Alderian Institute Of Magic!

"Welcome to A.I.M! The Alderian Institute Of Magic!" A lady's voice reverberated in the hall as I strutted in with the candidates.

The grand hall as it was called lived up to its name. It was exceedingly large, and when I mean large, it was large enough to contain myself and the other one hundred thousand candidates which I presume was the amount since more were still trooping in and not to forget the figures located at the far end of the hall.

It was a bright hall with windows extending straight up to the high ceilings being decked with golden tapestry with the Alderian flag intricately webbed in it.

Two mickle chandeliers were situated at the northern and southern part of the hall, illuminating the already luminous hall.

"Today we hold our 500th entrance examination into this glorious institute!" The lady announced with a proud smile plastered on her face. A slight chatter ensued from the candidates, they were probably enchanted by the age of the institute.

"Yes I know, you must all be enthralled to hear this. The institute is as old as the empire. So you must be honored to stand in the same room as the legends of this great citadel!" She continued.

"The examination will be in two phases as you all might know. The first phase will be written, it is just a formality that no one gives a damn about!" She said slovenly "Once the first phase has been concluded the second and most important event of the day will commerce!".

The mumble in the hall grew once she was done.

"Oh, I wish you all well in the examination!" She yelled admist the noise.

>>>>> I sat patiently in the hall I was located, we were evenly spaced out, ten feet apart from one another. I looked around as the other candidates chatted away with each other whilst awaiting for the commencement of the exam.

The noise subsided as the door flew open and a man strolled in, he held his face high as he strutted in with a stack of papers suspended in mid-air a few feet from him while he directed its movement with his finger.

Once he reached the end of the room, he turned around and stared at us, his face as blank as a white sheet of paper.

"The examination will commence shortly!" He said.

As soon as the words left his lips, with the movement of his hands he distributed the papers to everyone. Mine landed on my desk with a bit of a light breeze.

Once the last paper was dispersed, he took out an hour glass and placed it on the table beside him while staring at us intently.

"You have only an hour!" He announced "You may now begin!".

I bent over and began scribbling the answers to the questions written on the paper. Leo was right, the questions were too easy which made me ponder why I bothered studying at all. But like he also pointed out, it was just to check how learned the candidates were which explained why they were this cheap.

The doors flung open and the candidates trooped out, conversing to themselves.

"How was it?"

"It was alright. Although I think I failed atleast two questions!"

Two boys beside me conversed with themselves, I walked forward a bit leaving their conversation.

"Lady Rosalind!" An acquainted voice called out to me.

I turned around to spot Adeline beaming at me.

"Lady Adeline, It is a pleasure to see you here!" I said. Finally, someone I knew.

"I didn't expect to see you here!" She said as she approached me.

"Well, it is not like I had a choice!" I replied, Leo and Edward's face popped in my mind.

"It has always been a dream of mine to be a student here!" She said in a dreamy tone.

"I know!"

She looked at me confused at my words. I stared back at her probably hoping that a reply would come forth.

"How did you. . ."

"Lady Rosalind!" A strange voice shrieked, cutting her off.

We both turned to see a blonde lady make her way towards us, she wore an unusual guile smile as she drew nearer to us.

She seemed to be up to no good.

"I knew it was you, the moment I spotted a red hair in the crowd!" She said grinning at me.

"Lady Catherine!" Her name flew out with no intention of mine. Slight images of a younger version of her and the real Rosalind appeared in my mind.

She claimed that they were friends but secretly she'd tell stories about Rosalind when she was not with her and bullied her whenever she got the chance. Some friend she was, I scoffed annoyed that I had to deal with her.

"What are you doing here? This is definitely not a suitable place for you!" She asked while wearing her awful friendly facade.

"Well, I just thought that I'd try my luck in this place and see where it leads me" I replied with a forceful smile.

"Oh, really?".

"Yes!"

Her smile slowly disappear as she stepped closer to us.

"I sent you an invite to a tea party I hosted last week but you didn't attend, I was wondering why!" She said with a tap of her chin "I finally understood why, you probably didn't have a decent dress to wear for it!" She said, her eyes trailed down my outfit, discorn written all over it.

"Oh no, that's not the reason!" I said with a slight shake of my head "I just don't attend tea parties hosted by Ladies who are not in the same level with me!" I retorted slowly while staring at her intently.

She scoffed, bewildered at my reply. Her brows drew together, eyes flared with anger as she stared at me. Not saying another word, she turned around and stormed off.

"Now I know not to invite you whenever I would want to throw a tea party!" Adeline's voice drew my attention.

"Oh no! I just said that to piss her off. I would definitely attend yours!" I replied quickly.

She smiled warmly at me "I know!".

"That was beyond amazing!" Two girls said simultaneously whilst approaching us.

"I love what you told Catherine!" The girl by the right said.

"Me too!" The other added.

They were identical, bearing the same features. Brown eyes that reminded me of chocolate and brown locks that was tied up to a bun.

"How rude of us!" They said in unison, bearing the same astonished demeanor.

"My name is Lady Guinevere Bellerose and this is my sister Lady Seraphine" The girl at the right introduced.

"We are the daughters of Count and Countess Bellerose!" Seraphine added.

"I am Lady Rosalind and this is Lady Adeline!" I said whilst Adeline waved at them.

"We hate Catherine!" Guinevere said suddenly.

"So, that's why we are so happy that you told her off!" Seraphine added, they beamed at me.

I smiled at them, they were friendly and seemed to know a lot of Nobles as we conversed more.

"When do you think that the second phase will begin?" Adeline inquired.

"I don't know!".

"I did hear that it will begin. . ." Guinevere paused.

". . . Immediately after the first phase finishes!" Seraphine concluded her statement.

I squinted my eyes at them, they had a funny way of speaking.

"We know, we just love to do it!" They said. Their response took me by surprise.

I smiled at them not saying a word.

Without warning, rays of light shot up from below us, I stared at the ground and noticed the spell inscribed on it. My eyes widened as the intensity of the rays increased.

"What is going on?" Seraphine yelled.

"I think we are being teleport. . ." Before I could finish the sentence a bright light emerged from nowhere and blinded me.

* * * * *

It was oval, its walls extended to a height that almost kissed the sky, not only was its height domineering its width was in a whole different level, the distance it held was beyond her imagination.

As its center was an elevated stage, it took a quarter of the coliseum. Sequentially, the candidates heaved in sight, each flummoxed at what transpired.

Slowly, the ground lifted her up to the outer world. Once it attained a certain level it halted.

"Welcome, everyone to the main event!" She announced, capturing their attention.

"Every year we come up with different challenges for the second phase of the examination and this year's challenge will be a duel!" She said "Now, there are certain rules to the duel. First, whoever knocks his or her opponent out of the stage wins. Second, whoever admits defeat loses and last but not least, You are allowed to go all out during the duel but you are not permitted to kill your opponent, if your opponent gets killed during the duel you lose and will be disqualified. You'll never be allowed to step your feet inside the walls of the Institute!".

There was a slight murmur in the crowd.

"Looks like the coliseum is packed!" Guinevere pointed out, looking around them.

"It seems like every one we know is here!" said Seraphine.

Rosalind looked around them, they were right. It was filled with people, there was a high probability that her family were sitted within the crowd.

"Now that we have laid down the rules. We shall begin!" The lady yelled.

The coliseum was in uproar as she descended from the stage. The spectators sat at the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting for the duels to commence.

One by one the candidates dueled, each showing off their special skills and powerful magical powers. As they fought, she knew deep down that her time would arrive shortly.

As the last candidates duel ended a name was called.

"Next to duel is Lady Eleonora Ravenscroft and Sir, Magnus Carroway!" The announcer called out.

Eleonora made her way through the crowd. For a split second their eyes met. Deception exuded from her as she stared at Rosalind, she smiled perniciously at her.

Rosalind gulped, it seemed that she truly made an enemy.

Eleonora turned around and ascended to the stage along with her opponent.

A bell rang signalling the start of their duel. Like a crack, it ripped through space—the darkness. It exuded from her as she stood still not saying a word, her demeanor was omnious. Her opponent quivered in fear as he watched her.

Soon it grew, engulfing everything, before anyone could understand what was transpiring, the entire stage was covered with darkness.

In a millisecond, something flew out of it. It was battered and covered in bruises.

Slowly the darkness dissipated leaving only Eleonora who stood still in the same position she was in earlier.

The coliseum grew quiet, one could hear a pin drop in the silence.

"L-Lady E-Eleonora wins!" The announcer said shakily "We need a couple of healers please!".

Eleonora gradually descended from the stage, all eyes were fixed on her as she moved.

"That was a quick match!" Guinevere said.

"It didn't even last five minutes!" Seraphine pointed out.

"Five minutes! It didn't last five seconds!" Rosalind said in a high-pitched tone. Her fear was evident in her voice.

Their eyes met once again, a mischievous smile tugged a corner of her lips.

"You are next!" She mouthed.

Rosalind gulped nervously as she watched her walk by.

"Do you think that she is still enraged about what happened in the Queen's tea party?" She asked Adeline.

"I don't think so!" Adeline said with a shake of her head.

"Really?" Her eyes looked hopeful at her reply.

"Oh no, She definitely is!" She replied.

"Thank you!" She said sarcastically.

Rosalind drew a long breath, her hands trembled as the duel replayed in her mind.

"Lady Eleonora, that was amazing!" A girl from a group farther from them said, fear written all over her.

Eleonora ignored her and diverted her attention to the Lady beside her.

"You know what to do?" She asked merely.

"Of course, it will be so quick. . ." She paused, noticing the glare she got from her ". . .not as quick as yours!" She added nervously.

"Good!"

"How would you desire it to be?" Catherine inquired.

Eleonora thought for a while, a devious smile tugged the corner of her lips "Anything that is exceedingly painful and will make her squirm, is more than perfect!".

"Your wish is my command!" Catherine said in a loyal tone, an eerie smile slowly creeped in at the thought of hurting her victim.

"They are up to something!" Seraphine said, squinting her eyes at them.

"Well, whatever it is, it shouldn't matter!" Guinevere said

"Next to duel is Lady Rosalind Everhart and Lady Catherine Aragon!" The announcer called out.

"Good luck!" The twins said.

"You have got this!" Adeline said firmly.

"Thanks!" Rosalind replied, smiling warmly at them.

She took a deep breath and made her way to the stage. Whilst she ascended the stage, Rosalind noticed the sly grin Catherine wore.

The bell rang indicating the start of the duel.

"Have you ever wondered what my power is?" She asked suddenly.

"I have no clue but does it have to do with boring me with stupid questions?" She asked, getting under her skin.

Catherine scoffed.

"You have grown a bit confident, haven't you?" She asked, glaring at her.

"I am glad that you are finally smart enough to realize that!" She said casually.

Her eyes twitched a bit and her nostrils flared as she shot her a fierce look.

"Since, you want to know my power so badly, I will tell you!".

"I really don't . . ."

"Poison!" She said cutting her off.

"Poison?" Rosalind asked stunned by it.

Catherine smirked. She got on her knees and placed her hands on the ground. Rosalind's brow quirked up a bit, intrigued by her actions.

Suddenly, a thick viscous purple liquid began to seep from beneath her hands. It extended to all the edges of the stage, gradually approaching Rosalind.

"Just a touch of this liquid is lethal to humans, Once it comes in contact with the skin, it gets easily absorbed and destroys the insides slowly. Did I mention that it will be excruciatingly painful?" Her malicious grin widened.

"I do wonder something though!" She said thoughtfully, unfazed by the liquid that slowly approached her "Is it flammable?" Her eyes glistened with knavery. Catherine's brows furrowed at the question utterly confused "What do you mean?".

Rosalind stamped her foot on the ground, releasing a massive wave of flames. It grew with intensity engulfing the purple liquid.

Shock filled her eyes as she stared at the approaching flames.

"This is. . . No, that's not possible!" She said her voice trembled as she spoke.

A smirk slowly played on the corner of her lips as the intensity of the flames increased.

Quickly, Catherine created a wall of poison shielding herself from the flames. She breathed heavily, her hands were cold and clammy, shaken by the immense power that Rosalind possessed. She was not the Rosalind that she knew, she was weak! Everything about her reeked of vulnerability but the Rosalind before her was different like she was an entirely different person.

Once the flames subsided, she dispatched a couple of arrows through her wall.

Swiftly, Rosalind materialized her swords and slit through them smoothly.

"I can't stay here any longer, I am like a sitting duck!" Catherine said beneath her breath.

The screws in her head began to spin as a plan formulated. Without much thought, She took down the wall and swiftly unleashed attacks, she hoped deep down that at least one would work.

Rosalind maneuvered them eathly. Once, she spotted an opening she decided it was time to attack.

Prior to Catherine's next attack, she clashed her swords together, creating a colossial wave of searing air, it was hotter than a pistol. Catherine grunted as she was being pushed back by the velocity. She hissed in pain as her skin came in contact with it.

She shook her head slightly, shaken a bit by it while trying to regain herself Rosalind prepared her final attack.

She slowly raised her right hand, there was a slight crackle in the air before her, it began as tiny arrays of flames and gradually grew to an entirely different level, overwhelming everything in its path, it approached Catherine with an intense speed.

Catherine's jaw dropped as she stared at the enormous comet of flame directed at her. Terror was evident in her eyes as she was sent flying from the stage.

She let out a cough landing on the hardened cool ground, aching all over, most parts of her were covered in blisters. Looking up, a fiery sword was pointed at her, a few inches from her eyes.

"You lose!" Rosalind said, her eyes flared as she looked down on her with contempt.