Chapter 12: The Trial to Be the Wizard

Kairo, Genie and Jan entered a preparation room, which was a circular stone chamber with plush red carpet, comfy leather stools and sofas, and a low round table with various platters of treats spread out.

Kairo's eyes widened with excitement as he closely examined a brown cube morsel.

"Elderberg fruit sweets. It has an interesting taste," Genie offhandedly commented.

Kairo shoved it in his mouth and took hearty chews. The taste was sweet and juicy like a fresh plum. His cheeks flushed red and eyes watered when the sweetness transitioned into a nasty chilli bite.

Genie chuckled at Kairo's flailing near the jug of water to pour a glass. It was cute. His heart pounded quickly when he watched the man swallow hearty gulps.

"Why would anyone eat these?" Kairo let out a blergh and splutter.

"They're beastkind favorites. Actually, Lady Bluesteed's." Genie gave his shoulder a sympathy pat and handed him a boiled lolly.

"Hard candy?" Kairo felt nostalgic by the site of the glistening round treat.

Genie nodded. Kairo didn't hesitate and sucked on it, tasting a pleasant orangey flavor.

"Kairo, Genie, I apologize for affirming your bet." Jan sincerely apologized to the men.

Genie smiled and shook his head. "You didn't have much choice. The countess put us on the spot."

Jan rubbed his chin with his thoughts on the matter. "Yes, she did, didn't she?"

Kairo gasped when a conclusion came to him. "We were set up?"

Jan sighed, "A strong possibility. I found it odd that our Valide Sultan would order her daughter to partake in your trails. Especially the strategy tests. She's not academic material."

Genie smacked his forehead, feeling both stupid and worried for Kairo. "It's all my fault then. I should've seen what that old limegoat was up to. If Kairo didn't challenge her..."

"Our Demon Prince would've had no choice but implicate you for accessory to fraud. For a Wizard Trial, the punishment would call for the harshest penalty to you, and instant death for Kairo." Jan gave Kairo a respectful bow. "But thanks to your challenge, Kairo, Genie has a chance to defend his good name. And you can continue toward being a wizard."

"I'd need to win."

"You've survived this far." Jan patted his reassurance to Kairo's shoulder.

Kairo nodded and returned an expression of confidence. "Don't worry, Court Visor Jan, Genie, I'll not fail."

He then asked the question of what purpose he would serve once he passed the trials.

"You'll be declared the Palace House Wizard. I'll explain more once the trials are over." Jan handed him some mage armor to wear. "Put this on and let's see you win this."

A short while later, Kairo re-entered the pitch wearing a billowing full-length white robe trimmed in silver. His jeans were held with layered belts holding pouches, vials, pills and pocket-scrolls. A weaponized silver hockey stick was hooked to his back.

Lady Bluesteed and Henka-guard were waiting for him near the center. The stadium had been cleared for his training.

"Here." She approached him with an item: a woven fine gold thread band in her hands.

"Do you mind if I place this on your head?" She politely asked, which stirred a blush to his cheeks.

He turned around so she could fit the band across his forehead. It held back some of his floppy fringe from his eyes. Magic flowed from the band, giving him a feeling of clarity he hadn't felt in a long time.

"This is a grounding band. It'll help you channel and focus magic, so it doesn't go out of control."

"Thank you. This is the second time I owe," he said, which stirred a coy response from her.

Genie felt a disturbing feeling in his heart at seeing the scene, but brushed it aside. Everyone was doing their best to ensure Kairo was a wizard.

"Our Demon Prince gave us one hour." Henka-guard soberly reminded them of the time limit.

"Let's not waste time." Kairo unhooked his hockey stick weapon and began his combat training.

The hour passed, and the crowds returned to the stadium, along with Lyon and the Valide Sultan to their throne booths.

At the center of the pitch grounds, Kairo and Leela faced each other with a 25 yard distance in between.

"Best say your prayers to the Mother now. I'll honor you with a slow and painful death." She whipped out her dual daggers, licking the flat of one of them for that maniacal effect.

Kairo scoffed and shook his head. He unhooked his hockey stick weapon and raised it before him.

She was the first to rush in for a kill. "I'll end this within a few ticks!"

"Not even you're that good." Kairo countered her dagger blows to his face and stomach with his stick.

He used brute strength to push her back. She tumbled backward to form a distance between them. Kairo took the opportunity to swallow a strength enhancing pill Henka-guard gave him.

His Holy Mother Cross glowed with a white light as he felt his strength magnified to an intense level. He rushed for her with a swinging attack. She huffed and laced magic into her daggers with a finger.

"I need to use magic, right." She swung her daggers about to cast various energy line attacks for him.

He swiftly countered and repeated the same lacing process for his weapon.

The stadium crowds roared with excitement when they saw him using magic for the first time. Lyon's lips twitched a smile as he watched the play from his booth. The boy continued to demonstrate his value. Genie, Jan, Lady Bluesteed and Henka-guard sat on the pitch's sideline benches to cheer Kairo on.

Kairo felt empowered by their show of support as he continued countering Leela's dagger attacks. But he had yet to make an offensive move.

"You call that magic? You're just making your daggers fly around." He shouted that stirred more of Leela's rage, hoping that her unstable emotions could leave openings to exploit. Jan had taught him a simple spell that could freeze space, but it had to be precisely casted to hit a target.

"Then I'll give you magic." Leela cried out as she raised her arms to call upon a mighty spell.

The skies sparked with lightning and became inflamed, stirring worries and looks of concern from some of the crowd.

Jan rose to cast a barrier field around the pitch to protect the audience. Sighed relief was audible around the stadium. He resumed his observations of Kairo and Leela's fight. Both were putting up a good show.

Kairo closed his eyes and performed the instant meditation exercise he learned from Genie. It would allow his mind and body to instant access his internal energies. With the headband Lady Bluesteed placed on him, his magic was easier to channel. His cross pendant swelled with blue light as he felt his energy materialize. He opened his eyes and swallowed a blue pill from his vial.

"Take this." Leela cackled as she drew down a fireball from the sky and tossed it to Kairo.

The crowds nearby yelped and whimpered at the sight of the approaching giant flame ball. But Jan's barrier made sure they were safe.

Lady Bluesteed clasped her hands before her in a prayer, as she watched worryingly at the ball of devastation roaring toward Kairo.

Kairo's focus was toward countering the ball's turn at the right time.

"This is it!" He raised his hockey stick weapon high and let go so it hovered midair.

He cast the spell Jan taught him. It sent his weapon spinning to stir a whitish energy then rays of light that pierced through the fire ball. A ray struck Leela directly on her forehead. The rest pierced the ball to make it swell.

At the moment the ball was about to explode, Kairo's aura glowed white and blue as he felt immense magic power coursing through him from his pendant.

"Time Lag: Stasis." His voice was a whisper when he said the spell.

Movements around the stadium went to a complete stop. Even smells went dull to the senses. The only one who could move was Kairo.

"Time Lag: Reverse," he whispered again, causing time to resume in a backward motion and at a rapid pace.

The ball flew backward and receded to nothing. Leela's spell casting was reversed. She huffed for breath, and with disbelief at the powerful magic she had experienced.

Her body was struck by one of Kairo's counter blows. Instead of cockily deflecting it as she had done before, she was knocked to the ground and feeling pains all over her body. Her magic was exhausted to the point she could barely move.

Kairo coolly stood over her, looking down at her with contempt. "You lose."

He swung his weapon to cast a curve of pure white magic for her head.

Leela's eyes swelled with fear for the first time: she cowered behind her arm.

Jan negated the below with his magic. He rose to judge the conclusion of the match: his eyes narrowed when he saw the countess was in no shape to fight. Kairo had given them another surprise showing. The boy is a true wizard.

"Countess Leela's magic is exhausted, her body is unable to continue the fight."

"The heck I'm not. I'll not give in to this alien brute!" Leela struggled off the ground to her feet. She pulled out her daggers to continue her fight.

Lyon's eyes narrowed. He rose from his sofa to stand majestically before his people. The midair view screen showed his face and powerful countenance.

"You are not fit to fight?" His eyes glowed a bright green, which had many people in the stands cowering with fear.

Leela yelped and screamed when she felt the prince's magic probing into her mind and body like millions of tiny bugs crawling under her skin. The sensation was quick to pass.

"Court Advisor Jan's assessment is correct. Kairo wins the fight." Lyon turned to resume his relaxed state on his sofa.

He cast a sideward glance to Valerr lounging on the other sofa. "Nice try."

Valerr faked a smile and innocent look. "She did her best."

They resumed their watch over Kairo's trials.

"You legend!" Genie roared with glee as he rushed to Kairo and slammed a bro's hug into him.

Lady Bluesteed did an excited clap, happy for his win.

Henka-guard stood next to the countess with his arms folded over his chest. He calmly said, "Underestimating your enemy was your sin. Seeing a comrade's power is my win."

Leela glared at Jan's royal guard. "You're a nobody guard. I'll have you sent to the Grain Mines and tortured."

Henka-guard huffed with a smirk and joined Kairo's winning side.

Genie stopped Leela from hastily making her exit. Kairo and the others surrounded her.

"Your apology to Genie." Kairo soberly reminded the countess.

Leela gritted her teeth, her hands curled into tight fists. All eyes were upon her to make good on the bet.

It took all her will to lower herself on all fours at Genie's feet.

"Sorry." She grumbled.

"I didn't hear you. Louder!"

"I'M SORRY FOR FALSELY ACCUSING YOU. I WAS A S-SORE LOSER." She panted and wheezed for breath with her head still bowed low: too angry to lift it.

Genie sighed and waved away his feelings. Leela rose and stormed out of the pitch grounds.

The Valide Sultan called a close on the trials. People gradually filed out.

Feeling all was safe, Kairo was completely relaxed: a bit too much as he passed out.