The Heart kingdom, a kingdom flourishing in peace and prosperity. But it wasn't always that way, up until two hundred years ago, humanity was at war with Demons.

The strongest of the Demons were called the Great Demons, and their power was enough to drive humanity to the brink of extinction. But thanks to the power of the Great Spirits, humanity managed to seal the Great Demons, in a powerful artifact called the Voidstone.

Now two hundred years later, there is still peace in the world. But those who keep that peace, and are known as the heroes of mankind, are the ones called Mages.

In the Heart kingdom resides a young man named Lance Grey. He lives in the Common Domain, a section of the kingdom for the peasants and commoners, who possess little or no magic power... In the world today magic is everything, and if you are weak at magic, then you are more or less a nobody.

Lance is about to take his Magic Aptitude Test, which will determine if he's strong or powerful enough to join the Mage training academy, and hopefully become a Mage one day.

Lance gets up early and freshens up in the bathroom, he then gets dressed in his usual black clothes, which would make him look like a thief if he dare wore a mask. But Lance liked black, and didn't care what people think.

Lance is about to leave the house when his mother Elizabeth Grey stops him. "Where do you think you're going? "She asked as she held out his sword, which he had forgotten.

" I can't believe I forgot the sword, that could have been really embarrassing ". Lance said as he took the sword in shame.

" Don't worry about it, you often forget things when you're nervous. But l know you can do this, I believe in you". Elizabeth told him with a reassuring smile.

Elizabeth is a beautiful blonde woman, who doesn't even look like she's thirty yet. But she's the nicest and toughest mother a son could ever have, and Lance was happy to have her.

This is the second time that Lance would be taking an Aptitude test, he had failed this test before, when he participated with his best friend, Lora Magma.

Elizabeth is worried about Lance, his drive is admirable, but she knows that he's only trying so hard so that he can see Lora again. She passed her Aptitude test year ago, and has since then moved to the Noble Domain, to Learn how to be a Mage.

It only took one a year to graduate from the Mage academy, so that meant that Lora may have already gone off to continue her journey to becoming a Mage. But Lance was still determined to catch up with her, the longer it took for him to enter the academy, the further away Lora would go, and Lance didn't want that.

Elizabeth kisses Lance's forehead and wishes him luck, before he runs off to take his test. Reaching the building where the test was conducted, Lance was understandably very nervous.

He didn't have much self confidence, but he also wasn't a quitter. The man giving the test is an old but very muscular Mage named Brock. His test was simple, each participant is to attack him with everything they had. (In terms of fighting styles or magic power)... If they had enough magic potential and strength they would pass, if not they failed.

Lance was rightfully worried, his magic ability was controlling darkness, at best he can create a kind of fog that diminishes visibility, but it was only a little, and it wasn't very effective against Brock the last time he used it.

Even though he had a sword, Lance was a terrible swordsman, and physically weak to boot. So there was no way he could pass using hand to hand combat.

As disappointing thoughts race through his head, Lance feels a hand on his shoulder. He then screams dropping his sword in the process. Behind him he sees a young man who was probably his age, he is smiling and apologizes for scaring him.

"Don't think too much about the test, just go out there and do your best". The blonde stranger said to him with a kind smile.

Lance straightens up his posture and thanks him for the advice, then the name Lance Grey is called for Brock is now ready for him... Scared, nervous and uncertain, Lance picks up his sword and prepares for battle.

Next: Aptitude Test Part 2