PART 2
Jackie was excited about the entrance test. She had been waiting for this day, preparing, practicing, working long hours to afford the entrance fee, and now finally she stood outside the gates of the most prestigious Magician academy on the continent. SNOWMORE ACADEMY. Jackie exhaled, letting out all the nervousness. She saw the other students-two years younger than her- coming out of expensive cars and walking past her as if she didn't exist. Some had books in their hands, others were laughing and joining their friends, who were waiting for them at the front gate. Jackie ignored the loneliness she felt. She knew her mother would be with her today if it weren't for her demanding job. Her mother worked as an Empath at Vidarr Veterans Hospital. Her mother had specialized in the field of Empath. She can identify what a person is feeling.
Jackie entered the academy. The buildings were the same as they were first established 200 years ago. The front of the building resembled a Gothic church, with a big circular mirror in the middle. Three metal clock hands showed time. Jackie followed the students, who were headed to the back of the building, where the exam was to take place. In the garden. The armed chairs were placed with a 5 inch gap from each, with multiple rows extending over to the end of the garden. She heard a student say, "they also have seats inside. I'm going to check there". A tall boy in a dark blue blazer with the insignia of the school stopped her. "ID." he said. Jackie handed him the paper she had been clutching since her bus ride. He read the contents and turned his back to her. She saw a thin orange ponytail dangling from his head. "follow me". He took her to the middle rows and then stopped. "Row 16, table 10". He left her to find her own way. Jackie walked the 10 tables, counting in her head, and sat down, placing her bag and bottle to her left side as instructed and switching off her phone.
She looked up to see a terrace, its edges protected by a glass plating which raised till the waist. A woman in a gray suit was standing on it, her eyes scanning the crowd beneath her. She had her hair up in a bun and a stopwatch in her hand. 'the head invigilator' Jackie thought. The seniors were the invigilators who also served on the student council. Student council was mostly composed of Nature magicians. Who only focused on improving the health and looked after the biodiversity of the country. They were experts in plants, herbs, poisons, various species of animals and insects. Someone tapped her desk with a pen, and Jackie lost her focus on the woman to turn towards the sound. It was a girl sitting to her left. She had midnight hair tied up in a ponytail, which flowed till her hips. Her skin was paler than the usual human. She wore a red leather jacket, with black shorts and a crop top. "Can you pick up the pencil? It rolled under your seat?" Her voice did not match her attire. It was soft and polite. It almost made Jackie embarrassed at her judgment. "Sure." She bent down and picked it up. The girl muttered a thank-you.
When the clock struck 8:55 am, the speakers blared. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the entrance exam of SNOWMORE ACADEMY, your first step towards greatness. My name is Florence Carmen, and I will be your head invigilator. The papers are under your seat. Please retrieve them." She paused as the student bent down to pick up thin papers from under their seats. "May i remind you that Snowmore Academy has zero tolerance for cheating, once caught, you may never have another chance to set foot inside the academy. You are being watched by the cameras on your desk. It is now 9:00 am, you may begin." Florence turned off the microphone and students started writing.
Jackie had always dreamed about this moment, since her grandmother told her stories about the Slayers and how they kept the peace in the country. The stories built up her dream of becoming a slayer herself; she had read books and read newspaper articles on how the slayers captured and investigated the bad guys. But after the fire on the Blue Bird Mansion, where the Magister Enyo lived, her grandmother had suffered injuries to her mind. She now spent her life in a wheelchair, stared out the window from her bedroom, and spoke less than five words a day. Jackie's grandmother was one of the most powerful mages of her time. She served as the Magister Enyo's advisor until the mysterious fire broke out on the west wing of the mansion. The havoc and the cries left her with a crumbled mind.
"Students, you have 20 minutes left." Florence's voice blurred from the speaker. Jackie looked down at her essay which she had completed, she quickly fact checked it and moved towards the end of the page where a single word question stared back at her. "What makes a great magician?" asked the question. Jackie closed her eyes and started thinking of answers. Someone who protects the law? Someone who helps the needy? Someone who brings justice? Then another question swirled in her mind. Why are Magicians so great? And suddenly a single word popped into her head. With a grin. Jackie picked up her pen again and wrote it down. A second later, a deafening sound, like a bang, went out. Jackie covered her ears. Like the rest of the students, she saw on the terrace. Florence standing with a non-smiling face. Perched on her arm was the Legendary Blue bird, who opened her beak for the third time, and another loud bang roared, signaling the end of the exam.