Seven Pages, Fifteen Pages, and ...

***Titus***

Everyone was in shock, 7 pages for a mage was something that was once in a generation. As for regular summoners in every class there would be a few with ten plus pages but having 12 was the limit of regular people. People with thirteen plus pages were almost exclusively nobles. Even though Jol was wealthy he wasn't a noble. The last person to have fifteen pages outside of the royal family was a dukes son and that was a long time ago. As soon as the excitement waned two guards came and escorted Jol and his family somewhere else.

I could barely hold my excitement, both my friends' had gotten page numbers that far exceeded the normal amount. They would probably go on to join the royal guards, or in Wels case the royal mages. There were two more people in front of me but i couldn't help but wonder just what my pages would be.

Meanwhile...

***Jol***

I watched as two guards grabbed me and my parents and took us out of the room with the summoning circle, they led us up some steps and towards a large door. Then they nocked loudly.

"Director, we have brought the boy, may he enter?"

A muffled "Yes" came from behind the doors and the guards swung them open.

Me and my parents walked in and I found myself sitting in front of a slender man in a grey suit. He looked at all of us for a few seconds and then began to speak.

"Congratulations young man, you have done something most people thought was impossible and i'm here to tell you your reward. You are henceforward invited to the royal guards cadet program. No tryout is necessary and we would like you to start right away."

I was astounded, I thought that I would have to spend time in a military academy before I got the chance but here it was. Before my parents could say anything he handed me a letter.

"Alright then I've done my part and I would like to discuss more, but I am terribly busy so could you all please go."

My parents got up immediately and began to pull me out of the room. As we reached the door he suddenly shouted. 

"Hey kid, tell Asur that Mitch sent you ok."

And with that I left the room, sure of only one thing, I had a golden ticket in my hands.

***Titus***

It was finally my turn, I walked up to the circle. The paper was replaced and the candles were lit. I sliced my thumb and placed it on the paper and then felt something strange. It was as if my soul was being sucked out of my body and when I opened my eyes I saw a hellscape. Monsters everywhere and demons flying above. I saw Owls, Golems, Wyverns, and much more. But nothing caught my eye until I saw two creatures fighting. One was just a plain old ash wolf, but the other was a genuine Hellhound. Once I fixated on the Hellhound in the distance it was like I warped over there and in the distortion I reached my hand out towards the Hellhound.

Then at the last second it moved and the Ash Wolf that was fighting it had lunged into the place where my hand was. I grabbed the wolf and felt myself fade into black with this wolf. It looked at me and although it didn't speak I could feel its disapproving stare. Like it knew it was chosen on accident. Just then I came to my senses. I saw that the paper that I had placed my thumb on had ripped. Then the mirage of the wolf faded into a single page and entered the grimoire. I didn't know how to feel, a single page.

Just then the guard spoke, "Boy, the ritual went wrong your paper shouldn't have ripped. I'm sorry this isn't your fault."