Ch 50 - The Exemplary Mages (Part 2)

Actually, I thought I might easily be able to reach the 2nd tier stage without much of a struggle.

Not to brag or anything but being a genius who managed to unlock the 1st tier stage even before the blessing ritual, I thought it would be pretty easy to rise higher. So during the blessing ritual even though I had no idea what to do, I still thought that being destined for greatness, I will reap the most benefit from it.

But I never once thought that I would have to do this thing called meditation to reach 2nd tier stage. Never in my life had I done meditation. My mom used to do yoga and meditation and sometimes even asked me to join her, but I just shrugged away thinking it was pointless.

If only I had joined and learned this thing called meditation then I wouldn't be standing here twiddling my thumbs like a 1st tier mage.

Now that was a big miscalculation on my part.

My lack of understanding of meditation has led me to be stuck in the 1st tier stage.

You could blame my ignorance for this.

Although I was getting the hang of this so-called meditation during the blessing ritual only if there was more time I would have reached the 2nd tier stage… probably.

When I came to realize that there were more 1st tier mages like myself and even better candidates, I had to switch to plan B.

Plan B resorted to me standing out like a sore thumb and showing every skill as a peak 1st tier mage. I also bragged about getting secret knowledge of mana arts from the blessing ritual which let me control mana with precision but in reality that was all a lie.

The knowledge that I actually bragged about was from the magic books that I read since I was 2 back in my home's library. These books that my father brought home, almost covered the basic knowledge about mana arts. I have been reading such books thoroughly trying to understand the mortal realm's knowledge about the fundamentals of mana arts.

I mean no ordinary kid would know such vast knowledge about the working of mana arts as much as I did. So even if I lie, they will immediately believe me. I really did gain knowledge from the blessing ritual.

This in return would surely make me special from the rest of the 1st tier mage candidates as I was the chosen one. After doing all this, if I still don't get a shot at making the cut in the list, then no other 1st tier mage will have a shot either.

But I am fairly confident that I performed pretty well than most of the 2nd tier mages will ever possibly do at my age. Yeah, I'll definitely make the cut, just need to believe in myself.

"Damn it!" I shouted as I looked at my hands.

They were trembling.

Why the heck is this happening!

Why can't I just shake off this ominous feeling?

Sigurd called out the next name,

"Hendrickson Bale."

A boy who had a monster-like claw on one of his hands walked towards the stage. He looked quite arrogant as he walked towards the stage in a domineering manner. He was a mutant mage who was able to transform his hand into a certain monster.

At the moment he could only transform his arm.

But I am pretty sure he could still easily slash humans to mince meat with that gritty claw.

I wonder what monster that arm belongs to.

Even Hendrickson joined the stage beside Trisha.

She didn't bat an eye and stood still like a doll not even glancing at Hendrickson.

He also didn't care about Trisha and stood beside her like no big deal.

Sigurd continued,

"Ian Charter"

A boy can control fire, so he's an elemental mage as well.

Currently, he's only able to create flames through his nostrils.

"Naman Shelby"

Boy, yet again. Able to create a wall of ethereal material like a barrier.

Although it's just the size of the small window that could just barely protect her face.

He falls in the psychic mage category.

"Rina Bolina"

Psychic mage, she has the ability to create 3 flying small blades made of ethereal material just like Naman before.

"Adam Ultier"

Psychic mage. Creates weird floating eyeballs that give him another vision.

It's just an extra vision, probably.

"Maltese Dogerade"

He's a wind mage. Can create a small tornado in his palm.

"Mathew Hal"

Mutant mage. He is that eight-arm freak from before that I picked a fight with. He was back in his peak teenage form using his eight arms again. Not only can he grow an extra arm, but he also changes his appearance to an adolescent teen.

He also walked tall and proud onto the stage like some king's parade.

I should have just sliced his arms off and ruined his chances to get in. Damn it!

'Why my name has not been called yet.' I thought worriedly.

The head mage took various names from the list-

"Greg Noz"

"Dalton Nicarz"

"Natasha Demus"

But all these names belong to 2nd tier-stage mages.

Not even a single 1st tier mage name has been called out as of yet.

I again laid back my worries and focused on the names.

"Reagan Morph"

A young brat wearing handcuffs marched towards the stage.

The nearby candidates were quite wary of him but he paid him no mind.

Reagan was a special case, you could say.

His ability is that he can shoot out hot beams of lasers that travel to a certain distance before vanishing. When he got this ability at first, he managed to burn down nearby candidates beside him. Thankfully the divine flame was still there, so the nearby candidates quickly recovered from the wounds.

But Reagan was in a panic.

He couldn't turn off his ability, instead, he tried to close his eyes shut with his hands and burned them in the process. Thankfully the divine flame healed his hands quickly. Finally, the red cape mages ran into action and put him in these special handcuffs that lock mana flow.

Reagan's ability to shoot hot beams of lasers from his eyes makes him an elemental mage.

But it seems that his ability may be a permanent one that can't be turned off. The ability is permanent which is also why he falls into the psychic class as well.

Hence Reagan falls in the semi-elemental-psychic category of mages.

He's not the only oddity.

There was also this one girl who controlled her hair-like limbs.

Now this time she falls in the mutant-psychic category of mages.

More such mages were now hard to define which category they fall into.

In short, there are many different types of mages across the world.

These three categories can't contain diverse types of mages.

As Sigurd kept announcing, the stage was filled with 25-30 mages, all filled with 2nd-tier mages.

Why hasn't he announced my name yet?

I was on pins and needles just waiting for my name to be called.

Sigurd fixed his glasses,

"Alicia Akemia. That concludes all the 2nd tier mages."

What!

'I tightened my fist glaring at the tabloid. Is this it? Why has my name not been called yet?

What the fuck were those red cape mages writing on the tabloids when I was showing my skills?

Don't tell me they made a spelling mistake in my tabloids which resulted in them not picking me!?'

I started making various scenarios for my name not to be taken.

I couldn't believe it.

Many of the 1st tier mages like myself were dissatisfied with this.

The most dissatisfied was me.

Maybe I am not fated to be one.

Sigurd suddenly coughed,

"Alright, this year the batch of candidates is quite special. This time the board of mage moderators has decided to even handpick some of the 1st tier mages as well."

'This is it! Announce my name already! Stop tickling me by the balls!'

I gritted my fist as I glared at Sigurd.

If he tries to waste more time, I head up the stage to give him a piece of my mind.

Sigurd looks at the tabloid and then looks at the candidates seated on the stage,

"Jason Rendal,"

Ok, that's not my name.

Did he make a spelling mistake?

I was the only brilliant 1st tier mage, right?

Maybe the old fart is just getting behind the years and just mispronouncing my name.

That must be it!

But to my surprise, there stood a boy wearing spectacles looking like a nerd.

He walked onto the stadium standing beside his fellow exemplary candidates.

That was Jason.

I started sweating profusely. Why am I not called out yet?

I had never been this nervous and irritated my whole life.

Sweat was oozing from all over my body and my hands were trembling like hell.

I felt like a nervous husband whose wife is going through labor pains during the delivery of her child, and all I could do was pray.

"The next person is~"

My name, please!

"Marcia Gonzalves"

FUCK!

Some other kids' names! Maybe it's my name and he pronounced it wrong?

He's human and mistakes do happen.

But to my horror, there was a girl named Marcia who then walked toward the stadium. She was a very shy, awkward girl as she approached the stadium. Another fellow 1st tier mage made the cut.

I guess this is it-

"The last one is~ Benjamin Almond."

Sigurd's voice as he pronounced my name was like music to my soul.

"Fuck yeah!" I shouted out loud while pumping my fist in the air like I just won a war or something.

Towards the end, I had almost given up. My nervousness and fear all were replaced with ego and arrogance in an instant.

"..."

The nearby 1st tier candidates just heard me cursing as they watched my victory pose. I quickly lowered my fist and organized myself.

Fixing my attire I walked towards the stadium in pride and glory.

Of course, I made it on the list, I am a genius of mana arts.

Plan B was a success.