Zack walked into the Moon Towers training area. Somehow this place seemed different than the last time he was here. The air seemed heavy and thick with stress, Zack understood why, after all, five of them will be going home today. Suddenly Zack felt a weight on his shoulders that had not been there before. He swallowed back what felt like sandpaper and tried to focus on something else.
Zack thought back to what the strange boy from his dream said to him. "What could he mean by my real name?" he whispered to himself. Zack felt as if he were right on top of the answer yet thousands of miles from the truth. He only needed more time.
"If you stare any harder the carpet'll burn straight through." Zack looked up and saw Lin standing there smiling as if the world was made of happiness and rainbows, somehow this helped to clear Zack's mind and to gather his thoughts.
Taking a deep breath Zack said. "Really, well if I could do that then being a mage will be a cinch." he attempted a smile but only had partial success, the look on Lin's face confirmed this for him. Sighing Lin dropped her smile in favor of a look of worry.
Zack saw the look before she could mask it, it was enough to shake him completely out of his funk. "What worried about me" he laughed. Lin's face began to flush as she began to stammer and trip over her own tongue which only made Zack laugh harder.
Zack had laughed until the administrator entered the room, once he was there the air in the room changed, Zack couldn't even force himself to laugh. Suddenly his stomach felt like iron again. Swallowing deeply Zack waited for the results of the mages exams to be announced.
Zack watched as the admin stepped onto the podium that was in the room they had been waiting in. The admin cleared his throat then said. "These are the applicants that will be joining the royal mage corp, Zachariah Dark, Linesa Wells, and Derious Barbarous. Please make you're way to the podium."
Zack watched as a man with a medium build stepped forward. That must be Derious, he thought as he made his way forward as well. "I thought it was supposed to be ten of us" Zack whispered to Lin as she followed close behind him.
"Guess they had a change of heart," she whispered back. Zack saw her eyes were scanning the people around them. Zack understood her caution, he was aware of all the eyes on them as well. "Keep your guard up Zack," She said still eyeing the crowd.
While Zack was confident no one would attack them he wouldn't leave it simply chance. "Yeah I know," Zack said wishing hed had the foresight to bring his weapons, or at least his practice sword.
Zack stood in front of the podium with Lin and Derious and waited while the admin explained why they only selected three people for the royal mage unit. The admin waited for the room to quiet before talking.
"These are the royal mage core recruits, as for the rest who were going to be selected, we based that of the assumption that at least ten of you would break the hundred point mark in our examination. since the majority of you made below seventy points, those above sixty will receive basic training the rest will be going home." the admin explained.
Everyone in the room seemed stunned by the explanation. Zack wanted to know more about this point system they had set up. He was about to ask when the admin ordered the three to leave the room.
The mage behind the admin escorted them to a large room with lavish silk furniture embroidered with black, white, and gold decorations. There was a white bear rug on the floor that seemed as if it could get up at any time and walk away. A beautiful chandelier hang from the roof tinting the room in a warm golden glow. Zack thought this must be the room gods live in. He began to wonder if he belonged here.
"Please take a seat," the mage said. "The administrator will be here soon to explain your next assignments. Zack was still nervous and a little confused as to why all three of them had been gathered in such a lavish room if the were only going to get some simple grimoires.
The mage returned a few moments later with food and drinks for the applicants. None of them hesitated to eat, by the time the administrator entered the room most of the food that brought had been eaten.
The administrator let out a loud laugh that seemed to shake the entire tower. "Its good to see you all have healthy appetites," he said with a chuckle. Sitting he grabbed a cut and poured some tea which had gone cold and heated it with a small flame he made.
Zack placed his own tea down, he'd expected to be the first person to ask his next question but the person to actually ask was Lin. "When do we get our grimoires?" she asked around a mouth full of cake.
The administrator laughed again. "Not to worry, you'll receive your grimoires tomorrow in front of his highness the king, until then just be patient," he said. Zack had no problem waiting a little longer, especially since he'd get to meet the king. "For now," he continued. "Just return home and await further orders."
"Wait," Zack yelled. "Will being a royal mage mean we can't see our families anymore," Zack was worried about Aria, he was pretty much all she had, if he left her, she'd be on her own again.
"No, you will all have free reign over your own activities, so you can see any and all family at any time you wish." the administrator explained. "Any more questions?" he asked, no one said anything so the administrator dismissed them.
As Zack made his way back to the inn he began to wonder what his new life as a royal mage would be like. He sighed as if he'd been awake for days, and he had the exhaustion to match.
He could tell tomorrow would be a long day.