Trinity of Magic

Chapter 4: Magic Evaluation

As Ezekiel and his group entered the evaluation hall, a sense of awe washed over him. The hall was enormous, the ceiling so high it seemed to disappear from view. A magnificent crystal chandelier floated above their heads. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and paintings depicting various magical battles.

Ezekiel 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. Ezekiel grimaced, never before had he been so aware of his humble background as at this very moment.

The floor was made of gleaming marble, and four large, colored pillars rose in the center of the room. Each represented one of the primary affinities: Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. Between these pillars were smaller, intricately designed structures. They were representations of the minor schools of magic.

Ezekiel could see the scouts of the Great Families seated in their designated areas. Their eyes were focused on the group of newcomers. He felt the tension in the air rise as the gazes of the recruiters scanned his group up and down. All of them were eager to find out who among them had the potential to become a valuable asset. He took a deep breath and tried to steady his nerves, knowing that this was his chance to make an impression.

The circular room was filled with people of all ages. They could generally be sorted into three groups: newcomers, students, and teachers. The newcomers were eager to prove themselves. The students were eager to find out who would dominate the ranks of the first years next. And finally, the teachers were watching with hawk's eyes for any promising talents.

Past the sea of people, in the center of the room, surrounded by the pillars and structures, sat a large crystal. It was glowing with a faint blue light, hinting at its magical nature. Ezekiel stared at the crystal for a long moment. He had recognized it immediately from the many stories of the kids that had returned to the village. This had to be the legendary tool used for the evaluation. The crystal that revealed the magical affinity of all the newcomers the Fatebringer.

Ezekiel's gaze was drawn to the four cardinal points of the room next. This was where the seats for the students of the primary schools were located.

To the north sat the Fire Magic students, 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 Magic students, their seats surrounded by a pool 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 Magic students, their chairs carved from rock and enclosed by a small stone garden. The countenance of the students in this section was serious. They seemed to hold the proceedings in high esteem.

To the West sat the Wind Magic students, their area was partly obstructed by what seemed to be a white cloud. Ezekiel could see that many of the Wind Mages were leisurely smoking a pipe. For their health, he hoped that they were not responsible for the entire cloud.

And filling the space between those areas were the seats for the secondary schools. They were filled with students and mages specializing in none of the elemental affinities. Ezekiel recognized a few of them: Light, Darkness, Nature, and other minor schools.

Ezekiel looked around, trying to spot the leaders of the elemental factions. He had heard that the four great families would appoint somebody to represent their interests in the academy. His gaze was first drawn to the young man sitting on a throne-like chair in the center of the Fire section. Ezekiel could see the confidence radiating from the older student. He was leaning back leisurely in his seat with his arms crossed over his chest. His piercing gaze appeared to dominate everything in the room. His sharp features and strong jawline made him stand out even from the older mages in the room.

The person next to Ezekiel took a look at his red hair and noticed his interest in the Fire section. With a knowing smirk, he leaned in to whisper to him.

"That's Alexander Feuerkranz, the heir to the Feuerkranz family. He's a fourth-year student here at the Elementium. Rumor has it that he's one of the most talented Fire mages in the entire empire."

Ezekiel nodded, taking in this information. His mouth turned downward into a frown. He couldn't help but feel envious of Alexander's privileged position. He pushed the feeling down and turned his attention to the other leaders.

Ezekiel turned his head slightly to the right to look at the next figure. After no explanation was forthcoming, he bumped his neighbor's shoulder with his own and raised an eyebrow. The guy next to him sighed, but quickly resigned himself to the fact that he would have to give Ezekiel the full tour.

"That's Theodor Steiner, he is a third-year student. His father is the patriarch of the Steiner family, but he has not been confirmed as heir."

Theodor Steiner sat on the earthen throne with a confident posture. His muscular frame and chiseled features added to his commanding presence. His piercing gaze seemed to take in everything around him, as if he was constantly analyzing his surroundings. As Ezekiel watched, Theodor adjusted his grip on the armrests of the throne. The muscles in his arms flexed with the movement, hinting at the strength of his grasp. It was clear that Theodor was a formidable fighter and someone to be reckoned with.

"... 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 a rare talent, even though she was not originally born into the family. Miranda has been adopted into the Wellenrufers during her second year. The girl is said to be highly compatible with the Wellenrufer's Water Magic. Also, her combat skills are said to be exceptional

As Ezekiel looked over at Miranda, he was mesmerized by her beauty at first glance. Her blue eyes and hair seemed to glow in the sunlight that streamed in from the high windows of the hall. The girl's relaxed posture exuded a sense of confidence and poise. This was even though Alexander was glaring at her from across the room. Miranda seemed completely unfazed by all that was going on. It was as if she was fully used to being the center of attention. The man next to Ezekiel told him that. As Ezekiel watched her, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration.

Ezekiel glanced over at the last throne, the one in the wind section. There, he saw a petite girl with a playful expression on her face. This last leader seemed very different from the others. Ezekiel had the immediate feeling that she had no interest in lording over those beneath her. She seemed more like a prankster that didn't take anything too seriously.

Before the boy had a chance to learn more about her, however, a loud voice echoed throughout the hall, demanding silence. The noise in the room quickly died down as all eyes turned towards the front of the hall, where the arch magus stood. He was an elderly man with a long white beard and piercing blue eyes, and his presence commanded respect from all those in attendance.

As he began to speak, all conversations came to a halt and the room fell silent, all ears turning towards the headmaster as he delivered his address.

"Welcome, young hopefuls," he began. "For those among you who are not aware, I am Victor Windtnzer, headmaster of the Elementium." In his hand, he held a staff of gleaming white, topped with a glowing crystal that seemed to pulse with power. As he spoke, his voice boomed throughout the hall, commanding the attention of all who heard him.

"Welcome, to the magical evaluation," he said. "Today, you will be tested to determine your aptitude for the arcane arts. Those who show promise will be allowed to enroll in the Elementium, the greatest academy of magic in all the land. Fail, and you will be sent home, your dreams of becoming a mage destined to remain dreams forever."

With those ominous words, the headmaster stepped back and allowed the proceedings to commence. Ezekiel watched as the first name was called, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves. He knew that this was his chance to make a name for himself.

The first girl soon approached the crystal, her hands shook, and her eyes were wide with fear. She glanced around the room, taking in the sea of faces staring back at her. Finally, she turned her attention back to the crystal. Taking a deep breath, she placed her trembling fingers on the surface of the Fatebringer. The magical gem glowed a faint blue, almost imperceptible to the naked eye. The girl stood there, unsure how to proceed, her body tense and rigid.

The Arch Mage, Victor Windtnzer, looked at the girl with a sad expression on his face. "I'm sorry, my dear, but it looks like you have a very weak affinity for Water magic," he said, his voice full of empathy.

"While that gives you the right to attend the academy, I fear that it would be a waste of your time and resources. It is almost impossible for those with such a weak affinity to become True Mages in a sensible timespan. I suggest you consider finding another path in life."

The headmaster regarded her with pity as tears streamed down the girl's face. She seemed devastated by the news, and Ezekiel could empathize with her. 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 yet. As the evaluations continued, Ezekiel watched as one student after another stepped up. Some of them were visibly nervous, while others appeared confident and calm.

Despite the variety of reactions, the majority of initiates were ultimately disappointed. More often than not, the crystal remained unchanged, indicating that they had no magical affinity. Occasionally, a student's affinity would be revealed, causing a stir among the crowd. It was a lively event as most individuals congratulated or commiserated with the hopefuls. Some were even discovered to have dual affinities. Ezekiel was surprised when he saw that this trait didn't seem popular. He had assumed that more magical affinities would always be better. It seemed that he was still missing a piece of the puzzle.

Overall, the atmosphere among the newcomers was tense and anxious. The hopefuls waited their turn to find out if they had been blessed with magical affinities or not. Ezekiel 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 even notice.

Finally, someone Ezekiel knew stepped up to the crystal. Peter approached the Fatebringer nervously. He had barely taken his place when it began to glow, a deep brown color with specks of green. The arch magus examined the crystal for a moment, before speaking up.

"You have a greater earth affinity, alongside a regular nature affinity, boy. Usually, having multiple affinities is not something to celebrate, but 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 as the arch magus congratulated him on his affinities. Peter glanced back at Ezekiel and gave him a shy wave before walking off. He joined the students in the earth section, getting a clap on the shoulder from all around. Even Theodore 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 by the headmaster. Only about one in ten turned out to have an affinity, and Ezekiel noticed that most of them were nobles.

Occasionally, Ezekiel recognized a face from the carriage that had brought them to the capital or someone that he had noticed in the Great Hall. His neighbor, who had given him information on the four leaders, was rejected from the academy with no affinity.

The green-haired girl that had come on the carriage with Peter was called Linda from Bergen. She turned out to have a regular Nature affinity. Ezekiel grinned to himself for having accurately predicted this. He was so jubilant that he almost missed the arch magus' next words.

"Unfortunately," Victor told the girl, "you do not have a primary elemental affinity, which is what we specialize in at the Elementium. You would still be able to join the academy and train as a combat Nature mage if you truly wished it. But I'm afraid your path would be fraught with difficulty and disappointment. I would recommend to you a different course. We could arrange for you to attend Agricul Academy, where you will train not as a combat mage, but as an auxiliary, instead."

Linda almost looked relieved as she nodded. 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. Ezekiel 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, soothing demeanor, seemed to him a natural-born Water mage. While he thought Markus' steady, reliable personality was linked with Earth. That he had been right about Linda's affinity soothed his nerves a bit. He would probably be right with the guesses about his friends, too.

Finally, after almost three hours of ceremony, the first person from Ezekiel's village was called: Markus.

Markus approached the crystal with some measure of nervousness. He glanced back at Ezekiel and Lilly, his best friends, and gave them an anxious smile before turning to face the crystal. Markus closed his eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on his connection to his magic core. The crystal remained dormant, not giving any indication of Markus's affinity. As the seconds ticked by, Markus' face fell. Just as he was about to turn away, the Fatebringer's glow gradually increased in brightness to a muddled, silvery gray.

Victor examined the crystal and nodded. "Lesser Metal affinity," he declared, causing a murmur to ripple through the hall. "It's unfortunate," the arch magus continued. "We do not train pure Metal mages at Elementium, and without a primary affinity, we cannot offer you a spot. Your affinity is unfortunately 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 at first, as he stepped away from the crystal. But soon after, he seemed to have decided something in his heart. He walked over 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.

Ezekiel and Lilly shared a pained look as their friend walked towards them. The redness around Lilly's eyes showed the sadness that Ezekiel also felt. He didn't hear the next names the arch magus called, his focus solely locked on his friend. He had known that Markus had always struggled with their meditation. But his friend had never given up, always working hard and practicing whenever he could. Now, it seemed like all that hard work had been for nothing. As Markus approached them, Ezekiel pulled him into a hug.

"We'll figure something out," Ezekiel said, his voice hoarse with emotion. But at this, Markus pulled back. He gave Ezekiel 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."

Ezekiel stared at Markus in shock. He couldn't believe that Markus was turning his back on their dream of becoming mages, just because he had a lesser affinity of a secondary type.

Had he pushed his friend into something Markus didn't even want? Ezekiel's gaze lowered to the floor on its own. He was suddenly very aware of the role he had played in dragging his friend to the magical evaluation in the first place. He had always been the one pushing for his two friends to become mages with him. Now it seemed like his dream might at any moment come true, while Markus's was being crushed. 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, Ezekiel heard someone snicker behind him. He turned to see Martin and his friends laughing and sneering. Martin made a crude joke about Markus having a "trash" affinity. His friends joined in with their own insults and mocking laughter. Beside him, Markus stiffened, and Ezekiel flared his nostrils unconsciously. A surge of anger and disgust welled up in him at their behavior. He could see the hurt and embarrassment on Markus's face.

Ezekiel would not let those bastards get away with this, but before he could say anything, a loud voice called out: "Martin from Feldstadt."

Martin walked confidently to the center of the room. As he stepped up to the crystal, the room fell silent. The Fatebringer glowed a bright red, signaling that Martin had a regular Fire affinity. His friends cheered and clapped for him as he approached the Fire section. Gleefully, Martin looked back at Ezekiel with a smug grin on his face before taking his seat among the Fire mages. Ezekiel glanced to 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 from 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, Ezekiel'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 magus announced: "Greater Wind affinity." The people in the Wind section stood, clapping and cheering, and Lilly turned to look at Ezekiel with a big smile on her face. Before joining the Wind mages, she rushed over to give him a quick hug.

Then the next name was called.

"Ezekiel from Feldstadt!"

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