The day had finally arrived; the day Allen Fleming had been waiting for. The day he could start the path to become a magical knight.
He had been waiting for the day that he would be eligible to attend the academy ever since he was young. To finally learn, study and practice elemental magic at the famous and prestigious Magical Knights Academy.
Despite the many years of practice since he was young, a part of him still felt he wasn't ready. For his magic, despite being the air element, was extremely weak. But that did not matter to his mentor, the one who taught him how to hone his magical skills.
"It is not a matter of how much magic you possess, or even how powerful your magic may be. It's a matter of will, and how hard you work to push forward," were the powerful words his mentor told him on the first day of his magic training, when Allen was eight years old.
Even though Allen knew and understood this, he still felt weak and not well prepared. Even though almost every day for several years he practiced his weak magic and improved his physical abilities to make up for his weaknesses, he still had a lingering feeling of inferiority to the other mages that would be taking the same exam he would be.
Now, seven years later at the age of fifteen, it's time for Allen to take the exam, whether he feels completely ready or not. He will have to try his utmost best if he wishes to attend the academy that has procured the many great mages and magical knights England has ever seen.
He began to pack his things together that he will need for the journey ahead: a backpack with some clothes and a few other belongings, the actual clothes on his back including the singular glove he always wears on his right hand, and of course the sword he was given by his mentor before his mentor departed.
With his things finally packed, it was time for him to say goodbye to everyone within his home village in Lyfast.
Allen's hometown of Lyfast is a very small farming village, located several days west of London. The population is very small, so all of the villagers know each other personally. Very rarely does the village get visitors, nor do many leave the village.
Allen headed outside of his home, and headed towards the fields the villagers tended to. He made his way towards the fields that his family owned and worked on.
"Oh Allen, good morning," his father, Martin, greeted him.
"Morning father," Allen smiled while walking up to him.
"Is it finally time for you to head out?," he asked, adjusting the hat he wore to block the sun from his face.
"Of course it is! Today is the big day I head out to London!," Allen excitedly replied.
"My, and it only felt like yesterday that mage was starting to teach you how to use your magic! How you've grown Allen", his mother, popped up out of the crops.
"It's felt like a long time, but I am ready to study and practice so I can become a magical knight!," Allen exclaimed.
"Well, best of luck to you. And if for some reason you do not pass, you are always more than welcome back here," his mother replied, smiling.
"Thank you! But, I don't plan on failing!," Allen grinned.
With his final goodbyes to his parents, his younger brother and sister, and the rest of the townsfolk he has grown to know in his life, he finally headed out to the big city of London, where he would take his exam to start the path to become a magical knight.
The academy is where many young, prominent mages attend to improve their use of magic, and eventually become a magical knight. Magical knights are the respected mages who protect the cities of England and keep its citizens safe. And of course, this has been Allen's dream ever since he was little.
The academy is located in the larger, more populated area of London, where many mages of all types gather to learn, study, and practice magic. There are also those that buy and sell magical goods, or even meet others in the pursuit of magic related matters. The biggest type of magic in England, especially London, is elemental magic. Elemental magic consists of earth, air, fire and water.
In addition, elemental magic has a unique, natural balance system. Earth magic is strong against water magic, water magic is strong against fire magic, fire magic is strong against air magic, and finally air magic is strong against earth magic.
However, during the early 1500's, approximately forty or so years ago, the Fire Outbreaks happened. Several various fire mages suddenly swept through and destroyed the smaller cities of England, killing many in their way and leaving no survivors. Due to this the Council of Magic, the governing figure of elemental magic, issued an act - The Anti-Fire Act. This effectively banned any and all use of fire magic within all of England.
Ever since then, the academy has only been training earth, air and water magic users. Any fire magic users that remain are most likely in hiding, and for a good reason. Any found are immediately put on trial, and most likely, executed.
Despite all of that going on, Allen won't let anything stop him from one day becoming a magical knight. This is what he has been training for, for most of his life. If he can do well in the academy, then perhaps he may finally find out what he has been curious about his whole life - the truth behind who his real parents are.
Growing up in his hometown of Lyfast, a small town west of London, he has known most of his life that his parents aren't really his real parents, nor are his siblings his real brothers and sisters. After all, he showed a sign of air magic when he was a young kid, something both of his parents and all of his siblings do not possess. Even his appearance was much different from them: Allen has black hair and black eyes, compared to his parents and siblings who mostly have brown hair and brown eyes.
When Allen was at the age of eight, it was then that an acquaintance of his parents decided to help teach him how to properly use his magic, his mentor William.
It was then that William trained him on how to properly control his air magic, even if it was weak. Ever since he was eight up until the age of thirteen, William had trained him. Those five years were the best years of his life so far, as he enjoyed William's teaching greatly. While William was his teacher, William felt more like an uncle to Allen.
When he reached the age of fifteen, the end of his training, William had given him a sword before he left. As it turned out, William apparently knew his real mother, and the sword he gave him used to belong to her. He never told him how he knew her, or where she is now if she is still alive for that matter. He then almost vanished without a trace, never to be seen again. Allen hopes that one day he can finally reunite with William and properly thank him for what he has done for him.
After three days of long travel by walk and by carriages, Allen had finally arrived in the big city of London. From there, he had then traveled in the direction of the academy, asking various citizens around him for any sort of directions that they would be willing to tell him. However, there seemed to be a sort of divide within London: those that liked magic and those that hated it. Several of the people he asked for directions were happy to tell him where it was, while others simply glared at him and kept walking.
Allen also noticed that there weren't that many mages walking around the city. After all, only about one fourth of the total population can actually use elemental magic, and fewer could use it in combat. Even so, he was excited to see the outlines of various shops selling magical items and magical knights walking around and defending the city.
Finding the academy even with the minimal directions he had wasn't difficult, as it stood out like a sore thumb.
The academy was everything Allen was expecting to see. It was a fairly large building, which stood out from the rest. The main building seemed to be in a blocky C shape, with a few other surrounding buildings.
Allen started to head towards the area where the test was apparently being held. While walking over to the area, he saw several different mages practicing their magic. Both examinees and current students alike were around the various training areas. It seemed some students could practice their magic even before the first day.
Well, this is a prestigious magical academy after all, Allen thought.
While continuing on his way, the doubts of passing still lingered in his mind. Either way, whether he felt not ready or not, he was definitely going to pass this test. Even if his magic is weak, he is going to pull through and start his path to become a magical knight. Not only that, but hopefully find out who his real parents are one day.
He saw a small line of students behind a counter waiting to check in for the exam. There was a middle aged man sitting at the desks, writing down each examinee's name and then giving them a number. After a few minutes of waiting, it was finally Allen's turn.
"Name?," the man asked, in a monotone voice like he's been doing this all morning.
"Allen Fleming," he responded with a smile.
"Elemental Attribute?," he then asked.
Elemental attribute?, Allen thought to himself. He must mean which element I possess.
"Air," Allen responded.
The man then looked up at Allen, and gave him a quizzical look. "Hmph, an air mage? You don't seem the type to be in the Windblade family, or any of the other prestigious air families. A peasant, perhaps?"
Something about the word "peasant" didn't sit right with Allen, but he assumed it must mean a term for people like him who live out in the "countryside".
"Uh, well, I suppose you could say that. What, are there not that many air mages like myself?"
"Kid, most of the air mages here in London are from some sort of distinguished family, and many turn into great, powerful magical knights. Those, like you, who aren't with any sort of prestigious family tend to do horribly, and aren't treated with the same respect like the rest of their peers. I would recommend walking away right now if I were you", he looked at him with a tired, but concerned look.
"No, I have come all this way to start my path to become a magical knight," Allen shook his head, unfazed. "I am not going to stop now, just because I may be looked down upon"
The man didn't change his look at him for a while, almost giving Allen's words some thought.
"You're absolutely sure about this?," tilting his head to the side, as if he was trying to read Allen. "Many will look down upon you with hatred and disgust, and some may even challenge you to unfair and unrealistic duels. To be frank, this academy may not be the best for you"
"Yes, I am absolutely sure about this. This is what I have been training for many years for. I won't stop now, nor do I plan to stop in the future, whatever may come in my way," Allen responded, staring at him with confidence.
The man stared back at him for a few more moments, then finally sighed.
"Very well, your number is 97. Please proceed to your right, and you will find the testing area straight ahead"
"Thank you!," Allen responded, already turning around and heading the direction he was told.
"Also, one more thing Fleming!," he yelled back at him, to which Allen turned around. "That weapon you are carrying is allowed here at the academy. However, you must keep it sheathed at all times unless you are practicing in designated training areas, participating in a duel, or defending yourself from an attack. Understand?"
"Yes sir, I understand," Allen responded, after looking down at his sword sheathed on his left side.
"Alright then. Best of luck," the man nodded, before proceeding to scribble down the rest of the information on his paperwork.
"Thanks!," Allen responded, before finally heading to the long awaited examination area.
When he finally made his way over, the exam area was located at a good-sized outdoor training grounds. Stone-like seats situated into rows were surrounded all around the area, making it closer to being an arena.
All sorts of other examinees were around the general area, either talking amongst each other, practicing, or just waiting around until the official announcement for the exam starts. Several of the teachers who seemed to be helping with the exam were around directing and informing the examinees.
Near the middle of the stone-like seats straight ahead, near the very back top, sat three distinguished figures in three respectable looking seats. Allen guessed they must be the directors of the academy, watching over the entirety of the exam. He couldn't make out their features since they were a bit far away, but he could at least tell they looked like powerful mages.
There was a singular, empty seat next to the right of one of them that was empty. Perhaps, it could be for a fourth director? Allen had heard that there is a director for each element type, and since fire magic is banned, that would make sense why it was clearly empty.
Just before things seemed like they were about to begin, a boy who seemed like another one of the examinees rushed in from where Allen had come from, and almost ran straight into Allen. Luckily, Allen was able to move out of the way right before it happened. The boy almost fell on his face, but he was able to catch and rebalance himself.
"Woah! So sorry about that! Almost ran into you!," the boy apologized, however he was talking like he was out of breath.
"It's alright," Allen responded with his arms up. "But, why are you in such a rush?"
It seemed like Allen's question almost personally hurt him, as the boy winced really hard.
"Ah well… that's the thing… I, uh may have woken up a bit too late; and then I had to rush to get here so… yeah…," he explained while scratching the back of his head with an embarrassed smile on his face.
"Ah okay, I see. So you were in a hurry to get here. But, at least you made it in time," Allen gave him a warm smile, despite this odd encounter with him.
"Thanks! I'm just glad I got here in time!," the mysterious boy responded, while doing what seemed like warm up stretches.
He's already starting to warm up, despite being out of breath not even a minute ago?, Allen thought, eyeing him for a second.
"Well, it's nice to meet you. My name's Allen Fleming," he reached out his hand, and they shook hands.
Allen now took a good look at him. The boy had short dark brown hair that seemed to be naturally straight, with eyes that matched his hair color. Both his hair and eyes were an almost dirt-like color, to which Allen found rather strange. The boy also seemed to have a bit of muscle, so Allen guessed he must be the type that trained each day like himself.
"Well, nice to meet you Allen. The names Thomas Terrastone, he responded, with a sort of look on his face that seemed to be expecting a specific answer.
After a few seconds, it seemed like Allen didn't act in the way he had expected, which seemed to make him happy.
"So, you don't seem to be from around here. Where are you from if I may ask?," he asked, while going back to his warm up stretches apparently.
"Oh, I come from Lyfast. It's a small village, several days west of London," Allen responded, watching Thomas do his warm up stretches with curiosity. Perhaps he should also be warming up too before the exam?
"Lyfast?," Thomas asked, with a confused look on his face. "I don't think I've heard of it. It must be that small and that far as you said"
"Yeah, it took me three days to get here," he responded, while looking around, as he noticed more movement from both the teachers and examinees.
"Hmm, this academy is well known, I suppose, By the way, what's with the strange, singular glove you're wearing?," Thomas asked, while pointing down to Allen's right hand.
"Oh this?," Allen started to say, moving his arm up closer to Thomas. "This is-"
However before he could finish, a teacher near the main seats, close to the directors, began to speak up.
"Alright all of you, the exam is about to begin! Listen well, because I will only be saying this once!," the teacher's loud voice seemed to echo around the arena.
"You will all be split based on elemental attribute to perform several tasks, that range in difficulty. These tasks range, depending on your element, so you may have different tasks than the rest of your peers. Finally, near the end of the exam, there will be a mock duel between examinees"
Various chatter amongst the examinees started. Allen guessed they were surprised about the dueling aspect of the exam. From what Allen remembers from his mentor, there was no duel part in the exam. Perhaps it was new?
"Silence!," another teacher standing near the teacher who just spoke shouted to quiet down the examinees. The other teacher continued.
"As most of you may know, duels at this academy are important in determining your rank and assessing your overall magical ability at the academy. Thus, the directors saw it in their best interest to include a mock duel for the exams"
"But do not worry, this mock duel will not go on your official duel stats. This duel is only to help us assess your beginning rank at this academy"
Once again, more chatter from the examinees followed. The teacher waited for the examinees to hush down before continuing.
"Finally, once we have tallied your overall performance for each task, including your mock duel results, you will be given our starting rank provided you passed. The ranks are from A to D; A being the highest, D being the lowest. Do not worry; even if you are given a low rank to start with, you can always work to increase your rank during your time attending the academy. Anyone who fails the exam will be sent home, and will not attend the academy"
The chatter became even louder now. After all, if they failed, they would have to wait until next year to take the exams.
"Silence!," the other teacher once again shouted, louder this time.
"Now then, please go to your designated part of the training grounds, which will be based on your elemental attribute. There, you will find your main examiner, who will be taking down your results. If you have any questions, please ask your examiner in your area," the teacher finally finished.
Just then, all of the examinees began to disperse to their designated areas. Allen started to look around, so he could find out where he needed to go.
There were three areas in total, one for each element. The one to Allen's right seemed to be the water exam area, as the teacher standing there had a blue flag. There seemed to be both distinguished and regular examinees alike, based on the clothing they were wearing.
To Allen's left, it looked like the earth exam area, based on the brown flag the teacher there had. There seemed to be more earth examinees than water mages, and there didn't seem to be many distinguished mages either.
"Hey Allen, I hope to see you after the exam!," Thomas waved as he started to walk over towards the earth exam area. Allen had almost forgotten he was originally next to him. "Hope you pass!"
"Yeah, same here! Good luck!," Allen waved back at him. Thomas gave him one last grin before turning his head around and continuing to his area.
Allen started to look around for the air exam area, where he would need to be. At this point, most of the examinees were already in their respective areas, leaving Allen practically alone. Finally he noticed the air exam area, more towards the area where the teacher was originally speaking from. There was a teacher holding up a gray colored flag.
There weren't that many examinees there, and the ones that were there were all wearing distinguished clothing.
Well, that matches what that one teacher was talking about earlier, Allen thought to himself as he headed over to the air exam area.
As he got closer, he noticed they all seemed to have tired and bored looks on their faces, as if they already knew they were going to pass and this whole exam was just a waste of their time. They were here just to get in and out, and then continue on with their business.
Unlike the other exam areas, they didn't seem like they were keen on talking amongst each other. Perhaps they already knew each other, and didn't have anything to say to each other?
When the air examinees saw him, they all wore confused and disgusted looks on their faces alike.
"Woah woah woah kid, the earth and water exam areas are elsewhere. This exam area is for us air examinees. Go on," one of the male examinees shooed him away like he was nothing more than an annoying fly buzzing in his face.
Well, isn't this going to be fun, Allen thought to himself. He already knew he wasn't going to like these examinees.
"I will have you know my elemental attribute is also air like the rest of you, thank you very much," Allen gave him a look as if to challenge his previous statement.
All of the air examinees looked at him in surprise, as if Allen had just done something they never would've expected.
"How dare you speak to us like that!," one of the female examinees spoke up, her nose almost twitching up as if Allen smelled repugnant. "We'll have you know, all of us are from proud and noble-like families; and we've been training with our mages from very early ages. This academy isn't for peasants like you, certainly not the proud air division!"
All the other examinees nodded in agreement, as if what she said was the absolute truth.
Wow I haven't even started classes yet, and I am already getting this special treatment, Allen thought, rolling his eyes.
From what Allen remembers, air is considered the strongest element, and people such as himself with weak air magic apparently give them a bad name. Even so, Allen is here to study and practice just like everyone else here. Important families or not, Allen didn't care, and wasn't afraid to hold back his tongue.
"All of you can think what you want, but I am here for the same reason as the rest of you. Whether I or someone else is from an important family doesn't matter. What matters right now is passing the exam," Allen retorted, crossing his arms.
All of them once again just looked at him in disgust, confusion or both. To them, they didn't care what Allen thought or said. All that mattered to them was status and magical power.
In the corner of his eye, Allen thought he saw one of them with a curious look on his face rather than disgust. But before he could get a better look at him, the air examiner began to round them up.
He carried a clipboard and a pen, presumably used to write down their soon to be results. He just kept reading through his papers on his clipboard, only looking up at them when he finally made his way to them.
He took a moment to inspect each examinee, almost as if to size them up. When his eyes landed on Allen, he stopped, with a confused look on his face.
"Your elemental attribute is air, right?," he asked, his brows twitching.
"Yes, that's correct," Allen nodded, hoping not to receive the same treatment he got from the rest of his fellow air examinees.
The examiner took a moment and looked at him in surprise, as if he wasn't expecting that answer. After a few moments he shook his head and gave up, then went back to looking through his papers.
"Very well, now let me go over the contents of this exam"
The air examiner began to explain the basics of their exam. Essentially, there would be several various tasks they would need to complete in order to overall assess their magical abilities. Most of the information he explained matched what the original teacher explained.
Most of the air examinees didn't pay attention, and just sat there impatiently waiting for him to finish. Most of them preferred to mess with their outfits, curl their hair, or look around at the other areas.
Allen made sure to pay attention, but began to feel nervous again about the exam. He kept reassuring himself that he will be fine. He was determined to give this exam his all, and he will pass!
"Well, that is everything. Let's get started everyone," the air examiner looked up at all of them, signaling them to follow him.
This is it!, Allen thought. The long awaited exams! I will definitely pass!