Zeke looked at the opulent surroundings with his mouth hanging open. This was by far the most magical sight of his entire life. He was suddenly very aware that the next couple of hours would determine the course of his entire life: He would either leave these very halls as a fledgling mage or spend the rest of his life as a farmer. As he took his first step forward, he noticed how his dirty boots left marks on the pristine floor. Zeke grimaced. For the first time in his life, he felt every bit the farm boy he had never wanted to be.
The floor was made of gleaming marble, and four large, colored pillars elevated the stage in the center of the room. Each pillar represented one of the primary affinities — Fire to the north, Water to the south, Earth to the east, and Wind to the west.
Zeke could see rows upon rows of students seated in their designated areas. Their eyes were focused on his group of newcomers. He felt the tension in the air rise as their gazes scanned the crowd.
He had never felt this self-conscious before. In this hall of marble and riches, he felt like an intruder, like he didn’t belong. However, the gentle brush of fingers against the back of his hand reminded him of the fact that he was not alone. Zeke grabbed Lilly’s hesitant hand, locking their fingers. He forced a confident smile and steeled his heart. After a last breath, he stepped forward to face his future head-on.
In the center of the room, atop an elevated platform, sat a crystalline orb. It was glowing with a faint light, hinting at its magical nature. Zeke stared at the crystal ball for a long moment. He had recognized it immediately from the many stories of the kids who had returned to the village.
This was it, wasn’t it? The legendary artifact used for the evaluation. The crystal that revealed the magical affinity of all the newcomers – the Fatebringer.
After coming to a stop directly in front of the stage, Zeke was finally able to get the full measure of the room. The crowd of newcomers was spreading out around a central stage, surrounded by the elevated seating areas.
This was where the seats for the students of the primary schools were located. Each section was decorated in a style befitting its respective element. From his current position, he saw the many faces looking down at him and his peers.
To the north sat the Fire Mages, their seating area adorned with countless braziers. The flickering tongues of flames gave this area an eerie yet animated vibe.
To the south sat the Water Mages, their seats surrounded by pools of shimmering water. The idyllic scene was only overshadowed by the many beautiful girls that frolicked near the water.
To the east sat the Earth Mages, their chairs carved from rock and enclosed by a small stone garden. The countenance of the students in this section was stern. They seemed to hold the proceedings in high esteem.
To the West sat the Wind Mages, their area partly obstructed by what seemed to be a cloud. Many of the Wind Mages were leisurely floating around, smoking or snacking without a care in the world.
Filling the spaces between those areas were the seats for the secondary schools. Those were the students specializing in none of the elemental affinities: Light, Darkness, Nature, and all the other minor schools. But Zeke didn’t care much about them.
He looked around, trying to spot the leaders of the elemental factions. From what he had heard, the four great families would appoint one of their children to represent their interests in the academy. Those were the students he would have to impress if he wanted to join them in the future.
His gaze was first drawn to the young man sitting on a throne-like chair in the center of the Fire section. The red-haired boy was leaning slightly forward. His piercing gaze was domineering as he swept his eyes across the crowd. His sharp features and strong jawline made him stand out, even compared to the teachers and older Mages. It was immediately clear that he was a man who was used to giving orders.
The person next to Zeke took a look at his red hair and noticed his interest in the Fire section. With a knowing smirk, he leaned in to whisper. "That's Alexander Feuerkranz, heir to the Feuerkranz family. He's a fourth-year student."
Zeke nodded, taking in this information. Alexander was the man to impress if he really turned out to have a Fire Affinity. A daunting task, as the older boy didn’t appear to be very approachable. Well, he would just have to find a way.
Zeke turned his head slightly to the right to look at the next figure. After no explanation was forthcoming, he bumped his neighbor's shoulder and raised an eyebrow. The guy next to him sighed but quickly resigned himself to the fact that he would have to give Zeke the full tour.
"That's Theodor Steiner, leader of the Earth Mage faction. He is a third-year student and his father is the patriarch of the Steiner family, but he has not been confirmed as heir to the family."
Theodor sat on his earthen throne with a rigid posture. His muscular frame and chiseled features projected a commanding aura. However, his presence was completely different from Alexander's. Instead of domineering, he appeared thoughtful. His watchful eyes constantly scanned his surroundings, so as to not miss even the slightest details.
"... and that's Miranda Wellenrufer on the water throne," his guide explained. "Miranda is a fourth-year student at the academy, the same as Alexander. She is the only one of the current representatives who wasn’t born into one of the four great families, though she was adopted during her first year. Her combat skills are said to be exceptional, and she won first place in her grade, stealing the win from Alexander.”
As Zeke’s eyes found the girl in question, he was mesmerized. Her blue eyes and hair seemed to glow in the sunlight. Her relaxed posture exuded a sense of confidence and poise that he had not seen before. Even though Alexander was glaring at her from across the room, Miranda seemed completely unfazed. It was as if she was fully used to being the center of attention, and even relished in it.
Zeke glanced over at the last throne, the one in the wind section. There, he saw a petite girl with a lazy smile. Out of the four, she was clearly the odd one out. There was nothing domineering or awe-inspiring about this girl. Her slightly closed eyes even hinted at the fact that she was barely able to stay awake. He couldn’t be sure if it was out of boredom or if the girl was tired, but the scene it painted was very different from her peers.
Before Zeke had a chance to learn her name, a loud voice echoed throughout the hall, demanding silence. The noise in the room quickly died down as all eyes turned towards the center of the hall, where a figure descended from the ceiling. He was an elderly man with a long white beard and piercing blue eyes, and his presence commanded respect.
"Welcome, young hopefuls," he began after landing on the stage in the center of the hall. "I am Victor Windtänzer, headmaster of the Elementium." As he spoke, his voice boomed throughout the hall, commanding the attention of all in attendance.
"This is the Fatebringer," he said, pointing at the crystal. "With its help, we will determine your aptitude for the arcane arts. Show promise, and you’ll be allowed to enroll either here or in one of the many other schools scattered across the empire. Fail, and you will be sent home, your dreams destined to remain dreams forever."
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With those ominous words, the headmaster stepped back and allowed the proceedings to commence. Zeke watched as the first name was called, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves.
The first girl, Melanie of Baumgarten, made her way through the crowd and ascended the central stage. Her hands were shaking, and her eyes were wide. She glanced around, gulping as she took in the sea of faces staring back at her.
Finally, after an encouraging nod from the headmaster, she found her courage. Melanie turned her attention back to the crystal. Taking a deep breath, she placed her trembling fingers on the surface of the transparent orb. Nothing seemed to happen at first.
The Arch Mage placed a hand on the center of her back. Zeke didn’t know what the old man was doing, but mere moments later, the Fatebringer began to glow, albeit faintly. The headmaster looked at the crystal for a moment then returned his attention back to the girl.
“You have a Water affinity, girl. But it is weak, so weak in fact, that I strongly discourage you from attending the academy,” Victor explained with sad eyes. “I fear that it would be a waste of your time. It is almost impossible for those with such a weak affinity to pass the exams. Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that any family would choose to adopt you. I suggest you consider finding another path in life."
The headmaster regarded her with pity as tears streamed down the girl's face. She was devastated by the news, and Zeke could empathize. He probably wouldn't fare much better after getting told the same.
Other hopefuls looked on with a mixture of pity and relief. Most were just grateful not to be the ones being told that their dreams were out of reach. As the evaluation continued, Zeke watched as one student after another stepped up. Some of them were visibly nervous, while others appeared confident and calm.
There was a visible divide between the children who came from Mage families and those who didn’t. For the descendants of Mages, this event seemed more of a formality. Only very rarely did any of them leave without having their affinities confirmed. However, those of Mage descent had almost uniformly extreme reactions if they were not invited to the academy. One student even got so hysterical that the headmaster had to knock him out.
Out of the commoner-born initiates, the vast majority ultimately left disappointed. More often than not, the crystals remained unchanged, indicating that they had no magical affinity. Occasionally, a student's affinity would be revealed, causing a stir among the crowd.
Overall, the atmosphere among the newcomers was tense and anxious. The hopefuls waited their turn to find out if they had been blessed with Magic. Zeke could feel Lilly gripping his hand ever tighter. He tried to squeeze back gently, but his nerves turned the light squeeze into a death grip of his own. Fortunately, the girl didn't seem to notice.
Finally, someone Zeke knew stepped onto the stage. Peter, the boy he had met on his way here, approached the Fatebringer. To Zeke’s relief, he turned out to have an affinity. Furthermore, out of all the commoner-born students, his glow was by far the brightest, a deep brown color with specks of green.
The Arch Mage examined the crystal for a long moment. "You have a greater Earth affinity, alongside a regular Nature affinity, boy. Those two are a good match for each other. You have earned yourself a spot among your peers. Go on!"
Peter looked relieved and proud in equal measures, as the headmaster congratulated him on his affinities. As he made his way to the Earth section, his eyes met Zeke’s. The boy gave him a shy wave before walking off. He joined the students in the Earth section, getting claps on the shoulder from all around. Even Theodor Steiner himself congratulated the boy with a smile. Apparently, greater affinities were not common. Ezekiel was happy for his acquaintance, but he was getting more restless by the minute.
Thousands of hopefuls had gathered to have their affinities tested. From among them, over ninety percent were rejected. Only about one in ten turned out to have an affinity, and most of them were nobles.
Occasionally, Zeke recognized a face from the carriage or someone that he had noticed in the Great Hall. His neighbor, who had given him information on the four leaders, turned out to have a Water affinity. The boy was apparently from a Mage family from the capital.
The green-haired girl that had come on the carriage with Peter was called Linda of Bergen. She turned out to have a regular Nature affinity. Zeke grinned to himself for having accurately predicted this.
"You do not have an Elemental affinity, which is what we specialize in at the Elementium. I would recommend to you a different course. I can arrange for you to attend Agricul Academy, where you will train not as a combat mage, but as an auxiliary, instead."
Linda looked relieved as she nodded vigorously. Soon after, an assistant ushered her over to the group of transfers. She was not the only initiate whose affinity was declared unfit for the Elementium. They had all been encouraged to pursue an education elsewhere.
Zeke expected to join the Fire mages at the Elementium. He fervently hoped that his friends' affinities would also qualify them as combat mages, so they could all stay together.
He had long had his suspicions of what he believed his friends' affinities to be. Lilly, with her calm, appeasing nature, seemed to him a natural-born Water mage, while he thought Markus' steady, reliable personality was linked with Earth. The fact that he had been right about Linda's affinity soothed his nerves. He would probably be right with the guesses about his friends, too.
Finally, after almost three hours of ceremony, the first person from Zeke’s village was called: Markus.
Markus approached the stage, walking past Zeke and Lilly. He glanced back at his two best friends for a moment and gave them a slight smile before turning to face the crystal. The boy closed his eyes and took a deep breath. However, even after a while the Fatebringer remained dormant, not giving any indication of any Magic affinity. As the seconds ticked by, Markus' face fell. Just as he was about to give up, the crystal glow gradually increased in brightness to a faint, silvery gray.
Victor examined the crystal. "Lesser Metal affinity,” he declared. “That’s unfortunate, as we do not train craftsmen at the Elementium and your affinity is not strong enough for another, more specialized academy to take you on. As it stands, I'm afraid your chances of becoming a mage are not good."
Markus looked disappointed as he walked off stage. But after nothing more than a few steps, his face had hardened. He seemed to have decided on something. He walked back to the group from his village. His expression was difficult to read, but there was a sense of finality in the way he carried himself.
Zeke and Lilly shared a pained look as their friend walked towards them. The redness around Lilly's eyes showed the sadness that Zeke also felt. He didn't even hear the next names the headmaster called, his focus solely locked on his friend.
Markus had always struggled with their meditation. But his friend had never given up, always working hard and practicing. Now, it seemed like all that hard work had been for nothing. As Markus came close, Zeke pulled him into a hug.
"We'll figure something out," Zeke said, his voice hoarse with emotion. But at this, Markus pulled back. He gave Zeke a sad smile and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Zeke," he said, "but I don't have the talent to be a mage. I don't want to waste my time, or yours, trying to pretend otherwise."
Zeke stared at his friend in shock. He couldn't believe Markus was turning his back on their dream, just because he had a lesser affinity. Their dream? Had it really been their dream? Or was this something Zeke had forced upon Markus?
He was suddenly very aware of the role he had played in dragging his friends to the Evaluation. He had always been the one pushing for his friends to become Mages. Now it seemed like his dream might at any moment come true, while Markus would be left behind. As the realization of what was happening hit him, tears welled up in his eyes, and he couldn't stop them from falling.
Right then, Zeke heard someone snicker. He turned to see Martin and his friends laughing and sneering. “As expected from a family of farmers and layabouts. Is anybody really surprised by this? I think his trash affinity perfectly fits his trash family.”
Zeke felt Markus stiffen beside him, causing Zeke to flare his nostrils unconsciously. A surge of anger and disgust welled up in him. He could see the hurt and embarrassment on his friend’s face. He would not let those bastards get away with this, but before he could say anything, a loud voice called out.
"Martin of Feldstadt."
Martin swaggered to the center of the stage, approaching the crystal with utmost confidence. Momentarily, the Fatebringer glowed a bright red, signaling that Martin had a Fire affinity. His friends cheered and clapped for him as he approached the Fire section without as much as a glance backward.
Zeke gnashed his teeth, but he had something more important to do right now. He returned his attention to the spot where Markus had stood a moment ago, but his friend was nowhere to be seen. As his eyes searched the faces around him, the Arch Mage called out the next name, his voice echoing off the walls of the circular room.
"Lilly of Feldstadt!"
Momentarily forgetting about Markus's disappearance, he watched on with a racing heart. He hoped ardently that his other childhood friend would have a strong affinity and be able to join the academy with him. As Lilly stepped up to the crystal, Zeke’s heart beat loudly with anticipation and nerves. Relief flooded him when the crystal shone bright yellow.
Lilly's face glowed with pride as the Arch Mage announced: "Greater Wind affinity."
The people in the Wind section stood, clapping and cheering, and Lilly turned to look at Zeke with a big smile on her face. Before joining the Wind mages, she rushed over to give him a quick hug. Shortly after, it was finally his turn.
"Ezekiel of Feldstadt!"