Are You a Wizard? Let’s Play Field Combat With a Hockey Stick

Kairo's feet were drenched and feeling raw. It was the first time, since landing on the Demon Prince's lap, that he realized he was only wearing socks. It was just as well he had a habit of sleeping in jeans and t-shirt.

However, he didn't raise a fuss as he followed Genie down the stone path, just in case the man had ideas of feeding him to the shriekers like his brother. To cope, he diverted his thoughts to what the harem would be like as he fidgeted with his Holy Ama Cross pendant.

To think harems exist in the same way as they would on Earth? He thought, lapsing into a frown. Ancient Earth harem captured slaves and were cruel to women and children.

He was uncomfortable with any culture misusing women and children for nefarious gains. It would pain him to see his mother and grandmother harmed in a place like an Ottoman Harem, where politics was a fierce game played to the death.

"Never mind. I'm not granted permission to step foot in that place anyway. And who am I to judge over nothing I know about. I'm overreacting." He mumbled to himself.

Genie kept a watchful eye on Kairo and his reactions. The earthun was an interesting character. It wasn't the first time one had landed on Lux, his planet, but it had been eons since. He had studied a lot about earthuns from the Chronicles of Sol the last wizard had left behind.

"So..." Genie started a conversation, drawing Kairo's mind back to him. "How good are you at fighting?"

"Not good. Unless you're being mugged, no one fights," Kairo straightforwardly answered.

Genie frowned. "And you've been mugged? How'd you handle that?"

"I haven't. Never been mugged. Never made a punch."

Genie was finding this fact unrealistic. No fighting? It wasn't possible for a person to survive without showing fists to protect what was theirs.

Not that random fist-fights were common in the Palace of Princes, unlike other areas of Misculanious, but to not know combat was a peculiar thing.

Is my brother certain he's a wizard? All wizards had been master warriors in their worlds. He looks like a demon just like the rest of us, yet...

He looked Kairo up and down taking in his wizard's cross pendant and clothes and noticed the man's grubby-looking feet in wet socks.

"Are your feet wet?"

Kairo looked down to his soaked socks. "Yeah, they've been for a while."

"It doesn't bother you?"

"It does, but I've been putting up with it. Thanks for taking notice."

Genie's frown lifted to an expression of bemusement.

"Oh. Why didn't you say anything before?"

"Didn't want to be shrieker food."

Kairo's deadpan manner caused Genie's guard to relax, with this new insight earning some of his respect. Unable to fight but resilient: the Earthun was turning out to be a treat.

"You certainly can't do a wizard test with soaked feet." Genie grinned and clicked his fingers in a pattern to make the space between them glow with white light.

The light solidified into lines, which drew a hexagon patterned symbol midair.

Kairo's eyes widened at the magic being displayed before him. It looked uncannily like the symbol arrays from those anime shows.

Genie's hand entered the stationary symbol: he yanked out a pair of sturdy dark leather boots.

They were a stylish arrangement of buckles and straps running the length of one side. The heel shimmered with an oily sheen and the same blueish-silver metal that was on the cell's walls.

He also pulled out a towel and tossed it at Kairo's face.

"Dry your feet and put these on."

Kairo caught the towel and nodded with gratitude then did as suggested, examining his new footwear with awe. They were a perfect fit and felt snug against his feet and calves.

"How did you know my size?"

Genie smugly answered, "All-size boots. They adjust to the foot size and shape when you put them on."

"That's a handy use of magic." Kairo thought that mass-producing them back on Earth would earn him enough to buy an island.

Genie used magic to move the towel and toss it back into the symbol. He clicked his fingers again to make the symbol disappear. Then slung an arm over Kairo's shoulder to drag him into a brisk walk.

Kairo was led past a lush array of healthy plum and peach trees, which was an inviting fresh fruit aroma of freshly squeezed juice. An unusual yet pretty sight of gold and rainbow-colored small birds flew about them. Once again, no green.

He looked down and saw the moonstone path lined with bright and colorful small flowers. The path diverged into various directions toward a white stone building in the far distance.

Their direction was for a pantheon-like structure with a domed shaped roof rather than the triangular ones of the Roman era. It was a pleasing sight for Kairo.

"What is that building?" He blurted like a wide-eyed kid.

Genie chuckled and glanced at him with a wry expression.

"The Chamber of Petitions. It's where all important matters are handled, where we judge all demons and beastkind, and torture wizards."

Kairo's excitement sobered.

Genie bellowed with laughter. "Come on. It's not that scary. Besides, you've already visited the place that time you landed on my brother's lap. Your ballsy entrance I approve." He gave Kairo a thumbs up.

Kairo sighed and decided to keep his thoughts to himself.

He followed him to the building and around the side where they eventually arrived before a narrow and long stone bridge. It was connected to a set of large, solid gates and a circular building on a far island.

He gulped and heart raced when he looked down and saw choppy ripples on dark oily waters surrounding the bridge and island: a strong guess to what was causing the water's movements.

"Come." Genie gestured toward the building.

The bridge-walk was a decent half hour stroll.

Eventually, they arrived before two sentry guards at the gates. The guards wore hard helmets, which matched their red and black leather armor bearing blueish-silver symbols of a crescent moon and crown on their shoulder pauldrons.

It must be the royal seal. Kairo concluded.

"Here for the Wizard Trials." Genie formally announced as he handed them an embellished badge with the royal seal shining at its center.

The guards nodded and wielded their longswords in what looked like a fight, but their clashing was forming a magic symbol in the air. The symbol flashed over the doors to make them open.

Kairo followed Genie's lead down red velvet lined floors on polished white marble surfaces. They entered what looked like a sports field stadium.

Genie led him to the central grass area, which was surrounded by many bench tiers.

Wait! They're not going to ask me to compete in an Olympic event?! Kairo gulped.

"This is where your Wizard Trials will be held."

"Genie. Why do I need these trials?"

"If you want to keep existing in this world, you need to be a wizard. Failure to be a wizard means that all you're good for is shrieker fodder." The stern tones to Genie's words made Kairo take this advice seriously.

"Right. So how many trials will there be?"

Genie nodded and gave him an overview.

Kairo had to prove himself on three tests. The first was combat.

"You can fight in whatever method and means suit you. The arena will read your will and intentions, and gather the appropriate challengers."

Kairo glanced up and around the stadium's benches and saw a crowd of people in various quality robes, armor and cloaks filing into rows.

"Um, what is with the audience?"

Genie cast a look of indifference across the gathering crowds, which were making a full house. "Oh, them? They're either here for the show or on standby to be your challenger."

And added with a pat to the man's shoulder. "It's not every day a demon gets to see a wizard make a play! Do your best to put on a great show."

Kairo looked worryingly over the hundreds of people crammed onto a bench.

"What are the other tests?"

"Second is more boring, involving strategy games. If you're good at gribble board games, you might do well with this one."

"And the final one?"

Genie betrayed a devious smile and expression. "Magic."

"Magic." Kairo repeated the word, swallowing a nervous gulp. He didn't have magic, so how could he pass this test?

"Do your best to not die, or at least too quickly. My brother took a liking to you, so you'll get the best tests to put on a good show! It's a great honor." Genie energetically stated with aims to cheer up Kairo's spirit. Naturally, it did the opposite. But Kairo saw it was pointless to complain, so began thinking on how to tackle the first test.

Genie clicked his fingers to disappear from Kairo's sight. He reappeared to be seated on one of the front benches next to Jan, Lady Bluesteed and a few other important looking people.

Three gongs rebounded across the space to stir silence among the crowds.