Alex was a regular peasant boy, eating bread and working for minimum wage at a very young age. Normally, he would have led a regular life and if he were lucky, maybe he could make a living as a warrior. Alex would daydream a lot, about being a powerful sorcerer and smiting mighty basilisks and dragons, but as far as he knew all he would do was plow fields. This was all until he became 12 and had to take the localized magic assessment. Even peasants such as himself had to take it, as he may be a hidden gem.
At the assessment center…
Alex glanced at his brother, James, who had taken the test.
"Brother, are you okay? You seem… down… what were your results?"
"I… I… I don't know how this could be… BUT I GOT AN ENTIRE TUB OF MANA!!!"
"What?! Brother, this is great news! Mother and father will be immensely happy, you may even be treated to meat! I hope I'll be as successful as you…"
"Don't worry, even if you aren't, you can still probably be a successful warrior! I mean, you can snap me like a toothpick!"
"Alex Gleich! Please report to assessment room #21!"
"Well, looks like it's my turn."
Alex walked down a hall, perspiration filling his clothes and doubt filling his heart. He reached a room with a wooden sign on the door that had the number 21 carved in it. He pushed the creaky door open and stepped in.
"Hello, I am John Sleighmour, and I shall assess you this fine evening. Please sit on the ground in front of me. Also, are you familiar with the grading system?"
"No, not at all. Would you care to explain, Mr. Sleighmour?"
"Of course. Basically, your mana signifies your talent in magic. It may be as vast as a pool or as tiny as a glass. Either way, as long as you do have mana, you will be able to summon the might of magic to aid you. Now, let us start."
He starts to draw symbols on the ground using sand and they light up. An odd feeling emerged within Alex, but he didn't dare to move and break the examiner's concentration.
A couple of minutes later, the examiner's eyes snapped open and he started breathing heavily, as if he had been scared to his core.
"Boy… you… I can't even… my god… look, child… your power… only geniuses born once a millennia possess such aptitude. When I looked in, I saw a boundless ocean with no end in sight. Such raw talent was seen in Sabbor'a, who nearly plunged the entire world into eternal chaos. Use this power wisely."
"What? I don't understand? What do you mean ocean? Who is Sabbor'a?"
The examiner pointed to a book on a desk and told Alex to read it. When Alex first opened the book, he saw nothing but an odd language and what seemed like gibberish, but his eyes emitted a cold red glow and the lines rearranged themselves into a legible form.
"Wow… teleportation? That's cool!"
"My god! Your mana was able to allow you to read that… you truly are a rare talent! Try using the magic in that book."
After studying the book for a bit more, Alex moved his hands as the book told him to. He felt as though he was wading through water, as his mana was in some way, heavy. He manipulated it and after repeating the hand movements a few times, his mana formed into a crack plastered on the air. He performed the final movement and shattered the crack, an odd sensation of euphoria drifted through the room. Alex had opened a portal to a beautiful plain, full of flowers and critters.
Sleighmour sat on the ground, astounded by the sheer mastery of magic.
"Alex… you possess an unholy amount of power at such a young age. You are destined to become a lord of magic. I will go to the capital and inform the Archmage."
Alex was shocked at what he was hearing. He was a simple peasant boy, bound to live a boring and monotonous life. And now he was hearing about being a lord of magic?! He blacked out for a moment out of sheer surprise, but then came back to his senses.
"Wait, what are you saying? What's gonna happen to me?"
"You will most likely go on to live in the residence of the Archmage, as your talent must be groomed with utmost care, as even a tiny misstep in your education can incorrectly influence you and lead you to become evil and wreak havoc, as nobody can even stand against your immeasurable power if you had proper training."
"Wait, I'm not going to be able to live with my family? Well… is there anything I can do to bring my family?"
"Considering you will have an extremely high status, your family can live in a nice cottage near the Archmage Estate."
"Oh! That's great! Well, when will this happen?"
"I simply have to tell your parents and brother of this, then I can open a portal to the Archmage's Estate."
Sleighmour and Alex went out of the room and talked to Alex's parents. They were overjoyed, and immediately accepted the proposal. Sleighmour then opened a crack in the air that led to a massive building that resembled a small castle. It was beautiful, shimmering in the golden sunlight. Alex walked towards the castle and bumped into an invisible wall.
"Oh, let me just…"
Sleighmour conjured some magic symbols and a door opened in the shield!
"That's better. Now come in, Alex. We have much work to do!"
"Wow… this place is just… wow… what do we now?"
"Ah, hello Sleighmour! What have you got today?"
"Sir Archmage, I have discovered a legendary prodigy! When I examined him, I saw endless oceans of mana! I have come to ask you to take him in and tame him in the ways of magic."
"Well… this is… AMAZING!!! The last time we had received such a prodigy was when Dunsore had come. He defeated platoons of monsters with utter ease, making him a hero."
"Sir, I think you don't quite understand how strong he is. He used the teleportation with just a look. His mana allowed him to read it without even trying, and he was able to use it on his first try, with no practice!"
"What… he's even more talented than I was! I shall give him the finest equipment and lessons! Alex, come with me. We'll find you a nice room in my estate!"
"Wow… this is great! Also, what do you mean by the finest equipment?"
"Well, Alex, a sorcerer is unable to unleash their full potential without proper gear! Anyways, come in, we must get you situated!"
Alex walked into the massive estate and went inside, feeling quite nervous.
"Wow… this place is so cool!"