was opened. The sky was already pitch black, and because Caleb's parents' car wasn't there, it looked that they weren't at home.

"We hope to see you tomorrow Caleb and remember, all eyes of the higher-ups in the Magus Academy will be looking at you from now on," Alexa said as her last words while Caleb was getting out of the car.

"To the hotel," Alexa then ordered the driver once Caleb was out.

"Your brother doesn't seem like the type of person that has his head on his shoulders,"

Lizz crossed her arms and looked away from Alexa's stare.

"He is just a bit touched by his friend's death,"

"I hope he won't be touched for too long," Alexa said as she removed her black suit jacket and breathed a sigh of relief.

She then started to stretch her arms and twist her neck.

"It's been such a stressful week," She sighed, "people keep calling me concerning the 'demon's host', every single day. They can't even give me a break,"

While she lamented her stressful situation, Lizz took a cigarette from her pocket and lit it up.

"That's why I've always been telling you to try and smoke now and then, it's the best type of stress reliever,"

"You know I do not stand unhealthy items such as that,"

Alexa slowly unbuttoned the first few buttons of her white shirt showing her cleavage

"Stop being so boring and just try something new for once," Lizz responded trying to hand Alexa a cigarette.

"I already told you I won't..." Alexa replied pushing the cigarette away.

"If you say so,"

In contrast to her customary demeanour, Alexa was straightening her hair and appeared more comfortable and human. She wasn't grinning, but she did appear to be in a happy mood.

"But tell me one thing Alexa, why do you want Caleb to go through all this fuss when we could just transfer him to the Academy already..."

Indeed, Caleb was already reserved a spot in the Magus Academy, however, it is Alexa personally who requested for Caleb to follow the same process as the rest.

"Caleb has a high Ether limit, and he will most likely have the highest in his generation, but he has a demon inside of him. I'm afraid the demon's cursed Ether mixed with your brother's pure Ether will hinder him from reaching his full potential. Caleb probably believes he is stronger than everyone else because of how unique he is, so going through the same procedure as others will serve as a type of reality check for him to realize he is in the same boat as everyone else and must work just as hard to become strong. I just don't want him to overestimate himself. After all, your greatest adversary is you..."

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When his spot was confirmed, Caleb wondered why they would put him through all of this hardship. He was laying in bed, looking up at the ceiling.

"That woman with Lizz, she was most likely to have a strong part in me still being alive. The way she explained things seemed like she was the one in charge of my case, so I can only assume every decision that was made so far was by her. But seriously, I don't know what she's thinking, if the demon inside me is really that strong, then wouldn't it be better to hide the power I have?"

It was still unclear to him why she took certain decisions, but he knew they weren't stupid decisions. If what she says is true and she was chosen to work for the Magus Academy, then without a doubt, everything she does is for a specific reason.

"Anyways, I guess there isn't anything to worry about, plus if I were to show how much power I've got, then there might be high chances I get popular in the Magus Academy!"

He exclaimed imagining all the girls walking beside him, and the cool guys considering him his friends.

"All I can do now is wait for tomorrow, and get the results,"