"Nin...! I want to die!" I dramatically cried out before falling into the arms of the man I had been working so hard to help. His progress becoming clear to me as I felt his body correctly adjust to the amount of pressure I put on to him. No longer was he overexerting on what he did not need to. No longer was he prone to brief flight when moving fast.
"That bad, huh?" he nervously asked as he helped me regain a footing on the ground. Even if I kept playing it up and staying limp in his grip just so I could feel more of his progress. Progress possible because of the support I gave him. It made me indescribably happy to see this.
"Yeah! They kept complaining at me for moving too much, but I don't like being idle!" I let out, finally revealing the truth of the matter. Something that led to Nin dryly laughing before he let me fall to the floor.
"Guess it will be fine for you to die then." he joked before holding out a hand.
"You better not be like this at my funeral." I told him with a grin as I shot up back to my feet with his assistance.
"Your funeral? I like to think you'd be attending mine more likely. Because you are trying to imply I would let something happen to my friend." he said to me, his body straightening out with pride after he said the last word. A toothy smile being my response before we moved out of the way of other examinees. We hadn't shared a room, everyone got portal'd to their own room. But we did share an entrance.
And one thing that made me even happier than I already was, was the fact I did not need to sing for him. Just his eyes focusing on me was enough to keep his attention off of the annoying noises we now heard. Well, heard indeed, but clearly? No, no we did not.
"We have a little time off for the moment, but then we can move on!" I then told Nin as I took his hand and brought him outside. Falling down onto the grass and letting my body warm-up under the orbital-halo. Nin's knees soon appearing next to my head and then under them when I moved on to them. The orbital-halo being replaced by the shade created by his skull.
"Having fun down there?" he asked me as one of his hands cautiously moved to stroke my hair. A hand I soon encouraged to do so by forcing it on to my head.
"I am indeed, and I wish it would not stop."
"Do well and I might do it again." he then joked as his head briefly turned to the other building we would have to go to. A large, arena-like complex that would be used to test our various magic abilities. Abilities we clearly defined in the previous part of the exams just now. Along with a few other basic literacy and language-related things.
But, it was mostly magic ability and spell describing and detailing. What the spell was, what kind of casting we used to make it. What it would be used for, how we actually used it. That sort of stuff.
One thing I was really excited about, however, was the one spell that truly defined who I was. A spell I would be very glad to have watched by Nin. It wasn't an impressive spell when I practised. I wasn't really able to practise its scale in a shower or around others.
Yet, it would very much be when we reached the final moments of the exam, the upcoming practical one. I would get to show it off, all my efforts displayed to the entire Academy if they were in on it. But, especially to Nin, I would give him a show he would never forget, I would give him the greatest magic show ever! And I would also show the best dance I would ever do for now.
It made me feel all kinds of things, excited, scared, worried, happy, eager, so many contradictions were in me. But, I was sure and certain to beat back all the mindsets that encouraged failure. Like the people going on to join the Royal Navy back home in the Grand-Kingdom. Failure was not an option, only exceptional display and by the gods would I display only exceptional skill and passion!
This wasn't just a test for me, it wasn't just some exam to become something else. It was to make a stand about what I was and to bring another into that place too. I had sworn my efforts to the life of another alongside a fellowship of others. Like-minded in purpose or unique, we all worked to do the same.
I was just merely the one who went out first, the one to rile up the crowd. The one to make it clear that the means they have given us would ensure our friend kept on living. That he kept on being given the means to show the world what he could do. So he could finally begin to heal from the problems that plagued him.
Problems I intended to see through before tossing them off the mountain so they could plunge to their dooms. The sky was the limit and Nin needed help cutting off so many ballasts before he could get up there. And even if I could not cut all of them, I would lighten his load by bringing him up with me. So even if we could not go to the moons and back, he could at least be free to go almost anywhere.
And now, well, it would be nice if he stopped slapping my face!
"Lari, the speakers just asked for you."
"The exam has started!?" my shock clear as I shot up like one of Einervaene's lightning bolts.
"N-No, they just asked for you specifically. Full name and all." he clarified before he got up.
"Which way!? Which way!?" I repeated over and over to him before following his arm that rose to guide me.
"Don't go so fast that I can't keep up!" Nin called out to me as I slipped and slid all over the place until I reached a building. An isolated building off the main path with the Oddity House Head just outside it.
"Is Nin with you?" I was asked, but I did not give a response as he soon came into view.
"Ah, you." was what he said in response to seeing Frihdeicalkbr.
"Indeed, who else would it be? Either way, good news for you," he said while pointing at me, "Your prior request was granted, Nin may observe your practical exam. However, there is reason to believe you might be graded even harsher. Not all members of staff here hold my opinion on our rarest of students."
I nodded, "So is this the building we'll be using?"
He shook his head, "No, it was just somewhere off on the side. Somewhere quiet. You'll both be following me now, however."
"Right." I said in acknowledgement before turning to Nin. A bright smile on my face as I worked to keep his morale up during this walk to the building. A walk that seemed to drag on longer than walks in this place usually took. And even with all the stuff I did with Nin, my heart pounded harshly.
The water that was coming from me wasn't even magic, it was the beginnings of a profound sweating! Yet, Nin's smile was able to make my body seem like it had gone back to normal. He may have been a source of my stress right now. But, that smile I helped make more common calmed me a lot.
"Good luck." he said quietly and softly before he pulled me in for a hug. Something I did not expect him at all to do as he was normally averse to starting the physical aspects of our friendship. And as I smiled and broke off the unfortunately brief hug... I moved my hands about like a net, catching the love he gave to me and placing it close to my heart before going on ahead.
Briefly turning around once more to watch as he disappeared into a portal before I was then sent to an open field. A field of barren brown earth surrounded by equally land in colour stonework. But, it was very decorative even if it all just blended together from the point of view I was given. I wonder if that was the point, though?
All this blandness was a means to keep the attention on me, the one who would display their might? I guess that was fine by me, reminded me of the places I was inspired to dance at. They were open buildings that, while decorated and colour vibrant, always were open for one purpose. So the dancer was the decoration of note, to say nothing of how they dressed so openly compared to the average person.
A woman formerly wrapped up in light robes would become free and barely covered even at their most private places. A man would be similar to, but they were often not the centre of attention. It was the women who got the attention at these dancing places. I understood why, but I often couldn't as well, I just focused on how they moved.
Moves I began to show off each time I was asked by those above to display my skills. I would use their tools to show my skill over my internal-magic and I would let loose as I moved on to the next one. Doing what I could to enjoy my time in this place, from trying to imitate my training with Nin when I ran. All the way to copying what we did on the roofs.
So much of what was keeping me calm now was rooted in why I was here earlier than expected. Nin's presence kept me going and it kept away all the distractions that would ruin the moment I was about to enjoy. The moment they would all enjoy and what would give me an abundant harvest to share with him. Soon he would see it all and I would be exceptionally happy.
"Now, Examaniee Larishazza Sl'Ayiysab, show us what you got. Let us see what spell currently serves as the peak of your efforts." I heard ring out through the arena. A sudden and strangely loud order that did not flow well like the others did. As such, I had lost my prior rhythm and was cluelessly looking about. My body surrounded by flowing sapphire magic while the arena was soaked with water.
"Watch closely, Nin." I soon quietly said before I began to steadily move on to singing with a boisterous tone that echoed about. Carried on by bubbles that held some of my sweet tune for later where they would then pop and let it out. And as I sang, my body moved again, feet went forwards and backwards while my hips shaked. Fingers would burst orbs of water and each stamp of the foot shook the ground.
The water I had let out before also jumped up into the air like rain that went up, a means to observe my music. And as it picked up, I began to move with far greater distance before I began to use a construct to get about. A large figure soon forming out of the water that was serpentine in nature. Its roar being an amplification of my singing that let it reach further before it burst in the sky above me.
And then I came to a sudden stop while breathing harshly. A copy of my dance appearing in the well-controlled downpour I was now under. Soon after it all fell down, one final manipulation of it came from me as many spiralling towers went up into the sky. Their majestic mass just suddenly disappearing into wind-like sapphire light that went back into me.
My body taking on an almost divine-like aura as my magic calmed down from a raging storm into a calm, open sea. A faint shade of blue existing all throughout the arena as my magic calmed down. Then, I fell down laughing as I finally let all the stress out. My body having developed ghostly aches all about it.
"I am done, Nin... Now it is your turn." I said to no one yet someone specific before a grin formed. My eyes looking up intently at the open roof as I began to ponder. Had those outside the arena seen and heard my efforts? Or was the engineering genius of this Academy only giving the allusion that was the case?
But then, cheering. The place filled with cheers that just kept on coming and then when I got up, I saw something I hadn't noticed before. This entire place was full of people who had been watching!? And well, I found tears forming as I suddenly lost my spine.
I had not expected so many people to have been here. Why were so many here? Had this been a part of the conditions Frihdeicalkbr had to deal with? That if Nin was to watch others would too?
Or was this always going to be the case!?
I did not have an answer but I was happy. So happy indeed. I even felt like my heart would give out from embarrassment as my face went a deep crimson like Einervaene's often did. And, now that I found myself looking on at the crowd, I saw that even she was there.
In fact, it seemed like a lot of Oddity House was here in general.
"LARI! LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" I heard someone call out from the side. It was a bit blurry seeing them, but, their sudden cloud of cool mist made it clear who it was.
"Did you like it, Tiya?" I cried out as I began to move away from the open field of the arena. I appreciated the praise very much but this was just too much. There was just so many people in there. So many souls who had been given a sight that would last them a lifetime.
'Did I do well?' was something I then wanted to say to Nin as I saw him rush out in front of me. But, I just couldn't stop crying and I was soon in his arms again as he sang praises of me over and over. A smile nearly being welded permanently onto my face as I heard it all from him. It just hit differently for some reason when I heard it from him.
Everyone else's was just as valuable but seeing him so joyful following my efforts was something else. I could have only assumed he was with the Academy staff as I performed so to see him so ecstatic made me proud. My dancing and singing made him forget all that pressure he was likely under in that room. The pressure I must have put on to myself as I was just so relieved.
"C'mon you little baby, let's find somewhere quieter." he nearly laughed out as he picked me up like a child before he took me away. Away from the stadium and to someplace quieter. I thought maybe he would take me to our dorm just so I could collapse into a bed. Instead, I found myself in a training room after the distinct feeling of being portal'd happened.
"Why'd you bring me here? I am done with my exams, I don't need to train anymore!" I limply cheered while in his grip to which he laughed before putting me down.
"No, you still got a few more days before you get laid off, Teacher Lari." he said as he looked down at me. Having just flopped onto the floor again after he put me down on the floor.
"Alright, nothing too intensive then? I'm exhausted." I panted out with a breathless laugh before slowly getting back up. Almost corpse-like my next few movements were. As they were all slow and needlessly laborious.
"Well, I'm not too sure how much effort on your part it would take. But I wouldn't mind seeing that part of the exam where you were asked to do something with your aura. To make it as defined as possible I think the staff and such said." he asked of me before his hands began to imitate my aura.
"If that's the case," I began with a grin before getting up, "how about you make sure the area I am in is low in internal-magic? Then you can get a real show."
"About time I actually got to use that thing." he remarked as he began to push and twist objects on the console. And he was right, he was pretty much never using it during our training sessions. But, admittedly, maybe he should have given he was still learning the language of this place.
"You all good there?" I then found myself asking as I approached him.
"Yeah, just finding where everything is..." he muttered before I felt a sudden vacuum in the area. He had just successfully made the low-magic area but he had also put no safeguards in place. I wouldn't tell him, though, I wanted to get a more visceral reaction from him. One truly in awe of what magic can do!
"Sit or linger about here!" I then ordered him after pulling him away from the console.
"Alright, alright, calm down." he said to me as I let go. And, to my anticipation, his posture was relaxed and showed no signs of fortitude. He was no wall at the moment, just a blade of grass. He would bend so easily!
I grinned to the point my cheeks began to hurt a little, "You ready?" I mockingly asked to some extent. Revelling in his ignorant look about before I got a thumbs up from him to start. But, before I did so, I calmed myself down which was rather hard to do. We just had my practical and now this bundle of joy would come undone soon!
My heart had indeed proven its worth recently, but, for now, I needed it to shut up as I needed my magic calm. It needed to be non-intrusive to the low-magic region otherwise I could set it off before I was ready. Yet, even then, it would still be immensely enjoyable to experience as it would all come together. In spite of the problems, though, I made it to the middle of the mock town he had made for me.
A bland and undetailed town, but, it had all the important details like thick walls and solid structures. Things that were the most satisfying to see go up in arcane flames. The most enjoyable of all was about to happen! Pure destruction!
"And just one more time, you ready?" I asked him once more as my body began to move. A final nod coming from him as he unbalanced himself leaning forwards.
And then, boom.
The area around me lit up in a fireball-like explosion that tore away everything around me. Cemented walls were deconstructed back down to bricks before being broken down into shards. Glass just flat out shattered into razor-sharp dust. And I dropped a good distance as the floor gave in to the power of my actually modest display.
A distinct pale blue and purple mixture lighting up the entire chamber as it roared about. And soon, Nin's yelps of surprise filled the room as the results of the magic discrepancy washed over him. Harmless as it was as this wasn't some world-shattering aura I had. I was no Elemental Emperor Dragon after all!
"That wasn't what I wanted to see again..." he said in shock first before breaking out into laughter. His first action being to up the magic density of this place before he came back for me. A fit of my own laughter having me in a state of paralysis as I looked up and then down at his jumpy form. The true scale of my destruction becoming very clear once I was brought out of my crater.
"So... So... What do you think?" I finally got out as my chest shook about with what was left of my laughter.
"Probably the most vivid display of magic I have seen since... Since I was in the hive." he started off with excitement at first before he killed it off. Almost near-instantly which I did not like at all. Joy should last for longer! Not be dealt with, with such efficiency!
"Don't mind that now, Ninno, just focus on the show you're about to get." I told him while tapping one of his cheeks. Refocusing his mind back onto me before we sorted out the details on the console. And now, with the area more like how it was during the exam, but still weak enough for me to really show off... I ran away.
I ran away from him and took up position, bouncing up and down on my heels and toes. All the while watching him as he cautiously took up position. A brief giggle leaving me as I watched this. There would be no reason for such actions this time around. Yet, I was fine with letting him carry on with it.
"Ready?" I then asked him after he came to a stop.
"Yes, I am ready to be caught in an explosion." he sarcastically retorted as he stepped back again.
"Prepare to be disappointed then!" I replied with as my aura began to light up the area again. This time, however, there was no explosion, only a dull sapphire glow that lit up all around me. And soon, it became like a desert at mid-orbit, only instead of heatwaves, it was arcane water. A calm and relaxing display that warped the other sources of light near me into twisting and turning about.
"Beautiful..." I faintly heard from Nin as I closed my eyes and hummed to myself. The calming sensations I was feeling causing me to end up dancing again as I just couldn't stop myself when I was like this. Letting my aura out always made me happy and calm as everything just felt so natural. Like I was home again or at the edge of the All-Coast in a resort.
And, despite my want to rest and to recuperate from what I did in the exam. I found myself once again doing some of what I had done in that exam again. Just moving about and singing as my magic filled the area before I became quiet again. My eyes opening once more when I found myself having wandered into a wall.
"You're in my way." I said to the wall that had interrupted me. My aura suddenly taking on a violent aspect that sent everything flying away. A forceful but much gentler eviction of obstructions than what happened just earlier now occurred. With walls being knocked over and what was built to sturdier standards just sliding away as if they were washed away in a flood.
Nin then laughed, "Remind me not to interrupt you when you are dancing."
"Oh, I'll make an exception for you, Nin!" I replied with as my aura went away. My smile no longer being hidden by the elaborate magic display.