Magic!

These are more like placement tests. So why do they call them practical exams? Do they just not know what a placement test is? Or is it simply just because they are examining our practical skills?

“That is how this next exam works.”, Nadia finishes while trying to force herself to stay awake. Damn it, lost in thought again. I look around at the others in Group S and hope I am not the only one completely lost.

“Alright, let’s start with Yamakuma.”, A man shorter than even me says looking at a piece of paper. Could he be a Dwarf? I would not be surprised since Elves exist here.

“That’s me!”, I exclaim in surprise as I raise an arm.

“Well then.”, The man says with a gentle smile. “Come with me.”, He adds turning around and heading into the doorway nearby.

After I step into the small room, the man closes the door behind me.

“Oh right!”, The guild member exclaims. “My name is Ming Lexon.”, He says with a hand out for me to shake.

“Yamakuma Lydia.”, I respond as I shake his hand.

“Now then.”, Lexon begins as he walks to the other side of the table taking up most of the space in the room.

“What exactly are we doing in here?”, I meekly inquire as Lexon sits down.

“So you weren’t paying attention I see.”, The man responds with a chuckle. “I’m testing your magical affinities and potential.”, Lexon answers. Finally! I get to know more about the magic here!

“Interesting!”, I yell with a bit too much enthusiasm as I step to the seat across from Lexon.

“Always good to see an applicant excited about my work.”, Lexon says with a smile as he begins to pour stones into a gold bowl encrusted with gemstones of various colors. What are the stones for? And why is that bowl so ornate? “Gold is the best metal for magic. The gemstones each correspond to one of the elements of the world.”, The mage explains without me needing to even voice my questions. He finishes pouring the stones into the bowl and begins to pull some of them back out.

“Why are you pulling them out now?”, I ask Lexon as he continues.

“They need to be in a specific order.”, He answers, “It’s quicker to do this than to put in each stone individually.”

“Is it?”, I ask rhetorically as he still pulls out stones.

We sit in silence for what feels like an eternity until Lexon finally finishes his organizing. I open my mouth ready to say something but the man speaks first.

“Now put your hands in the bowl.”, Lexon orders me. “Once that is done, all I have to do is cast a quick spell and we’ll figure out what affinities you have.”, He explains further as I begin to bury my hands into the stones. The stones and bowl are not cold like I expected. The mage’s face goes blank as he wraps his hands around the bowl. The bowl quickly lights up. As the light fades from the bowl itself all the stones in the bowl begin to glow instead. The kaleidoscope of colors is beautiful and mesmerizing.

“Fascinating.”, Lexon says staring at the glowing stones in the bowl. “I’ve seen many people have multiple affinities. I myself have air and metal.”, He explains with a large grin. “But I have never seen or even heard of someone having more than three of them.”, He finishes looking at the me. “I would assume your potential will be quite low for them.”, The mage quickly adds with a chuckle. So it does work like that, I thought so.

“So how do we test potential?”, I inquire the more experienced mage.

“An experimental device.”, Lexon answers as he moves the bowl aside on the table. The light of the stones quickly begins to fade. The mage stands up and walks over to a small cabinet in the corner. “I personally don’t like these things but they’re quick and they are relatively accurate so far.”, He groans in annoyance.

“That didn’t really answer my question.”, I mutter aloud while the man sets the device on the table. It appears to be some kind of combination between a blood pressure monitor and a record player, strange. “So how does this work?”, I ask rephrasing my question.

“Honestly, I don’t know the specifics.”, Lexon answers as he grabs the pad of the record monitor. “Blood is the quickest way to figure out someone’s mystical potential so this device draws some and then it runs multiple tests through the main part of it.”, He explains while wrapping the pad around my arm.

“How does it-”, I begin before what feels like a needle stabs me under the pad. “Ow!”, I yell in surprise more so than actual pain.

“Sorry about that. You’ll be alright but I should’ve warned you it hurts a little.”, Lexon responds to my surprise.

“Do I need to stay hooked up to the machine or can you remove the pad now?”, I ask with a grimace of annoyance.

“It has to stay on.”, The guild member answers as the needle of the record playing part begins to spin. “Ah, first element is underway.”, Lexon says with a smile. “It should be over in a moment.”, He adds. Oh thank god, this will be over soon.

The two of us sit in silence while the machine continues to run tests. This has not been very quick. My eye twitches as I feel another stab in my arm under the pad. Does it continue to take more blood!?

“It should have ended some time ago.”, Lexon says to me, probably noticing my eye twitch. “This device usually finishes almost instantaneously.”, He explains as he looks down at the device. “I hope it isn’t malfunctioning.”, He voices his concern quietly while moving his head closer to the record player looking part of the device.

However, before he can truly begin his examination the device loudly beeps. I turn my head and cover my ears trying to dampen the overwhelming sound in my ears. Why do medical devices always have to be so loud?

“What?”, Lexon asks dumbfounded looking down at the small printed out results. “Th-this shouldn’t be possible.”, He stammers in disbelieve. “What are you?”, He asks as he looks at me with wide eyes.

“Human.”, I answer clearly confused. “I thought that was obvious.”, I add.

“Not even us Dwarfs can have high potential in every element!”, He exclaims while tossing the results at me. I look down at the little paper in front of me. I cannot read the symbols on it. This clearly uses some kind of code system for whatever reason. Lexon points at the top symbols as he speaks, “This says high potential in air.” This is when I notice almost all of the symbols are the same as the high potential ones. “This says high potential in fire.”, He explains pointing at the symbols right below the other one. Lexon takes a deep breath seemingly to collect himself. He removes the pad from my arm as he speaks, “I’m going to test something.” The mage grabs hold of my shoulders with a frown. “This shouldn’t hurt. Most likely.”, He mutters somberly. That is not comforting to hear.

“All things are connected in this world.”, Lexon begins to chant. I am too confused to voice any questions or complaints. “The elements flourish and give life! Binding all things together!”, He continues to chant. I can feel something in the air now. He is clearly casting a spell, but I cannot figure out what it is supposed to do. “I now call upon the emptiness! The silence between all! Break the elements’ chains!”, The mage finishes his chant.

I feel pain. I feel an emptiness. I retch, my stomach is twisting in knots. I would throw up if I had anything in my stomach. What did he just do to me!?

“Pandemonium!”, Lexon exclaims as he lets go of me. “What are you!?”, He inquires once again. He begins to examine my face as he says, “You’ll be okay.” He wipes my nose with a handkerchief. There is blood on it. What, what am I?