The magic circle that surrounded us started to enclose. Looking at the ground, I noticed that the words used to make this seemed spaced out but slowly started to squeeze into each other until they were now squeezed tightly together.
"What you are standing in is a spell circle. More precisely, it's a barrier spell. In this test, you'll be using your magic within an enclosed space. Don't want you guys ruining the buildings." The middle aged man explained. "Any sort of injuries will also be healed within this circle…but try not to really murder each other…"
I looked at the teenage boy as he readied his staff. I didn't really notice his looks until now, but he had Green hair and dark brown eyes. He had a green coat and white overalls. I'd say he was thirteen or fourteen. Hm…maybe I can spark a conversation with him?
"Hey, what's your name?" He looked at me surprised when I asked.
He scratched his head in awkwardness, seemed like he didn't think I'd ask at all?
"The name is Griffin." He finally answered. "Griffin Belark. The Loyal Belark Family."
Griffin awkwardly looked around us, not sure of what to do. "I-erm…I'm not sure how to proceed with this? I don't think I can hit a kid."
"The boy will be fine! Now I'll be counting to five before the duel starts!"
I saw tera looking at me from outside the circle, carefully eyeing me.
"I'd like to see what the boy can do." I overheard The middle aged man said.
"Ah, Kota is a very special boy, Crota." Tera replied.
Crota itched his black beard, looking back at her.
"Is he yours? It doesn't seem like he has much to offer besides that large mana pool he has."
"He will be. I'll make sure." Her voice had a tone that indicated very bad news for me. Like a predator watching its prey.
Tera, stop looking at me!
When I looked back at Griffin, I saw that he was already chanting a water spell. I believe he was making a Water Ball spell. When he finished the chant, a large ball of water appeared in front of his staff.
"Uh…Sorry, Kid! Hopefully this won't kill you?" He said with concern.
"Griffin! I said when I count to fi-Oh never mind, Begin!" I heard Crota groan before shouting
Swinging his staff, Griffin launched the water ball at a dangerous speed. I barely managed to dodge it as it collided with what seemed to be an invisible wall near the edge of the circle. A burst of light enveloped the spell as it dissipated. I continued to run as multiple balls of water came hurtling at me.
"Gah! Stop moving! You're just going to get wet!" Griffin shouted as he aimed the staff he had at me.
"I'm not planning to get wet today!" I yelled, ducking one of his water balls. Slowly they began to slow down, most likely from Griffin's constant pulling from his mana.
"Impressive, Belark! A fine water spell you chanted and some fine throwing skills!" Crota clapped his hands.
Griffin huffed as he put down his staff, Water droplets dropped from his staff as he leaned forward and placed his hands on his knees. Judging by his stance now, he was tuckered out by his spell. There was a good chance he might cast another one if I didn't do anything.
With how long he chanted that water spell, I only got a bit of time to cast something.
It might sound like a dumb idea, But i'm also curious about how much I can input into one spell. Crota did say that the Barrier spell was up, So I can pretty much dish out anything, right?
I raised my staff and started to think of a magic spell I could use. What haven't I used since I was able to use the staff? I've used wind, ice technically with dry ice, earth…what about fire.
Slowly breathing, I imagined a fire. Not any fire though, a huge fire. What's hotter than a red fire? I remember seeing blue flames in movies in my old world. Come on Travis, didn't you take fucking science in high school? Didn't the color of flames change when it interacted with oxygen? Something like that. Let's just see how hot we can make it!
I could only really think of blue right now, so I imagined a blue flame. A tingle went through my hand as suddenly I felt a heat coming from my hand. It started off as red, then slowly orange…then yellow…then green, when finally it turned blue. The heat coming from this thing was immense, it felt like we were burning in hell in this magic circle. I could feel the man pouring quickly into my staff, a rate that I didn't expect to be. The leather handle to my staff began to burn, I'm starting to reconsider my decision on this!
Griffin looked at me with shock and surprise as My staff held a blue flame ball. He began to back away as the ball of flame increased in its size.
"M-marvelous! I've never seen a fire spell do that before!" Crota gawked at it and Tera seemed to be very…aroused by this.
"Mmm…See, Crota! The boy is so…strong…so powerful!" She licked her lips, swaying her hips in a seductive way. "I can't wait to have this boy as my Student!"
Gross. I'm trying to focus on holding this spell. Speaking of which, it grew larger and larger as I felt my mana being pulled into it.
"Uh- H-hey, that spell is getting a little too big!" Griffin yelled, the flames crackle and roaring almost muted him.
"I-I think I got a little into my head! I didn't think I'd pour this much mana into my magic!
"How much fucking mana do you have?"
"I don't even know!"
Both of us were yelling as now the Fireball was the size of a large beach ball. It's heat was now hurting even me.
This might have not been a good plan, to be honest.
"Dude, just launch it!"
"I can't launch it at you, that'll kill you!"
"Why are you assuming I'd want you to throw it at me? I don't have much mana in me, I can't cast another water spell!?" Griffin was now backing up on the edge of the magic circle.
Shit, alright maybe putting too much mana I got this was really a bad idea. I don't even know what'll happen if I shoot this inside…
Looking up at the ceiling, I aimed the fireball upwards and launched it. I had hoped that the fireball wouldn't make a huge explosion, otherwise me and this boy would be killed. I'm putting too much hope in this barrier spell.
"Crota, will the Barrier hold?" Tera asked, watching the fireball reach the ceiling.
"…perhaps? I've never seen this sort of fire spell, if it would break the barrier then we can assume that it's a king ranked spell. But the boy is too inexperienced to rea-."
Crota was interrupted by a screeching noise as the Fireball had collided with the barrier now. A burst of light illuminated the whole room now. Basically blinding us as if it was a flashbang.
I couldn't see a thing at all, I had my hand covering my face as all of a sudden, I heard a crack noise. My fire spell was going to break the barrier?
"Oh! I've never seen a spell do that! That's…incredible!" Crota yelled. "Intermediate…No, King! Perhaps even more!"
"Crota, don't let that barrier fall!"
After a few seconds though, it seemed the fire spell was slowing down, dimming with every second passing. I was finally able to look and figure out what was happening.
It seemed as though the barrier had withstood my spell, there were a couple of cracks on the roof of the barrier. My fire spell was still going, though it was now significantly smaller. The blue color of it was now less noticeable and was slowly fading. Smoke filled the magical circle. I looked at Griffin to make sure I didn't kill him. I don't think I could've killed him, But you never know.
I saw Griffin looking at me with shock and confusion. He was on his butt as he had his mouth open. He slowly got up to his feet with his staff as the fire spell now dissipated, only leaving some sparks of flames.
"W-what was that?!"
"A…Beginner Ranked Fireball?"
"There's no way in hell that was a normal Fireball! That wasn't even a beginner spell! That was like…erm.." Griffin waved his staff around, trying to figure out what word he wanted to say.
"That was a King ranked magic spell, or in another way to say it; Kota used a Fire spell and amped it up to King ranked." Crota answered.
I did what? That's how much mana I put into that?! Does this technically mean I can do king ranked magic then? Holy shit, That's absurd…But not as Absurd as what Tera is doing now…
"Oh..Mmm, King ranked, you said? This boy…" Ter began to clap, smiling.
Crota didn't mind her at all. In fact, He didn't even seem bothered. It's like he's seen this from her already. He looked at the other applicants, who were all equally shocked and confused at what had just happened. One of the older applicants dropped his staff and walked off.
"No way, Are we going to have to duel with him next?" One of them asked.
Crota looked back and tilted his head, scratching his chin.
"No, but if you'd like to…"
"N-No, Sir! Let's have the rest of us go against each other!" Another person said.
Crota turned to the other applicants. " That's the end of our test. Come back Tomorrow to learn if you have passed or not…Hopefully you all pass."
"I suppose I can let Griffin side with his performance in this duel. I'll be sure to see that you are welcomed into our home." Crota looked at me and Griffin, waving his hand. The barrier spell then dissipated as he walked into the magic circle, Passing Griffin and heading towards me. "Griffin shows promise in Water spells, Has Slightly above mana and efficiency. He'll do diligently to prove himself a water mage." Then he got to me.
"Boy, You really exceeded my thoughts of you. Tera has said much about you, But I did not believe her." He stood in front of me now, Examining me and my Staff. "Such an interesting Staff you have, Was it a gift to you?"
"My mother gave it to me…It's name is Incongruity."
"Hmm… What an appropriate name for what is happening. Perhaps it's foreshadowing…" Crota then held out his hand to give me a shake. " You are someone that will be out of place here in this school, But I would argue that everyone here is out of place. I mean, look at Tera for instance." I heard Tera say "what?' when he said that, But once again he ignored it.
"Am I really that different? I feel that would…put me in a bullying situation.." Thinking about school really killed my mood, I started to droop my head down. But Crota slapped the back of my head, causing me to grab the back of my head and look back up at him.
"We do not offer that sort of thing here. I'm not sure you've been to any schools before you came here. But know this, We do not tolerate the idea of those who think it's fine to harass others in this school. If any sort of incident happens, WE will know." Crota then adjusted his Gloves from slapping my head. He looked back at the other applicants who were watching, Including Griffin. "Anyone on the University grounds who puts their hands on each other or uses magic with any ill intent of hurting or killing will be immediately suspended from this school. This will be your only warning…"
Tera gave a smile as Crota walked out of the circle, who paused to point out the next applicants to examine.
Shaking off the slap and his speech, I walked out of the circle before I was stopped by Griffin, Who grabbed my cloak.
"Hey, It's Kota, right?" Griffin Got up from the floor, still holding my Cloak. "Looks like we'll get accepted here, And hey, You did pretty good."
"Thanks, I was surprised that it would work. You did good too. Lot of water ball throwing you did."
"Yeah, I like throwing water balls at people."
"No way, I threw some water balls at some kids when I was younger."
"...Why?"
"I was protecting a girl."
Griffin smiled as he heard that. "Ooh, trying to save a damsel, huh? We'll look at you."
"Why'd you start learning magic?"
"Father was a water mage. Runs in my family, plus it'll help people."
"Ah ok."
Griffin looked at me. "You know…Since the both of us are entering the university, why don't we have each other's backs?" He held out his hand. "Friends?"
I almost responded before I was reminded of how I got here. Friends. The people who I thought had my back, left me to take the brunt of everything that should've been for them.
I instantly backed off from Griffin, Who looked surprised when I did before holding his hands up.
"O-oh, Sorry. Did I offend you?"
"No, just…not used to people asking me to be friends…Or actually being friends." I told him.
Griffin tilted his head, frowning as he looked at me with seriousness. I couldn't really look at him at this point, so I held my head down.
Well, Shit. Did I just ruin my first actual friendship with someone other than Lilith? I can't believe I really did what I did back in my school years in my old life. God damn it.
It was then I felt a palm on my shoulder. Looking up, I saw that Griffin had walked up to me to pat my shoulder.
"Hey man, The Belarks never turn their backs on their friends or family. It's how we operate. We pick good people who can be by our sides through hell. And I picked you. To be honest, I haven't had a friend since I was younger too. You seem like someone who'd stick by someone's side, right?"
"Uh.Y-yeah. I guess so." I thought about Lilith there.
"Then let me stick by your side, we'll have each other's backs here in this world, Starting here." Griffin Held out his hand as he said that.
"Are you really going to make friends with someone you just met?" I pointed at myself.
"Yeah. I trust my gut feelings."
I hesitated, looking at his hands. Can I really trust this boy's words? His motives seem Reasonable, But my mind keeps telling me that this is all a ruse. Reminding me of the outcome of my last friends.
"Kota. Grab the boy's hand." I heard Tera say. She was behind me now, at the edge of the magic circle. "He means no ill intentions, The Belark family does believe in loyalty..."
Griffin looked past me and at Tera. "Are you his teacher, Miss Sereal?"
"I will be." I could feel her eyes on me.
"I kinda…want you as my Teacher." Griffin sounded nervous when he said that.
"Two boys at once? Hmm…Such an intriguing scenario for me. Fufu." Tera giggled at that thought of hers. Seemed like she's already had that thought since we both started our exam. "We'll see how that ends up."
Griffin looked back at me, still waiting for my response. "So? Want to be friends, Kota?"
"I…" I stuck my hand out, slightly shaking. "...would like to start slowly with this friendship thing."
Shaking my hand, Griffin smiled. "That's fine, Friendships take a while."
"Fantastic, Wonderful. Get the hell out of the Circle!" Crota said sarcastically. "We got some Entrance Exams to do!"
As Me and Griffin walked out of the Circle, Tera walked up to the both of us. She measured up Griffin and Me before pulling us both in a hug, leaning down for us. Griffin gave a yelp of surprise as he basically sunk into her Right breast.
"Fufu, Congratulations you two." Tera looked down at us. "Good chance you two passed the exam and even made friends with each other already. Oh, and Kota…" She looked at me with very dangerous eyes. "Once you are fully enrolled into the school, You'll likely be put into the special case group for the school. Which means…" She squeezed tighter. "You've been mine from the start. Did you forget that I ran the Special classes?"
Oh shit…Forgot about that. I could feel my Face heating up at the realization. Tera Just smiled and Giggled as Both us struggled in her arms.
"As for Griffin…Hm, Perhaps I could make an exception for you. Maybe we could enhance your water spells" She snuggled Griffin even more into her right breast, practically suffocating him.
'I-uh Yes ma'am! I would love to…have special classes." Griffin said barely could get those words out.
"Fufu, oh this will be fun!" Tera finally let us go, both me and Griffin gasping for air as She got back up and turned around.
'Kota, let's head back to Kale and tell him the news. Once you two are accepted, you'll be starting next week. you'll be in Prusha's University of Magic."