Academy Test -Talents Showcase

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The entry hall of the academy could consider as massive; in reality, massive would put it mildly.

The entire hall could contain over a thousand people easily, four wolf statue, probably The Wolf Goddess Asena, were placed each corner of the hall, a platform was on the beginning of the line which teachers were standing and measuring people's talents.

At some distance behind the platform, a boundless crowd was lined messily, around a transparent wall which block most of the people entering inside.

"If you can't even pass here, you cannot enter the academy!" A demi-rhino man yelled; he was bald, his body was sturdy, and he had a horn right middle of his forehead. He looked around the batch of people and sneered.

"Weak."

Kaplan looked around and quickly gotten closer to the transparent wall. He extended his arm; it went through without any restriction.

Kaplan looked around and saw many people still trying to enter; most of them halfway through with that thin barrier, and Kaplan could see the faint view of the transparent wall clinching to the people who trying to pass like a rubber.

He paid no mind as he entered the line to measure his magical power.

"Next, Fırat Alev," A demi-owl said coolly. He gestured a white orb and looked at the young demi-cat. "Put your magic in the orb," he said curtly.

"Hmph," Fırat entered the stage with an arrogant sneer; he was a demi-cat with green eyes and black hair. Kaplan could not know Fırat being a cat if the wall in front of the crowd did not show the person's identity.

He could tell he was a feline, for sure, but identifying a demi-human's race was hard just based on small things.

Fırat looked back at the people and grinned arrogantly. "Behold, peasants!" He shouted as he put all his magic on the orb.

The magic orb shined brightly. The color changed in order with black, green, dark blue, blue, then it shined in white brightly before dimmed in a reddish yellow color.

The orb showed a person's magic affinity, if the person had any, and Fırat's color was definitely fire.

"High Fire Affinity," Demi-owl said coolly, not impressed, but acknowledged the Fırat as a potentially to become a strong mage. He looked at the wall behind him and nodded.

The wall made a crumbling noise and a door slide towards the crumbled part. It shined in blue, opened its wooden its massive wooden doors slowly, then stop glowing in instant.

"Well, this is a first today. People with Magic will follow that door," Owl man spoken as he gestured the door. "Do not worry, we don't just accept magicians; this is just to be known whether you have magic or not."

Kaplan hummed and waited for his turn; countless people were failed to utter even a fragment of magic. People with too little magic deemed unnecessary to become a magic study, so they went to the standard door to process their other talents.

"Next, Kaplan," the demi-owl said as he looked at the person in line. "Interesting naming choice I must admit," he said as he eyed the Kaplan thoroughly.

"I know," Kaplan said and walked to the platform. He put his hand on the white orb and looked at the demi-owl. "How much did I have to put my magic in?" He asked.

Kaplan already planned to put all his magic in, but he had a hunch he would destroy the orb if he put all it in one go. He did not want to be blamed…

Just to be sure. He got not much money.

"Put as much as you can," Owl man said coolly. He glanced at the orb then looked at Kaplan with interest. "You only have one chance after all."

Kaplan closed his eyes and took a deep breath; he put his right hand on the orb and channeled his inner energy inside of the orb in a sudden.

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[Fırat Alev]

I completed my measurement and signed my contract to be in magic class. It was fairly uncomplicated process, that only needs my signature and magic print.

I will go the Real Academy directly if I pass all the other tests above average.

How basic, truly disappointing.

After I done all the thing I had to done, I went back to the losers' measurement.

In this world, magic was a rare luxury to have in someone; if you have magic, you will live in riches for the last of your life; if you possess too little like losers however, you would still be a common fodder.

This world is cruel, you cannot expect yourself become a hero or someone greater. Yet all the people wanted to be them.

What an idiotic view for someone who did not train for it.

Their dream perished when they applied to the academy; you cannot be a hero, if you did not shape by birth.

My father is a fire mage, my mother is a fire mage; our magic developed by our ancestors since last war. My great great… whatever grandfather, who fought in war, was a war hero. He developed and showed the real fire magic, hence let us become one of the pashas of the Western Beast Empire.

My ancestors' achievements lead my improvements when I was just a boy. Thus, they made me the person who I am today.

I will become a hero, a savior, or a war hero if I must.

Only selected few like me who studied, trained, and dreamed from the birth had to audacity to become a hero, a savior or more.

Peasants should stay out of this.

With those thoughts in my mind, I sat one of the spectator seats. I had nothing to do, but I might find some noble with potential to become my subordinate.

I know there will no one better than me; magic is rarity, and my talent is high-level.

Only Abray Sultan could surpass my talent since she is already a tier-1 mage. Truly a rare specimen, I must know her when I go to the academy.

Two talents must be close.

Who knows…? It may lead our relationship to broom further.

"Next, Kaplan," Ah that owl spoken again. Kaplan? Wasn't that mean tiger in old language?

"Interesting naming choice I must admit."

I agree owl, I agree. Someone was cultured enough to name their child in old language.

Impressive for peasants.

Kaplan walked towards the platform while I watch the demi-owl. Owl man was looking at Kaplan thoroughly, that was a first. He did not do that to any participants so far.

Even me.

Surely, I must think too much. There is no way a nobody like him would surpass me.

"How much did I have to put my magic in?" Tiger boy asked.

An idiot most likely. What? Do you think you could break that orb with your tiny pool of magic or something?

Do you even have any?

That orb could resist tier-3 mage's all raw magic easily; tier-4 would break it, but between them it will struggle to resist the raw magic pressure.

"Put as much as you can," Owl man said. It made my blood boil to see that damn demi-owl looking at Kaplan with interest, with expectation, unlike me.

"You only have one chance after all."

Yeah, no shit.

Tiger boy put his hand on the orb slowly and inhaled. I can see his eyes glow in blue before he put his magic in the orb.

The outcome was instant. The orb glow so much bright I evaded my eyes in blink an eye. The brightness, the raw magical power, hit my whole body; magical particles shot towards the area, made an itching sensation all over my body since I did not protect myself from it.

And suddenly, it ended. It was no more than 1 second, and it ended with the crack and crash sound.

I opened my eyes slowly, just to be sure, and looked around. Many civilians and people to participate fainted because of the massive raw magical power hit them unexpected, the air was heavier thanks to the magic particles descending the ground before vanishing in thin air.

Yet, my whole focus on the person who destroy the orb and caused this phenomenon.

He destroyed the magic orb, in a blink an eye no less.

That means he is not just have has a massive magic pool, he also channels it rapidly.

Shit, how a peasant has more talent than me?!

X—X—X—X—X—X

[Kaplan]

Kaplan, after destroyed the orb, went inside the gate. Owl announced that there will be another orb soon, so he told Kaplan to enter the gate.

After the end of short walk, there was a man, a human, with two papers on each hand.

"You will be placed in the real academy," the man said. "But if you fail in any other test, we have to drop you. You can try later."

Kaplan nodded. 'Not like I'm gonna fail in physical tests,' he thought.

Human nodded. "You don't need to get above average in other tests. Even average will do, you have a rare potential and Academy liked to broom that," he said as he put two papers on the desk.

"They are contracts," Human said as he gestured one of them. "When you in the academy, you will place in magic studies. If you decline that, you must pass all the other test in high scores to enter academy," he said as he gestured the other paper.

"This one is for other tests; if you sign this, we will not be responsible for your injuries in the tests," human said.

Kaplan raised his eyebrow. "…Okay," he said as he signed the contracts.

The human brought a circle device, he put it above the contract and looked at Kaplan. "Have you ever used this?" He asked.

"No," Kaplan said curtly.

"Okay, put your magic on this. A little is fine," The human said as Kaplan followed.

The particles fall on the paper and surround it completely.

"Magic Print is complete," The human said. "Just to let you know; there are ways to copy normal signatures, but there is no way to copy magic print. This is just a safety measurement."

Kaplan understood the reasoning. "Okay," he said as he done the same with other paper. "May I go now?"

"You may. Other test will start tomorrow, you will be placed in dorm for today," The human said as he brought a card. He gave it to Kaplan and looked at him seriously. "If you fail to enter the other tests in starting time; no matter what, you will be disqualified."

"I understand, you guys are serious bunch." Kaplan rolled his eyes. "I will not be late, I intent to enter the academy," he said.

"Good," Human said. "Now, go. Next exam tomorrow at noon."

Kaplan sighed and nodded. He started to go to his dorm to sleep.

It would seem tomorrow was going to be a hard day.