Prologue

"What are you thinking about?" asked Xeik, as he admired the cherry hair of Blossom flowing with the wind as she stared out at the open sky absentmindedly.

She turned around and presented him with a heart-throbbingly beautiful smile on her innocent little face. "What do you think?"

The sight took Xeik aback, almost losing himself in her beauty. After a short pause, he presented her with a smile of his own and said, "the wilderness."

Blossom chuckled lightly upon hearing those words, "I can't wait. I will bring about a new era and take humankind to new heights. I'm sure my father watching from the other side will be proud."

He walked up the small hill she stood atop, placing his jacket over her shoulders, covering the exposed back of her slim sundress. She smiled sweetly and held onto the edges of the warm jacket. She wasn't cold, but the jacket had his smell and having it close made her feel safe.

"I'm sure he's plenty proud of you already. You are the most talented mage of our generation. I'm just glad I get to tag along to see your greatness," Xeik stated as he stared into her eyes lovingly.

"You're flattering me. How can I compare to you or that monster, Ari? If not for my charming disposition, who knows if I could ever get to follow you around?" Blossom flashed a toothy grin and wrapped her hands around his neck.

Her actions brought a flutter to Xeik's heart and a smirk to his face. He held her close and their lips met, their lips parted and Xeik stepped back in bliss. "We have a long way to go. We haven't even qualified to join a raid team yet. But with you by my side and me by yours, I know we can reach the other end of this continent together," Xeik professed.

"What are you two lovebirds doing over here? Isn't our evaluation starting in a few minutes? I had to come all this way to find you." A green-haired beauty in tight leather armor stood on the path, fuming.

"Lili, what are you talking about? We have plenty of time," Xeik declared confidently as he casually glanced at the timepiece in his pocket. His calm face turned to one of flabbergast. "holy shit, how is this possible? We have to go." He grabbed Blossom's hand and disappeared in ploom of fog.

Lili's small face turned even more agitated, "son of a-" she disappeared in a ploom of flower petals. Leaving behind a frowning after image.

Lili reappeared on a platform filled with young people. All with determined yet nervous smiles on their faces. The group chatter drowned out as everyone turned to the new arrivals on the platform. With his blue hair and signature mischievous smile on his face, he walked confidently with the cool beauty, Blossom by his side.

A few from the crowd gave a salute to the young man, while others felt like such a thing would be beneath them. None of this bothered the blue-haired youngster. He was just happy to have made it here in time. If he was a second late, he would have had to take the assessment a year later.

A ploom of flowers came together a few feet away and the young lady within marched over to Xeik and grabbed his collar, "I went out of my way to come and get you, yet you left me behind. You know I'm not as fast as you. Why didn't you take me along?"

The fury in Lili's eyes made Xeik feel like something was gripping his heart and squeezing it. "I'm so, I'm so sorry. I panicked. I forgot all about you."

"Tsk," Lili let go of him and turned her head in disdain, "you worthless thing, you're lucky I made it in time or I would have killed you."

With his shoulders slumped, he couldn't bring himself to refute his niece's harsh words.

"Why didn't you call us on our Ecko's instead of flying all the way to Equinox City to find us?" Blossom stated defensively as she stood beside Xeik. He looked up at his fire haired beauty and couldn't help but feel his heart flutter.

Whether he was right or wrong, this woman would always support him. It was Lili's turn to feel embarrassed as she didn't know how to answer that question. The thought hadn't crossed her mind upon till Blossom said it just now. Instead of admitting her mistake, she huffed disapprovingly and walked away from the two.

Xeik still had a downcast attitude. He was always sincere in his feelings. His inability to hide his emotions from showing on his face was one of the many things Blossom loved about him. She rested her hand on his cheek to reassure him, "I also forgot about her in our panic. Don't be so hard on yourself."

Xeik sighed but said nothing.

"I know what you're thinking," Blossom stated.

At that prompt, he finally turned his gaze from his boots to her red eyes. "Really?"

"You're thinking of your brother, you're thinking 'if I can't do this much, how am I going to ever catch up to him?' right?"

Xeik turned his eyes back to his boot, admitting that Blossom's words held truth. She hugged him tightly. "This is only the beginning. At your age, you've already far surpassed your brother at the same age."

"Tsk." Xeik was unconvinced, "when my brother was my age he had thought up the mana compression techniques. All I've managed to do is get stronger using his methods, techniques, and resources. My current cultivation is solely thanks to him, me, and everyone else here."

"Don't say that, while what you've said is true. It's your hard work that's gotten you this far. Everyone here had the same opportunities you did, but none of them have come as far as you in this short period. While your brother is extraordinary, I'm sure you are no less extraordinary than him or anyone else. You will be great and you will be Xeik Von Creig while doing it. Not anybody's son or brother." Blossom's words went from his ears to his heart and filled it.

He pulled her into his embrace. "What would I do without you?"

"Die a slow and painful death?" Blossom said playfully.

Xeik was about to reply when a voice interrupted him.

"Alright worms form up!"

He released Blossom, and they rushed to form up as they looked toward the mage, who showed up. He had his hair cut low and a pair of glasses hanging on the bridge of his nose, with no straps.

"Greetings, Grand Mage Choir," the crowd shouted in unison while giving the mage salute.

Choir smiled at this, "at least you all know how to kiss ass properly. But this will not get you a passing grade. You must get through this trial if you want my respect."

"Yes, Grand Mage." Everyone chorused.

"This is your first assessment, and it is also your first training drill inside the artificial biome. This one is special since all of your energy seas have already matured. We will head straight into the volcano territory. Those who can use their mana to fend off the heat for three days will qualify for the next round of testing. Everyone else will have to return next year to try again. Questions?"

Almost every hand went up simultaneously, seemed a lot of questions were left unanswered in that vague explanation.

"Begin!" The crowd stood in a daze upon hearing the order. Half of them weren't sure exactly what they would be doing and still wanted their questions answered. However, the ground underneath them rose and formed a hand that held them in its palm. Then, to their horror, it flung them through the forcefield into the lava world.