In the Royal Palace, Enchantra's Bedroom
The next day.
Enchantra was getting ready for the day in his grand bedroom. He stood in front of the mirror, admiring his noble appearance. He wore a floor-length purple robe that was intricately embroidered with a crimson crown design on the back. The rich fabric hugged his form, highlighting his athletic build. Long, purple hair ran down his back, contrasting against his smooth, pale skin. Strange tattoos covered his neck, crawling down his arms and disappearing under the sleeves of his robe. The tattoos were in the shape of unfamiliar symbols and patterns. As he looked in the mirror, he smiled at his reflection.
Just then, Kael entered the room, and Enchantra turned to face him.
„Good Morning, Kael. Are you ready for today's schedule?" asked Enchantra.
„Yes, my Lord. The soldiers are already waiting for us outside," replied Kael.
„Good. I promised my soldiers that we would attend the enrollment of a second-rate academy today. It will be a grand event, and the other dukes, as well as even the majesties and their heirs will also be attending," said Enchantra.
Kael nodded in understanding, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to this event that meets the eye. He had learned over the years that Enchantra was always one step ahead and that he had a plan for everything.
As they made their way to the soldiers waiting outside the palace, Enchantra could sense the eagerness and enthusiasm in the atmosphere. He was aware that his soldiers were looking forward to witnessing the enrollment and he was determined to make this experience a memorable one for them.
As they approached the soldiers, they all saluted Enchantra and Kael in unison. Enchantra greeted them with warm and inviting smile.
„Today we attend the enrollment for young mages. And I have to announce that the majesties and dukes will also be in attendance. So it's important that you show the best version of yourselves. This experience is an opportunity for you to grow and learn, so make the best out of it."
The soldiers stood tall and listened attentively as Enchantra continued to speak. „Remember, we are representing our dukedom and it's crucial that we make a lasting impression."
Enchantra's words were met with nods of agreement from his soldiers. They understood the importance of this event and were eager to make their presence felt.
„I hope you are all ready for today's enrollment. It's going to be a great day."
„Yes, my Lord!" the soldiers shouted in unison, their voices ringing through the courtyard.
With a final salute, they set off towards the Silvermist School of Magic.
…
As Enchantra, Kael, and the soldiers arrived at the Silvermist School of Magic, they were greeted by the headmaster at the entrance. The headmaster, a tall, thin man with a long white beard, wearing a silver robe, welcomed them warmly and led them into the School.
The students of the Silvermist School of Magic were all buzzing with energy as they rushed to and fro, preparing for the enrollment ceremony. The group followed the headmaster through the bustling halls, observing the youthful students. The students were all dressed in grey robes, each featuring a distinctive emblem of the Silvermist School of Magic. The emblem consisted of a silver cloud with a loop inside, symbolizing the continuous cycle of learning and growth. There were some lines saying „Where Magic Flows for All" around the emblem, representing the values of the institution.
The headmaster led them up a staircase, which brought them to a large lounge overlooking the arena below, and where the dukes, majesties, and their heirs would be watching the enrollment from. The room was spacious and elegant, with large windows offering a clear view of the arena below. The dukes and majesties were already seated and chatting amongst themselves and awaiting the start of the event.
Enchantra approached them, greeting them and taking his seat alongside them. The Headmaster stood in front of the room, addressing the audience and students below, his voice echoing throughout the room as he began his announcement. The students and audience gathered below fell silent, eager to hear what he had to say.
„Good morning everyone and welcome to this year's enrollment ceremony at the Silvermist School of Magic," he began, smiling at the excited faces below. „I am honored to have such a large turnout this year, and I would like to take a moment to acknowledge some special guests who have joined us today."
The crowd buzzed with excitement and anticipation as the headmaster paused for a moment, looking out at the sea of faces. He then continued, „We have with us today, our Majesties the King and Queen as well as our esteemed Dukes, who have come to observe the proceedings and offer their support to our young mages."
The crowd gasped in surprise, their eyes searching for the royal figures. As the king stood up and made his way to the front, the audience erupted into applause, the sounds of their cheers and whistles ringing through the arena.
The headmaster turned to the king and gestured for him to speak, stepping back to allow him to take center stage. The king smiled at the enthusiastic crowd, ready to address them and offer his words of encouragement to the young mages gathered before him.
„Thank you, Headmaster Thorne. It is our pleasure to be here, to see the future of magic being shaped before our eyes. I have no doubt that the young mages gathered here today will make us proud. Let us begin the enrollment."
The king sits down, and the headmaster turns back to the arena, signaling the start of the enrollment.
„Ladies and Gentlemen, let's begin the enrollment," Headmaster Thorne announced, his voice echoing through the arena. „Here are the rules, listen carefully. Each student will have a chance to showcase their magic abilities. The display of magic must be done in a safe manner and must not cause any harm to the audience and other participants."
Thorne paused to let the rules sink in before continuing, „If a student is unable to perform, they will not be forced to continue. We want to encourage and nurture young talent, not break them."
„Also, the students will be scored based on power, control and creativity of their magic. The students with the highest scores will be enrolled into the Silvermist School of Magic, while others will be encouraged to hone their skills and try again next year."
„All participants must be Novice Mages who can cast first-grade magic fluently. This means that you should be able to perform spells such as fireballs, wind cuts and waterspheres with ease. If you perform well in the enrollment, Master Mages may take you on as their disciples. This is a rare opportunity for young mages to receive further training and guidance from some of the best in the business."
„That's for the rules. I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavors and may the strongest mages emerge successfully. Let's begin!"
The Headmaster steps back and the enrollment has officially begun, with the audience cheering and excited to see what the students, who are all hoping to prove their worth, are capable of.
In the world of magic, there is a clear hierarchy in terms of power and abilities. The magic system is divided into several stages, the commonly known ones are starting from Novices and ending at Archmagus. At the Novice stage the young mages start their journey, learning the basics of magic such as fireballs or other spells.
As a mage progresses through the stages, they become more skilled and powerful, with Adepts being able to cast intermediate spells, Masters being able to cast advanced magic and magi mastering elite magic. Finally, Archmagi are able to use high grade magic, representing the pinnacle of the commonly known stages.
Additionally, purifying your mage core not only advances your rank, but also strengthens your magic capabilities. It is a never ending process as the filth can accumulate over time.
However, not everyone is born with a mage core. Those without mage cores are considered Non-Mages, and cannot use magic. Those with mage cores are often referred to as Mages and make up a small portion of the population.
To purify your mage core, one must undergo special training and tests. The stronger the filth in your mage core, the harder it is to purify and advance in rank. The process can be dangerous and many mages do not make it to higher ranks.
The mage core acts as a reservoir for mana and the more mana a mage has in their core, the more powerful they become. To purify their core, mages must undergo a training ritual known as Mana Purification. This training requires intense focus and discipline, as well as a strong will to control the mana within their core. If successful, the mage will advance to the next stage and unlock greater power and abilities. However, if the mage fails, their core can become damaged and their magic may be weakened. It is important for mages to continually strive to purify their core and advance in rank, as this will determine their standing in the world of magic.
…
The judges, seated at the side of the arena, call out each name and the student comes forward to take their test. The judges assess the students on various factors such as control, power and accuracy over their magic. The students demonstrate their abilities and the judges take notes and evaluate the students' performance, determining if they have what it takes to be enrolled in the Silvermist School of Magic.
…
One of the judges calls out the first name on the list, „Aria Rosewood." Aria steps forward, sweating slightly as she approaches the judges.
„Show what you are capable of, Miss Rosewood," says one of the judges, a powerful Master Mage.
Aria takes a deep breath and concentrates, then suddenly a small fireball appears in her hand. She tosses it into the air, where it explodes in a burst of flame. The judges nod in approval.
„Very good control," says another judge. „But let's see some more power."
Aria nods, and this time she summons several fireballs, each one growing in size as she focuses more mana into them. The fireballs dance in the air, leaving the audience in awe.
One of the judges turned to the others and whispered, „That was impressive. Her control is unparalleled for a novice." The other judges nodded in agreement.
Aria stepped back with a small smile, proud of herself. The judge called out to her, „Well done, young lady. You have shown great control and power with your magic. Congratulations, you are accepted into Silvermist School of Magic." The crowd erupted into applause as Aria beamed with joy.
As the next student is called up, the judges can already tell that they are in for a rough ride. The student stumbles onto the stage, tripping over his own robe. The judges exchange worried glances. The student raises his hand shakily, attempting to cast a water spell, and he starts to focus his mana. Suddenly, the stream of water he was trying to control starts to flicker and fade. The judges exchange disappointed looks.
„I'm sorry, but your control is just not there. The spell was barely stable."
„And your power is lacking, even for a Novice Mage. I'm afraid that's not enough to be enrolled in the Silvermist School of Magic. Next student, please."
The student hangs his head in shame and walks off the stage, while the audience murmurs with disappointment.
„Our next student is James Anderson," called out a judge. James attempted to cast a wind spell called Levitate, lifting a heavy object off the ground. But the objects falls after a few seconds. „Fail," declared the judge.
„Next up is Thomas! He's casting a spell of lighting bolts. Judges evaluating… and he passed!"
„Jane is up next. She's casting a spell of ice spikes. She's failed."
„Emma is up. She's casting a spell of stone pillars. She's passed."
While the tests were ongoing, the king, Enchantra, and the other dukes continued their conversation as they watched the ongoing enrollment.
„I must say, Enchantra, it was a smart move on your part to come here and show ourselves to the commoners. By doing so, we are building a bridge towards them and stabilizing their favor towards us," the king said.
„Thank you, your majesty. I believe that by interacting with the commoners more, we can prevent them from turning to the rebels and maintain peace in the kingdom."
„I couldn't agree more, Enchantra. Your plan has already shown great results. The crowd is in awe of our presence and the enrollment is going smoothly," Montana agreed.
„Indeed. I believe that this will also boost the morale of our army and show the rebels that we are not afraid to be among the commoners," Magmala added.
„Exactly. We need to make sure that the commoners as well as the rebels see us as their allies and not their oppressors. And this is our first step towards peace in our kingdom," the King finished.
Duke Montana of the North looked at Enchantra with confusion and asked, „How did you come up with this plan so quickly and seem so prepared for it?"
„It's the same reason why Nebula isn't here today, as I mentioned at the banquet," he says mysteriously, not elaborating further on the reason for Nebula's absence. However, his preparation for this event and even foresight of its outcome is a testament to his cunning and strategic thinking. All the royalty present at the enrollment are impressed with his plan to connect with the commoners and stabilize their favor, which will ultimately prevent them from switching sides to the rebels.
The plan that they are talking about to connect the commoners with the nobility is far more thought through than just being present at a mere enrollment for mages. But even so, the nobility rarely shows themselves to the public and the gap between those two sides is extreme. The commoners rarely get attention and even fear the nobles, as they can just be murdered on spot and still remain in the wrong.
„And the last for today is Sophia. She's casting a spell of earth tremors. The judges evaluated that she failed!" the commentator announced.
Hours after the start, the enrollment comes to an end. Out of 2000 children, only 700 passed. The judges congratulate the passed students and give them their enrollment certificate. The failed students are encouraged to try next year, as they can work on improving their skills.
…