**Dear Ashton,
I got news about how you are doing and how things are going with you in the academy this morning.
"Who's your informant inside this academy, Ercan?"
**Heard your welcoming rituals were successful as well…hope you had a nice naked bath?!**
Ashton chuckled and muttered something into the unknown,
"You know quite a lot about this academy, Ercan. You did not lie to me about confidential information not leaking out from the four walls of this academy right?"
He continued reading the letter.
**Also heard you have been causing trouble lately and you're probably on the wrong foot with a senior Mage already.**
"Damien?!" Ashton hissed, rolling his eyes.
**Why Ashton? You have to be on your best behavior in this academy. Was it not your long time dream to be instituted as a student in the Mages Training Academy? Try to lie low, son. Getting on the bad side of senior Mages will only increase your chances of getting kicked out. Enough with causing troubles okay?
I also got news that Jamil has secured a solid position as the Junior Administrative Mage already. When I got the news, I was really delighted and proud of Jamil for making such great progress just a day into the academy. Do you know what that means Ashton? Jamil has been entrusted with the task of reporting and recording the activities of local or new Mages to his superiors who will eventually report back to the Elders**
'Why is that done? Why are they instituted to spy on us?' Ashton thought to himself. He winced his eyes and his brows narrowed as a hint of confusion etched on his face.
He continued,
**You are probably wondering why there are absurd positions like that. Well such positions are instituted just to take close watch on Mages who perhaps have gotten spell bound by a high ranking Arkillian after coming back from a field battle and get manipulated to start preparing for an internal war with unsuspecting Mages.
It is an avenue to kick out potential threats to the Mages and also disobedient Mages might as well be ousted which might drag you into this cohort.
You know what Ashton, I wish you also got lucky like Jamil because being instituted as a Junior Administrative Mage reduces your chances of getting kicked out of the academy by a solid eighty percent.**
"Woah! Jamil still has twenty percent chances of getting kicked out?" Ashton said, snickering like an insufferable moron.
**Unfortunately, if the tests you will be undergoing has been made known to you, you only have one chance to redeem your daily welfare to be taken care of. You know what that means? Being fed. The tests you will be undergoing puts you newbies except those with sub-positions on limited welfare allowance which will only be continued to be administered if you pass the first test.
But if you fail to pass through the first stage successfully, you will have to find your own ways to feed your stomach which may seem a bit difficult as you will have to fulfill your senior Mages wishes if they can take pity on you and feed you till you eventually pass the next test stage.
Not to worry son, I got you covered as I have paid for all your feeding expenses for your testing period. I attached a gold coin to this letter but you probably will not see the attachment when this letter gets to you as the money would have been remitted to cater for your well-being.**
"What?!" Ashton exclaimed at the fact he has such lots of money for himself alone. "A gold coin? This is truly divine!" He wailed.
**Jamil wouldn't have any problem with catering for his well-being as he has been granted a position in the academy already. So Ashton, I hope to see you again after you pass all your designated tests. I hope you do not flop on them and actually secure your position as a worthy student of the Mages Training Academy. Spend your goldie stipend wisely son. See you soon!
By the way, how are you doing?**
*ERCAN*
Ashton chuckled at the outro words and said, "Who asks about the recipients well being at the end of a letter?"
._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._
Later that evening, Jamil and Ashton had crossed paths on their way to grab some supper at the Academy's canteen. They both stopped in their tracks, facing each other like they were long time enemies.
After a long battle strickining menacing stare, Jamil broke the silence.
"Ashton…" He tried to say but the latter cut his words short.
"How does it feel to be granted a position at an Academy you were never interested in? And to top that you never told me about it. Is this what we have become? Rivals?" Ashton asked, his tone impatient and demanding.
Jamil rubbed his palm against his forehead trying to subdue the small frown that was beginning to etch on his temple.
"Look Ashton, I was going to tell you. The sudden appearance of Master Chen held me back from telling you earlier." Jamil explained, his eyes firmly holding Ashton in his gaze. "And besides you were kicked out of class today and I thought I would get to see you after the class but suddenly, you disappeared when the class was dismissed."
Ashton laughed a bit and then his gaze turned cold. "You expect me to believe that huh?" He mumbled, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"I swear to you Ashton! I swear on my fucking legs!"
Sigh!
Pfft!
"Ha ha! Caught you Jamil!" Ashton laughed out loud holding his waist. "You really thought I would get mad at you because of that?"
"You crazy twerp!" Jamil cursed picking fast paces towards Ashton to at least delve a blow into his chest.
"Proud of you bro!" Ashton smiled scooping Jamil into a hug as soon as he had reached where he was. "Really proud!"
Jamil smiled as Ashton embraced him and he tried to shrug off as he was feeling uncomfortable hugging a guy in the middle of the evening with people still hanging and moving around.
After breaking the hug, Ashton gave Jamil's shoulder a small pat.
"And the letter you got from the Grand Mage?" Jamil asked as they made their way into the canteen. "Who sent it?"
"Oh that? It was from Ercan."
"Give it to me. Let me have a read too."
Ashton shrugged at Jamil's request. " Sorry bro…the letter is for me alone." He said, a small smirk grooming on his face.
"Urgh!"
"Our tests start tomorrow, Ash." Jamil announced as soon as they had settled down to eat their dinner. "Both the examination and the first of the three tests Master Chen talked about."
"Wait what?!"