Have you ever in your life felt the need to just run away from something? No, not from home or work or any other outside object. Have you ever felt the need to run away from something you knew could kill you in the blink of an eye? It's a terrifying feeling, really. Your heart picks up it's pace and you begin taking full yet uncontrolled breaths. You don't even realize you're breathing. You gain tunnel vision and begin to see only what is directly in front of you, wether that be the doorway to freedom or the stairway to death. Everyone reacts somewhat differently too. For some they stand their ground and fight. Some tend to flail about and panic, which usually only ends in their demise. The rarest action to be taken in these scenarios is to jump headfirst with your instincts being your only guide. If you're like Gonzo Dracu'ul than this is you.
Gonzo was raised in the harshest environments on the continent where its astounding he has managed to stay alive to this day. What kept him alive however is a mystery. But Kazin, as he began to unsheathe his sword from his back, knew exactly what was going on. This was pure Instinct. Gonzo had no control over his actions, his body simply took over and his mind shut down. He saw a possible attack coming and he knew better safe than sorry. He lunged towards Kazin and his mana began to concentrate itself into his hands and throat. Through the fractions of a single second that this all took place, he began to heat up and charge his offense. And though it was a rapid fire charge, it seemed slower than anything to Kazin. Gonzo, before he couch actually reach Kazin, was thrown into the corner of the room and tied up so he couldn't move. It seemed as if he teleported.
"Calm down, man" said Kazin. "There's no reason for you to be acting like that. I'm just grabing my sword cuz it's a habit, damnit." Kazin grabs his sword and unsheathes it from its blade. It's seemed to be a simple Katana with the words "Divine Infinity" branded into it towards the bottom of the blade. He flipped it so the tip we're facing the ground, then placed it onto the table. The blade stood up straight without any assistance. "Alright guys look you're all strong dudes and I'm impressed or whatever. Look I'm not doing that stupid speech. The point is you made it into the school but that doesn't mean to get complacent. You still have missions while attending school as well."
"Missions?" Asked Satoru. "Couldn't people get hurt and therefor affect their studies?"
"Yeah of course it could." Replied Kazin. "That doesn't change anything. You still have papers to keep up with."
"Well that's a little stupid." Replied Serathin. "You mean to tell me I have to go out and do things while STILL making it to class? How does that even work?
"Obviously you will be dismissed for the duration of your mission and papers will be excused if allowed. Quit complaining already."
Kazin walked over to the back of the room and drew a rune on the wall. A door began to form itself and came to life. Kazin walked over and opened the door for the students as Gonzo was freed from his bindings. The students walked through the door and Kazin grabbed his sword and closed the door behind them. When the group walked through they were no longer at the Colosseum or even in the same city as before. They saw huge buildings and people gliding around above. Male and Female, Human and Supernatural, with every form of magic being brought up and trained all in this location. Kazin had taken the new students to the Ampharos Mage Academy, the one place, the one goal that gave our students motivation to travel, work, train and contest against others to get to this point. Even Belson, the expressionless and rather blank slate of a man, was in just as much awe as the others beside him.
Gonzo was more in shock than the others, of course. Gonzo stepped forward and began smile with joy. "Man I didn't even know this place existed until a few months ago. Now I'm here... Hey Mister!" He yelled, referring to Kazin. "Waddya say we ditch this tour and go get some food. I'm starving right now."
Kazin walked over, picked up Gonzo by his waistband, and walked around with the group. "I'm only doing this because I was told to."
Kazin through the rest of that day gave the new students a tour of the Ampharos Mage academy as well as the other Houses. The group was able to see how each house trained their respective students. At House Gaia the students were trained to play more supportive roles rather than actually engage in true combat like the other 4 houses. At House Cthulhu the students were trained to use their magic to quickly end fights through any means necessary. The students all seemed very exhausted and seemingly terrified. It has to be that Hendricks' fault that the house is filled with such fear. At House Undier the students were taught to utilize any kind of weapon and imbue it with their mana in combat. At House Forge the students were taught to use their mind to outsmart their opponents and force them into their own demise. Each House at the Academy teaches their students different tactics and grants them different training opportunities. Students may attend classes at other Houses on their own time, but must focus on their own teachings in order to not only remain in the Academy, but work their way towards graduation.
Kazin led the group to the final House and the one in which they will not only learn to become mages, but also where they will live until the graduate and become official mages of Volkān. House Donovan not only has the most diverse training, but it's House also is proudly called home by the fewest of students of all the others. Since it's establishment, the House of Donovan has always been known for being the most unforgiving and intense training of all the houses. That's why out of the entire mass of people who attended the entrance exams only four of them made it into this house.
The very first part of the Houses property that Kazin lead the group to was a training grounds. It stretched for a couple miles, allowing each student to train in a wide open area without restriction. Only one person stood in the entirety of the training grounds. A man with short pink hair and a whit cloak. His entire body seemed to be covered in grey bandages up to his neck and he had a scar vertically across his left eye. Kazin walked the four down to the man and stood in between them. "Alright guys this is Alkavoz. He's the top ranking student in the House and will be giving you your entry evaluation. I'd rather just send you straight to the Rank Evaluation station but it's some stupid rule that says we gotta do this. The four of you will combat against him before getting your ranks."
"Wait what do you mean by 'ranks'?" Asked Gonzo.
"Each mage is given a rank to determine their power and combat efficiency. It also allows the organization to properly determine what missions to send you on so you don't end up dying right off the bat." replied Kazin.
Alkavoz stepped towards the group and gave a gentle bow towards them. "Pleasure to meet you all. I'll be sure to make this as fair as I can."
Kazin stepped back away from the group and jumped even further away with ease. Alkavoz began doing basic stretches, as if he wasn't about to be put into a 4-on-1 scenario. Gonzo chose to make the first move. He charged directly at Alkavoz and made a swift slice motion with his arm, powered by a boost of fire from the back of his palm. Alkavoz disappeared before impact. Gonzo turned to his left, sensing the other student, and was met with a quick punch directly to the face. It seemed almost instantaneous how fast his punches were. Faster than any of the monsters that he had grown up around back home. As Gonzo was blown back Serathin chose to intervene to challenge the speed of the mage. He used his lightning magic to enhance his bodily functions and dash around Alkavoz. He charged up a lightning strike, a lightning infused punch, and was instantly met with a kick to his rib cage. Serathin attempted to grab the leg as it made impact but was once again met with a kick to the other side of his rib cage, blowing him back.
Belson made a minor motion with his fingers before a magical circle formed under Alkavoz. "Release" he said. A pillar of light struck the area Alkavoz was in and created a devestating force, causing Satoru to cover and pretext his face from any debris. When the dust cleared All Belson saw was just that. Dust and pieces of dirt floating in the air, but Alkavoz was nowhere to be seen, until he's all he saw. Alkavoz appeared in front of Belson, grabbing him by the head and slamming him into the ground before disappearing again and reappearing a distance from Satoru. "Not gonna lie that move was kinda cool. Never seen it before. You must be a spell caster from the looks of it." Then he turned to Satoru and, for the fist time, got in a fighting stance. He thought to himself "His mana keeps rising at a faster rate the longer this goes on. I oughta be careful and make sure he doesn't charge for too long. Very strange."
Satoru winded his arm back and, just like in the entrance exam, released a powerful blast of the hottest flames, making Gonzos seem nearly insignificant. Alkavoz put his hand forward and his eye shined for a brief second. The attack stopped in front of the palm of Alkavoz, making a disc of fire. "Rewind" he said. The flames all shot back at Satoru at a rapid speed and made contact with him. Once the flames were gone Satoru was seen standing in front of Alkavoz completely unharmed. That is until he was blown away by an invisible force. He collided and skid across the ground into a complete stop, knocked unconscious and covered in wounds. It seemed as though in less than the twitch of an eye Satoru was hit by hundreds of different attacks from all directions. Alkavoz was really no joke.
With Satoru and Belson knocked unconscious and Gonzo left with a concussion it was up to Serathin to try to make an impression even with his broken ribs. Serathins body surrounded itself with lightning and water drops began dispersing from his body. Alkavoz noticed that Serathin had gotten a power boost, but not like Satoru's. Even Satoru, though unconscious, was still absorbing mana at a rising rate. But Serathins was different. His mana levels rose slightly and his physical capabilities were also enhanced, yet Alkavoz knew not why. Serathin dashed towards the mage and attempted to use his lightning to strike Alkavoz from a distance before engaging up close. Alkavoz dodged everything with speeds that mimicked teleportation, but Serathin knew he didn't have Spatial Magic. This was something more unique and rare, more complex than Spatial magic. Alkavoz appeared in front of Serathin with a with a punch to his face, but this time Serathin managed to grab it after it made contact. Blood poured from his nose while his hands gripped as hard as they could.
Serathin stared at Alkavoz dead in the eyes and smirked. "Sorry. This might hurt." He said. Lightning struck Serathin and traveled down his body, to his arms, to his hands, and right before he made contact Alkavoz uttered the same word as before. "Rewind". Everything froze. No nothing was frozen exactly, more like something was broken. And then it began to relate itself. Everything, including the abilities caused by Serathin, Satoru, Belson and Gonzo, as well as Kazin backing away from the short battle was all rewinded to the initial introduction.
"So... they good or what?" Asked Kazin. The group jumped back as the memories of the battle flushed their mind. They didn't understand it but they knew Alkavoz was seriously nothing to mess around with. He was a different breed of powerful to the eyes of the new students.
"Yeah they'll do. Can't expect much from Day 0's anyway." Alkavoz said. He looked at Satoru and measured his mana levels closely. Kazin knew of Satoru's abilities but Alkavoz was left without any information on the group until now. Alkavoz thought to himself "At this rate he'd be a Diamond rank mage by noon. And if it's constantly going up than he'd reach Adamantium before the next sunrise, but something tells me there's a limit to his mana absorption abilities. How curious."
"Great" said Kazin. "Now come on kids, it's time to get evaluated. Hurry up!"
As the group of new students followed behind Kazin, Alkavoz stared down the group, Satoru in particular. He thought "those 4 are all so different from other mages... but that one. I've never met anyone who's mana constantly rises like that. How is he not stronger? How is he not on Master Kazins level? It's like he started that technique this morning... and that other one- no... all of them. They're just so interesting. They'll go far for sure."
The group made their way to a small building with a sign that said "Rank Dictation". They all walked inside and noticed... nothing. Nothing except a floating orb and one elderly mage in robes. He'd clearly been here for a while. "Welcome! Welcome! I didn't expect visitors so early in the day." He said.
"Yeah well this is a special case. We gotta get their ranks figured out before sending them straight to classes. Plus their first mission is next week so we need to make sure it's the right one."
"Next week?" Said Belson. He was rather quiet so this surprised the group. "Seems rather early."
"That's what happens in my house. Only way to become a mage is go out their and actually see what the lifestyle is like. Now get up their, place your hand on the orb, and send a wave of mana through it."
First up, as usual, was Gonzo. He ran over to it and placed his hands and face into it, amazed by the item. "So this thing can really see how strong we are? Coooooll. I've never seen any-" he said before being interrupted by a rapid beeping above him. He looked up and saw the orb had a color above it. The color was a pure Silver.
"Silver Rank! We don't get many of those every year just coming in. Very very uncommon." Said the old man. "How splendid! Please send the next." Up next was Serathin. He took a deep breath and placed his hand on the orb and sent a wave of mana through it as he was told. The orb beeped and showed a different color. A shining Gold. Kazin smirked while the old man stepped back. "Gold? On Day 0? That's-... Thats almost never happened. That's incredible!!!"
Serathin looked at his hand and squeezed it out of a sort of joy. "Guess everything pays off, huh? Alright uh.. Belson! Can't wait to see yours."
"I already know it." Without moving the orb beeped once again and showed Silver. The old man applauded in joy. He loved these 4 already. "Another Silver! Hahaha! This is great! Next, you!!" Satoru walked up and placed a finger on it, sending his own mana through it. It came up as Gold with a second color much smaller above it showing a light blue Crystal. This was new even to Kazin and the old man. "He's... he's almost Crystal?!?! Another Gold???? H-How.... HAHAHAHAHA!!! Kazin I love these 4!!"
Kazin thought in his mind "He was clearly only Gold when he met Alkavoz... and now he's nearing Crystal? No way he's capable of that. If I was able to sense mana like most mages than I'd be able to see what was going on but... damn. This kids something else."
Satoru walked back to there group but was interrupted by the elderly man. "Boy... what's your name? I must know." "Satoru Yamada." He replied. "The elderly man listened his grip, widened his eyes, and stepped back. "Kazin... they are relieved."
Kazin took the group and left right away. The elderly man stared at the floating mana orb and dropped to his knees. "Yamada... then he's really his son. Hehehe... extraordinary. Truly extraordinary." Meanwhile Alkavoz went to the Campus Library and went straight to the librarian. "Excuse me ma'am. Is there any books around here about Mana Absorption?" "39C". Alkavoz made his way to that section and searched for anything regarding constant mana absorption. He failed to find anything on the matter other than a paragraph with a specific sentence that read: "While it is impossible for mages to naturally absorb mana at a constant rate, there are records of certain types of Magic that allow the user to absorb mana constantly under the correct conditions, though it is very rare to find such magic." Alkavoz put the book down and left the library, feeling he'd only had more questions than before he came.
The students were sent to their first class and met their first teacher Mrs. Ann. After that they went to their next classes, all kept together as a group. However from the time of 11:00am to 1:00pm Satoru was excused and nowhere to be found. While Serathin and Gonzo were busy focused on classes, Belson grew curious of all the special care Satoru had been getting since he arrived. He could also tell something that the others could. Satoru was most definitely not Gold Rank. He made Gold ranked mages, like Serathin, look like children. He needed to figure it out.
Once the day was done, around 4:00pm, and they were released from classes everybody headed back to their dorm rooms. Belson stopped and followed Satoru to his. Shortly after Satoru went inside his room Belson knocked on his door. Satoru opened the door and greeted Belsons cold look with a smile. "Belson! To what do I owe the pleasure?" Belson remained quiet and once Satoru opened his eyes he felt an immense weight against him. As if gravity had increased. He fell to the ground and noticed he had a magic circle under him.
Belson stared down at the fellow student with no sympathy or care. "What exactly are you, Satoru Yamada? Why do you lie? Why all the special treatment?" Satoru was unable to answer as he was pressed so hard against the ground. A dagger floated out of Belsons cloak and aimed itself at Satoru. "Think I won't kill you where you lay? I've done worse for less."