When I entered the hall the rest were eatting and entering so I avoided the head guard and hid in a far corner eatting as fast and quietly as possible. Several commoners gave me a shocked look and then after looking around to not be spotted a slight nod. I was so glad that they did not all hate me that it made my heart lighter.
The small gnome started to chatter away about his ambitions. to become a famous engineer. His name was Bug because he apparently loved to study them. The much thicker and strong looking dwarf by his side was named Oval because it was the shape of the first gem he touched as a infant. He was going to train to be a Weapon Smith and blacksmith so he could help their people.
They both were from our gods lands but came from different villages, I introduced myself and told them I wanted to be a multiskilled magic user. I was happy to meet them and if they passed would ask them for help producing a multidimensional toil in the future. A bruff laugh came out of their mouth and then they said sure as if I was making a joke. They didn't know I would come and collect on that breakfast agreement in the future.
So we finally started the first round of testing for seven days straight we were lock into small sound or off rooms and given different subject tests on all the principle subjects from history, weapons to magic. Each test took the participants from six to sixteen hours to complete depending on their capabilities and enability.
Most did fairly well in the beginning but by the fourth day some broke from total mental exhaustion and went home. Almost all the younger ones gave up because of missing family or too much pressure causing a lot of crying and sadness. Those continuing on missed this scene and worked on.
The royalty had comfortable beds proper bathroom facility and nutrient rich foods designed to motivate them to do their very best. We the citizens had a small plank, a blanket and one bedpot for the entire test, in addition we were given hard tack, cheese and bread st the beginning of the day and nothing else.
I didn't really care by then any way so just split my food in two for morning and dinner and soon learned to keep a tray to cover the bed pot or I would probably have died from the staunch. Of coarse after a week of no bathing I felt bad to let any one near me, otherwise I felt good about my test results.
After being released I headed directly to the servants outside showers and took a bath cloths and all. After I found my extra clothing at least the old ones I sighed as I saw a servant walk by in my best shirt. Dam, even they looked down on me probably thought I was killed that second day by the pig so why let somebody else get the goods.
I was so tired of thinking but my brain didn't want to stop it kept telling me I could have added this or maybe drawn a small sketch to explain something better. Only the smell of the food and my old school mates helped me snap out of it. Isis said it was the first time she had been able to answer on all the vast subjects. Even Osrisis said he was confident that this was by far the best he had ever done.
This made me happy until I looked at young Set he said he froze a lot and it felt like his brain would only partly work. Set felt that he could have done much better and felt as if it was a no pass. He was glad he would have another three chances to pass the entrance exam in the future. I told him to not worry and just wait you never know he could have still potentially passed.
I was told the next day we would start the weapon testing: swords, knifes, whips, blunt weapons, throwing weapons, projectile weapons and bows. Their skills on each would be recorded and they had to show exceptional potential on at least three of them. This would take three to four day and there would also be a general fitness testing as well.
I was actually really looking forward to being outside and getting fresh air and to stretch my body. Usually I was outside except when in lessons or sleeping, even eatting we were always working or enjoying nature. I would have to say we felt better just being by or surrounded by growing things unless it was a warped life.
I was asked if I would like to join the other to sleep in the hall, I politely refused and went quickly to my new friends the piggyback family. I grew and weaved roots creating a perfect bed with sweet herbs and grasses to make it super soft then provided them with goods to enjoy as well. That night I dreamed of trees, grain fields and a small stream that flowed close by.
When the call to breakfast came it woke me up but far from the normal bellows, it was followed up by numerous other noises and sounds. When I finally came fully awake, I found that not just my pig sty was full of growing things but the whole pig field and even some of the surrounding field that had been barren were now changed.
It was as if my dream had come to life, a small stream had just appeared and ran merrily across the now sweet smelling grain field with various patches of herbs carefully blended in. Even some fruit trees that's looked to be about a year old were growing along the far edges.
It made a very beautiful and peaceful scenery and even small root and reed benches sat throughout the changed area. I had never done anything like this before and even though my magic was always strong it had never done something like this since I healed my mother and came to understand what it was.