"For the people taking the practical exam please head out to the courtyard now!"
The receptionist called out across the room.
A few people stood up and headed to the courtyard before I stand and follow behind them.
Once outside we arrive at a hardened area of dirt that covers about an acre.
In front of us stood two men, one was huge and heavily armoured like a steel fortress with a giant axe on his back. The other much smaller wearing a wizards robe with the hood up to hide his face, carrying a staff which glowed a silvery blue colour.
"We are the A rank adventurers, Silen and Magiya! We will be the examiners for this practical exam! Each of you will come up one at a time and fight both of us, separately of course! Do we have any questions!"
Magiya, the mage was the one who spoke. The other one seems rather quiet.
I ponder for a moment and raise my hand.
"Can we get a higher rank based on how well we do?"
"Yes, you will be ranked anywhere from the lowest, F class, all the way to the highest, A class!"
So the ranks start at F being the lowest and it goes up to A, with a special exception being S class for people who are able to achieve world class accomplishments and effectively avert major international disasters.
"What happens if I beat you both?"
Magiya smiles at me from beneath his hood
"Believe me, you won't win this fight."
He dropped his voice to a lower tone for that part.
"Up first we'll have…"
He starts to call people out, I'm not paying much attention to the fights, after the first one I pretty much understand their entire fighting style.
"Maria Cruenta, You're turn."
A girl with a cloak covering her entire body stood up and walked to the centre where the fights were happening. All I could make out were the leather boots she wore which had a knife strapped to each.
Judging by her height and… other things she couldn't be much older than fourteen, about a year younger than me.
"So, which one of you goes first."
Silen stepped forward. He's gone first every time with his great axe. He uses pure brute force with his weapon to overpower the examinees and tire them out and leave them in shock to make them easier targets for Magiya in the next round who will keep at range and use an advanced form of water magic, that being ice magic.
Maria takes a defensive stance without drawing any weapons, so she's most likely a mage, if not that she could be a pugilist.
The two fighters position five metres apart.
"Begin!"
Magiya calls for the fight to start and Silen immediately charges in at a speed that caught so many opponents off guard.
Maria however reacts and leaps back launching a hardened red substance at Silen.
The substance was blocked by the armour not even leaving a scratch.
Silen charges again before Maria had the time to land.
However she did something completely unexpected and floated into the air.
However this attack wasn't enough to escape Silen as he brought his axe down and slashed the air landing an attack square into Maria knocking her out of the sky.
Was that magic?
No way, his magic is used to augment his physical abilities, he won't have the training to also use wind magic.
Whilst I'm pondering his strange ability he charges at Maria and holds his axe against her throat.
"That's the match! Maria if you would please get up and prepare for your next match!"
Maria scrambles to her feet and gets back into her fighting stance, though she's wobbling on her feet.
I can tell she's experienced in combat, and she's pretty fast considering Silen's augmentation and speed stat made him faster than a horse.
Is she trying to con Magiya, or is she actually injured.
"Begin!"
The two immediately begin throwing spells at each other.
Maria stumbling around like a drunk to avoid the spells and Magiya expertly dodging.
The hard substances shattering in mid air as spikes of ice collided with red spikes creating a mist in the air.
The mist descended and formed puddles.
Blood. That's what Maria's using to fight.
I look up and the fight is still going on, these two are equally matched.
Maria's uneven movement makes her hard to predict and is throwing off Magiya's aim, however his movements are becoming more and more predictable.
If it carries on like this She'll win, but I doubt it'll be that easy.
Magiya bangs his staff against the ground and freezes the puddle that spread around their feet, rooting them both in place.
The sudden stop caught Maria by surprise and caused her movements to stop right as a giant ice spike is launched.
If it hits her, she'll die.
I took a single step and positioned myself in front of Maria. I drop my stance so that I'm ready to draw and close my eyes and breathe.
I drew my sword and sliced the spike apart. The spike split in two and continued on their course past me and Maria, who just looked on in shock.
One slash, exactly like I practiced in the mountains.
I sheathed my blade and the ice shattered as the spell could no longer contain itself.
I stand back up and fold my arms.
"Now I believe it was my turn next."
I flash a smile.
"Try not to die."